There is no paradise on Earth, but there are heavenly corners. The resort of Svetiy Vlas (Sveti Vlas) in Bulgaria can undoubtedly claim the title of “paradise town”. Silence, peace, cleanliness on the streets and surprisingly clean air, forested mountain Stara Planina , flocks of swans, a sea of roses and a real sea. The entire minimal paradise set is present.
The town of St. Vlas is not young, the first settlement existed in this place already in the 4th century AD, but now there are no large number of monuments here.
At first, the city was called Larissa , later the Turks called it ” Kyuchuk Monastery “, as there were many monasteries around. Another reason to consider Sveti Vlas a heavenly place!
Saint Vlas received the official status of the city in 2006 after the construction of the super-modern Marina Dineva yacht port here . The promenade of the yacht port with its restaurants and boutiques can compete with many well-known resorts in Europe in terms of its fashion.
The center of the entire life of the town is the extraordinary beauty and well-kept cathedral of Saint Vlasius , the patron saint of the city , built just a couple of years ago. The crystal bell of the cathedral bells twice a day can be heard everywhere.
In the central square of the town hall on holidays, there are concerts of folklore music, accompanied by a mass dance of the horo.
The ancient church of St. Athanasius is located on the mountain . There is also a small prayer house on the mountain – the Chapel of Andrew the First-Called and next to it the Holy Spring . Another Holy spring is located in the forest, on the outskirts of the city in the direction of Elenite .
In the old part of the city, there are neat little houses covered with grapes and roses, on the doorsteps of which sit cute Bulgarian grandmothers, who look like Vanga .
The new part of St. Vlas – modern complexes and hotels, most of which operate only in summer.
The official population of St. Vlas is about 3,800. In summer, the number increases by a couple of thousand due to visiting tourists, many of whom live in their own apartments in newly built complexes.
Residents of St. Vlas are calm, polite and calm, no one is in a hurry. Where to hurry if you are already in paradise? Tourists are still busy at first, while they settle in a new place, and then they are also infected with this peace.
The swans, who live here all year round, hiss at the particularly active and noisy ones. After all, they know where to settle, royal birds!
Unlike people, a flock of swans receives guests in the winter season. The population of swans in St. Vlas increases several dozen times in winter due to wintering “tourists”.
The combination of mountain and sea creates a unique climatic zone in the area of St. Vlas , which adds to the heavenly charm of the town. It is believed that the air in this place is especially saturated with iodine ions and is ideal for people with respiratory diseases.
There are no huge anthill buildings here, as in the noisy resort of Sunny Beach, located just 2 kilometers away . Residential complexes with a height of no more than 5 floors, cozy family hotels, small restaurants – lovers of noisy companies in Sveti Vlas have nothing to do.
Sunny Beach from St. Vlas looks like some kind of super-modern alien world, which does not attract you at all. Svity Vlas from Sunny Beach looks like a much more heavenly place…
Features of recreation
Saint Vlas is a small resort town, quiet and peaceful, just the perfect place for a family vacation or just with a girlfriend. There are mountains nearby, which provides beautiful scenery from almost any point of the resort. The beach is clean and neat, the sea is warm, and the air… the locals claim that due to their good location, the air here is almost therapeutic. Neighboring Elenite, which is within walking distance, is also quite suitable for family vacations, but in St. Vlashas its advantages. Firstly, it is much larger than its tiny neighbor and it is quite pleasant to wander the streets of the city in the evenings. Moreover, the further from the coast you go into the town, the cheaper cafes and restaurants will be on your way. But don’t think that if we said the further, it means that you have to go straight to the mountains that surround the town. St. Vlas is not big enough to go to such a great distance. We meant to cross the central St. Vlasii Street and find ourselves in the city quarters, near the Laguna Hoteland so on. There are quite decent cafes and restaurants here, which are much cheaper than those located on the coast, and the assortment and the dishes themselves are not worse at all. Just don’t think that we want to belittle the merits of public catering points located on the main tourist streets, it was only about the price.
Another plus is the presence of a Marina, that is, a yacht port, where you can easily arrange an individual trip on a yacht, fishing or just relaxing. In principle, the owners of yachts and boats will explain what exactly they can offer you. Not every resort can boast of its own Marina, and not only in Bulgaria.
