Those parents who are weighing the arguments for and against vacationing with young children or adolescents in, should cast aside doubts. This small Balkan country is like no other in Eastern Europe suitable for young tourists. Experienced travelers cite several factors in favor of a children's holiday in most Bulgarian resorts:
- mild climate, assuming the absence of too hot weather;
- short - no more than 3 hours 40 minutes from Moscow to international airports Bulgaria;
- with clean and almost always soft sand;
- a large number of health camps for independent rest children;
- a variety of fun attractions in the Bulgarian aqua and amusement parks;
- performances with graceful marine animals in the country's four dolphinariums;
- a special menu for young tourists in some hotels;
- natural parks located in the vicinity of many resorts, which favorably affects the purity of the air;
- the opportunity to find an option for an inexpensive vacation with young tourists;
- a wide range of accommodation: from luxury hotels to;
- some local dishes are quite suitable for baby food;
- the sea near the coast is often shallow, and the descent is gentle.
Varna
Parents looking for a resort with a wide range of children's activities, will certainly suit the crowded. Of the six local sandy beaches, first of all Central, Bunite and South are suitable for young vacationers. They are equipped with several playgrounds. A gentle descent into coastal waters is considered an important advantage. Not far from the Central Beach are the "possessions" of the Primorsky Park, where dozens of various entertainments await young tourists:
- "Festa" - so unassuming, hinting at the festive atmosphere, is the dolphinarium, where five intelligent dolphins take part in a 40-minute show. Shows are held daily 1-4 times - less often in winter, more often in summer. A visit to the institution is not free - from 10 to 20 leva, depending on the specific date. This price installed for young guests under 12 years old. Those who are two years old or less can visit the dolphinarium for free. For guests over 12, the visit will cost 15-25 leva.
- The zoo is not big... But children with sincere interest look for a long time at the timid kangaroos, calm tigers, cautious roe deer, fussy penguins, silent pelicans and other birds and animals living in it. Everyone can take a ride on cute ponies waiting for riders at the door of the zoo.
- Oceanariumwill rather disappoint young visitors than please. There are only a few small aquariums and no exotic fish.
- IN Astronomical complex it is worth visiting the planetarium, where young visitors are happy to go on imaginary space travel and get acquainted with the structure of stellar and planetary systems.
- To the halls Naval Museum most often curious teenagers try to get in. There are many interesting exhibits inside and in front of the establishment. First of all, young visitors see the cannons, anchors, sailors' uniforms, a torpedo boat and a well-preserved helicopter.
During the warmer months in Seaside park children have fun in several well-equipped playgrounds. Teenagers enjoy skateboarding, rented bicycles or rollerblades. There are enough tracks and tracks for everyone here. Kids do not miss the pleasant opportunity to ride on an unusual bus, which has the shape of a small steam locomotive.
IN Grand mall and Varna – two large shopping malls in the city - doors are open for young guests Kids planet and Kids play – children's centerswhere you can play in the company of your peers and taste sweets in cozy cafes. will certainly suit parents looking for hotels with entertainment for young tourists: animation, a menu in a restaurant, a swimming pool, attractions and playgrounds. Of the Varna hotels, ten establishments meet these requirements the most.:
- Three Dolphins;
- Atlant;
- Sveta Elena;
- Graffit Gallery;
- Splendid;
- London;
- Preslav;
- Azalia;
- Capitol;
- Cherno More.
Albena
In 1969, a modern hotel complex appeared 32 kilometers from the picturesque. Now it is one of the most popular Bulgarian resorts for young tourists. First of all, this place is known for its 5 km long sandy beach., the width of which in some areas reaches 150 m.An equally important circumstance for children's recreation is almost always considered calm sea... It is quite shallow here - tourists feel the depth only at a distance of 100 meters from the coast.
There is a free library on the beach, which is considered a new trend in Bulgarian resorts. It contains children's books in Russian. Neighborhood "Baltal" - large natural park - another advantage Due to this, the air here is almost always clean and fresh. The territory of the resort is closed, so access to it is possible only if vacationers stay in local hotels.
