Beaches and forest together - the middle part of the Black Sea coast

The temperature is 4 degrees outside but I'm thinking of the seaside. I am imagining being at the beach, the weather is hot, there are no umbrellas or anything I can hide but I have a hat and a cold beer in my hand. This is one of those deserted beaches between the rocks which are incised into the sea...and that picture reminds me to some beautiful places at the Bulgarian Black Sea coast. I will continue my trip south of Varna.

Blue blue sea...

The "port" of Kanchia river just 200m far from its firth

The route is not going beside the coast beacuse of the rocks but it passes through little villages and amazing forest. The only thing is that it is very busy as this ian important way connecting the two biggest seaside cities - Varna and Burgas. We don't drive fast so that we could enjoy the journey. Our first stop is the firth of Kamchia river, this crazy river is being comforted and calmly flows into the Black Sea. Unique dense forests in the biosphere reserve in conjunction with the vast dunes of the protected area make this corner of the Black Sea coast between Varna and Burgas in a great place for relaxation and fishing. We made a little boat trip on the river from its firth to the little wild fishing village.

Hiding in the forest

Then comes Shkorpilovtsi, a little village with a wide beach and some bungalows you can hire and forget about the big city for a long time. The place is an ideal combination of natural resources. This extreme eastern hills of Stara Planina wade into the waters of the Black Sea including forests and long sandy beaches. We passed through Byala, the last city in Varna region. I've been here when I was a little girl and I have great kid memories. Next time we'll definitely stop and explore it.

A park in Obzor

Only 2 km after crossing "the border" between Varna and Burgas regions we found Obzor, which has the longest beach in Bulgaria - 8km. Now its a modern small town-resort but Obzor was built more that 3000 years ago and still keeps its remains and spirit. After 2 days enjoying the town and its beach we continued to the next destination that I loved - Emine cape. The cape deserves to be seen as it is an impressive rock that is 60m high! Still there is a working lighthouse at its end. Emine cape is the natural border between north and south part of the Bulgarian seaside. If you go there plan a little bit more time as you'd need to pass the last 5km over an awful road - it took us half an hour. I don't wanna dissuade you, you won't regret the view!

Emine cape with the Lighthouse

Passing through the mountain we reach St. Vlas resort, a sunny place with lots of hotels connected to the most popular resort at the Bulgarian coast - Sunny Beach. It might be the most popular but the worst in my opinion. Why? Beacuse of the mess and chaos around. It is full of hotels - one, two,...., up to 5 star ones, luxury and ordinary too, crowded all the time. I hate to be stepped on all the time and I usually don't go to the beach there. And also Sunny Beach has not a good fame in the last years. They say that thousands juvenile teenagers of whole Europe come here every summer because nobody stops them drinking and cause it's the cheapest famouse resort in Europe...As I said my opinion. But the beach and bay are beautiful! If you still insist on comming and see it, then you can find accomodation in the nearest city - Nesseber. They are actually connected but Nesseber is old, ancient, interesting mysterious - everything that Sunny Beach is not! It's an amazing experience to dine in a restaurant beside the sea in the old town!

Beautiful Nessebar, photo by tschinar.net

Our trip will stop here now. Well, it's almost winter now and I need to be back in the reality. But promise you soon to warm you with the next part of the Bulgarian Black Sea coast trip.

The journey along the Black Sea continues to the south

Wind park near Kaliakra

Last time we stopped at Kaliakra cape - the most beautiful cape at the Bulgarian part of the Black Sea. 
Now we continue with the next destination: Kavarna, a little town situated by the sea. Two things come on my mind when talking about Kavarna - the mussel farm and the rock fest. The mussel farm is an unique place where you can receive always  fresh mussels, cooked in different ways. In addition you receive an amazing view. The rock fest in Kavarna takes place since 2000 and it's the best summer festival by the sea. For those 11 years it has hosted the most popular rock and metal bands and thousands of people have enjoyed the performances.
Going on the road we reach Balchik, another small city in the region but with beautiful gardens and places to visit. Be prepared to spend at least 2-3 hours in the amazing Balchik Palace, built in 1926 by the Romanian Queen Maria. When she saw the place, she fell in love with it and wanted immidiately to have a residence at that place. Just next to the Palace is situated the fascinating Botanic Garden of Sofia University, mostly famous with its cactus collection.

The cactus section of Balchik garden

An interesting way to reach the next resort - Albena is on foot. There is a unique alley, called Dambata which connects Balchik and Albena.

The alley is almost 8 km long and besides the stunning views you can also enjoy a lunch in one of the restaurants there. Albena itself is one of the 3 most popular resorts by the Bulgarian coast and my impression is that it is the most luxury and peacefull resort.
 Only 3 km south is situated Kranevo village.  The beach of Kranevo is probably the widest by the Bulgarian coast and the sand is so fine. At the beach is located Vanilla beach bar which makes great parties during the summer.