Since we are talking about walks, we must also talk about those excursions that can be visited while vacationing in Svyat Vlas . The male half may be interested in a trip to Burgas for wine tasting. Such an excursion costs approximately 15-20 dollars, during which you will be taken to the city of Burgas , where there will be a tasting of various varieties of Bulgarian wine. Programs can be varied, so you should find out about the proposed excursions from the travel agent that offers this tour. Quite popular excursion ” Bulgarian village“, which can take place according to a different scenario, but, as a rule, also with wine tasting. What will you do if Bulgarians respect winemaking so much. They can offer a trip “Sofia – Rila Monastery”, with a visit to Plovdiv, Sofia, the Rila Monastery and other historical sites on the territory of Bulgaria. But if you have small children, then this excursion will be problematic for you, so you should limit yourself to something simpler.
As for independent trips, you can go to Nessebar, which is relatively close, and some even do it on rented bicycles. Among the more distant ones, it is worth noting Burgas or Varna, where you can not only have an interesting time, but also buy good things at quite affordable prices.
In addition to a vacation trip on a ticket purchased through a tour operator, you can go on vacation to Saint Vlas on your own. The choice of hotels here is quite large, although we know only ” Garden of Eden Complex ” from the five-star ones. Perhaps there are others now. And as for the rest of the categories, at least spare this good here. In addition, you can rent a villa or an inexpensive apartment. In general, you will not stay on the street.
We almost forgot to mention the beaches. There are several of them, one is located to the yacht port, the other is on the opposite side, and there is also a beach after the Royal Bay Apartments complex . All of them are equipped and are perfect for relaxing with children, as the shore is quite gentle and convenient for swimming. The climate in summer is very mild, probably due to the proximity of the mountains that cover the town.
This is probably what can be said about this resort, we think that you will like your vacation in St. Vlas and will remember how pleasantly you spent your vacation on the Bulgarian coast.
When is the best time to rest in Sveti Vlas?
The tourist season in St. Vlas begins in May and lasts until September, because in October the weather is significantly spoiled by rains. The climate here is the same as in the territory of most of Europe, so the maximum outdoor air temperature is observed in July and is twenty-eight degrees with a plus sign.
Saint Vlas belongs to relatively young resorts, but has already managed to establish itself very positively as the best resort for family vacations. And this is not surprising, because the air in St. Vlas is amazing, for the reason that it is surrounded by a coniferous forest on one side, and on the other by the sea. Since the resort is still young, vacationers can observe unfinished construction sites in places, which are in a stopped state in the summer. Construction will continue as soon as the holiday season ends, namely in October.
There are only three beaches in Sveti Vlas , but all of them are free. You will have to pay only for renting a sunbed or an umbrella. Since the climate of St. Vlas is European, the prices here are appropriate. At the height of the holiday season, there is an increase in prices, and after its end, prices drop to a normal and affordable mark.
Where to stay inexpensively in Saint Vlas?
Although St. Vlas can be called a relatively small Bulgarian resort, there are more than one and a half hundred objects of various categories and types for accommodation during rest. These are hotels, hotel complexes, apartment complexes, family hotels, villas and other real estate. In a word, we can say that there is something to choose from, as they say, for every taste and wallet. We will tell you about some of them now so that you have a general idea about this resort.
One of the good hotels is Moonlight Hotel. It is located on the very coastline, almost in the center of the resort, or rather in the central part of the beach area. The hotel operates under the All Inclusive system. There are two swimming pools on its territory, one outdoor and one indoor, which is important for those who come at the beginning of the season, when the sea is still quite cool. The rooms are equipped with good furniture, air conditioning, satellite TV, refrigerator and private bathroom. Each room has a balcony where you can relax in the evening and admire the seascape, of course if your balcony overlooks the beach. But it should be added that if necessary, an additional bed or a baby cot can be installed in the room, which is provided free of charge up to the age of two. The hotel also has a fitness center, spa center, massage, Turkish bath. You can play billiards, table tennis, mini golf, and for children there is a game room and a children’s playground. There is a souvenir shop, a beauty salon and a hairdresser. If you need to exchange currency, you can do it right at the hotel. Car rental and laundry service are available. If you have arrived by your own car, parking on the hotel premises will be provided free of charge. As for the Internet, it works Wi-Fi throughout the territory, which is also provided free of charge. The beach at the hotel is private and is constantly maintained in good condition. As for accommodation prices, they can be viewed on the hotel’s website, room bookings and time of stay can also be made online. If you need to exchange currency, you can do it right at the hotel. Car rental and laundry service are available. If you have arrived by your own car, parking on the hotel premises will be provided free of charge. As for the Internet, it works Wi-Fi throughout the territory, which is also provided free of charge. The beach at the hotel is private and is constantly maintained in good condition. As for accommodation prices, they can be viewed on the hotel’s website, room bookings and time of stay can also be made online. If you need to exchange currency, you can do it right at the hotel. Car rental and laundry service are available. If you have arrived by your own car, parking on the hotel premises will be provided free of charge. As for the Internet, it works Wi-Fi throughout the territory, which is also provided free of charge. The beach at the hotel is private and is constantly maintained in good condition. As for accommodation prices, they can be viewed on the hotel’s website, room bookings and time of stay can also be made online. The beach at the hotel is private and is constantly maintained in good condition. As for accommodation prices, they can be viewed on the hotel’s website, room bookings and time of stay can also be made online. The beach at the hotel is private and is constantly maintained in good condition. As for accommodation prices, they can be viewed on the hotel’s website, room bookings and time of stay can also be made online.
