Holiday rentals in Sunny Beach

The Black Sea’s biggest and most popular summer holiday resort, Sunny Beach (Slanchev Bryag) stretches for more than five miles around a crescent-shaped bay, protected by the Balkan Mountains to the north. The beach is wide and backed by dunes, and its clear, warm waters have earned the international Blue Flag. Swimming is safe, thanks to the gently sloping seabed.Bars, clubs, restaurants, shops, and casinos line the seafront, while sun loungers and umbrellas stand sentry along the fine golden sands throughout the long summer.

The town brims with family-friendly attractions, from water and theme parks to children’s clubs and discos. Sports run the gamut from tennis and volleyball to parasailing, waterskiing, and banana-boating. If you’re looking for a little more towel space in high summer away from the main strip, the coastal road leads to some wilder untamed beaches, such as Irakli Beach, which is a favourite spot for naturists. A short drive north into the mountain roads brings you to unmarked trails through the scrubland, where tortoises, lizards, and the occasional wild boar rustle in the bushes.

Sunny Beach’s peak season for renting villas runs from around mid-May to mid-October, when sunshine and warm waters are almost guaranteed. On the eve of the first day of July, Bulgarians kick off the high season on the Black Sea coast by lighting fires, playing music, and waiting for the sun to come up in a celebration known as July Morning. High season continues into late August, when the beach can get busy and a young, energetic crowd keeps the nightlife buzzing well into the night. By mid-October, the resort has emptied out and venues have closed down in preparation for the colder winter months, when sunbathing is no longer an option. Birdwatching months are early March to mid-May and mid-August to late October, when migrating flocks fly along the coast.

Protected Wetlands

Less than an hour’s drive down the coast, a handful of lakes surrounding Burgas make up Bulgaria’s largest wetlands area. The Via Pontica, one of Europe’s main bird migration routes, passes over Poda Protected Site with its signposted eco-trail. Flocks of white storks, honey buzzards, lesser-spotted eagles, and red-footed falcons soar overhead, while Poda shelters herons, spoonbills, ibis, and overwintering species. The endangered Dalmatian pelican is a regular visitor.

Mud Baths

Bathing in a pinky-red salt pool, slathering yourself in detoxifying mud that’s thousands of years old, and washing it off in the sea is reputed to help with health ailments. You can do all this for free in the saltwater and mud lagoons at Atanasovsko Lake, north of Burgas. It’s a popular local tradition after a long day at work.

Nessebar

Connected to the mainland by a narrow isthmus, the UNESCO-protected old town of Nessebar perches on a rocky peninsula. Wooden houses jut out over narrow, cobbled lanes, while Greek tombstones, medieval churches, and Byzantine icons bear witness to the town’s long and interesting history.