If you’ve been thinking about a destination for your next beach vacation, the name of Bulgaria must have come up. If it hasn’t, it sure will do once you’ve read this post on Sozopol, Bulgaria’s most charming beach town. For better or for worst, Bulgaria’s seaside is famous for the notorious Sunny beach which seems to attract a lot of travelers looking for the best party in town. Luckily, Sunny beach is by far not the best place to head out to when visiting Bulgaria. Sozopol is not the traditional beach place where all you can do is lie on the beach and sunbath. Of course, it could be if that’s what you fancy. But the great thing about Sozopol is that there is actually quite a bit else to do when you’re off the towel topping up your tan. Read below to see what I mean exactly.
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Where is Sozopol?
Before we get to the juicy bits, let me tell you first where you can find this gorgeous place. Not surprisingly, Sozopol is on the Black sea which means the far east coast of Bulgaria.
Travelling from Sofia to Sozopol
If you look on the map you might think that it’ll take ages to get to Sozopol if you travel from the capital Sofia and to an extend you’d be right. From Sofia central bus station, you can catch a bus going to Ahtopol, Kiten or Primorsko. They all pass through Sozopol. You’ll be happy to know this is actually is a pretty cheap way to get to Sozopol all the way from Sofia only costing 15 EUR each way. The journey takes about 6 hours. To check if you can get a direct bus at a good time, check the website of the central bus station for the bus schedules. A company called Euro Lines also offers one daily trip to Sozopol for 32 BGN but check their website for the up to date timetable.
If you cannot get on a direct bus to Sozopol, catch a bus to Burgas with Union Ivkoni (I always use them) for 14 EUR (27 BGN) and then change to another bus to Sozopol. Union Ivkoni have plenty of buses to Burgas so you’re bound to find one that’s suitable. Their website now has an English translation so you can either book your tickets online or you can go to the main bus station and look for the kiosk of Union Ivkoni.
Your best option of all would be to hire a car in Sofia and drive to Sozopol. The trip will take about 4 hours, most of it on the motorway.
Travelling from Plovdiv to Sozopol
Plovdiv is about 3 hours drive away from Sozopol so driving is the best option. Alternatively, you can get a Union Ivkoni bus to Burgas and then change to a another bus to Sozopol.
Travelling from Burgas to Sozopol
Burgas is the closest large city where you can fly to if you’re heading to Sozopol. Also 30 min away by car, Sozopol simply can’t be reached any easier! Hop on your car if you’re renting one or get a bus from Burgas bus station South. Usually there is one bus every hour and the cost of a single journey is 2 EUR (4.50 BGN). Decent, right 😀 !
Find a gorgeous sandy beach and relax!
Sozopol has some of the best beaches in Bulgaria. You won’t find any rocky beaches in Bulgaria which is why it’s becoming travelers alternative to more traditional beach places in Europe like Spain, Portugal and Greece . Sozopol has 3 main beaches but my most favorite is the central beach overlooking the Old Town. It is right in the middle of Sozopol so it’s hard to miss it. What I love about the beaches in Bulgaria is that unlike pretty much any beach place in Europe I’ve been to, there are actually cafes and bars right on the beach so you can relax whilst overlooking the sand and the waves.
Lying on a towel all day might get too hot or boring so having all these places to pop into to have a cocktail, latte or even lunch is pretty awesome. One thing you absolutely must try is the Bulgarian cold coffee called frappe. Don’t question what’s so special about it, just give it a try 😛 ! You’ll love it. To make the beach atmosphere even more chilled out, most places have some pretty cool music on literally from dawn to dusk. Might even get you bouncing up and down on your way into the sea 😀 (if someone was following me with a camera, there would have definitely been some shots of me singing and dancing along).
Right on the beach, you’ll find plenty of sunbeds and umbrellas that you can rent for the day. Having said that, if you’re on a budget you may want to buy your own umbrella as it’ll work out cheaper if you’re staying for more than a couple of days. Once you’ve topped up your tan and are ready for something more exciting, you can try paragliding, jet skiing or parasailing. The best part is that all these fun activities are so much cheaper than in most other European resorts. So if you’re a fan, give it a try!
