Sozopol and the southern Black Sea coast: a first-timer’s guide
Autors: The Guide editors · · Redakcionālā politika
How to get there, what to do, when to go — and which boat trips to book ahead.
Sozopol sits on a rocky peninsula south of Burgas, with an old town of wooden houses on stone foundations, two long beaches and a harbour where the day's boats come and go.
Getting there
Burgas airport is 35 km away: about 40 minutes by car or transfer, an hour by the regular bus from Burgas bus station. In summer, boats also run along the coast from Burgas and Nessebar.
What to do
- Walk the old town in the early morning, before the day trippers, and again after sunset.
- Take a boat to St Ivan island, the largest island on the Bulgarian coast, with the ruins of a
medieval monastery.
- Watch the sun go down from the water: the sunset cruises leave the old port around 18:30.
- Swim at Harmanite or Kavatsite, or further south at the quieter bays near Chernomorets.
When to go
June and September are warm, with fewer people. July and August are busy: book boat trips a few days ahead, as the evening departures often fill. The Apollonia arts festival runs in early September.
Good to know
Boat trips depend on the sea. When the wind is strong, operators move or cancel departures and you are offered another date or a full refund.
Prices on The Guide include VAT. Cash is still common in small cafés, but cards are accepted almost everywhere in town.