There is no paradise on Earth, but there are paradise corners. The resort of Svyaty Vlas (Sveti Vlas) in Bulgaria can undoubtedly claim the title of “paradise town”. Silence, tranquility, cleanliness on the streets and surprisingly clean air, the forested Stara Planina Mountain, flocks of swans, a sea of roses and a real sea. All the minimum paradise set is present.

The town of Sveti Vlas is not young, the first settlement existed on this site already in the 4th century AD, but now there are not many monuments here.

Originally 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 paradise!

Sveti Vlas received the official status of a city in 2006 after the construction of the super-modern Marina Dineva Yacht Port. The promenade of the yacht port with its restaurants and boutiques can compete in its fashionability with many famous resorts in Europe.

The center of all life in the town is the unusually beautiful and well-groomed cathedral of the city’s patron saint, St. Vlas, built just a couple of years ago. The crystal ringing of the cathedral’s bells can be heard everywhere twice a day.

On the central square near the town hall, on holidays, concerts of folk music are held, accompanied by a mass folk round dance, the choro.

On the mountain is the ancient temple of St. Athanasius. 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 very outskirts of the city towards Elenite.

In the old part of the town are neat little houses, covered with grapes and roses, on the thresholds of which sit pretty Bulgarian grandmothers, similar to Vanga.

The new part of St. Vlas is modern complexes and hotels, most of which operate only in the summer.

Officially, the population of St. Vlas is about 3,800 residents. In the summer, the number increases by a couple of thousand due to visiting tourists, many of whom live in their own apartments in recently built complexes.

The residents of St. Vlas are calm, polite and unhurried, no one is in a hurry anywhere. Where is there a hurry if you are already in paradise? Tourists are still fussing at first, while they are settling in a new place, and then they also become infected with this peace.

The swans, who live here all year round, hiss at the especially active and noisy ones. After all, they know where to settle, royal birds!

Unlike people, a flock of swans welcomes guests in the winter season. The swan population in Sveti Vlas increases several dozen times in winter due to wintering “tourists”.

The combination of mountains and sea creates a unique climatic zone in the Sveti Vlas area, which adds even more heavenly charm to 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 Sunny Beach resort, located just 2 kilometers away. Residential complexes no more than 5 floors high, cozy family hotels, small restaurants – there is nothing for lovers of noisy companies in Sveti Vlas to do.

Sunny Beach from Sveti Vlas looks like some kind of super-modern alien world, which is not at all attractive. Sveti Vlas from Sunny Beach looks much more like a paradise …

Features of rest

Sveti Vlas is a small resort town, quiet and peaceful, just the perfect place for a family vacation or just with a girl. Nearby are mountains, which provide beautiful landscapes from almost any point of the resort. The beach is clean and neat, the sea is warm, and the air … locals claim that due to their successful location, the air here is practically therapeutic. Neighboring Elenite, which is within walking distance, is also quite suitable for a family vacation, but St. Vlas has its advantages. Firstly, it is much larger than its tiny neighbor and wandering the streets of the city in the evenings is quite pleasant. Moreover, the further from the coast you go into the town, the cheaper cafes and restaurants you will find on your way. But do not think that if we said the further, it means that you have to go straight to the mountains surrounding the town. St. Vlas is not so big that you have to go such a long distance. We meant crossing the central street St. Vlas and finding yourself in the city quarters, in the area of Laguna Hotel and beyond. 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 no worse. Just don’t think that we want to belittle the merits of public catering establishments located on the main tourist streets, we were only talking about the price.

Another advantage is the presence of a Marina, that is, a yacht port, where you can easily agree on an individual yacht trip, with fishing or just relaxation. In principle, the owners of yachts and boats themselves 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 should also mention those excursions that you can visit while relaxing in Svyaty Vlas. The male half may certainly be interested in a trip to Burgas for wine tasting. Such an excursion costs about 15-20 dollars, during which you are taken to the city of Burgas, where you can taste different varieties of Bulgarian wine. The programs can be varied, so it is worth asking the travel agent offering this tour about the offered excursions. The excursion “Bulgarian Village” is quite popular, which can also take place according to a different scenario, but, as a rule, also with wine tasting. What can you do if Bulgarians respect winemaking so much. They can offer a trip “Sofia – Rila Monastery”, with a visit to Plovdiv, Sofia, Rila Monastery and other historical sites in Bulgaria. But if you have small children, then this excursion will be problematic for you to visit, so it is worth limiting yourself to something simpler.

As for independent trips, you can go to Nessebar, which is relatively nearby, and some even do it on rented bicycles. Of 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 voucher purchased through a tour operator, you can go on vacation to Svyaty Vlas on your own. The choice of hotels here is quite large, although we only know of five-star ones ” Garden of Eden Complex ”. Perhaps there are others now. As for the rest of the categories, there is plenty of this good here. In addition, you can rent a villa or an inexpensive apartment. In general, you will not be left on the street.

