Burgas in 3 days: the city, Nessebar and Sozopol
A three-day plan with or without a car: a day in Burgas, a day in Pomorie and Nessebar and a day in Sozopol. Travel times and the main places, nothing extra.
- 3days
- ≈ 70 minbus to Nessebar
- 35 kmto Sozopol
Travel times and timetables change. Check bus departures and museum hours on the spot. Museums may be closed at weekends in winter.
Day 1. Burgas
Getting to know the city: the park, the bridge, the cathedral, a museum and a sunset by the sea. The hour-by-hour plan is on the Burgas in 1 day page.
Sea Garden and the bridge
The park from the station to the beach, the Sea Casino and a pier with a viewing platform.
📍 On mapCathedral and a museum
The Cathedral of Sts Cyril and Methodius, Troyka Square and one of the museums in the centre.
📍 On mapIn detail
All stops by hour, backup options and parking are on the Burgas in 1 day page.
Day 2. Pomorie and Nessebar
Pomorie with its salt lake in the morning, Nessebar with its UNESCO churches in the afternoon. You can come back by bus.
Pomorie: Salt Museum
The only salt museum in Bulgaria, founded in 2002. The Pomorie Lake lagoon is next to it. Pomorie is 14 km north-east of Burgas.
📍 On mapSt George Monastery
A working monastery in the new part of Pomorie. Free entry (per guidebooks).
📍 On mapGetting to Nessebar
From Pomorie to Nessebar is about 25 km on the coastal road: 30–40 minutes by car. By bus, take a Burgas–Nessebar service that stops in Pomorie; check the timetable at the bus station, and return to Burgas on the same line from Nessebar. Approximate figures, checked 16 Oct 2026.
Old Nessebar
A UNESCO site. The Church of Christ Pantocrator (13th–14th century), St Stephen’s with its frescoes, the ruins of St Sophia’s basilica and the Archaeological Museum. The old town is compact: walk, and leave the car outside.
📍 On mapThe windmill and sunset
The famous wooden windmill at the entrance to the old town is a favourite photo spot.
Travel times and bus timetable per the MyBurgas directory; confirm at the bus station.
The oldest town on the Bulgarian coast: Greek Apollonia, founded in 610 BC. Quieter and smaller than Nessebar.
Old town
A museum-reserve since 1974: more than 180 wooden houses from the mid-18th to early 19th century. Walk the narrow streets.
📍 On mapArchaeological Museum
Finds from ancient Apollonia, including traces of the temple of Apollo the Healer.
📍 On mapChurch of Sts Cyril and Methodius
It keeps the relics of John the Baptist, found in 2010 on St Ivan Island.
Islands of St Ivan and St Peter
Small islands off the town: a historic fortress and a monastery. Look from the waterfront and the cape.
📍 On mapLunch: fish and mussels
Sozopol mussels, fish soup, marinated fish. Zoy is above the fishing harbour and is recommended for fresh fish.
Harmani or the Central Beach
Harmani and the Central Beach are in town (Blue Flag in 2021). The rocks by the old town are for confident swimmers only.
Evening
Stroll the waterfront. Many restaurants turn into clubs at night; taxi fares at night are often inflated, so agree the price first.
Sozopol info is from our Sights and Where to eat pages and the Wikivoyage guide.
What to keep in mind so it all works without rushing.
Without a car
Buses are enough: to Nessebar and Sunny Beach hourly, to Sozopol local buses. South of Sozopol a taxi or your own car is easier.
With a car
Park outside the old towns of Nessebar and Sozopol. In Burgas the centre is paid: blue and green zones.
Where to sleep
Spend all three nights in Burgas or move: the second night in Nessebar, the third in Sozopol. See the Where to stay page.
When to go
Best from June to early September; May and September are cheaper and calmer. See When to go.
Safety
Keep bags close on the Nessebar to Sunny Beach bus and on the beach, and order taxis through your hotel. See the Safety page.
Further
Two more days: Ropotamo, Primorsko, Kiten, or Tsarevo and Ahtopol on the Sights page.
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Accommodation
Hotels and apartments for your travel dates.
The “Order” buttons lead to our partners’ websites, where the order is placed. We do not take orders ourselves.
Sources
- Burgas — Wikivoyage ↗
- Nesebar — Wikivoyage ↗
- Sozopol — Wikivoyage ↗
- Pomorie — Wikivoyage ↗
- Bus Burgas – Sunny Beach — MyBurgas ↗
Timetables, prices and opening hours change. Check them on the venues’ and carriers’ sites before you go.