Wild & quiet ‹ › 1/6 Photo: opoznai.bg
8 h from SofiaFar north, near the Romanian border · Крапец · Дуранкулак
Kilometres of empty sand, low dunes and a coastal lake full of birds, with almost no hotels. Krapets is a favourite of kitesurfers and of Bulgarians who want a quiet summer.
Tip Durankulak lake, just inland, has a Stone Age settlement on an island you can walk to.
Sand Wide, golden
Facilities A few cafés and campsites
Best for Quiet, kitesurfing
Kitesurfing Birds
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‹ › 1/6 Photo: Dimitar Bachvarov from Bulgaria , CC BY-SA 2.0
7 h 45 from SofiaNear Cape Kaliakra · Болата
A small cove of sand between red cliffs, at the mouth of a little valley with reeds. It is protected as part of the Kaliakra nature reserve, so there are no buildings, just the beach.
Tip Visit Cape Kaliakra and the Yailata cliffs the same day; both are on the Views page.
Sand Small cove
Facilities Car park, a café in summer
Best for Snorkelling, scenery
Protected Small
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‹ › 1/5 Photo: Pudelek , CC BY-SA 4.0
6 h 05 from SofiaSouth of Varna · Шкорпиловци
The longest beach in Bulgaria, about 13 km of sand backed by dunes and forest. Even in August you can walk away from the village and find a space to yourself.
Tip Walk north towards the mouth of the Kamchia river; the beach gets wilder the further you go.
Sand Very long, fine
Facilities Cafés and campsites near the village
Best for Space, long walks
Longest beach Dunes
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‹ › 1/6 Photo: opoznai.bg
5 h 20 from SofiaBetween Byala and Obzor · Карадере
One of the last long beaches with no buildings at all: 4 km of sand under green hills and cliffs. Many Bulgarians campaigned to keep it this way.
Tip The dirt road down is rough. Park at the top if you are not in a high car.
Sand Long, golden
Facilities None, or a beach bar in summer
Best for Wild beach, sunrise
No buildings Rough road
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‹ › 1/5 Photo: opoznai.bg
5 h 10 from SofiaNear Emona, north of Sunny Beach · Иракли
A wide beach at the mouth of a small river, between the hills of Cape Emine and the Balkan range. It has long been a meeting place for campers and nature lovers.
Tip Walk up to Emona village and the cape for views of the whole bay.
Sand Wide, golden
Facilities A few bars and a campsite
Best for Laid-back summer
River mouth Camping
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‹ › 1/6 Photo: opoznai.bg
6 h 05 from SofiaStrandzha, near Rezovo · Силистар
A curved bay with clear water, in a protected area of Strandzha nature park, close to the Turkish border. Oak forest comes almost down to the sand.
Tip Some of the clearest water on the coast. Bring a snorkel.
Sand Bay, fine sand
Facilities Car park and a café in summer
Best for Clear water
Protected Snorkelling
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‹ › 1/7 Photo: opoznai.bg
6 h from SofiaStrandzha · Синеморец · Велека
Where the Veleka river curls round a sand spit into the sea: fresh water on one side, salt water on the other. Sinemorets village has two more coves, and the coast around it is wild and green.
Tip Butamyata beach, a short walk south of the village, is quieter.
Sand Several coves
Facilities Village guesthouses and cafés
Best for River and sea together
River mouth Strandzha
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‹ › 1/5 Photo: opoznai.bg
8 h 05 from SofiaNear Shabla, far north · Езерец
An empty beach between two coastal lakes, Ezerets and Shabla, with almost no buildings. People once washed off the sea salt in the freshwater lake behind the sand.
Tip The last 3 km from the village is a dirt road, fine for normal cars. The road from Krapets is worse.
Sand Long, quiet
Facilities None
Best for Solitude, birds
Lakes No buildings
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‹ › 1/5 Photo: opoznai.bg
6 h 25 from Sofia15 km south of Varna · Паша дере
A wide, wild beach under forested hills, the last one south of Varna before the Black Sea motorway ends. There are no hotels; young people camp here in summer.
Tip The last kilometre of the road is dirt but passable in a normal car.