Doors are open for young tourists "Brigantines" - health camp, in which children not only have a varied and fun rest without parents, but also go through certain healing procedures. Several worthy establishments stand out among the hotels of the resort., where there is everything that young travelers need for a pleasant pastime:
- Boryana;
- Flamingo Grand;
- Dobrotitsa;
- Nona;
- Flamingo;
- Kaliopa;
- Malibu;
- Laguna Garden.
Children under the age of 14 have certain benefits at the resort - they receive a significant discount when staying at local hotels. For those young tourists who cannot imagine recreation without attractions and water slides, two small water parks are open at Laguna Garden and Flamingo Grand.
The restaurants of all the named hotels offer milk porridge, fresh juices, tender pancakes and other inexpensive children's menu. More than 20 well-equipped playgrounds are open in hotels for young tourists. The resort is famous for its children's song and dance festivals that take place in summer. First of all, these are “Friends of Bulgaria” and “Stars of Albena”.
Duni
In the neighborhood of Strandja - mountain range - another hotel complex is located. Dyuni is only 39 kilometers away from compact. The resort is a modern complex of five luxury hotels... Each of them is suitable for families with children, but most often tourists choose Holiday Village and Marina Royal Palace - respectively, four and five-star hotels.
Holidays in Duni are much more expensivethan in, but this is compensated by the highly professional service, great animation for the children, and the exquisite food of the all-inclusive restaurants. For younger guests, they have a special menu and separate tables. Vacationers from all five hotels have fun on the slides and pools of a small water park.
The five-kilometer long beach is covered with soft golden sand. Thanks to the smooth descent, children easily enter the warm sea. Security guards are responsible for the safety of tourists. They do not allow strangers to enter the complex. Quite a long breakwater does not allow the sea to rage, which is also important for the safety of tourists, especially children.
Golden Sands
The vast territory of the natural park begins 18 kilometers away. Here are - one of the most famous seaside resorts in the country... It attracts numerous holidaymakers with a 3.5 km strip of sandy beaches. Their width in some places reaches 100 m. The resort is quite noisy and crowded, so those parents who are vacationing with 12-16 year old children should come here. Several slides and swings are equipped on the coast. Typically, these sites are owned by certain hotels. The descent into the sea is not always smooth here, especially when compared with.
There are two large recreation centers open for high school students at the resort: "Serdiki" and "Tserevets". became famous also thanks to "Aquapolis" - a modern water park with 5 slides of varying difficulty, two spacious pools, 2 relatively inexpensive restaurants and 2 stylish bars. Depending on the height of young visitors, entrance tickets cost from 12-16 to 24-33 leva. Among the local hotels, several establishments are most suitable for young guests:
- Astera;
- The Captain;
- Slavey;
- Devora;
- Horizont;
- Grifid Arabella;
- Berlin Golden Beach;
- Lotos;
- Prestige.
Sunny Beach
In 1959, a new resort complex was built 35.6 km away. Now with its 8 km long sandy beach - one of the most popular holiday destinations in Bulgaria... The sea here is calm, there are no big waves and a smooth descent. All this turns the resort into a place suitable for a pleasant pastime with young children.
When choosing hotels, parents should take into account that the central sections of the beach are more suitable for those who love fun from early morning to night, noisy discos and evenings in stylish bars. South of the coast are old budget hotels. Some of them have been reconstructed. In the North, modern rather expensive hotels have sprung up. But Zora is also located here - a quiet area with cheap housing. It can be both mini-hotels and guest houses. The proximity of Stara Planina - low mountains - turns the natural landscape into picturesque and pleasing to the eye.
