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Nessebar: What to see?
Nessebar: What to see?
Nessebar is one of the oldest cities in Bulgaria, attracting tourists not only for its sandy beaches and good infrastructure, but also for its ancient history, ancient churches, museums and colorful houses.
The journey to Nessebar for most tourists starts from Burgas Airport. The distance from Burgas Airport to the Old Town of Nessebar is 26 kilometers. Taxi from Burgas airport to Nessebar costs from 20 euros, travel time is 25-30 minutes. You can also get from the airport by bus, the bus stop is located at the junction just outside the airport. Fare is paid directly on the bus by the conductor, but only in local currency, so you should change a small amount of money at the airport in advance.
In fact, all the resorts around Nessebar - Sunny Beach, Ravda, St. Vlas and Elenite belong to the Nessebar community, so public transport connects all these resorts. In particular, routes number 1 and 2 connect the old town of Nessebar and Sunny Beach, the fare is 75 euro cents. Taxi rides according to the meter: a short trip around the city will cost 5-10 euros. In addition, there is a train that runs from the beginning of the Old Town along the embankment to the beginning of Sunny Beach, the cost is 2 euros.
The season on Nessebar lasts from June to September, when the average daily air temperature is from 24 to 28 degrees. And the high season falls on July-August. The sea heats up in mid-June and keeps warm until the end of September. But if you want to work and enjoy the silence of the resort then the mass arrival of tourists, you can come even before the start of the season in mid-May or at the end of the season and stay here until mid-October.
There are several beaches on Nessebar. The most popular of them is the southern one. This is a 2 km long sandy beach, which is located in the southern part of the New Town. For its frequency, the southern beach of Nessebar was awarded the Blue Flag certificate in 2021. In addition, there are two beaches in the Old Town, a small beach near the city park, as well as the Olympic Reserves beach near the Aurelia quarter or not far from the Ravda resort. The south beach of Sunny Beach is also located near Nessebar.
Tourists who come to Nessebar for a beach holiday will be happy to diversify their vacation with a visit to the Old Town, which is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. You can get to it on foot, by city buses, by train or by taxi. The old city is located on a small peninsula, which can be bypassed in a couple of hours. Moreover, almost all attractions are available for free, with the exception of a few museums. Here you can plunge into the atmosphere of the ancient city, as well as enjoy Bulgarian cuisine in a restaurant overlooking the sea or ancient churches. Near the entrance to the Old Town there is an archaeological museum. This museum houses a rather interesting collection of dishes, jewelry and coins of various periods, starting from the 12th century BC. There is also a rather large collection (about 250) of icons of the 12th-19th centuries. The museum is definitely worth a visit. In the museum, you can purchase various combined tickets for visiting the museum and churches of Nessebar, costing from 4 to 10 euros. However, if you are limited in time, then the most interesting option is a ticket to the Archaeological Museum and St. Stephen's Church for 5 euros.
A short walk from the museum is the church of St. Stephen of the XI-XIII centuries. The church is worth a visit as it contains 258 wall paintings painted in 1599. Opposite is the church of Agios Ioannis Alyturgetos, which offers a beautiful view of the amphitheater and the sea. Nearby, in a picturesque square with flowers, there is the Church of Christ Pantokrator of the 14th century, near which beautiful photos are obtained.
In the center of the peninsula there are several more churches of different styles, as well as the ruins of the church of Hagia Sophia of the 5th-6th centuries. At the wines of the Church of the Holy Virgin of Eleusa, you can comfortably sit on the benches and admire the neighboring resorts: Sunny Beach, St. Vlas and Elenite.
Not far from the Old Town is located in an amusement park where you can have a great time with children in the evening. In Nessebar there is a water park "Nessebar" - one of the largest in Bulgaria. On the territory of the water park there is an aqua bar and a food court, and at lunchtime, visitors are offered an entertainment program. The entrance fee is 26 euros for the whole day for adults and 13 euros for the whole day for children. The site of the water park has a schedule and a route how to get to the water park from other resorts.
Prices in Nessebar are at the level of neighboring resorts in Bulgaria, including Sunny Beach, so they will please visiting tourists. For example, in a cafe or restaurant, a good lunch is soup or salad, a main course and a drink will cost an average of 10-15 euros per person, a cup of coffee - from half to 1 euro, a glass of beer - from 1 to 2 euros. In restaurants on the very shore of the sea, the cost may be higher. There are several large supermarkets "Janet" in Nessebar. It is convenient to buy ready-made food here, in particular salads, meat dishes, seafood and desserts. Also at the entrance to the city there is a large supermarket "Lidl".
