Burgas is the third largest city in Bulgaria, and the second biggest on the Bulgarian Black Sea Coast after the city of Varna.
Burgas maintains the most important business port in the nation.
The huge Russian-owned Lukoil refinery nearby is one of the most highly developed in southeastern Europe.
The Burgas Lakes were formed because of the supposed “wetlands” district; they serve as a migratory haven for the exotic birds coming from Europe.
The government declared it a protected wildlife area and promotes ecotourism adventures there for the city of Burgas.
Explore the city and you will discover a busy metropolis with modern luxury cars, secluded and un-crowded beach attractions, and museums that contain very interesting artifacts.
During the annual Festival of Roses, tourists (mostly from Europe) fill the streets and join in the merry celebration that takes place a day before the rose-picking season begins.
Best time to Visit Burgas
Burgas city is generally characterized as having a calm and gentle climate all year round.
The normal everyday temperature in the winter months of November to April is 40, while in the sunny season months of May to October it is around 78; this is additionally the busiest and best time to visit.
August is the summer month and the most humid with highs above 85.
Best things to do in Burgas – My Travel guide
Listed below are my favorite things to do if you have the chance to go to the city of Burgas:
Strandja Mountains
A tour of Bulgaria is not complete without a visit to the majestic Strandja Mountains .
A hike in this mountain range will take you past the Devil’s Bridge, the Devil’s Throat Cave, and the Jagodina.
Along the way you can also see the ski attractions of Smolyan and Pamporovo.
Take the bus from the city — you will enjoy the narrow roads, and the view of the oak forest from the bus window is excellent.
The trail to the peak has beautiful, undeveloped sandy inlets & rough coastal shores to admire.
This forest is full of wildlife and there is a rich biodiversity of both flora and fauna.
At the end of the hike is a village where locals will welcome you and guide you to a short tour of their small outdoor museum.
This local community is only about 6 miles from the coast, and consists of mostly very old houses in a small but densely populated area.
This mountain is declared as a natural reserve and a wildlife national park.
If you want to explore through EcoTourism, you will see the cultural sights and meet the head of the ecological village — really this is a must-see during your time in Burgas.
You can take the trails along the Ropotamo River and see the lifestyle and houses that have been preserved for more than 400 years.
What to see in Burgas?
Kayak Safaris in Burgas
One of the exciting things to do when in Burgas is to have a kayak adventure on the river.
The Kayak Safaris in Burgas offer a tour of the diverse wildlife on board a two-seater kayak.
Along the course of the adventure, you can see storks comfortably nestled on top of telegraph poles.
At the launch point you will be given instructions by the resident tour guides about safety precautions and what to see while making a tour of the river.
You will be provided with double-sided paddles and a big kayak that is very light and easy to maneuver on the waters.
It’s a whole new adventure as you admire the variety of local wildlife that can survive and thrive along the riverbanks of Burgas.
A lot of bird species can be seen and photographed, along with kingfishers, terrapins, pelicans and cormorants.
To float past the pleasant meadows, the thick mangroves, and to feel the peace of the quiet river is very relaxing.
The guides’ knowledge and expertise about navigation and every animal encountered during the safari is equally impressive.
After the tour guests are treated at the bar of the owner for some snacks, coffee and beer.
You not only get to see the rich natural resources of Burgas, you also get to meet the warm and friendly people who maintain and operate the safari adventure.
What else to do in Burgas?
PH Quads
If you are in search of something different to do while in the city, try joining a group of guides to tour the rough terrain of Burgas on board sturdy quad bikes.
At PH Quads, the aim is to keep guests entertained while using their sturdy quad vehicles.
It is not a racing adventure to begin with, the purpose is to help you figure out how to control and explore with your bike in a real off-road atmosphere while admiring the nice views of the scenic Bulgarian landscape.
Located at the town of Sozopol, the package tour includes transport from the hotel up to a designated drop off/ launch point where the quad bike adventure begins.
An instructor is provided, who will teach you how to properly navigate the bike.
A little test drive is made before heading out on the off-road journey that will keep you entertained and well informed about the hills and local villages around the city.
You get to see the best parts of the city as well as interact with the very hospitable people, and keep your adrenaline pumped up while driving a quad bike and making a tour of the countryside.
Action Aquapark
At the Action Aquapark , kids can ride a lot of slides and have a fun-filled adventure with the many exciting features of this great water park.
Adults can also enjoy themselves here; many of them love having a leisurely time at the “Lazy River.” It is definitely a very cool experience inside this kid-friendly aqua park complex.
The place has a good lineup of interesting slides and a few small animals — rabbits, peacocks, and burros (donkeys).
There is a slide for every age, but an adult must accompany kids in order for them to enter.
There is a nice café and food is not a problem because they have several snack kiosks and restaurants within the park’s spacious premises.
The security service, lifeguards, and staff are always attentive and alert.
A nice day out and great fun for the whole family waits for you at this amazing Aquapark.