Of the numerous hotels in the resort, 25 hotels of different categories are suitable for families with children. They are equipped with small pools, playrooms or playgrounds for young tourists, they offer fun animation and a separate menu in hotel restaurants. Experienced travelers identify several hotelsmost suitable for parents and young tourists:
- Barcelo Royal Beach;
- Sun City;
- Hrizantema;
- Iberostar;
- Kotva;
- Tiara Beach;
- Romantic;
- Hotel Laguna Park;
- Evrica Beach;
- Grand Victoria;
In "Kotva", "Evrika", as well as in "Kuban" - a more expensive hotel located in a noisy area - there are mini-water parks. Young tourists prefer to have fun in Action... Nine extreme slides await adults and teenagers at this large water park. Kids have fun in Kids Pool - a specially equipped pool for them. There are also four slides built here, where the whole family has fun.
You can have a snack or a hearty lunch at four. Children are happy to visit the interactive mini-zoo located on the territory of the water park. In it, they enthusiastically "communicate" with goats, piglets, Canadian geese and watch cautious ostriches and proud peacocks. To visit Action it is necessary to purchase a ticket from 14-19 to 28-39 levs.
The resort is open for amateurs of fun attractions Sunny beach - a small amusement park... In it, children have fun in the dash, the panic room, as well as on carousels, roller coasters and a circuit. If desired, young vacationers can ride along the long embankment on a small train.
Nessebar
It is only six kilometers away from. A feature of the cozy resort is the division of the city into two very different parts - the old and the new. In general, there are not many hotels here that will suit parents who are vacationing with small children. For those who are looking for comfortable rooms in modern hotels, the New City will suit. The cost of living here is noticeably lower than in the historical quarters located on the peninsula.
The disadvantage of the Old Town is that its beaches are mostly covered with shells of various sizes. This will not suit parents who are concerned about finding comfortable conditions for the pastime of their children. South Beach is considered the most suitable for young tourists. Its sandy strip stretches for almost two kilometers. Of those hotels that are located in both the Old and New Towns, parents of young travelers choose several of the best-proven establishments:
- Sol Nessebar Mare;
- Royal Family;
- Italia;
- Aphrodite Beach;
- Marieta Palace;
- Andonov;
Young guests of the city enjoy walking with their parents along the quiet streets of the historic center. The doors are open for them in the city Aqua Paradise - a large water park... Here guests have fun on 12 extreme, family and children's slides. The five pools are always full of swimmers of different ages. Visitors should take into account that the cost of food and drinks in the five bars is quite high. A visit to the water park will cost each young guest from 14–19 to 28–38 levs.
Pomorie
Tourists who often have a rest in Bulgaria, well known about . The reservoir is rich in salts and therapeutic mud. Here, on the shores of the lake and the Black Sea, there is a small Bulgarian resort. People come here primarily for the sake of mud therapy... The resort became famous for its 7-kilometer promenade, covered with dark, and in some places even black sand. This unusual color is due to the presence of a large amount of iron in it. Thanks to this, as well as the presence of other minerals, sand has medicinal properties.
There are not many activities for children in the resort when compared with, and some others seaside towns... Here you can ride a funny little train, play in the sand, swim in the sea near the coast, although the entrance to it is not always shallow. In the summer, the city works Sunset is a fairly large water park with 4 hard, 9 medium and 19 easy slides. for both adults and children much cheaperthan at many other resorts, primarily at and. Children are happy to visit "Zakharo" - a cozy pastry shop.
Hotels are also cheaper here than in other famous resorts in the country. Many vacationers choose the old part of the city, although there is no such noticeable difference from the new one as in. Accommodation is suitable for children in a number of local hotels offering special services for them:
- Zeus;
- Grand Hotel Pomorie;
- Marina;
- Sunset;
- Paros;
- Via Pontica.
In general, the resort will suit those parents who are resting with young children and high school students who need mud therapy in local balneological centers. An important advantage of the sea is the large number of breakwaters, which prevents the formation of high waves.
Sozopol
For parents actively looking for inexpensive rest and a calm environment, it is quite suitable. The compact city is also divided into two very dissimilar parts - the old and the new, - between which are the "possessions" of the picturesque park. The resort is known for 2 clean sandy beaches: South and Central. More suitable conditions for young vacationers on the second of them. Teenagers play volleyball, and kids have fun in several special playgrounds.