Nessebar has a large selection of accommodation for every taste. In the Old Town, you can find both expensive boutique hotels on the very seashore and inexpensive guest houses. In the New City, along the coastline, there are mainly 4 and 5 star hotels, especially in the south beach area. In more remote areas - it's a 10-15 minute walk to the beach - you can find modern apartment complexes at a good price. You should not settle along the road where buses run, but in other parts of the city you can find very interesting accommodation options, both with and without a pool. Most of the options are available in the new city, as well as in the area of the Aurelia quarter.
The cost of housing depends on the season. In the middle season - in June and September - a small studio for two can be rented for 600 euros per month, an apartment with a kitchen and a bedroom - for 800 euros. In the high season - in July and August - their cost will be 800 and 1000 euros. The cost of housing is affected by the distance from the sea, the presence of a swimming pool in the complex, the size of the apartment, the availability of a bedroom and various amenities. As a rule, accommodation booking sites write the final cost of housing, so you do not have to pay additional utilities, electricity or water. However, internet charges may not be included. When booking a hotel, you need to immediately check the availability of the Internet in the room or apartment. If you need reliable internet with good speed,
The cost of living in Nessebar per month for two in the middle season (this is June or September) is as follows: apartments with a kitchen and a bedroom - 800 euros, - food
- 600 euros (subject to cooking at home or buying ready-made food),
- transport: taxi and bus - 50 euros
- beach attractions - 50 euros
Total: 1500 euros for two or 750 euros for one person. The budget is average: you can rent more budget accommodation, save on transport, beaches, food, and as a result, spend less than this amount. Or vice versa: rent more expensive housing, rent a car, eat in restaurants and thereby increase your expenses.
So, let's sum up. The disadvantages of Nessebar include the following:
- a relatively short season (the season in Bulgaria lasts about 4 months - from June to September)
- in Nessebar the Black Sea, which significantly loses to other seas of southern Europe in its purity and transparency. However, the Black Sea is less salty.
- a large number of tourists in the season and a large number of vacationers on the beach.
The advantages of Nessebar include the following:
- from the airport to the Old Town on Nessebar can be reached by bus within an hour or by taxi in half an hour.
- The old town of Nessebar is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List
- Nessebar has several beaches: The South Beach has been awarded the Blue Flag certificate
- the infrastructure in the city is good, there are many shops, banks, pharmacies, restaurants, public transport is well developed.
- broadband internet speed is quite mediocre, but mobile internet speed is excellent.
- prices for products and services are very democratic, and housing is available for any budget
- tourists have the opportunity to choose accommodation both in the Old Town and in modern complexes with swimming pools
- there is a wide selection of restaurants and fast foods for every taste.
Nessebar is a great modern resort that can be recommended for remote work and leisure if you like to combine a beach holiday with sightseeing
The journey to Nessebar for most tourists starts from Burgas Airport. The distance from Burgas Airport to the Old Town of Nessebar is 26 kilometers. Taxi from Burgas airport to Nessebar costs from 20 euros, travel time is 25-30 minutes. You can also get from the airport by bus, the bus stop is located at the junction just outside the airport. Fare is paid directly on the bus by the conductor, but only in local currency, so you should change a small amount of money at the airport in advance.
In fact, all the resorts around Nessebar - Sunny Beach, Ravda, St. Vlas and Elenite belong to the Nessebar community, so public transport connects all these resorts. In particular, routes number 1 and 2 connect the old town of Nessebar and Sunny Beach, the fare is 75 euro cents. Taxi rides according to the meter: a short trip around the city will cost 5-10 euros. In addition, there is a train that runs from the beginning of the Old Town along the embankment to the beginning of Sunny Beach, the cost is 2 euros.
The season on Nessebar lasts from June to September, when the average daily air temperature is from 24 to 28 degrees. And the high season falls on July-August. The sea heats up in mid-June and keeps warm until the end of September. But if you want to work and enjoy the silence of the resort then the mass arrival of tourists, you can come even before the start of the season in mid-May or at the end of the season and stay here until mid-October.
There are several beaches on Nessebar. The most popular of them is the southern one. This is a 2 km long sandy beach, which is located in the southern part of the New Town. For its frequency, the southern beach of Nessebar was awarded the Blue Flag certificate in 2021. In addition, there are two beaches in the Old Town, a small beach near the city park, as well as the Olympic Reserves beach near the Aurelia quarter or not far from the Ravda resort. The south beach of Sunny Beach is also located near Nessebar.
Tourists who come to Nessebar for a beach holiday will be happy to diversify their vacation with a visit to the Old Town, which is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. You can get to it on foot, by city buses, by train or by taxi. The old city is located on a small peninsula, which can be bypassed in a couple of hours. Moreover, almost all attractions are available for free, with the exception of a few museums. Here you can plunge into the atmosphere of the ancient city, as well as enjoy Bulgarian cuisine in a restaurant overlooking the sea or ancient churches. Near the entrance to the Old Town there is an archaeological museum. This museum houses a rather interesting collection of dishes, jewelry and coins of various periods, starting from the 12th century BC. There is also a rather large collection (about 250) of icons of the 12th-19th centuries. The museum is definitely worth a visit. In the museum, you can purchase various combined tickets for visiting the museum and churches of Nessebar, costing from 4 to 10 euros. However, if you are limited in time, then the most interesting option is a ticket to the Archaeological Museum and St. Stephen's Church for 5 euros.