You can swim and frolic all day long, and it is easy to reach using the shuttle bus service.
Provided by Action Aquapark, the bus has assigned pick-up and drop-off points from any part of Sunny Beach and also St.
Vlas, Nessebar, Ravda and Pomorie.
Fun things to do in Burgas
Old Nessebar Village
The Nessebar Village is a quaint community that is situated on a small peninsula.
It is easy to get around and see everything on foot in a few hours.
One part has approximately 40 churches and some interesting historical ruins.
The city has many restaurants with panoramic sea views and delicious seafood.
From Sunny Beach, Nessebar can be reached via a 15-minute bus ride.
There is a central pier for boats, and you can swim at a beach that has complete infrastructure (shower rooms, toilets, loungers with umbrellas, etc.) for guests to enjoy their stay.
Surrounded on all sides by the sea, Nessebar is an ideal place for relaxation.
The Thracian tradition and architecture is perfectly preserved in the promenade complex.
In the ancient amphitheater, open-air festivals are held often, and are well attended by locals and tourists.
There are numerous shops where you can buy handmade souvenirs and paintings by local artists.
If you’re staying in Sunny Beach, walk on the pedestrian promenade to this lovely old town to see the old wooden houses, cobblestone paths, colorful and narrow streets, old churches, and ruins of old structures.
You can ride the small train and enjoy the idyllic views along the countryside of this medieval paradise corner — it’s a recognized UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Top Burgas Tourist Attractions
Sozopol Old Town
The architecture of the Sozopol Old Town is very impressive, plus there are many small shops with a variety of hand-made products — and art galleries, where you can find true masterpieces for a modest amount of money.
Like any other old neighborhood in Burgas, the place is beautiful and original.
It is a suitable place for a photo shoot especially near the shore area.
It has a great line-up of fine dining restaurants with a wonderful view of the city.
You can try the traditional “bean ciorba”, “pig byurek”, and “Sheppard’s salad,” or just drink a glass of wine and watch the sunset over the sea.
Take a walk along the south wall of the fortress to visit the Archaeological Museum of Curiosity that holds the largest collection of gold coins.
Sozopol is known as a city of artists, but you can also buy interesting antiques here.
At the Church of Saints Cyril and Methodius it is possible to venerate the relics of John the Baptist.
In September, the festival of arts called the “Apollonia “is usually held in the amphitheater arena.
If you get tired of the shops and the beach of Sozopol, you can go on excursions from here to both Nessebar Village and the Pomorie region.
Ravadinovo Castle
The Ravadinovo Castle is an impressive building, constructed only a couple decades ago in what might best be described as “fairytale” style.
It combines various building styles and materials and is located conveniently close to Sozopol.
The grounds are as spectacular as the castle and quite popular with area families who flock there to relax and enjoy nature.
The wildlife and the garden are exciting to see, and it nice to enjoy a sip of fresh fruit drink at the lake with the big swans and birds of all sizes.
There are free-range peacocks that can be photographed, and you can also enjoy some food on the site.
Sozopol Archaeological Museum
The Sozopol Archaeological Museum displays objects of everyday life, found during excavations around Burgas and raised from the seabed.
If you want to understand the history of the city, this is the best place to explore and learn.
It is located in the city center and near the pedestrian streets.
An educational tour for children is always organized by the museum at discounted entrance prices.
It is fairly standard and presents a simple set of objects – utensils, jewelry, coins, etc.
In a separate room with a special range of temperature and humidity are old sculptures; the tour guide conducts a very interesting session about their discovery and importance.
Southern Walls of Sozopol
The museum of the Southern Walls of Sozopol is one of the most-liked attractions in Burgas.
Located on two levels in the wall, it goes directly to the water and consists of a number of rooms with ancient artifacts.
When you enter the museum, you are greeted by an original image of the sun from plates made of stone blocks from 1 BC.
If you go to the left, you can enter the storehouse for grains.
Returning to the vestibule, you can then go to the right part of the premises to see a masonry fortification of ruptured stone and limestone.
You can also learn some history here: Sozopol is the ancient name of Apollonius Pontian, and the patron of the town was Apollo.
Therefore, on the main square of the town there was a bronze statue of Apollo the Healer.
It is 45 feet tall, and was created by the ancient Greek sculptor Kalamis.
The original Roman statue was taken to Rome, and on the wall at the museum is a copy of the ancient sculpture — this time created by the Bulgarian sculptor Boris Borisov.
Pomorie Lake
The famous Pomorie Lake is located in a natural reserve that is home to a large population of migratory birds.
The lake has therapeutic mud that has a healing effect on older people.
There are cute gazebos provided where the people can bath in mud and salt extracts (piled in a heap).
It is also very interesting to watch the birds.
On the shore of the lake there is a small area where you can explore a thematic exhibition, learn about the kinds of birds, and watch them from the balcony by using powerful binoculars.
The bird sanctuary and the healing lake qualities make this attraction truly unique and hard to miss when in Burgas.
