Burgas is one of the largest cities in Bulgaria, located in the easternmost part of the Burgas Bay. In the 20th century, the city actively developed, and today it is a major industrial and tourist center. Check andyeducation to learn more about the country of Bulgaria.
The history of Burgas is long – scientists say that it has been inhabited since ancient times. But it was difficult for the city to compete with the then leaders, trading Nessebar and Sozopol, so for a long time it was just a territory with small fishing villages and sea fortifications. Everything changed with the opening of the city port, which made Burgas the first largest port in the country and the second largest city after Varna.
Today’s Burgas is not the main tourist center of the country, but its convenient location near lakes and historical cities brings tourists here for at least a few days. Burgas has Ethnographic, Archaeological, Historical and Natural Science Museums, many exhibition venues and interesting natural attractions in the vicinity.
Communication and Wi-Fi
The leading Bulgarian mobile operators – Vivacom, Mtel and Telenor – have special prepaid packages for tourists worth 6-10 BGN. This amount already includes 20-30 minutes of calls, a couple of dozen SMS and some mobile Internet. Having spent the starting limits, the subscriber switches to time-based payment, a minute of conversation with Russia costs an average of 6 BGN (25 minutes). You can also purchase an additional package of minutes for international calls or 1.5-2 GB of internet for 9.90 BGN.
In branded salons, you will need a passport to buy a SIM card. In ordinary stores, no one will ask for documents.
Most hotels in the city provide their guests with access to the Internet via Wi-Fi, almost all claim this option is free. If you are unlucky with accommodation, then you can find yourself a cafe near the hotel with an open access point or password for clients during your vacation. In the center of Burgas, there are about 50 establishments that are ready to share the Internet, so you won’t be left without a connection.
The beaches of Burgas
The beaches in Burgas are free, sandy, fairly clean, the entrance is smooth almost everywhere, which is good for children and beginner swimmers. The central beach, stretching along the Marine Park, is convenient in terms of infrastructure, sunbeds and umbrellas are free at the behest of the mayor’s office, there are showers and changing cabins. Dark sand contains magnetite, which means that it is theoretically useful (not inside) and heats up in the sun – shales will come in handy. In the high season, the sunbeds are busy, a personal mat in a beach bag will help out. It must be remembered that the port and Neftokhim are nearby, from time to time the water acquires a dubious smell, then it is worth moving to another place.
The northern beach used to be considered the patrimony of nudists, but ordinary vacationers gradually mastered it. Although sometimes there are overly naked characters, so be careful. Even further north, people are splashing in the Burgas “salts” – lakes with healing mud. Having smeared it, you need to walk to the beach “Sunshine”, dry for 15-20 minutes in the sun, and then dive into the sea. They say the effect is felt the first time.
The beach in Sarafovo is quieter and less crowded, good for a measured family vacation. Local breakwaters are great at calming the water. The southern beach “Kraimorie”, which lies on the other side of the Burgas Bay, can be considered as an alternative to the city ones. For an umbrella and a deck chair they ask for 8 BGN for the whole day. Of the relatively wild beaches, Rosenets is recommended near the village of Atiya.
Shopping in Burgas
Most of Burgas is frankly non-tourist quarters, which means that there are a lot of shops for locals – with adequate prices and a more interesting assortment. Shopping fans are welcome at Burgas Plaza and Burgas Gallery. Others will have enough ordinary supermarkets and small shopping centers like CBA, Billa or Lidl, scattered throughout the districts, and Kaufland hypermarkets. For fresh fruits, sweets and delicacies, it is worth visiting (at least for the sake of a price tag and an excursion) the City Market indoor market in the Center.
In directories and reviews, Alexandrovskaya and Aleko Bogoridi often appear as the most popular shopping streets, make an allowance for this – the more famous the place, the higher the likelihood of a price tag wound up for tourists, although there are good discounts here. The best option is to take a walk, remember the prices, visit the large stores in the sleeping areas, and then make a decision.
At the end of July-September, as well as in December, January and even February in Burgas there are “seasonal daubing” and “total liquidation”. Sale, in a word.
Perhaps, Burgas cannot boast of something particularly exclusive, except for its healing mud, so you can immediately take a place in a suitcase with a traditional Bulgarian “souvenir” – this is rose oil, creams with extract or rose petals and other natural cosmetics. Delicious gifts – Turkish delight, sujuk, as well as the amount of Bulgarian alcohol allowed by customs rules – rakia, mint and anise liqueurs and further down the list of preferences. For more authentic souvenirs – be it high-quality linen clothes and home textiles with folk ornaments, interesting ceramics or silver – it is better to take a ride to Nessebar.
Cuisine and restaurants of Burgas
It is not a problem to eat delicious food in Burgas – there are under 200 catering establishments in the city. During the holidays, it would be nice to put an internal ban on international cuisine and fast food, completely switching to Bulgarian dishes. They are not only ridiculously called, but also able to pleasantly surprise even the fussy and gourmet. Entering the mehana and ordering a “tarator”, “pateshka”, “kebapchi”, “sarmi”, “kavarma”, “melba” or “gyuvech” – is it really possible to refuse such a gastronomic journey? Moreover, many institutions in Burgas (especially those that operate in areas away from the Center) are very affordable at a price tag, and portions are traditionally large. A set of soup, hot with garnish and salad will be available for 10-15 BGN. Moreover, hot or salad is quite possible to take one for two. Spice up dinner with a jug of wine – 45 BGN. Tea and coffee – 2-5 BGN.
Those who like to test “tested” places for themselves are recommended to visit any Happy Bar & Grill, spend a romantic evening at the Neptune restaurant on the Central Beach, and also visit the democratic establishment Kapana Burgas on the northern part of the beach. In the latter, be sure to order a plate of small fried fish – swells – with local beer.
Chicken – “kokoshka”, chicken – “saw”. Forget for the duration of the trip the words “chicken”, “chicken”, “chickens” and everything consonant with them. They may be offended, not understood, or even beaten.
Even in Bulgaria there are excellent cheeses, sausages and dairy products. We go to any grocery store for them. Also in supermarkets for 13-20 BGN you can pick up ready-made food and eat it at the hotel. For fresh fruit, we go to ordinary markets where local residents buy. A kilo of juicy cherries or sweet cherries – 2.00-2.50 BGN, apricots – 2.50-3.50 BGN.