Sozopol is an ancient city on the Bulgarian coast. It is located on a small peninsula on the coast of the Black Sea. The finds of archaeologists helped to establish that people lived here as early as the Bronze Age. The settlement of primitive man appeared in these places on the border of the third and fourth millennia BC. In 610 BC, Greek colonists founded their colony called Apollonia . They not only named their city that way in honor of the god Apollo, but also erected a 14-meter statue to him. The statue stood for 680 years, until the colony was conquered by the Romans, who took it to Rome. By the way, the statue is still preserved and stands in the capital of Italy.
Being at the junction of Europe and Asia, Sozopol was often invaded by enemy armies. Until 1920, the city was a Greek settlement. The conquest of Southeast Europe by the Turks had an impact here as well. Having conquered the local population, the Turkish invaders built an impregnable fortress. However, it was impregnable until the Russian-Turkish war of 1828-1929. After attacking the fortress from the sea, the Russian landing force landed on the shore. Seeing the enemy, the Turks left the fortress. The Turkish Pasha was captured along with the flags. The two guns captured as trophies were sent as a gift to the cities of Sevastopol and Mykolaiv. After Bulgaria gained independence, the city was transferred to this country, and until that time it was one of the main bases of the Black Sea Fleet of Russia. Currently Sozopolbecame a developed resort of the country, whose bohemians really liked the quiet seaside town, wrapped in the leaves of vineyards and figs.
When is the best time to relax at the resort?
For those who are tired of a monotonous beach vacation and want interesting experiences, events, romance combined with calm rhythms of life, it will be very comfortable and good here. Especially if you are traveling with the whole family. After all, Sozopol is a resort town where everyone will experience the best feelings and find hobbies and activities to their liking.
The beach season here begins in summer, in the second half of June. Because by this time the water in the sea is still not comfortable, although the air temperature has already warmed up well for sunbathing. This fact cannot be ignored when going on vacation, especially with children. It will be quite difficult to keep them from swimming, and in this case only a hotel pool can help, and even then only if the water in it is heated. Therefore, for a family vacation, we would not recommend coming at this time. The advantage of such a period can be called a relatively small number of tourists, both in the hotel and on the beach. It must be said that June can sometimes disappoint with precipitation, as the weather has not yet fully recovered.
The water becomes more suitable for swimming only in the second half of the month, we mean the sea temperature in the region of plus twenty-three degrees. Those who do not like high air temperatures and those who are satisfied with such a sea can easily come between mid-June and mid-July. This is a comfortable period not only for rest, but also for sightseeing, both in the resort itself and in Bulgaria as a whole, tours of which are offered by travel agencies. Usually, by mid-July, the air does not rise above thirty degrees, and the sea reaches twenty-five, with a plus sign.
Starting from the second half of July, that is, actually from the middle of summer, the influx of tourists increases and this is clearly visible both in hotels and on the beach. For the summer season, the period of high temperatures begins. Well, this is rather a concept of high temperatures, since usually the air is no more than thirty degrees, and the sea will be a maximum of plus twenty-seven. It is true that there are days when the temperature can reach thirty-five degrees, but this is not so often. Therefore, it is not worth comparing these and Mediterranean temperatures, when plus forty-five is not uncommon. High temperatures are easily tolerated in Bulgarian. However, you should not neglect the means of protection from the sun, because it is quite easy to get burned or get a sunstroke. This is especially true for parents, who must keep a closer eye on their children during this period.
With the onset of September, the number of tourists begins to slowly decrease. The weather is true at this time, quite decent, in terms of temperature, it is approximately similar to the period from June to mid-July, that is, twenty-eight air and twenty-four water in the sea. At this time, it is good to come with young children and couples in love, as it becomes calmer and quieter, given the fact that there are not many schoolchildren, and it is they who create
increased activity at this resort. Newlyweds, this also applies to you, this is the period for your rest, because this is the velvet season. But you shouldn’t delay your trip, because from the second half of the month, the temperatures slowly but surely start to drop. By the end of September, many hotels are already closing and the summer season is slowly coming to an end. Some people manage to rest at the beginning of October, but it all depends only on the weather, since it is impossible to guarantee warmth at this time of the year.
If we talk about the influence of one or another period on the cost of travel or accommodation, then you can probably hope for good prices only in May or at the end of September, since the rest of the time the hotels are full of tourists. Again, let’s talk about the benefit of early booking if you want to win in price.
So, as you can see, the main season is not long enough and is only three months, so you need to prepare for vacation in advance. We can only wish you good weather and welcome to Sozopol .
Where is the best place to stay in Sozopol?