Explore the Old Town
Everyone who’s been to Sozopol will tell you that the Old Town is really what makes Sozopol so unique. With its wooden houses, cobbled narrow streets, authentic souvenir shops, history and many great seafront restaurants, the Old Town has a bit for everyone. My favorite after a relaxing day at the beach is to head out to the Old Town and simply stroll. Bulgarians love their slow walks and Sozopol’s Old Town is the perfect example of that. If you head to the Old Town just before dinner, you will see pretty much everyone who’s visiting Sozopol in the Old Town.
But the best thing is that even if the place is busy, it doesn’t feel like it because everyone is the just enjoying a super relaxing slow walk without rushing anywhere. That’s the part that I love the most. It really is the kind of place you can truly relax without worrying about absolutely anything. It’s the slow motion, the music coming of each restaurant, the colors of each shop that bring total relaxation to anyone willing to open up to it. So forget your watch and simply stroll! You’ll enjoy it more than you think 🙂 !
Have dinner by the Black sea
At night the best place to dine is definitely the seafront street full of many restaurants that go along pretty much the whole side of the Old Town. A dinner here is more than just indulgence in good food and wine. It’s a true experience. As I was having dinner with my parents, I just couldn’t stop but look at the stunning views of the arch, the evening lights and the sea. It is just the perfect way to spend an evening or two in Sozopol. And don’t forget to save some space for ice cream! The best one in Sozopol is called Raffy. They have tons of different flavors so if you have a sweet tooth (like me), you’ll definitely thank me for trying out (at least) a couple of scoops of Raffy 😛 !
Have a romantic cart ride
If you’ve always wanted to try a cart ride but never given it a go, why wait any longer! A cart ride is the perfect after dinner romantic treat! And for sure the perfect way of getting back to your accommodation after an exciting evening out and about!
Love a little treat? Then have the best pancakes in town
The perfect day starts with the perfect breakfast. In Sozopol you can find this is a charming place called “Happy pancake workshop” (Rabotilnica na veselite palachinki, funny Bulgarian translation isn’t it lol). Here you can kick start your day with a choice of salty or sweet pancakes and just like in every place you’ll go to in Bulgaria, they offer so much choice that you’re bound to wonder and wonder away 😀 ! I went for fig and fresh mint and I loved it. You’ll be happy to know that if you go to Plovdiv before or after Sozopol, you can find the same workshop there as well <3! Wished I knew that when I went to Plovdiv because these pancakes are something else! Yum 😀Â
Day trip to the Castle of Ravadinovo
This place has become the new highlight on the Black Sea! For its short life of only 5 years, it’s managed to attract many eye balls already. Just 4 km away from Sozopol, the castle was built by a Bulgarian architect whose dream was literally that, to build a castle one day. Not only did he made his dream come true, but he built a whole fairy tale world around it featuring fairy architecture, funky looking cafe, a huge lake, flower garden, cute lamas and various rare species of birds. A trip to Ravadinovo is an absolute must when you visit Sozopol. It’s the perfect day trip if you wanna take a break from lying on the beach and topping up your tan. And trust me, if you’ve ever been a fan of Walt Disney’s magic, be ready for the teleportation of your life, to the majestic world of Cinderella.
Insider Tips: The Castle of Ravadinovo is open 8:00-20:00 (7 days a week) but check out their website before you visit. Also, if you book online you get a 10% discount from the standard entrace fee of 20 BGN. To book online, just head over to their website. If you decide to get a ticket on the spot, it’ll be true magic if you’re able to pay by card, so take some cash out before you hit the road!
If you’re thinking where to next, now you know! Go and see for yourself why I praise Sozopol so highly. Sharing is caring so if you have a friend who’s also wondering where to next, share this post with them and maybe get them hooked up on the idea of joining you to Sozopol. Enjoy!Â
Looking for more articles on Bulgaria?
- Discover the ancient town of PlovdivÂ
- Sofia in Autumn – The Perfect Weekend Getaway
- 15 Charming Places in Bulgaria You Haven’t Been to Yet
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