Burgas

Gateway to Bulgaria’s southern Black Sea coast, with its Sea Garden, St. Anastasia Island and lakeside birdwatching; Sozopol’s old town is half an hour south and the ancient city of Nesebar lies to the north.

Burgas is Bulgaria’s fourth-largest city and the biggest port on the southern Black Sea coast. It sits at the head of Burgas Bay, ringed on the west by the lagoons of Lake Vaya, Atanasovsko Lake and Lake Mandra, and is the transport hub for the resorts of the southern coast. The city itself has a laid-back pace: the pedestrian streets Aleksandrovska and Bogoridi link the centre, and just to the east are the century-old Sea Garden, Central Beach and the pier. A 40-minute boat ride takes you to St. Anastasia Island, and the lakes on the city’s outskirts are among Europe’s best-known sites for watching migratory birds; in summer, the pink salt lakes and mud baths have become very popular in recent years. With Burgas as a base, Pomorie, a small mud-spa town, is about 20 km north, and about 35 km beyond that the World Heritage ancient city of Nesebar and the Sunny Beach resort make an easy day trip (covered as a separate destination); about 35 km south is Sozopol’s old town, built on the site of an ancient Greek city-state, and further south are boat trips on the Ropotamo River and the Thracian megalithic sanctuary of Beglik Tash. The climate is a mild transition between maritime and continental. Jun–Sep is beach season, with Jul–Aug the hottest and most crowded and sea temperatures around 24–26°C; May and Sep–Oct are pleasant with fewer visitors in the old towns, while winters are windy and most resorts close. Getting there: Burgas Airport, about 10 km from the city, has numerous European charter flights in summer; Sofia is linked by train (about 6–7 hours), long-distance bus (about 6 hours) and domestic flights. Buses to Nesebar, Sunny Beach and Sozopol leave frequently from the South Bus Station in the city centre, and in summer fast boats also run to Nesebar and Sozopol. Recommended stay: 3–4 days — 1 day for the city and island, 1 day for Sozopol, the Ropotamo and Beglik Tash, half a day for birdwatching and the salt lakes, plus an optional day at ancient Nesebar. Bulgaria has used the euro since 2026.

Top sights

Where to eat

Itineraries