The beautiful Bulgarian coast runs for 378 metres along the Black Sea and has become more and more popular as a destination for sun-seekers during recent years. Whatever you are looking for in a beach holiday, you will find it here, from family-friendly resorts with a wide range of amenities to more serene locations where the natural beauty of the area is its chief attraction.
In this guide to the best beaches in Bulgaria, I’ve listed some of my favorite spots along the coast, along with just what you can expect to see and do in each area.
The Best Beaches In Bulgaria
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Sunny Beach
Possibly the most popular Bulgarian beach destination is the vibrant Sunny Beach, located along the southern coast close to Nessebar and just 30 minutes from Bourgas Airport.
The golden sands extend for 8km and have some of Bulgaria’s last remaining sand dunes, providing a scenic backdrop to the area. The emphasis here is on fun, with a variety of water sports and modern beach bars to enjoy during the day, and lots of excellent nightclubs to enjoy at night – some featuring world-class DJs.
Recommended Stay In Sunny Beach: Premier Fort Sands Resort
This 4-star resort features 3 swimming pools, a spa and a fitness centre. They provide different types of rooms including apartments and studios. This resort offers a full board which means all your meals are included in the price.
Golden Sands Beach
Famous for the purest sand on the Black Sea coast, the Bulgarian beach destination of Golden Sands is located 19 km from the historic city of Varna. It is the largest resort on the northern coastline and is a Blue Flag resort, with a clean beach and water that is free from pollution.
The setting is picturesque, with the hotels, bars, and restaurants nestled on a wooded hillside. All kinds of beach activities are available here – from banana boating and volleyball to windsurfing and scuba diving.
There is a definite party atmosphere and lively nightlife – but if it’s the culture you’re after, you can be in Varna in just 25 minutes.
Recommended Stay In Golden Sands Beach: Grifid Encanto Beach Hotel – Wellness, Spa & Private Beach
This 4-star resort has its own private beach which means you’ll be relaxing in a quieter zone on the Golden Sands Beach. You’ll find two swimming pools, a fitness centre as well as a spa on-site. All meals are included which means you’ll really get to enjoy your holidays.
Veleka Beach
If you are looking for one of the more remote Bulgarian beaches – away from the crowds and bustle of the more popular resorts – then head to Veleka Beach. It is the most beautiful place in Sinemorets, a tiny seaside village in the southeastern corner of the coast.
There are no major tourist attractions here and no noisy nightclubs – just plenty of natural beauty to enjoy. This beach is at the mouth of the Veleka River and is breathtakingly beautiful, with a contrasting landscape of coast, river, rocks, and forest. It has a small bar and restaurant, and you can hire kayaks to help you explore the area further.
If you are visiting the beach for sunbathing and swimming, then you’ll find the temperatures at their highest during the summer months. However, the beauty of the area – along with the cool and artistic vibe of Sinemorets village – makes this a lovely place to visit even outside of the height of the season.
Recommended Stay In Veleka Beach: Apart Hotel Apolonia Palace
This 4-star hotel is located in Sinemorets. Now, you should know that there are fewer options when it comes to accommodation in this part of Bulgaria. It’s a great option if you want to avoid crowds and prefer somewhere quieter, off the beaten path. This hotel provides large apartments as well as a swimming pool.
Dinevi Marina
For a luxurious break in a sophisticated destination, look no further than the resort complex and yacht harbor of Marina Dinevi. Along with the fine, golden sands of its Blue Flag beach, you’ll find high-end accommodation, spa centres, and gourmet restaurants.
Located in the centre of the Black Sea Coast, the region benefits from the clear mountain air and simply spectacular scenery. It is also a great place to admire the beautiful yachts of the rich and famous moored in the harbor!
Recommended Stay In Dinevi Marina: Seaview Bedroom Apartment
There aren’t lots of options in this area, and we would recommend you stay in Nessebar instead. But, if you want to stay right in this area, this aparthotel has an excellent location and offers large apartments with a sea view.
Albena Beach
Ranked by many as one of the best beaches in Bulgaria, Albena Beach extends for 6 km ad is perfect for families. The sand here is silky soft and the beach slopes gradually into the sea, making it a great place for little ones to take a dip.