We almost forgot to mention the beaches. There are several of them, one is located near the yacht port, the other on the opposite side and there is also a beach after the Royal Bay Apartments complex. All of them are equipped and are great for relaxing with children, as the coast is quite gentle and comfortable for swimming. The climate in summer is very mild, probably due to the proximity of the mountains that cover the town.

That’s probably what can be said about this resort, we think that you will enjoy your vacation in Svyatoy Vlas and will remember how pleasantly spent your vacation on the Bulgarian coast.

When is it better to relax in Sveti Vlas?

The tourist season in Svyatoy 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 most of Europe, so the maximum outdoor temperature is observed in July and is twenty-eight degrees with a plus sign.

Svyaty Vlas is a relatively young resort, but has already established itself very positively as the best resort for family holidays. And this is not surprising, since the air in Svyaty Vlas is amazing, because it is surrounded on one side by a coniferous forest, 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 suspended state in the summer. Construction will continue as soon as the holiday season ends, namely in October.

There are only three beaches in Svyaty Vlas, but they are all free. You will only have to pay for renting a sunbed or umbrella. Since the climate of Svyatog Vlas is European, the prices here are appropriate. At the height of the resort season, there is an increase in prices, and after it ends, prices drop to a normal and affordable level.

Where to stay cheaply in Sveti Vlas?

Although Svyatog 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 the holiday. These are hotels, hotel complexes, apartment complexes, family hotels, villas and other real estate. In short, we can say that there is plenty to choose from, as they say, for every taste and budget. We will tell you about some of them now so that you have a general idea of 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 on an all-inclusive basis. 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, a TV broadcasting channels via satellite, a refrigerator and a private bathroom. Each room has a balcony where you can relax in the evening and admire the sea view, of course if your balcony overlooks the beach. But it should be added that if necessary, an extra bed or 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 games room and a children’s playground. There is a souvenir shop, a beauty salon and a hairdresser. If you need to exchange currency, this can be done directly at the hotel. There is a car rental and laundry service. If you arrive 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 website, room reservations and stay can also be made via the Internet.

Not the worst accommodation option, especially when traveling independently, can be called Raisky Sad Complex, which is also located on the first line. It is located almost on the outskirts of the village, not far from Marina Dineva, that is, the yacht port. The complex is quite impressive in size, as you can judge by the presence of swimming pools, of which there are seven, where there are 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 the conditions are 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, and a Turkish bath. As you can see, the choice is quite large, and there is a playground, karaoke, and animation staff especially for children. As for the provision of additional services, you can use the nanny service to look after your child, which is important for a family vacation, there is food and drinks delivered 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 for people with disabilities. The complex’s staff speaks four languages, including Russian. Reviews from tourists who have rested in this complex are only the best.

We can also note Hotel Palace Marina Dinevi, which has the same name as the yacht port of St. Vlas. Like the previous objects, 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 worth repeating and re-listing what has already been said. We can only add that children under twelve years of age are accommodated free of charge, and when installing an extra bed or cot in the room, children under two years of age stay free of charge. We note this, since many couples are interested in this question quite often.

We have described only a few options, out of a fairly large number, since describing everything is not only difficult, but also pointless, 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 St. Vlas, with its beaches and beautiful sea.

We cannot say that vacationing at this resort will be cheap or expensive, since costs depend not only on the place of residence or conditions, but also on the desires of tourists and their ideas about vacation. Some people are satisfied with a shower cabin, while others do not consider a hotel comfortable without a jacuzzi in the room, so it is quite difficult to talk about the financial side and let this remain the priority of the tourists themselves.

How to get there

St. 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 get there by minibus, the journey time takes 25-40 minutes. Sveti Vlas is also well connected by bus with other neighboring cities – Sunny Beach, Nessebar, Elenite.

Transport

Bus routes connect Sveti Vlas with such famous 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 lacks a traditional seaside promenade, but it is successfully compensated by two tourist streets: Tsar Simeon and Mak. The first of them is home to a variety of shops, as well as vegetable, fruit and souvenir stalls, where at fairly low prices you can buy both beautiful jewelry and exotic fruits, sold mixed with classic southern watermelons, bananas, melons and grapes. Along the Marina Dinevi yacht marina, Mak Street stretches with its restaurants, cafes, pizzerias and bars, where visitors are always extremely friendly and recommended to try the exquisite dishes and drinks presented on the menu. All establishments located along the coast offer a magnificent view of the sea, allowing guests to fully combine the process of dining with admiring the Black Sea landscapes.

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 St. Vlas are celebrated on the site of the open Arena amphitheater. Folklore evenings, theatrical performances and various shows are also held there. У порту Марина Діневі щорічно організуються змагання яхтсменів, ретро мото-паради, презентації, вуличні виставки та інші барвисті заходи.

