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Latest update: 17 May 2023
You can make amazing road trips along the Black Sea coastline in Bulgaria. There’s plenty to see! There’s plenty to see! Drive from Varna to Kavarna and admire the Balchik Palace, look for truffles, and try Bulgarian wine.
Short Bulgarian coastal route
If you think about the Black Sea and beaches in Bulgaria, you probably think of Sunny Beach: the party beach. I would have loved that when I was 18, but now I prefer to explore the area. I’m in the Varna area for a wedding and, luckily, also have time to go on a mini road trip. The stops on this itinerary are all near to each other. So count on a day, depending on how often you stop and whether you do tours – in total, it is just over 60 kilometers.
Lavender fields in Bulgaria
If you drive from Varna to Kavarna in the summer months, take a good look around. You will spot beautiful lavender fields. I always thought you had to go to France for that. But Bulgaria also has them. They’re worth a short stop! Please make sure you park your car somewhere along the road where it is safe.
Varna Winery
One of the stops is the Varna Winery, where you can do a tour and wine tasting. If you want to be sure of a tour or tasting, it is best to contact them in advance. Although you can often just pop in and get lucky.
Truffle tour
I once did a truffle tour in Italy, which was so cool! You go into the forest with the truffle hunter and their dog searching for truffles. You can also do that in Bulgaria. Who knew?! Book in advance via the site.
Visit Balchik Palace
Balchik (or Baltsjik) is a small seaside town with an impressive old seaside palace. Friends of mine got married here, and it is a beautiful, romantic location. Balchik Dvoretsa Palace and Park consists of the palace and a botanical garden. Most flowers bloom between May and July. The palace was built at the beginning of the twentieth century as a holiday home for the royal family. It is quite simple for a palace; it is more like a villa.
Please note that you must buy two tickets, one for the palace and one for the garden. And honestly, a guide can’t hurt either, but that is a bit more expensive. You can book a visit with a guided tour here and buy individual tickets at the box office. Then, after a visit to the palace, you can walk along the boulevard and maybe have something to eat at one of the restaurants.
Ziplining over the Black Sea
You have now arrived in Topola. “Fly” over the ocean from a cliff. At Topola Skies, they offer a short zip line. Not an entire course, just down in one go. There is also a water park at the zipline.
Luxury golf on the cliffs
Below Topola lies Kavarna, the Gulf Riviera. There are several luxury resorts. The Thracian Cliffs Resort has a beautiful golf course. You can also golf as a non-guest of the resort: buy a day pass or take a golf lesson. All details and prices can be found on the site.
Overnight in Kavarna / Topola
If you decide to spend the night at the Gulf Riviera before heading back to Varna or perhaps continue to explore the coastline, I can of course recommend the Thracian Cliffs Resort. Super luxurious; I believe it’s even the most luxurious resort in Bulgaria. And it’s stunning too, with that golf course and two beautiful private beaches. But maybe it’s a little over budget. Check the rates.
Who knows, just like me, you will be just as happy with a stay in Topola, located on the rocks above the Gulf Riviera. You won’t be directly on the beach but in an affordable luxury resort with sea views. Check out the Kaliakria Resort. I spent a few wonderful days in a spacious apartment with a balcony. The pool is huge and cleverly designed. If you stand in the right spot, it is an infinity pool.
The restaurants at the resort are also good. At Terrazza, you eat Italian, and at El Balcon del Mundo you drink delicious cocktails and eat delicious fish and meat dishes. This is where breakfast is served in the morning, with a very extensive buffet. Love it!
Overnight stay in Varna
If you drive back to Varna, I recommend the Urban Style apartment in the center of Varna. This spacious apartment has two bedrooms, a living room, and a kitchen. The shower is a slightly weird cabin but works fine. The kitchen is well-equipped, and you will find funny design details everywhere in the apartment. A big advantage is free parking in a private parking lot. In addition, the hosts are very cooperative and helpful: we accidentally leave something in the apartment, and they help us get it back before our flight home.
More Bulgaria travel inspiration?
Useful links for your Bulgaria trip
- Accommodation. Favorites remain Booking.com and Campspace. Rather stay in a hostel? Try HostelWorld.
- Activities. You book the best tours and activities with GetYourGuide and Viator. Both Freetour.com and GuruWalk offer ‘free’ walking tours. WithLocals has nice theme-based tours.
- Attractions and museums. Get a 5% discount at Tiqets on museums and attractions with the discount code: KIMOPREIS22
- Bus and train. Travel to Sofia with NS International by train. Travel to and in Bulgaria with Flixbus and find affordable buses and trains with Trainline, Omio or Busbud.
- Car rental. My go-to car rental companies are EasyTerra and Sunny Cars as they have all-inclusive / worry-free offers. If you can’t find a good deal there, compare prices at Discover Cars.
- Flights. Always compare prices! Definitely check out Momondo, Skyscanner, and Kiwi.
- Guide books. I love the practical guides by Lonely Planet, for sale at Bol.com and Amazon.
- Money. Your debit and credit cards may not get accepted everywhere. You could opt for a Revolut card as an additional card when you travel.
- Package deals. Rather go on a catered trip? In the Netherlands alone, there are plenty of travel agencies. From the Netherlands: ANWB Vakanties and Tui, or maybe try Vakantie Discounter, Sawadee, or Shoestring? And you could also check Sunweb and D-Reizen.
- SIM card. Beware of unexpectedly high calling and internet costs. Buy a local SIM card when you arrive, or arrange one online via Airalo.
- Travel gear. Buy your gear at Bever or Decathlon, or simply at Bol.com.
- Yoga retreat. Or why not treat yourself to a yoga retreat!
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