Sozopol

One of the oldest small towns on the Black Sea, with a headland old town of wooden houses and stone lanes by the sea; the Ropotamo River boat trips and the Thracian sanctuary to the south can be visited on the way.

Sozopol lies on the south coast of the Bulgarian Black Sea, about 35 km south of Burgas. It was founded as Apollonia, a Greek colony, in the 7th century BC, and is one of Bulgaria's oldest towns. The town has two parts. The old town is on a headland jutting into the sea, where 19th-century wooden houses on stone bases line cobblestone lanes. It has an archaeological museum, the south city walls, the Church of the Virgin Mary, and the Church of Saints Cyril and Methodius, which holds the relics of St. John the Baptist. The seaside promenade is good for watching the sunset. The new town to the south is the hotel district, with Harmani Beach. Offshore, St. Ivan Island can be toured by boat in summer. Heading south along the coast, you'll pass Kavatsi Bay, Ravadinovo Castle, the Ropotamo Nature Reserve (river boat trips), Arkutino Beach and the Begliktash Thracian sanctuary, making it a good one-day drive.

The best season is June–September. July and August are the busiest, with the highest hotel prices. Early September brings the Apollonia Arts Festival. In winter, most hotels and restaurants close. Getting there: a bus from Burgas airport or bus station takes about 40 minutes. Plan 2–3 days: one for the old town, one for the beaches, and one for the southern nature reserve.

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