The Paradise Garden Complex is not the worst accommodation option, especially when traveling independently, which is also on the first line. It is located almost on the outskirts of the village, not far from the Dinev Marina, i.e. the yacht port. The complex is quite large, as you can judge by the presence of swimming pools, of which there are seven, with children’s sections for swimming. There is also an indoor pool. There are no problems with food either, as there are three restaurants and four bars serving Bulgarian and European cuisine. There is even a pastry shop where you can buy fresh pastries. All conditions have been created for leisure activities, including tennis courts, billiards, table tennis, equipment for various water sports, and fishing. You can visit the sauna, solarium, fitness and spa centers with massage, Turkish bath. As you can see, the choice is quite large, and especially for children there is a playground, karaoke and animation staff. As regards the provision of additional services, then you can use the service of a babysitter to take care of the child, which is important for family vacations, there is food and drink delivery directly to the room, car rental, and even a suite for newlyweds. In addition, there is a laundry, dry cleaning and shoe care. Another important point worth mentioning is the availability of rooms available for people with physical disabilities. The staff of the complex speaks four languages, including Russian. Reviews from tourists who rested in this complex are only the best. provided for people with disabilities. The staff of the complex speaks four languages, including Russian. Reviews from tourists who rested in this complex are only the best. provided for people with disabilities. The staff of the complex speaks four languages, including Russian. Reviews from tourists who rested in this complex are only the best.
We can also mention the Hotel Palace Marina Dinevi , which has the same name as the yacht port of St. Vlas . Like the previous facilities, this hotel is located on the seashore, on the embankment in front of Marina Dinevi. It has its own swimming pool and almost all the features and services that were mentioned in the description of the first hotel, so we think that it is not necessary to repeat and list again what has already been said. We can only add that children under the age of twelve are accommodated for free, and when an extra bed or crib is installed in the room, children under the age of two stay for free. We note this, since many married couples are interested in this question quite often.
We have described only a few options, from a rather large number, because it is not only difficult to describe everything, but it also makes no sense, since every year, something changes, something is added, and so on. You can read about a more complete list of hotels or complexes on various sites. We can only say that you will definitely like your vacation in Saint Vlas , with its beaches and beautiful sea.
We cannot claim that a vacation at this resort will be cheap or expensive, because the costs depend not only on the place of residence or conditions, but also on the wishes of tourists and their ideas about vacation. For someone, a shower cabin is enough, and another does not consider the hotel comfortable without a jacuzzi in the room, so it is quite difficult to talk about the financial side and let it remain the priority of the tourists themselves.
How to get there
Sveti Vlas can be easily reached from Burgas by land transport, and there are many flights from Ukraine to Burgas. Buses from Burgas Airport go to Sveti Vlas every 20 minutes, you can take a taxi or take a minibus, the journey takes 25-40 minutes. Sveti Vlas is also well connected by bus with other neighboring cities – Sunny Beach, Nessebar, Elenite .
Transport
Bus routes connect Saint Vlas with such well-known resort centers as Elenite and Nessebar, which allows vacationers to expand their geographical horizons and enjoy their vacation, moving in different directions along the Black Sea coast.
Sights and entertainment
Unlike most Bulgarian cities, the resort does not have a traditional seaside embankment, but it is successfully compensated by two tourist streets: Tsar Simeon and Mak. On the first of them, there are various shops, as well as vegetable, fruit and souvenir stalls, where you can buy both beautiful jewelry and exotic fruits, which are sold mixed with classic southern watermelons, bananas, melons and grapes, at fairly low prices. Along the Marina Dinevi marina, Mak street stretches with its restaurants, cafes, pizzerias and bars, where visitors are always extremely kindly received and recommended to try the exquisite dishes and drinks presented on the menu. All establishments located along the coast offer a wonderful view of the sea, which allows guests to fully combine the process of dining with admiring the Black Sea scenery.
