The sea in Bulgaria. Photos and the temperature of the water

Bulgaria – one of the most accessible and beautiful countries of the Balkan coast. In this article, you will get to see the pictures of the sea in Bulgaria. We hope tha

What is the sea in Bulgaria?

Bulgaria is bordered by the Black Sea on the east. Basically, the water is clean and clear. The sea is generally comfortable and safe for swimming even for children. The downside is that the temperature of the water was a bit cooler compared to other seas such as Adriatic Sea in Montenegro.

In all of popular beaches (Varna, Golden Sands, Sunny Beach, Albena) you can find clean and well-maintained facilities such as shower rooms. But if you choose less popular resorts, you do not have to worry. Unlike the waters of other seas, the waters of the Black Sea do not contain a lot of salt so it would not probably remain in the body.

Prices of sun beds and sun shades may vary depending on the resort. Some are priced 6 levs, while others are priced 8 levs. In this case, you can choose what you want and what you can afford. You may either pay for an umbrella or a sunbed, or carry your own (plus a towel) at “free zone” beaches.

Keep in mind, again, that the waters of the Black Sea are too cold. They are not very salty, either. It means that the you can quite see algae often, so expect various infections in the water that are not dying so quickly.

In fact, in recent years Bulgaria is more attentive to cleanliness in their beaches than ever, complying to safety and hygiene standards. Here you can safely swim and relax without fear of health problems.

If you are interested about information on Bulgarian beaches, we recommend you to read our detailed article “The beaches of Bulgaria”.

The temperature of the sea water in Bulgaria

The water temperature in Bulgaria during summer months can reach up to +26°C. August is considered as the best for swimming. But sometimes there are cold currents, and therefore the waters of the Black Sea can range from cool to very, very cold.

During the winter, the water temperature can go down to +7°C.

The beaches of Bulgaria

The coastline of Bulgaria stretches over 354 km. Most of the beaches of the country are sandy, but there are almost no pebble beaches or “beaches on the rocks”. Even wild beaches are mostly covered with white, or even curative black sand. A striking example is the beach on the spit near Pomorie.

Beaches at each resort are different a bit. To make it easier for you to choose a beach, we offer to learn about the features of the beaches of the popular resorts in Bulgaria:

Balchik – one of the most popular resorts of Bulgaria. The peculiarity of it as a port city, is the deep sea. A descent into the water downstairs from breakwaters creates certain inconveniences. Therefore, it is not very suitable for families with children. If you still choose to go to Balchik, try to find a public beach or “a new beach” – they are more comfortable.
Golden Sands – one of the biggest and the most expensive resorts in the country. There are clean beaches complete with amenities, which include changing cabins. The main part of the embankment is occupied by sunbeds and sunshades, their prices range from 8 to 10 levs. There is also a free zone, where vacationers can lie down on their towel. There are also disadvantages – the resort is surrounded by mountains, which affects the climate. Result is air that is hot, airy and even stuffy.
Varna – is also a popular resort in Bulgaria. Several beaches are located along the embankment — mostly sandy and with small bays. You can find and benefit from many different amenities such as sun shades and sun loungers which can be rented, changing rooms and shower rooms. You can also do a variety of fun water activities there.
Obzor – it is another seaside resort whose popularity is rapidly growing among tourists. It is no wonder, because the beaches and waters are clean and the prices are low compared to other seaside towns. The descent into the sea is a bit steep, but there are areas with less sharper and more agreeable descents. The waters in Obzor are a bit warmer (compared to Golden Sands) so you will be able to enjoy swimming there with your families and friends.
Sunny Beach – it is one of the biggest, most expensive and most popular tourist resorts in Bulgaria. The beaches and the waters are generally clean. There are lifeguards and paid zones where you can enjoy using sun lounges and sun shades for 8 levs. The descent into the sea is mostly gentle and convenient. But as in the case of many other popular beaches, the beaches of Sunny Beach are usually very crowded.
Nessebar – it is less popular and less crowded compared to Sunny Beach. But these factors let you to see the natural beauty and wonders of the resort. Along the coast are several beaches, some of which are equipped with changing cabins, showers, lifeguards and paid sun lounges and sun shades. The descent into the water is generally gentle and convenient, making this resort a favorite place for families and kids. As the waters are shallow, your little ones can safely wades and splash into them. Check out a more detailed review of the beaches of Nessebar if you are interested.
Ravda – Ravda is a small seaside town. Clean and well-equipped beaches with fine golden sands and comparatively low prices attract many tourists. It tends to be crowded though, compared to other beaches in Bulgaria.
Aheloy – a small and cozy resort town on the Black Sea coast (we were able to walk along the coast). Sandy beaches are clean and well maintained. If you wish, you can even find a “wild beach”. Along the hotels at the coast there are sun shades and sun loungers.
Pomorie – is a famous seaside and spa resort. The beaches of Pomorie are places for fun, relaxation and healing too. The famous healing black mud is obtained from the bottom of Lake Pomorie, which also serves as a bird sanctuary. As you expect, Lake Pomorie is also a good place for bird-watching. Over 200 species of birds, which are feared to go extinct, are protected in this lake and vicinity. People go to Lake Pomorie and its surroundings because the air is not so hot there. Nearby, there is a wild beach on the spit, which we highly recommend.
Burgas – one of biggest coastal cities in Bulgaria. Tourists are drawn to its nice clean beaches, dark sands and calm clear sea waters. Some beaches are equipped with sun shades and sun loungers and there is also plenty of places for sports, recreation and entertainment. A huge and very beautiful Seaside Park along the coastline is one of the resort’s main attractions. Also, close to the beach you can admire beautiful sand sculptures which are made by professional sculptors from around the world.
Sozopol – can also be considered one of Bulgaria’s popular resorts. There are sandy beaches and untouched wild beaches. A fairly long strip of shallow sea makes Sozopol popular for families with children.