Sand Wide, clean
Facilities None
Best for Wild beach near Varna
Near Varna Wild
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‹ › 1/5 Photo: opoznai.bg
5 h 20 from SofiaBetween Lozenets and Tsarevo · Корал
One of the last wild beaches of the south coast: long, wide and very clean, with forest behind it. A water-sports school and a campsite are the only buildings.
Tip Walk north round the headland to Mechata Dupka, the Bear’s Hole, a tiny cove of 120 m.
Sand Long, fine
Facilities Campsite, water sports
Best for Surfing, camping
Wild Camping
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Easy, with cafés ‹ › 1/6 Photo: opoznai.bg
6 h 15 from SofiaSouth of Varna · Камчия
The Kamchia river meets the sea through Longoza, one of the largest flooded forests in Europe. The beach is long and backed by trees, and boats go up the river.
Tip Take a boat trip up the river through the forest.
Sand Long, fine
Facilities Hotels, cafés
Best for Families, nature
Forest River trips
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‹ › 1/7 Photo: Daniel Albrecht from Prague, Czech Republic , CC BY 2.0
4 h 50 from SofiaSouth of Burgas · Созопол
An old fishing town on a rocky peninsula, founded by Greek colonists in the 7th century BC as Apollonia. It has two town beaches, wooden houses and fish restaurants above the sea.
Tip In early September the Apollonia arts festival fills the old town with concerts.
Sand Town beaches
Facilities Everything
Best for Old town and beach
Old town Fish restaurants
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‹ › 1/6 Photo: opoznai.bg
4 h 55 from SofiaBetween Sozopol and Primorsko · Каваците · Аркутино
A string of beaches backed by high dunes, sand lilies and the Ropotamo river reserve. Arkutino has a lagoon with water lilies; Kavatsite is a long arc of sand south of Sozopol.
Tip Take a boat on the Ropotamo river from the bridge on the main road.
Sand Dunes, fine sand
Facilities Beach bars, campsites
Best for Dunes, families
Dunes Ropotamo
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‹ › 1/5 Photo: opoznai.bg
5 h 15 from SofiaKiten, south coast · Атлиман
A sheltered bay of fine golden sand and blue, warm water, wrapped in green forest on the north side of Kiten. The water stays calm when the open sea is rough.
Tip The Urdoviza fortress ruins are on the headland between Kiten’s two beaches.
Sand Bay, fine
Facilities Cafés, sunbeds
Best for Families, calm water
Calm water Families
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‹ › 1/4 Photo: opoznai.bg
5 h 15 from SofiaNorth of Primorsko · Плаж Перла
A shallow bay by the former Perla state residence: on calm days you can walk out tens of metres and the water is still only knee-deep. Dunes and forest frame the sand.
Tip Visit the Beglik Tash Thracian sanctuary in the forest just north; see the Monuments page.
Sand Shallow bay
Facilities Beach bars
Best for Small children
Shallow Dunes
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‹ › 1/5 Photo: opoznai.bg
7 h 20 from SofiaTopola, near Kavarna · Плаж Аргата
A small beach of bright sand and turquoise water at the foot of the high cliffs of the north coast, below a golf resort. The cliff-top views towards Kaliakra are superb.
Tip It belongs to the resort, so sunbeds cost extra; arrive early in July and August.
Sand Small cove
Facilities Resort beach
Best for Clear water, cliffs
Cliffs Turquoise water
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Big resorts ‹ › 1/4 Photo: karel291 , CC BY 3.0
6 h 45 from SofiaNorth of Varna · Златни пясъци
A big resort of hotels in a nature park of forest, with a wide beach of fine sand about 3.5 km long. Lively in summer, with water sports and clubs.
Tip Aladzha rock monastery is in the forest just above the resort; see the Monuments page.
Sand Wide, fine
Facilities Everything
Best for Holidays, nightlife
Resort Water sports
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‹ › 1/4 Photo: Roton Piotr , CC BY-SA 3.0
4 h 35 from SofiaNorth of Burgas · Слънчев бряг
Bulgaria’s largest resort: 8 km of sand lined with hotels, bars and clubs. It is loud in July and August, and much calmer in June and September.
Tip Walk or take the boat to Nessebar’s old town at the south end of the bay.
Sand Very long, wide
Facilities Everything
Best for Parties, all-inclusive
Resort Nightlife
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Nothing this close. Try a longer drive time or another city.