The main architectural landmark of the city is the temple of Athanasius the Great , built in the second half of the 19th century. All kinds of festive and solemn events celebrated in Saint Vlas are celebrated on the site of the Arena amphitheater . Folklore evenings, theater productions and various shows are also held there. Yachting competitions, retro motorcycle parades, presentations, street exhibitions and other colorful events are organized annually in Marina Dinevi port .
As for traditional entertainment for lovers of active nightlife, they go to nearby Nessebar, Sunny Beach, where a huge number of night bars and discos are concentrated. There you can also visit a wonderful water park, one of the best in Bulgaria. Among the interesting excursion routes in Saint Vlasthe most popular are a trip to Burgas for wine tasting, a trip to the Turkish Istanbul to get to know its cultural and historical sights, as well as tours to the capital Sofia and other nearby regions of the country. The same tourists who prefer not to go outside the resort area have at their disposal almost unlimited possibilities for actively spending time on the beach. For them, water transport rental points are open every day, and experienced instructors are always ready to help in mastering the skills of scuba diving or water skiing. Fishing enthusiasts can rent a boat or a boat and go fishing in the open sea or in fishing spots along the Black Sea coast.
The main square of Svity Vlas resort
To get to the main square of the city from the hotel zone, you can take a bus that runs along the main highway. Go to the other side of the road and wait for any bus at the stop. You can also reach it on foot, starting from the marina and the amphitheater along Yasen or Bor streets to the east of the city (the sea will be on the left). When you reach Rosa Street, go up to the highway – the landmark will be the casino, which you need to bypass. You will get to Tsar Simeon Street and it will lead you to the main square of St. Vlas.
Yacht port “Marina Dinevi”
Marina Dinevi yacht port, which was recently built and is the largest among similar ports on the Bulgarian coast, deserves a special mention . The port has excellent conditions for mooring three hundred yachts over 25 meters long at the same time. All mooring points are equipped with television, telephone and Internet. In the port, you can not only rent a yacht, but also buy one. The development of St. Vlas has been particularly active in recent years, as investors are attracted by profitable construction, because housing prices in this area are quite high.
All new modern hotels are being built on the coast, for example, the construction of another large-scale project of the Dinevi company is being completed. This is the Rozryta Dinevi hotel complex, which includes 26 hotels, 13 bars and restaurants, a grand SPA center, as many as 14 swimming pools, tennis courts, a fitness center, a beauty salon, a shop, an Internet cafe and a private beach. So Svyaty Vlas is already confidently competing with the popular Sunny Beach, and in general, the tourist infrastructure will satisfy tourists with requests who want a comfortable and ecological vacation on the seashore. Excellent transport connections, a large number of taverns, bars and restaurants, as well as the proximity of Nessebar, Burgas and Sunny Beach make Saint Vlasan increasingly sought-after resort where you can relax and recover far from the bustle and noise of metropolises.
Cafes and shops at Svity Vlas resort
The resort has many excellent restaurants and cafes, although it is difficult to create a classification among them – almost all of them are in the category of restaurant-type cafes. Most of the establishments are located on the main square of the town and on the embankment opposite Marina Dinevi marina. Almost all hotel complexes have their own restaurants, and the farther from the sea, the lower the prices.
St. Vlas is a small resort and therefore there are no large supermarkets and megamalls here. You can buy all the necessary products – milk, meat, vegetables, fruits, groceries, juices, hygiene items, light and strong alcohol in local stores. The concentration of such shops is on Tsar Simeon Street , which is located near the main square of the city.
The largest supermarket of the resort “Mercury” is located near the Luxor complex on the central street of Svita Vlasii . Here you can buy not only food, but also children’s goods, dishes, cosmetics and basic necessities. The assortment is much larger than in other stores in St. Vlas , prices are approximately the same. Most hotels have their own outlets where you can buy drinks, alcohol, sweets, vegetables and fruits.
Kitchen
There are not many restaurants in the resort, but you can find an establishment to your taste, mainly Mediterranean and European cuisine is presented, we also recommend trying local dishes, one of the restaurants with Bulgarian cuisine is Casa Verde . Those who miss Russian cuisine are recommended to visit Mari Ivanna restaurant .
Shopping
In the town itself, there are many shops where you can buy souvenirs, and it is also worth visiting the local market on a weekend morning, in addition to inexpensive things, you can buy fresh vegetables and fruits.
Precautions
In addition to the development of the tourist industry, much attention is paid to safety at the resort. The fact is that on the territory of St. Vlas there are a number of buildings belonging to major state politicians and developers, and rather expensive yachts are moored in the local port. As a result of these circumstances, 24-hour video surveillance has been installed on the city streets, which, however, only provides the citizens with even greater peace and comfort, while not being too stressful.