Sozopol, as a resort, is quite popular and there are quite a lot of accommodation facilities here. If you believe the information provided on the Internet, then there are more than two hundred of them. We will not argue about this number, but we can definitely say that there are practically no good and comfortable hotels on the coast of the city’s central beach. Basically, all hotels are located away from the beach, or further south, in the Harmani Beach area and three kilometers north of the city center, where the Golden Fish beach is located . If with
In Harmani, you can get to the center on foot, but from Golden Fish it will not be so easy, since it will take a long time to go and you will need to use transport. For this reason, we want to talk about this hotel, which is located right on the central beach. There are many advantages in its location, first of all, it is close to the city center, which is only a five-minute walk away and where you can walk and admire the beauty of this ancient town at any time. The second is the proximity to the Marina or the yacht port, which can be reached in a few minutes. If you ask why it is needed, we will tell you yes. If you want to diversify your vacation, you can easily agree with the owner of one of the yachts or boats about a sea trip, fishing or diving, if you have the appropriate equipment. Or just sit in one of the cafes on the embankment and admire the sailing yachts. And to the central bus stationSozopol is only a hundred meters away. As you can see, there are really many advantages. This hotel is called Villa List and has a four-star category. It must be said that there are only a few five-star hotels in Sozopol , so four stars for this resort is considered a pretty good offer, as their service is not much inferior in quality to the cooler ones. But, as you yourself know, not everything is decided by the stars and there are many “fives” who are far from reaching their stars. So, let’s talk a little about this hotel, what it is and what it offers to its guests.
As we have already said, the hotel is located near the central beach. The rooms are equipped with good furniture, a minibar, satellite TV and, of course, air conditioning. Bathrooms are equipped with good sanitary ware and toiletries. Each room has a balcony with a view of the sea or the city itself. Meals are buffet-style, although you can make separate orders from the provided menu of national and European dishes prepared in the restaurant. In addition, there are several bars on the hotel premises that offer various drinks and ice cream.
It should be noted that the hotel has two swimming pools, one of which is indoor, so tourists relax in the hotel not only in the summer. Sunbeds and umbrellas on the beach are provided free of charge. Popular water sports are available on the beach itself. The hotel has its own bathhouse, with a steam room and a hydromassage bath. If desired, you can order a massage in the spa center, which, by the way, also has a solarium. Hotel guests can also work out in the fitness center for free. You can spend your free time in the library or sit in the casino, which operates at the hotel.
As for vacationing with children, there is a special playground for them, and parents are provided with a babysitting service or a babysitter, which will surely appeal to couples who came to vacation with children. For children under the age of two, a cot and accommodation are provided free of charge. For older people, on additional beds, accommodation will cost half the cost of the price for one person.
Among the services provided, it is worth noting the delivery of food and drinks to the room, car rental, paid transfer to any place of interest, including the airport. You can exchange currency right at the hotel, as well as withdraw cash from the card, as there is an ATM right on the premises. There is a laundry and dry cleaning service where you can put your clothes and shoes in order. And you can put yourself in order in the hairdresser and beauty salon, which the hotel also has at its disposal. Good news for newlyweds. The hotel has a special suite for them.
We have already talked about the indoor pool, so the hotel also has heating, as it works even in winter, so anyone who wants to spend Christmas holidays on the Bulgarian Black Sea coast can safely come to this hotel for a winter vacation.
Free Wi-Fi internet is available on the territory of the hotel, and free parking is provided for those who come by their own transport.
The staff can communicate in four languages.
This is an approximate picture of the hotel we wanted to tell you about. We think that choosing it, you will not have to regret it and your rest in it will be pleasant and comfortable for you.
Beaches
The most famous sandy beaches are Tsentralnyi and Harmani.
The central beach is the most densely occupied by tourists. A row of umbrellas and sunbeds, which are inexpensive to rent, along almost the entire 600 m long coastline. The sand is pleasant, fine and clean. The sea is blue with clear water. Convenient access to the sea. On the coast there are many different water attractions and sports entertainment for children and adults. There is a playground.
Harmani Beach is located in the modern part of the city. It is much more spacious than Central in both length and width. There are umbrellas and sunbeds on the beach, but you can do without them, as there is a place where you can sunbathe on the sand. The water in the sea is beautiful and clean, the sand is velvety and no one will prevent you from experiencing all the charms of a family vacation on the beach. Children will run freely next to you, and swimming in the sea will become joyful and fun
You can have a snack and rest from the sun in a good cafe or restaurant, which are located along the alley that separates the beach from the city.
Kavacite Beach is perfect for family vacations with children, and this is no accident. A huge area of golden-white fine sand and a gradual descent into the water – this is what attracts the most. There is a lot of space for games and fun. Despite the fact that there are more vacationers on the beach than necessary, you are guaranteed a comfortable stay. There is simply no shortage of free space here.
