Pontus euxinos - hospitable sea.
This is how the ancient Greeks called the Black Sea, a sea that is indeed tempting and hospitable - clean and calm, without any tides or dangerous animals. The sandy sea bottom slopes gently, making bathing and swimming safe for even the youngest holidaymakers. The Black Sea is half as saline as the Mediterranean.

The Bulgarian coastal stretch faces east and extends over 378 km, dotted with vast beaches covered with fine golden sand. The majority of Bulgaria beaches have been awarded the EU Blue Flag for their environmental excellence.

Air temperatures in summer vary between 23°C and 34°C, water temperatures between 18°C and 27°C. There are more than 240 hours of sunshine in May and September, and more than 300 in July and August. The deep-cutting coves and rugged shores, wooded hills and romantic peninsulas, vineyards and orchards, fishing towns and secluded campsites lend a unique fascination to the Bulgarian Black Sea coast.

Holiday-makers have a huge selection of resorts and accommodation to choose from - depending on their budget and on the kind of holiday they are interested in. They can find anything from luxurious 4 to 5-star hotels, large holiday hotel complexes, private hotels, small guesthouses - to more seduled holiday villages, villas and B & B style rooms.

The large major sea resorts - Albena, Golden Sands, Riviera Holiday Club, Sunny Day Tourist Complex, St. Constantine, Elenite Holiday Village, Sunny Beach, Dyuni Holiday Village- tempt with luxury, innumerable sports facilities, entertainment and inland trips to noteworthy landmarks.

Varna

The gem of the Bulgarian Black Sea is situated at the end of the big Varna Bay, with a convenient and well conserved water area. The city's peculiar sea charm is sublime and moving. Ancient, medieval, renaissance and modern cultures mingle and coexist throughout the city. Varna lies on the same latitude of the famous Atlantic resorts Bayonne and Biarritz in France, on a large, flat and high terrace on the north-western most curve of the bay which juts some 7 km inland. During the holiday season, July and August, the sunshine allows 10-11 hours of sunbathing. There is nothing of the cold Baltic wind or the summer Riviera heat. The sea is amazingly calm and free of dangerous tides.
Apart from being a beach resort, Varna rivals the great cities of Sofia and Plovdiv, in its offering of cultural attractions and historical buildings, museums and art galleries. It also provides access to some of the quieter scenic spots along the coast, including the nature reserve of Kamchiya, the royal palace of Balchik and the hillside monastery of Aladzha...
Varna is an 'around-the-year' holiday destination. Beyond the high Season its balneotherapy facilities can help you unwind and enjoy the many sights and sounds in peace.

Plovdiv

Plovdiv is the second of the biggest towns in Bulgaria, following Sofia, and is 130 km. far from it. All the symbols of Bulgarian spirit are focused in the town of Plovdiv. Here, one can find remnants of Thracian, Greek and Romanian civilizations.
During the Roman yoke, the town was called "the most beautiful town in the Thracian region". An evidence of these ages is the marble amphitheatre. It has 3000 places and is built during the second century on hillocks. Even today the ancient theatre is the biggest and the most original scene for classic and modern spectacles and concerts, performing during the art festivals and "The Verdi Evenings". The Bulgarians from the Revival period left the most vivid traces in Plovdiv, as the town was a centre of the cultural elite of Bulgarian society till the middle of the former century. The architecture of the old town, its atmosphere, preserved even today, the numerous magnificently decorated churches, the town folklore, and all relics hidden behind the stone walls are symbol of the power of the Bulgarian genius.
Very often international cultural forums and exhibitions take place in Plovdiv. A Christmas Musical Festival /for contacts: (+359 32) 223 205 / is conducted in Plovdiv, and July is pronounced to be an European Month of Culture / for contacts: (+359 32)234 03 /. Permanent exhibition of well-known Bulgarian painters, as Zlatjo Bojadzhiev, Tzanko Lavrentov, Hristo Stanchev and many others are organized in the old town. Besides cultural centre, Plovdiv is a busy market place, where an International Trade Fair traditionally takes place every spring and autumn

Veliko Turnovo

The town of Veliko Turnovo is built in the ending outskirts of the Central Fore Balkan. The town is situated amphitheatrically on 4 hills - Tsarevets, Trapezitsa, Momina Krepost and Sveta Gora, the ridges of which were indeed the deeply inclined steep banks of the Yantra river meanders. Tsarevets was the capital of the Second Bulgarian Kingdom in XII century AC. Ancient travellers write about the town of Turnovo as "the second after Constantinople" in its beauty and might. The fateful events from the 13 centuries old Bulgarian State are related with this town, such as the Second Bulgarian Kingdom's apogee in XII - XIII centuries AC and the adoption of the First Bulgarian Constitution in 1874.
Seven centuries ago as a capital of the Second Bulgarian Kingdom the town of Tsarevets had had a major role in the political and the spiritual life in Bulgaria. Although there were very little evidences preserved by now they give clear information for the might of the Bulgarian Tsar dynasties and the Bulgarian Patriarch influence together with the spiritual activities in the former throne town. Archaeological researches show a significant civil, residential and cult building. The most monumental of it were the King's and Patriarch's Palaces. The exquisite architecture, the original and realistic murals in the cherishes, the colourful mosaics and handdiccraft masterpieces show the high disposition and artistic genius of Bulgarian masters, such as Zachary Zograf and Kolio Ficheto.
Now the old town quarters are preserved with their dislocated on terraces Bulgarian Renaissance houses, with their fine interior, handicraft workshops and cafes. The today's travellers describe it as the most beautiful Bulgarian town. Now the town of Veliko Turnovo is an administrative, economical and cultural centre. The audiovisual performance "Sound and Light" are attractions for the visitors of the town.