Passing through small campings (and they're so much along the coast) we carry down Zlatni Piasatsi or more famous in English - Golden Sands, the most popular resort at the Northen Black Sea Coast. Intersting luxury hotels, restaurants and expensive bars, souvenir alley and an amazing  amusement park Aquapolis, make the tourists' holiday pleasent and exciting. It is very crowded in high season but it's full of attractions.

Monastery St. St. Constantine and Elena

The next resort is St.St. Constantine and Elena. Before 1989 it was called Druzhba and still some people that call it with its old name. I catch myself telling you that every resort is beautiful. I' m sorry but that's almost  the truth. So Constantine and Elena is again a wonderful place located in a little forest by the coast that makes you walk in the hottest weather without feeling the hotness. In the heart of the resort is located Monastery St.St. Constantine and Elena. When you enter the Monastery yard, you immidiately feel the privacy of that holy place, it seems like you're not in a luxury resort. It sends you back in the years. A holy spring with healing water is located there and people believe in its power especially for eye and skin problems.

So far we reach Varna. There is so much to be tell about the Sea capital of Bulgaria - there is the Main Bulgarian Port, a fantastic resort, third city in Bulgaria, historical place and so on and so on. I love it as my second home, I come here every summer but I'll never be tired of it. Read more about it in my virtualtourist page. Varna is great for partying because of the many clubs and restaurants on the alley by the beach. Varna is great for resting because of the amazing Sea Garden. Varna is great for cultural tourism because of the dozens festivals in the city. Enjoy Varna as long as you can.

View to Varna from Galata cape

We're going down by the cost to reach the place where the mountain cuts the sea.

By the Black Sea

So many things could be written about the Bulgairan Black Sea coast, about its beaches, resorts and sunrises. Although the Bulgarian coast is only 354km long and although I will write only few words about different places I will need at least 4-5 articles to mention all (or almost all) the resorts and villages.
And as a lover of the North part of the Black Sea, I'm starting with the most northern part of the Bulgarian Black sea coast.

The beautiful north rocky coast

The Bulgarian- Romanian border passes through Sivriburun cape and only 7 km south of it is Durankulak village. The village is not situated exactly by the sea but 2.5 km inside in the country. Walking or drivinng that distance, you reach Cosmos camping. North of the camping is the most northern beach in Bulgaria, called Ana Maria ( it's name comes from a Greek ship, aground there in 1969). If you walk along the south beach you'll reach Krapets. It is a small village that perfectly combines sea tourism, together with hunting, fishing and eco- tourism. The village is also famous with its special fish soup.

The lighthouse at Shabla cape, photo by Laska

Between Durankulak and Krapets is situated lake Durankulak which is a protected area. In the north part of the lake there are archeological excavations proving that the first husbandmen of those lands are from 5000 year b.c. Going south you'll reach Shabla, a Bulgarian town situated on the main road, 8 km west from Shabla cape. There, on the cape you can see the oldest still active lighthouse on the Balkans. Many vessels have sunken in the sea around Shabla in the World War II. This is one of the reasons the place to be preferred destination for underwater tourism.

The next stop is Tyulenovo, a village with amazing nature. Presence of seals was noticed during the 40-s of the last century. It is a good place for them because of the combination of caves, low level rocks and winds. That is why the village is called Tyulenovo (a place for seals). Unfortunately those seals have already dissapeared from there. Tyulenovo is ideal for diving, rock climbing and camping. Only 5 km south from Tyulenovo is located the village of Kamen Bryag. As Tyulenovo is, Kamen bryag is also around beautiful rocks. On first of July, every year people celebrate July Morning. This tradition comes from the hippy era in the 1980s, that has started in Varna. People from the whole the country come to the Black Sea coast (Kamen briag is prefered placefor this) to meet the sunrising. The name of the celebration is connected with the song of  Uriah Heep "July Morning". Near Kamen briag is located Yailata- a region that represents archaeological preserve. This is seaside terrace area separated from the sea of ​​rocks 50-60 m in height. In the area there are plenty of rock caves that in the past have been used as monasteries.

Kamen briag, meaning "Stone coast"

Not very popular but prefered by people who really want to rest is Rusalka resort. It is calm and peaceful resort and not crowded at all. There you could see remains of Byzantine fortress- Tauk liman.

Our last stop of this article is Kaliakra cape, long and narrow. The coast is with steep cliffs about 70 m high.

Kaliakra cape

A legend tells for 40 Bulgarian girls who tied their hair together and jumped into the Black Sea instead of being captured by the Ottomans. The name of the most enthusiastic girl was Kaliakra. There is a monument  in front of the fortress, called The Gate of the 40 Maidens.
Being there and feeling the wind makes you feel the freedom.

An interesting trip around the North coast of the Bulgarian Black Sea has made Laska, read in her blog.
Next stop - Varna and its surroundings.

Sources: my impressions and knowledge and wikipedia.