Sand dunes beach . If you are not afraid of distances and are ready for active recreation and movement, then you can easily get to the southern beach of Sand Dunes, which is located in the resort village of Dunes. This is an elite resort with expensive hotels. But rest on the beach is available to anyone. If you walk further along the coast from the hotels, you will find a free wide sandy strip near a good seashore.
You can’t call this place completely isolated – vacationers are still found in some places along the entire coast, but silence, peace and pristine beauty are easy to find here.
What and where to eat
There are many interesting places in Sozopol where you can eat deliciously and inexpensively. Restaurants and cafes, taverns, stylized in the style of antiquity, will offer you a menu of various meat and fish dishes, as well as a rich assortment of salads and soups.
Therefore, when booking accommodation in a hotel, you can limit yourself to only breakfasts, and thus you will save decently!
In order to have a tasty and very satisfying meal, you will need to spend approximately 30-35 leva for a family of three or four people. Your lunch will consist of a salad, soup and a second course, plus drinks. Of course, if you order something special, for example, grilled fish with vegetables and other delicacies, the amount will be more expensive by 20-25 leva.
We advise you to pay attention to the weight of dishes to avoid overeating. It often happens that one portion is enough for two.
It is worth saying that the prices are the same almost everywhere, regardless of the internal environment and setting of the restaurant or cafe. It’s just that some of them – the most prestigious ones – may not have free seats in the lunch and evening hours.
Restaurants and cuisine in Sozopol
The resort of Sozopol , located on the Black Sea coast, has more than 300 bars, taverns, cafes and restaurants. All of them are located in both the Old and New towns. Here you can eat deliciously without spending a lot of money, listen to “live” music. Among them, about 50 are considered fashionable and decorate the central part of the resort. And if you visit a new establishment every day, you can significantly diversify your vacation. Such restaurants in Sozopol include “Neptune”, “Orpheus”, “Olympus” .
Many restaurants in the resort town are interesting, in addition to the dishes, for their historical location. And the specialty of Sozopol restaurateurs is that they build their establishments on the foundations of ancient buildings where archaeologists have already worked. This is how the restored Stenata and Kladenets restaurants appeared . The former boasts ancient cellars that once stored grain. In the second one, a spring is still functioning in the dungeon – a supplier of drinking water for the townspeople in the old days.
Among similar establishments in the old part of Sozopol , the “Windmill” and “Xantan” restaurants stand out for their originality . As the name suggests, the first restaurant was located in an ancient windmill that has been preserved in its original form. And the Druzhba restaurant is built in the form of a fishing boat.
The new city attracts visitors to the “Casablanca” restaurants on the street. Suddenly, “Fisherman” is also on Veseliya Street. In it, gourmets enjoy eating fish delicacies. And this despite the fact that excellent fish and seafood dishes are prepared in all Sozopol establishments.
In addition to fish, local chefs surprise with their creativity, using herbs, spices, and vegetables in cooking. These products give food a piquant aroma and taste and are naturally very useful. That is why there is such a large number and variety of salads on restaurant tables. Soups and meat dishes are also not complete without the inclusion of these products. Especially tasty food comes out in pots. The most popular in Sozopol , as in the whole of Bulgaria, is the cold soup “Tarator” – an analogue of our okroshka. Tourists should also try “Plaka” made from fish with vegetables baked in a pot. The signature pies include “Banitsa”, its recipe is not disclosed. The whole secret is in the preparation of the dough, and you can use any filling.
Famous brands of Bulgarian wines, local vodka “Rakiya” and mint liqueur “Menta” are served with good food . A rich selection of alcoholic cocktails diversify the intoxicating drinks.
Nightlife in Sozopol is concentrated in New Town on the Harmany Peninsula. Mini-bars and incendiary discos are “Kulti”, “Muscata” and “Aqua club”. Everyone, regardless of age, can spend time at the table with an original cocktail, accompanied by dancing until the morning to the rhythmic music and witty language of the DJs.
Description of the resort
Sozopol is considered a resting place for creative people – film directors, actors, musicians, poets, artists. So there are many opportunities to meet and chat with interesting people here.
It is customary to divide Sozopol into Old and New towns.
Old Sozopol is a historical center of culture and art – an architectural reserve. Unusual buildings from ancient times have been preserved here – whimsical two-story residential houses with a wooden upper tier that protrudes so far that houses on opposite sides of narrow streets almost touch. Some of them have jewelry stores with beautiful and inexpensive silver products and jewelry that are a pleasure to purchase.
Small buildings with tiled roofs, cobbled streets, small churches and chapels – all this adds charm and expressiveness to the city.