Not all local hotels offer services for young tourists. Experts recommend rooms in eight establishments:
- Coral;
- Selena;
- Martinez;
When parents want to give their child an unforgettable and healthy rest in a foreign resort, they have to carefully weigh the pros and cons, as the flight can be quite expensive or take too long. However, if you take Bulgaria as such a sunny resort, all these problems will certainly not affect you, but you will undoubtedly get a lot of positive emotions from such a joint trip.
The main advantages of resting with children in Bulgaria
Unlike Turkey and Egypt, which are in unprecedented demand among tourists from Russia, the Bulgarian resorts are much closer, offering no less interesting conditions for family holidays and a lot of additional advantages:
Favorable weather - soft climatic conditions on the Bulgarian coast will save you and your baby from problems with acclimatization, because even in summer, the air here rarely warms up to more than 30 degrees. Here you will not encounter exotic insects, and the unbearable heat will not darken your long-awaited trip.
Friendly local population - Bulgarians have always been distinguished by their good naturedness, friendliness and willingness to help even a stranger, therefore, once in this country, you will be pleasantly surprised by a warm welcome. Families with children who come on vacation to Bulgaria always try to return to this amazing warm country again for the sake of the local flavor.
Special attitude towards children - all Bulgarian supermarkets and most public institutions are equipped with special booths for changing diapers. The local population treats mothers and their babies with respect. Playgrounds and special playrooms in cafes or restaurants can be found everywhere.
No language barrier - most of the Bulgarian population is fluent in Russian, which can be a really important aspect for many tourists from the CIS countries. Besides, english language here, too, in honor.
Quality food - traditional Bulgarian cuisine has a lot in common with the dishes we are used to, so your little one will not be capricious when trying another new dish. You can leave the exotic menu for yourself, and it will be easier for the child to adapt to the trip with their favorite foods.
Affordable prices - Holidays in Bulgaria can cost you a very modest amount compared to other foreign resorts, since everything here is much cheaper, which does not affect the quality of goods. Even the road to the Bulgarian state will delight you with its cost.
When is the best time to go to Bulgaria with children
If you have chosen Bulgaria for a family vacation with children, you should definitely find out that the peak of the tourist season in the local resorts comes in the middle of summer and lasts until the end of August. However, even in autumn, more precisely in September, the warm sun still creates optimal conditions for a beach holiday. With small children, you should go to Bulgaria precisely in such a period of time when the water in the sea has already warmed up enough, but the sun no longer burns with its gentle rays. Rose bushes and vineyards will add a special charm to such a trip.
Leisure activities for large and small
Bulgaria for adults
Picturesque Bulgaria can pleasantly surprise its guests with an abundance of entertainment for adult tourists who come here with children. Most of the hotels provide babysitting and children's rooms, so you will definitely have the opportunity to part with your beloved child for a short while in order to get to know the local culture better and find entertainment according to your interests:
Rich excursion program - if you want to learn the most interesting from the history of the Bulgarian people and admire the local architecture, you should definitely visit a couple of popular museums, as well as famous temples and cultural buildings.
Wine tourism - The fertile soil of Bulgaria creates excellent conditions for the cultivation of luxurious vineyards, so tourists are attracted by local wine cellars and themed events. Bulgarians certainly know a lot about this.
Beach vacation - clean, well-groomed beaches tirelessly delight the guests of the Bulgarian resorts. In addition, in addition to sunbathing and swimming in the sea, those who wish can always indulge in active sports entertainment, ride a boat or study the underwater beauty with scuba diving.
SPA centers - thermal springs in Bulgaria provide an excellent opportunity for tourists to forget about all worldly worries and truly relax. Here you can find a range of health and beauty treatments for every taste.
Why is Bulgaria attractive for children?
So that the younger generation does not sit idle in the rooms of hotel complexes, you can give them the opportunity to enjoy a variety of entertainment:
Water parks - colorful water slides of different shapes and sizes, children's pools and special playgrounds will surely interest your little one. If he loves such water activities, local animators and other staff representatives will take care of his safety.
