Beaches of Burgas and the coast
City beaches with kitesurfing, long sandy resorts, quiet coves around Sozopol and the wild south of Strandzha. We will help you choose the right beach for your holiday.
- 8zones from Burgas to Sinemorets
- 6Blue Flag beaches (2021)
- 5months of swimming season (May–September)
Data compiled from open sources. Blue Flag lists, beach lengths and available services change from season to season, so check the current situation on the spot. Distances are approximate.
Find a beach
The filters are based on the descriptions on this page. Showers, toilets, wheelchair access, entrance and parking have not been checked yet, so there are no such filters.
Which beach to choose
by interestStart with what matters most to you: peace and quiet, children, sport or a lively scene.
With kids
Shallow sea and a gentle entry: Burgas North Beach, Sarafovo and Kraimorie, Sozopol Central, Harmanite, Nestinarka and Arapya in Tsarevo.
Lively and fun
Sunny Beach, Gradina (“Golden Fish”) near Sozopol, the beaches of Primorsko.
Quiet and wild
Kavatsi, Silistar, Veleka and Butamya near Sinemorets, Ropotamo.
Water sports
Kite and surf — Burgas North Beach. Diving — Lozenets (Lalov Egrek). Water sports — Arapya.
Healing mud
The salt pans of Lake Atanasovsko near Burgas and Lake Pomorie.
Blue Flag
In 2021: Sunny Beach (North, South), Harmanite, Sozopol Central, Nessebar South, Pomorie East.
Burgas and surroundings
City beaches start right at the Sea Garden. It is convenient here: cafés, transport and accommodation are nearby, and the shallow sea suits families.
Central Beach
By the Bridge and the Sea Garden. Sports grounds, city festivals and concerts (including the Spirit of Burgas festival). The most accessible beach: a walk from the centre.
📍 On mapNorth Beach
A long strip between the sea and Lake Atanasovsko. Surfing, kitesurfing and diving schools, with separate zones for beginners and experienced riders. Shallow sea, suitable for families too.
📍 On mapSarafovo
A Burgas district by the airport, south-east of the centre. Sandy beach, calm shallow water; cafés and a promenade nearby.
📍 On the mapKraimorie
A separate seaside district of Burgas on the bay. Quiet sandy beach, fewer people than in the centre.
📍 On the mapSalt Pans Beach
On the south shore of Lake Atanasovsko: sand and patches of black healing mud. The “Bulgarian Dead Sea” between the lake and the sea.
📍 On mapChernomorets
A separate town about 20 km south of Burgas. Central Beach right by the centre and South (Tsarski) Beach in the southern part of town.
📍 On mapSand Sculpture Festival
In summer the Sea Garden hosts Sand Fest: sculptures across 4 hectares, paid tickets (per the city's 2026 programme; check prices and venue at burgas.bg).
Pomorie
A narrow peninsula with a lagoon. The beach here is long with firm sand, and healing mud and salt lakes are close by.
Pomorie East Beach
The longest strip of beaches in the area, stretching all the way to Aheloy. It received the Blue Flag in 2021 (the list is updated every year).
📍 On mapSouth Beach
Firm sand and clear water, according to guidebook descriptions.
Lake mud
Healing mud is taken from Lake Pomorie. According to guidebooks it is free; keep it on the skin for no more than 20 minutes a day.
📍 On mapNessebar
You can swim by the walls of Old Nessebar: it is convenient to combine the sea with a stroll through this UNESCO town.
South Beach
An arc of about 2.5 km with many parasols. Blue Flag for four years in a row by 2021. Sources disagree: some describe fine shingle, others sand.
📍 On mapNorth Beach
Soft golden sand with dunes behind it. Usually calmer than the south beach.
Beaches on the south of the island
Often crowded. In high season come in the morning or evening.
Sunny Beach and the bay resorts
Bulgaria's biggest beach resort and a chain of villages along the bay. Most of the infrastructure is here: bars, water parks, water-sports schools.
Sunny Beach — North and South
In 2021 both received the Blue Flag, as did the Central beach. The length is estimated differently: from 4.5 to 8 km. The average summer temperature is about 27 °C.
📍 On mapSeaside entertainment
Action Aquapark in the western part of the resort (about 24,000 m²), bars and water attractions right on the shore.
Sveti Vlas
Quieter and calmer than Sunny Beach and Nessebar, at the foot of the Stara Planina slopes.
📍 On mapRavda and Aheloy
Sandy beaches that run continuously into one another along the bay. Ravda lies between Nessebar and Aheloy.
📍 On mapObzor
One of the longest beaches on the Bulgarian coast: more than 6 km of soft golden sand without a break.
📍 On mapSozopol
A whole selection of beaches for every taste: city beaches next to the Old Town, the long Harmanite and secluded coves in a protected area.