This part of the city is separated from Novy by a beautiful green park of southern plants and trees – sycamores, acacias, figs, junipers. There is also a market of interesting souvenirs.
Active real estate construction is underway in the New City, and houses and apartments for sale and rent are also scattered there. The private sector is here. If we talk about the cost of living in apartments and private houses in Sozopol , it does not differ much from the prices in hotels. It is advantageous if you plan to spend a month, two or more here.
Hotels in Sozopol are located both in the historical part and in the New Town. Many family hotels are located in old buildings, cozy and quiet places. When choosing a hotel, it is necessary to pay attention to the distance of the hotel from discotheques and noisy restaurants. Nightlife is characteristic of this colorful city.
Attractions
The town itself is a sight to behold. It was for the white houses with red roof tiles that the Bulgarian elite first fell in love with it, and then all those who visited it at least once. The main distinguishing feature of ancient Greek cities has always been the amphitheater. In 1972, a landslide exposed the remains of the ancient monument. The rest was done by people. So that today anyone can admire the restored part of the city of Apollonia .
The church of Cyril and Methodius can be called the second most significant place . The temple was built at the end of the 19th century on the outskirts of the city. Due to the distance from the settlement, the service was held on holidays. Then for a long time the church was a museum. Now it is located within the city limits, has been restored and services are regularly held in it. It will be very interesting to look at the temple of the Virgin Mary . The structure looks too low, and it really is. During the Turkish rule, it was forbidden to build church buildings higher than the height of the rider. That is why the temple turned out to be low. The building is unique in its kind and is included in the UNESCO list.
The city also has its own holy martyr – Zosima . He was a Roman legionnaire who suffered for his faith. Since he lived all his life in ancient Apollonia, after his death he became the patron saint of the city. In the old town there is an archaeological museum with an entire hall dedicated to Christian art. The history of Christian art is represented by finds from the beginning of Christianity.
A family walk through the Old Town with a visit to museums, chapels and galleries will be interesting and informative. Everyone will find something special for themselves here, which will be remembered for a lifetime. The houses of Sozopol , the purpose of which any tour guide or just a local resident can tell you about, are the unique value of the peninsula.
Also a popular place for tourists to visit is the Archaeological Museum , which stores a collection of ancient Greek vases and shell-covered stone anchors pulled out of the water. Other attractions of Sozopol are the historical complex “Southern Fortress Wall and Tower” and the Art Gallery .
Everyone, without exception, will like a trip to the largest island in Bulgaria, St. Ivan, which is located near the city.
Raptom nature reserve will give children and parents good impressions . Smoothly moving along the picturesque river Suddenly, on a small cute boat, it is easy to get into the “fairytale binding” of green vines of rare plants and see beautiful birds and wild animals. Moving further and further, the boat will bring you to Cape Maslen nis , where you will be lucky enough to see dolphins and seals – the favorites of all children and adults.
Every year, Sozopol is becoming more and more popular with tourists. But, despite this, it is always comfortable and easy here. This is probably one of the few resorts that evoke feelings of love and affection. It makes you want to be bored and wait for a new meeting.
Where to go on an excursion from Sozopol?
We recommend that you visit the following places during your stay in Sozopol :
- Ravadinovo Castle is a unique building in Bulgaria, located some 6 km from Sozopol.
- St. Ivan is the largest Bulgarian island on the Black Sea, the distance to the island is only 2 km. The ruins of the monastery of St. John the Baptist have been preserved on the island , and it offers gorgeous views of the sea. There are no organized excursions to the island, you can get here by arranging a boat transfer with local fishermen at the port. Don’t miss this wonderful sea walk.
- Nessebar is the pearl of the Bulgarian coast. The city pulsates with the rhythm of parties and discos, but at the same time retains its charm.
- Veliko Tarnovo is the ancient capital of Bulgaria and Mount Shipka is known to all Soviet citizens .
- Istanbul . The Turkish capital needs no introduction. An excursion to Istanbul usually takes 2 days, but it is definitely worth it! The excursion program, as a rule, includes travel and accommodation in an Istanbul hotel (1 night), a boat trip along the Bosphorus, and a visit to famous Turkish markets.
How to get there
The nearest airport to Sozopol is near the city of Burgas and is located 34 kilometers from the resort. The Sozopol – Burgas transfer will take about half an hour and will cost EUR 3 if you travel by bus. You can also fly to Varna airport, which is 162 km from the resort. The Sozopol – Varna transfer will take more than 2 hours on the way. The taxi fare from Burgas will be around 35 euros, from Varna – 90 euros.
In addition to the plane, you can also travel to Bulgaria by car, or use tourist buses that regularly run in the summer to the Black Sea coast of the republic.