A Blue Flag resort, you’ll find lots of cool features here, including mini safes to store your valuables, ‘free zones’ that take up over 50% of the beach where you can sunbathe away from the private areas, and Europe’s very first Beach Library, with over 6000 titles to choose from.
There are also plenty of watersports to try your hand at, including water skiing, parasailing, surfing, and jets, plus some excellent underwater fishing.
Recommended Stay In Albena: Maritim Paradise Blue Hotel & Spa
This 5-star hotel offers 3 swimming pools, a good fitness centre as well as a spa. You’ll also find a bar on-site as well as wellness packages. It’s a fantastic option whether you’re traveling with your partner or with your family.
Primorsko Beach
The town of Primorsko has an interesting history that extends all the way back to the Bronze Age, but its most popular feature has to be its picture-perfect beach. 10 km in length and with the finest, softest sand, the beach tapers gently into the sea and has a beautiful, clear bay.
Recipient of the Blue Flag Award for over 20 years, it is ideal for families with children. Beach sports are very popular and you can enjoy volleyball, boating, waterskiing, and surfing here.
This Bulgarian beach destination has a strong nightlife and cafe culture and is particularly popular with young Bulgarians, meaning that the available accommodation is varied and includes campgrounds, hostels, and student dorms along with the typical resort hotels.
Recommended Stay In Primorsko Beach: Jeravi Club Hotel – All Inclusive
This 4-star resort is all-inclusive meaning that everything is included during your stay. You’ll find a swimming pool, a fitness centre and a private beach. You’ll also find entertainment options including tennis tables, pool tables and darts.
Atliman Beach
Located close to the small town of Kiten, this lovely, natural beach has a verdant wooded headland and a beautiful backdrop of rolling sand dunes.
Many visitors say it is the prettiest beach on the southern Bulgarian coast and the calm sea and powdery sand are indeed inviting, well away from the hustle and bustle of some of the larger resorts.
Despite its somewhat peaceful location, the resort still offers all the amenities you’ll need during your visit and plenty of options for hotel accommodation.
Recommended Stay In Kiten: Hotel Daniela Wellness
There aren’t a lot of options when it comes to accommodation in Kiten. But, you’ll be able to find several apartments in the area. This 3-star hotel offers a spa as well as a swimming pool. It’s affordable and it’s close to the beach. That said, this destination is very close to Primorsko Beach, so you could consider staying there instead.
Best Time To Visit The Bulgarian Coast
Whilst the temperatures on Bulgarian beaches start to rise from May onwards, the waters here don’t reach ideal bathing temperatures until July or August.
So if you are planning to make the most of both the sea and sand then a summer visit is a must! But if you are happy to embrace the cooler sea temperatures, then you will usually find the weather very warm and pleasant at these destinations from May all the way until early October.
In fact, visiting outside the main summer months can mean cheaper costs for travel and accommodation and – of course – fewer crowds. They are also ideal times to visit if you prefer to avoid extreme heat – temperatures along the Bulgarian coast can exceed 30ºC in the summer, with an average of 10 hours of sunshine every day.
You’ll probably prefer to avoid Bulgaria during the winter months unless you want to go ski. The temperatures plummet thanks to cold winds from Russia, there is snow in the mountains and rainfall is higher throughout the country.
Types Of Accommodation Close To The Beaches In Bulgaria
There tends to be a good mixture of inexpensive and higher-end hotels at most of the major resorts, many offering indoor and outdoor pools, spa facilities, restaurants bars, and clubs.
Most Bulgarian beaches are very family-oriented, so you can expect to find plenty of clubs and playgrounds for children too.
Final Thoughts
I hope that this guide to the best beaches in Bulgaria has helped you choose which destinations you’d like to stay in during your visit. With wonderful weather, scenic views, beach sports, and exciting nightlife, Bulgaria has something to offer every type of visitor.
It’s also one of the most affordable destinations in Europe – the perfect formula for a truly unforgettable vacation.
Curious about Bulgaria? I live in Bulgaria since 2020, so make sure to read our guide to find out what it’s like to be living in Bulgaria.
