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Sunny Beach

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The Bulgarian Riviera is adorned with holiday resorts, beaches, hotels and tourist attractions, yet what sets the Sunny Beach resort apart from the rest is its location near to just about everything that a visitor might want. Just south of Sunny Beach is the historical town of Nesebur, to the north is the Balkan mountain range and the beach itself offers sun, sand and surf on the coast of the Black Sea.

Sunny Beach is just 22 miles from the second biggest city on the coast: Bourgas which has fantastic transport links and sights to see. The resort itself occupies around 5 miles of a Black Sea bay with sand dunes, natural plant life, tide-less shores and breezes brought down from the Balkan Mountains. Towards the southern end of Sunny Beach there are more dunes, some of which merge into the forest land, providing the ideal environment for exploring, walking and hiking.

What's more, Sunny Beach has become part of the Blue Flag initiative; a programme which awards an 'eco-label' to the healthiest, cleanest and most eco-friendly beaches and marinas in 37 countries worldwide. This Bulgarian beach's fresh mountain air, abundance of forest land and safe seas without tides make it one of the best destinations in Eastern Europe.

Areas

The Beach Resort

This is where visitors will find amenities such as 2, 3, 4 and 5 star hotels located in the Park area of the resort (which is just next to the beach). Bars, clubs, cafés, restaurants, sports facilities and gyms, shops and spas are all commonplace in the region of the beach resort.

The Forestland

Further outside of the hustle and bustle of the beach resort and park visitors can explore the forestland, with 16 rare species of plants, plenty of wildlife (none of which are dangerous to humans) and stunning scenery. The surroundings here are entirely natural and unspoilt, so don't expect to find a place to eat or an amusement park for the kids in this area!

Weather

Due to Sunny Beach's location right on the Black sea, it is blessed with having the first of the sea breezes. This certainly helps to freshen the air when temperatures are reaching highs of 29ºC in July and August each year. If you want a cooler holiday then visit Sunny Beach between May and June when the crowds smaller and the hours of sunshine are still high.

Average Temperatures

F/C	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
F	36	38	43	51	60	68	72	71	66	57	47	40
C	2	3	6	11	16	20	22	22	19	14	8	4

Average Precipitation/Rain

In./CM	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
In.	1.8	1.8	1.9	1.8	1.7	2.4	1.6	1.1	1.5	2.1	2.6	40
CM	4.6	4.6	4.8	4.6	4.3	6.1	4.1	2.8	3.8	5.3	6.6	101.6

Getting There

By Plane

The nearest airport to Sunny Beach is located around 22 miles south, in Bourgas. Alternatively the Varna International Airport is around 60 miles north of Sunny Beach, which is slightly larger than Bourgas. Once you arrive at either airport there are plenty of transport links that will take you directly to the Sunny Beach resort.

By Bus

If you have flown in to Bourgas or Varna then there are plenty of buses that go directly from the airports to Sunny Beach each day. Ticket prices are 5 euros per person from Bourgas, or 10 euros per person from Varna.

By Boat

Sunny beach's location on the coast of the Black Sea gives it great transport links via water. Bourgas harbor has ferries leaving each day for destinations such as Sunny Beach, and this could be the ideal way to arrive at the resort.

By Car

The capital city of Bulgaria, Sofia is the only place in the country with fully developed motorways. Therefore if you are planning to drive to Sunny Beach through central Europe then be prepared for a somewhat different drive. Also, remember that the road signs are often written in Cyrillic, with lettering that you may not be familiar with.

Getting Around

By Car

With a mountainous area and no properly developed motorways, driving around the Bulgarian Riviera can sometimes be daunting. Yet once you get used to driving here, getting to nearby locations such as Nesebur or Bourgas for a day out by car is an easy option.

By Boat

Simply hop in a yacht or take a ferry to the peninsula where you will find Nesebur, or any of the other destinations on the Riviera such as Varna. The Black Sea has no tides to you are guaranteed a smooth and comfortable ride.

By Taxi

This is a simple way to get around as there are so many taxis and mini cabs available to take you to your destination. Be sure to negotiate the price with the driver before you leave, and if you are unsure of where to visit just ask them and they should give you some useful information on the best attractions!

By Bus

Buses connect Nesebur, Bourgas, Sveti Vlas and Sunny Beach with services operating on a regular basis each day. Prices are usually around 5 euros per adult although these may vary depending on what time of year you are visiting.

Food & Dining

If you like Turkish or Greek food, you will love the food in Sunny Beach, Bulgaria! Here you will find delicious breads topped with wonderful aromatic cheeses and delightful antipastos such as pickled red peppers, artichoke hearts, olives, and other wonderful condiments! Grilled meats are also very popular in this area and you can find wonderful tomato, cucumber, and grilled chicken salads or heaps of grilled pork stuffed between flatbread. If you're wandering around Sunny Beach and don't speak the language but find yourself looking for a restaurant, simply look for the signs that say "PECTOPAHT" and this is sure to be a place where you can find any of these scrumptious items!

Beaches

Black Sea Coast (Sand beach) Location: Sunny Beach Resort There is really only one beach in Sunny Beach and that services hundreds of hotels and tourists with everything that they could possibly ask for. On this beach, which stretches for six kilometer, there is golden sand, sloping sand dunes that are completely natural, plenty of exotic fish to look at and swim with, and the Mediterranean sun that will watch over as you do it all! This is a very popular resort for families because of all the amenities the beach offers and is the top spot in Europe to vacation!

Sights & Activities

Nesebur

This small town located on the peninsula is full of history and intriguing stories which have been traced back as early as 500 B.C. A visit to the medieval churches, 18th century windmills and the several Bulgarian national revival style houses gives further insight into this country's culture, traditions and art. Nesebur is close enough for an enjoyable day trip away from the busy beach resort.

Yachting Club water sports

One activity not to be missed is taking part in one of the Watersports available on Sunny Beach. Visitors can have lessons in parasailing, hang gliding, yachting, wind surfing and water skiing from the Sunny Beach yachting club staff. These options are open during the peak times of the year (early June to late August).

Beach sports

Sunny Beach has plenty of activities for the whole family to take part in, such as mini-golf, bowling and even archery. Sports on the beach include volleyball, tennis and horse-riding with fully catered facilities for each activity (horse stables, tennis and volleyball courts).

Bulgarian folk-style Picnic

Travel 7.5 miles north of the Sunny Beach resort and you will be greeted for a traditional Bulgarian picnic, which includes a three course meal, dancing, music and drinks. This is a great way for you and your family to feel included in Bulgaria's folk-style culture and really get to know what the country is all about.