Central Beach
By the Old Town. Spacious and popular, with calm shallow sea. It received the Blue Flag (2021).
Harmanite (Harmani)
A sandy strip about 1.4 km long and up to 100 m wide, with dunes along a third of its length. Blue Flag, lifeguards, umbrellas and sunbeds, bars. Warm clean sea, suitable for families. Toilets and showers can be few.
Kavatsi
A sheltered bay about 3 km south of town, in a protected area. Rocks, nature and quiet, loved by families.
Gradina (“Golden Fish”)
A wide beach near Sozopol with beach bars and a youthful atmosphere.
Rocks by the Old Town
People swim and jump off the rocks here, but the sea is deep and can be rough. Only for confident swimmers.
Ropotamo, Primorsko, Kiten, Lozenets
The coast continues to the south: wild dunes by the reserve, the long beaches of Primorsko and quiet resorts where whole families often stay.
Primorsko
A resort on a cape with two of the country's best natural beaches. Fine sand to the north and south of the cape. Popular with young people: clubs and bars.
📍 On mapRopotamo and Arkutino
Dunes, a lagoon at the mouth of the Ropotamo River, the Arkutino marsh and St. Thomas Island. Wild nature, boat trips on the river. Check swimming conditions and reserve rules on the spot.
📍 On mapLozenets
A resort near Tsarevo. Next to it is the Lalov Egrek water centre, one of the largest diving centres in Europe.
📍 On mapTsarevo
A town on the edge of Strandzha. Both wide city beaches and coves reached by a dirt road are close by.
Nestinarka
Tsarevo's biggest beach. Wide sand and a gentle entry into the water, so it is recommended for families with small children.
Quiet coves
For a peaceful holiday look for small beaches such as Vasiliko, where there are fewer people.
Water quality
In August 2023 pollution was reported at Popski beach in Tsarevo. Tests later showed no dangerous levels. Check the latest reports before swimming.
Ahtopol, Sinemorets and Silistar
The wild south: a sandbar by the river, rocks and coves inside Strandzha Nature Park. Less infrastructure and more nature.
Veleka (Sinemorets)
A lifeguarded beach north of the village, at the mouth of the Veleka River with its sandbar. Currents are reported: swim carefully.
📍 On mapButamya (Sinemorets)
The second lifeguarded beach, south of the village.
Silistar
Between Sinemorets and Rezovo, in a protected natural area by the Turkish border. One of Bulgaria's most picturesque and wild beaches.
📍 On mapAhtopol
The southernmost town on the Bulgarian coast. South of Tsarevo, near Ahtopol, there is a naturist beach.
📍 On map“Blue Flag”
2021 dataThe mark is given to beaches that pass a check against 32 international criteria: cleanliness, services, comfort and safety. The water is tested twice a month.
- Sunny Beach — NorthNessebar, bay
- Sunny Beach — SouthNessebar, bay
- HarmaniteSozopol
- Sozopol — CentralSozopol
- Nessebar — SouthNessebar
- Pomorie — EastPomorie
This is the 2021 list and it is updated every year. Check the current list before your trip.
Tips and safety
before you goWatch the flags
Green — OK, yellow — be careful, red — no swimming. On beaches with lifeguards, listen to them.
Currents
Currents are reported at the mouth of the Veleka, and it is deep and rough by the rocks of Sozopol. Do not swim far from the shore.
Sun
In summer the average temperature near Burgas is about 24 °C, at Sunny Beach about 27 °C. Bring sunscreen, a hat and water.
When to go
The swimming season in Burgas runs roughly from mid-May to the end of September. July and August are the busiest.
Water quality
Water at Blue Flag beaches is tested twice a month. Before heading to smaller beaches, check fresh reports.
Getting there
Buses go to most beaches. To the wild beaches of Strandzha it is easier by car; the road is sometimes unpaved.
Order for your beach holiday
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Car rental
To tour the wild beaches of the south without relying on buses.
Excursion to wild beaches
Silistar, Veleka, Ahtopol and Sinemorets with a guide.
The “Order” buttons lead to our partners’ websites, where the order is placed. We do not take orders ourselves.
Sources
- Burgas — Wikivoyage ↗
- Bulgarian Black Sea Coast — Wikivoyage ↗
- Primorsko — Wikipedia ↗
- Sinemorets — Wikipedia ↗
- Blue Flag Awarded to Sunny Beach, Nessebar, Pomorie, Sozopol — BTA, 2021 ↗
- Harmanite beach — Welcome.bg ↗
- Burgas beaches — BeachAtlas ↗
- Tsarevo beaches — BeachAtlas ↗
Some data in the sources dates from 2021–2023 and may have changed.