A short walk from the museum is the church of St. Stephen of the XI-XIII centuries. The church is worth a visit as it contains 258 wall paintings painted in 1599. Opposite is the church of Agios Ioannis Alyturgetos, which offers a beautiful view of the amphitheater and the sea. Nearby, in a picturesque square with flowers, there is the Church of Christ Pantokrator of the 14th century, near which beautiful photos are obtained.
In the center of the peninsula there are several more churches of different styles, as well as the ruins of the church of Hagia Sophia of the 5th-6th centuries. At the wines of the Church of the Holy Virgin of Eleusa, you can comfortably sit on the benches and admire the neighboring resorts: Sunny Beach, St. Vlas and Elenite.
Not far from the Old Town is located in an amusement park where you can have a great time with children in the evening. In Nessebar there is a water park "Nessebar" - one of the largest in Bulgaria. On the territory of the water park there is an aqua bar and a food court, and at lunchtime, visitors are offered an entertainment program. The entrance fee is 26 euros for the whole day for adults and 13 euros for the whole day for children. The site of the water park has a schedule and a route how to get to the water park from other resorts.
Prices in Nessebar are at the level of neighboring resorts in Bulgaria, including Sunny Beach, so they will please visiting tourists. For example, in a cafe or restaurant, a good lunch is soup or salad, a main course and a drink will cost an average of 10-15 euros per person, a cup of coffee - from half to 1 euro, a glass of beer - from 1 to 2 euros. In restaurants on the very shore of the sea, the cost may be higher. There are several large supermarkets "Janet" in Nessebar. It is convenient to buy ready-made food here, in particular salads, meat dishes, seafood and desserts. Also at the entrance to the city there is a large supermarket "Lidl".
Nessebar has a large selection of accommodation for every taste. In the Old Town, you can find both expensive boutique hotels on the very seashore and inexpensive guest houses. In the New City, along the coastline, there are mainly 4 and 5 star hotels, especially in the south beach area. In more remote areas - it's a 10-15 minute walk to the beach - you can find modern apartment complexes at a good price. You should not settle along the road where buses run, but in other parts of the city you can find very interesting accommodation options, both with and without a pool. Most of the options are available in the new city, as well as in the area of the Aurelia quarter.
The cost of housing depends on the season. In the middle season - in June and September - a small studio for two can be rented for 600 euros per month, an apartment with a kitchen and a bedroom - for 800 euros. In the high season - in July and August - their cost will be 800 and 1000 euros. The cost of housing is affected by the distance from the sea, the presence of a swimming pool in the complex, the size of the apartment, the availability of a bedroom and various amenities. As a rule, accommodation booking sites write the final cost of housing, so you do not have to pay additional utilities, electricity or water. However, internet charges may not be included. When booking a hotel, you need to immediately check the availability of the Internet in the room or apartment. If you need reliable internet with good speed,
The cost of living in Nessebar per month for two in the middle season (this is June or September) is as follows: apartments with a kitchen and a bedroom - 800 euros, - food
- 600 euros (subject to cooking at home or buying ready-made food),
- transport: taxi and bus - 50 euros
- beach attractions - 50 euros
Total: 1500 euros for two or 750 euros for one person. The budget is average: you can rent more budget accommodation, save on transport, beaches, food, and as a result, spend less than this amount. Or vice versa: rent more expensive housing, rent a car, eat in restaurants and thereby increase your expenses.
So, let's sum up. The disadvantages of Nessebar include the following:
- a relatively short season (the season in Bulgaria lasts about 4 months - from June to September)
- in Nessebar the Black Sea, which significantly loses to other seas of southern Europe in its purity and transparency. However, the Black Sea is less salty.
- a large number of tourists in the season and a large number of vacationers on the beach.
The advantages of Nessebar include the following:
- from the airport to the Old Town on Nessebar can be reached by bus within an hour or by taxi in half an hour.
- The old town of Nessebar is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List
- Nessebar has several beaches: The South Beach has been awarded the Blue Flag certificate
- the infrastructure in the city is good, there are many shops, banks, pharmacies, restaurants, public transport is well developed.
- broadband internet speed is quite mediocre, but mobile internet speed is excellent.
- prices for products and services are very democratic, and housing is available for any budget
- tourists have the opportunity to choose accommodation both in the Old Town and in modern complexes with swimming pools
- there is a wide selection of restaurants and fast foods for every taste.
Nessebar is a great modern resort that can be recommended for remote work and leisure if you like to combine a beach holiday with sightseeing