Що стосується традиційних розваг для любителів активного нічного життя, то за цим вони відправляються в сусідній Несебр, на Сонячний Берег, де зосереджена величезна кількість нічних барів і дискотек. Там же можна відвідати і чудовий аквапарк, один з кращих в Болгарії. Серед цікавих екскурсійних маршрутів, в Святому Власі найбільш популярні подорож в Бургас на дегустацію вин, поїздка в турецький Стамбул для знайомства з його культурними та історичними пам’ятками, а також тури в столичну Софію і інші довколишні регіони країни. Ті ж туристи, хто вважає за краще не виїжджати за межі курортної зони, мають в своєму розпорядженні практично безмежні можливості щодо активного проведення часу на пляжі. Для них щодня працюють пункти прокату водного транспорту, а досвідчені інструктори завжди готові прийти на допомогу в освоєнні навичок підводного занурення або катання на водних лижах. Шанувальники риболовлі можуть взяти напрокат катер або човен, відправившись ловити рибу в відкрите море або в рибні місця уздовж узбережжя Чорного моря.

Головна площа курорту Світи Влас

Щоб потрапити на головну площу міста з готельної зони, можна доїхати на автобусі, який ходить по головному шосе. Перейдіть на іншу сторону дороги і чекайте на зупинці будь-який автобус. Можна і пішки дійти, починаючи рухатися від яхтової пристані і амфітеатру вулицями Ясен або Бор на схід міста (море буде ліворуч). Коли дійдете до вулиці Роза піднімайтеся вгору до шосе – орієнтиром буде казино, яке потрібно обійти. Ви потрапите на вулицю Цар Симеон і вона-то вас і виведе на головну площу Святого Власа.

Яхтовий порт «Марина Діневі»

Окремих рядків заслуговує яхтовий порт «Марина Діневі», який нещодавно побудований і є найбільшим серед подібних портів на болгарському узбережжі. У порту створені чудові умови для швартування трьохсот яхт одночасно довжиною понад 25 метрів. Всі точки швартування обладнані телебаченням, телефоном та інтернетом. У порту можна не тільки орендувати яхту, а й купити. Розвиток Святого Власа в останні роки йде особливо активно, так як інвесторів приваблює вигідне будівництво, адже ціни на житло в цьому районі досить високі.

Зводяться все нові сучасні готелі на узбережжі, наприклад завершується будівництво ще одного масштабного проекту компанії «Діневі». Це готельний комплекс «Розрита Діневі» в складі якого 26 готелів, 13 барів і ресторанів, грандіозний SPA-центр, цілих 14 басейнів, тенісні корти, фітнес-центр, салон краси, магазин, інтернет-кафе і власний пляж. Так що Святий Влас вже впевнено складає конкуренцію розкрученому Сонячному березі, і в цілому, туристична інфраструктура задовольнить туристів із запитами, які хочуть комфортного й екологічного відпочинку на березі моря. Відмінне транспортне сполучення, велика кількість таверн, барів і ресторанів, а так само близькість Несебра, Бургаса і Сонячного берега роблять Святий Влас все більш затребуваним курортом, де можна відпочити і оздоровитися далеко від суєти і шуму мегаполісів.

Кафе і магазини на курорті Світи Влас

На курорті безліч відмінних ресторанчиків і кафе, хоча створити класіфікацію серед них складно – майже всі вони знаходяться в категорії кафе ресторанного типу. Більшість закладів розташовані на головній площі містечка і на набережній навпроти яхтової пристані Марина Діневі. Майже при всіх готельних комплексах є власні ресторанчики і чим далі від моря, тим ціни в них нижче.

Святий Влас невеликий курорт і тому якихось великих супермаркетів і мегамолів тут немає. Всі необхідні продукти – молоко, м’ясо, овочі, фрукти, бакалію, соки, предмети гігієни, легкий і міцний алкоголь ви купите в місцевих магазинах. Концентрація ось таких магазинів на вулиці Цар Симеон, яка розташована біля головної площі міста.

Найбільший супермаркет курорту «Меркурій» знаходиться біля комплексу Люксор на центральній вулиці Світи Власій. Тут можна придбати не тільки продукти харчування, але і дитячі товари, посуд, косметику і предмети першої необхідності. Асортимент значно більше, ніж в інших магазинах Святого Власа, ціни приблизно рівнозначні. У більшості готелів є свої торгові точки, де ви зможете купити напої, алкоголь, солодощі, овочі і фрукти.

Кухня

На курорті небагато ресторанів, але можна знайти заклад на свій смак, в основному представлена середземноморська, європейська кухня, також рекомендуємо спробувати місцеві страви, один з ресторанів з болгарською кухнею – Casa Verde. Тим, хто скучив за російською кухнею, рекомендується заглянути в ресторан Mari Ivanna.

Шопінг

У самому містечку є чимало магазинів, де можна купити пам’ятні сувеніри, а також варто відвідати місцевий ринок вранці вихідного дня, крім недорогих речей, можна купити свіжі овочі, фрукти.

Запобіжні заходи

Крім розвитку туристичної індустрії, велика увага на курорті приділяється безпеці. Справа в тому, що на території Святого Власа розташований цілий ряд будинків, що належать великим політичним діячам держави і забудовникам, а в місцевому порту швартуються досить дорогі яхти. Внаслідок цих обставин, на міських вулицях встановлено цілодобове відеоспостереження, що втім, тільки забезпечує городянам ще більший спокій і комфорт, при цьому не надто напружуючи.