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Thomson Destinations
The new kid on the European block, Bulgaria knows a thing or two about sunshine and beaches.
Bulgaria
Silistra
ROMANIA
N
Ruse Razgrad
Dobrich
Albena Golden Sands St Konstantin
Shumen
reviews Video tour & customer on.co.uk thoms
2376
Veliko Turnovo
1536
Varna
Obzor Elenite Sunny Beach Nessebar Pomorie Duni Primorsko Tsarevo
1054
Sliven Bourgas
Stara Zagora
Fancy something a bit different for your summer holiday this year? Then check out this seductive stretch of coast. We're talking sun-bleached sands that snake into the distance. Crystal waters so warm you feel like you're getting into a bath. A great menu of restaurants and more bars than you can shake a cocktail at. It's not hard to see why this sun-drenched slice of the world is rocketing in the popularity stakes. Bourgas is the largest hub on the southern coastline. It turns the cosmopolitan cheek on your typical seaside resort. Not only has it got a fantastic beach, but there are galleries, museums and cathedrals. And the shopping's pretty good, too. An hour away from Bourgas is Sunny Beach, one of Bulgaria's top resorts. It's all silvery sands and neon nightlife. Away from the coast, the scenery steps up a gear - glass-like lakes, mountains and traditional villages. And on the history front Bulgaria delivers with towns like Sveli Vlas and Nessebar. Things to see and do The Sea Garden The Bourgas Sea Garden is a great place to take time out. Running parallel to the sea, it's a narrow green park filled with fountains, sculptures and cafes. Pretty as a picture, it's the perfect setting for a picnic. And what's more there's an open-air theatre sheltering among the trees. Sozopol Journey south of Bourgas and you'll discover the fishing village of Sozopol among the jewels in Bulgaria's crown, this one is a real gem. A popular haunt with artists and writers, the town's small harbour is a charming place to while away your time. Watch fishing boats bobbing on tranquil waters. Wander to the old town beach. And unleash your inner culture vulture at the archaeological museum. Pomorie The Black Sea is well known for its healing powers but the lakes and springs can sometimes be overlooked. Not the case in Pomorie. If wallowing in mud baths is your idea of heaven, head for this seaside town. The mud is famous for its therapeutic properties. Slap it on and you'll have beautifully soft skin before you can say where's the nearest spa?'
Bulgaria
TURKEY
BULGARIA
Kurdzhali
40 km
© TUI 2005
Beaches Your swimming gear, a bumper bottle of sun cream and a stack of best-selling reads. You supply that and Bulgaria's Black Sea coast will provide the rest. Sands as soft as silk. Balmy waters seducing you in for a swim. Beach bars churning out cool-down cocktails. Bulgaria's shores are spot on if you're looking to spend most of your holiday horizontal. In fact, its clutch of gently sloping beaches are more akin with the Caribbean than Eastern Europe. Ozbor Beach, Nessebar and Sveli Vlas are all blessed with blonde sands
and crystal waters. The perfect ingredients for sun-drenched days of sandcastle building, sunbathing and swimming. But for the best beach breaks in the Bourgas area, Sunny Beach is where it's at.
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Sunny Beach
Location 35km north of Bourgas airport Transfer time 50 minutes Sunny Beach is the largest resort on the Black Sea Riviera. Like many of the resorts in Bulgaria, it's been purpose-built to accommodate the many national and international tourists who flock here to enjoy the warm weather and beautiful beach. The semicircular bay offers calm waters - ideal for swimming and watersports. There's a tranquil park and a popular pedestrianised promenade - a hive of activity lined with stalls and snack joints. Evenings can get fairly lively with a good range of bars and nightclubs. Floor shows and folk nights are popular, and help to bring a little touch of tradition and culture in to this modern resort. The bright national costumes, the unique folklore and a glass of cool Bulgarian beer will soon transport you back to a time of old.
Obzor Beach
Location 55km north of Bourgas airport, 60km south of Varna airport Transfer time 1 hour 30 minutes (approx) from both Bourgas and Varna airports Appropriately called Heliopolis, or City of the Sun', by the ancient Greeks, Obzor is a friendly and laid back little holiday resort, even at the height of the season. The Romans also liked the place, calling it Navlohos, and turning it into a key fortified trading settlement. They also built the Temple of Jupiter, some of the columns of which can still be seen in the park next to the main square. However, a trip to Obzor isn't really about delving into the town's history. It's about relaxation - a traditional sun, sea and sand holiday. The town's superb beach is the central attraction. As for evening entertainment, Obzor's no Las Vegas, but the mostly family-run eateries serve up an assortment of fare, both Bulgarian and cosmopolitan, plus there are several music bars too.
Sky digital 647 Visit your travel agent up to Call 0871 230 2555 Calls costMobile 10p/min plus 6p set up fee from a BT landline. and other providers' charges may vary.
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