For more details about Bulgaria, read articles about the Bulgarian resorts and the main beaches of the country.

The weather on the coast of Bulgaria

A peak season for tourists in Bulgaria is usually from June to September. During this season, temperatures of both air and seawater become comfortably warm for a beach holiday.

Bulgaria offers a lot more than beaches. You can also go there for a snowy skiing from December to April. February is the most recommended time to go there because there are no strong winds.

Despite its small area, Bulgaria has a surprisingly variable climate. Most of the country is dominated by a continental climactic zone, with smaller areas on the south having the characteristics of a Mediterranean climate. The summers are hot, while the winters are long and cold. The Black Sea somehow mitigates the hot and dry spells along the coast.

Holidays on the Bulgarian coast

Even if you stay just on the Bulgarian coast (and not on the entire country yet), you will never run out of things to do there. Your vacation in the Bulgarian coast should be varied and diverse. On the beach and the waters, you can do a lot fun things such as boating, riding a banana boat, jet-skiing, fishing and parasailing. After an full day at the beach, you may want to go for a relaxing massage to soothe your tense muscles.

Water parks on the coast are quite popular at many resorts of the country.

Seafood dishes – where to taste and what to expect?

The diversity and quantity of restaurants, cafes and canteens at any resort of Bulgaria are simply amazing – here you can taste different types of seafood: from European sprat to the shark fillet. On the menu, you can find a variety of dishes made of squids, shrimps, mussels, turbots, gilt-head (sea) breams, trouts, crustaceans and lobsters which can be seen are in a fish tank at the entrance to a restaurant – you can choose any of live swimming delicacies and the chefs will cook them for you.

Many foreigners visiting Bulgaria will surely want to have a taste of the Bulgarian cuisine. We highly suggest that you should go to taverns and small, cozy restaurants in the town or city proper. Prices there are lower compared to prices at coastal restaurants.

We would like to note one more important factor – when choosing a restaurant pay attention to its location. Establishments with waterfront views differ with high prices on their menu.

You may be interested to check out a separate article about nutrition in Bulgaria.

Where can you go from Bulgaria?

From Bulgaria, you can go to neighboring countries such as Turkey, Romania and Greece without any major problems. These countries are included in tours of many travel agencies. The cost will depend on the number of days and a place of the excursion (about 136 levs- Turkey for 2 days; 225 levs – Romania for 2 days; and 210 levs – Greece for 1 day). You should obtain a multi-visa when traveling to these countries. It is issued for for travel to Bulgaria for half a year.

From Bulgaria, you can also go to Moldova, Croatia, Serbia, Macedonia, Montenegro , Bosnia and Herzegovina, Albania. If you plan to travel to these countries, be mindful of the certain rules regarding border crossing and limitations, which are related to the terms of the foreign passport. Due to this fact we recommend to specify more information on the websites of the embassies directly before the trip.

Resorts and the sea of Bulgaria – the map

For your convenience, we add a map of Bulgaria with the main resorts which are marked on it.

Photos of Bulgarian resorts

Bulgaria is a very beautiful country. Not only you get to stay at a luxury hotel, but you also have an opportunity to explore the sights, enjoy nature and visit other towns and resorts. Traveling independently is also possible there, as public transportation and rented car services turn out to be quite cheap.

While staying in one of the Bulgarian coastal towns and cities, swimming and sunbathing may take most of your activity. But try to diversify your holiday agenda by getting accustomed to Bulgarian culture, taking good photos, sampling authentic Bulgarian cuisine, going for a nature trip — anything that allows you to see and learn something new.

We’ve got a huge number of beautiful photos that remind us our wonderful 14-day Bulgarian holiday, and we are happy to share them with you.