Dolphinarium - a truly unforgettable experience and extremely positive emotions for children are brought by colorful performances performed by dolphins, seals and other inhabitants of the sea. If you wish, you can even swim with such stars and take a couple of photos.
Excursion programs - so that your child will remember your trip to Bulgaria not only by the pools and beaches, you can go with him on an introductory tour of local attractions. Bulgarian guides will make such an event really exciting.
Resorts in Bulgaria for families with children - where is the best, which resort to choose?
Usually married couples with children come to Golden Sands, Sunny Beach, Albena and Nessebar, since it is in these resorts that hotel complexes satisfy all the requirements and preferences of such tourists. There are luxurious sandy beaches everywhere with free admission. Children will be happy to splash in the sea and enjoy the construction of sand castles in the company of their new friends.
When choosing a hotel for family holidays in the Bulgarian resorts, you should pay attention to its location in relation to the sea. The ideal option for families with children will be hotel complexeslocated on the first line: in Nessebar and in the town of Primorsko.
Back in Soviet times, family vacations in Bulgaria were very popular, and purchasing a ticket to this country was considered a great success. Since then, a lot of water has flowed under the bridge, but the Bulgarian resorts have remained just as wonderful and still attract thousands of tourists every year.
Today, we have more opportunities for beach holidays in many parts of the world, but when it comes to children, Bulgaria is definitely on the list of options. What is the secret of success?
In short, holidays with children in Bulgaria are comfortable, carefree and inexpensive. How to use all the tourist opportunities of this country and which resort to choose for a holiday with a child, you will learn from our article.
Where is Bulgaria
The Republic of Bulgaria is located in the southeastern part of Europe, on the Balkan Peninsula. It borders in the south with Turkey and Greece, in the north - with Romania, in the west - with Serbia and Macedonia. From the east, the territory of the country is washed by the waters of the Black Sea. Area - 111 thousand sq. km, population - about 8 million people. The capital of the republic is Sofia. In 2007 Bulgaria joined the European Union.
To enter Bulgaria, citizens of Russia, Ukraine, the CIS countries need a national visa, multiple-entry Schengen visa or a national visa for Cyprus, Romania and Croatia. Citizens of the EU and a number of other countries enjoy visa-free travel.
Vacation with children
They have been coming to Bulgaria with children for several decades, rightly considering the seaside resorts of this country a real children's health resort. A mild, child-friendly climate is suitable for relaxing with a child and improving his health, moreover, eliminates the difficult period of acclimatization, which so often can be encountered in exotic countries.
A short flight and a comfortable transfer to the resorts guarantee a pleasant start to your vacation, especially if you are planning a trip with little ones.
Any Bulgarian resort will offer a ton of accommodation options, ranging from modern hotels of different categories and ending with apartments, convenient for families with a baby, or home-like cozy mini-hotels, equipped with everything you need for a carefree vacation.
And, of course, a vacation in Bulgaria is an acquaintance with the national cuisine. Shopska of salad from fresh vegetables, cold soup tarator, stuffed peppers, stuffed cabbage rolls from grape leaves, healthy and thirst-quenching ayran sour milk drink - all this can be safely included in the children's menu.
At the same time, many hotels use the “all inclusive” system, removing the worry of organizing good meals from vacationers.
Low prices for food and accommodation in comparison with other countries are another significant reason for many families looking for a budget, but high-quality vacation.
And also Bulgaria for children - these are health camps by the sea... If your student is already ready for an independent vacation, he will be glad to have the opportunity to spend the summer with new friends.
When is the best time to go
The most common purpose of a trip to Bulgaria is a beach vacation. And here, unlike travel to hot countries, you should not rush. The beach season in the southern part of the Black Sea coast starts only at the end of May, in the northern part - a little later,
The beginning of the swimming season in Bulgaria will have to wait even longer: the sea water warms up to a pleasant temperature only by the end of June.
The most favorable period for a vacation with a child at sea is the end of June, the first half of July and the beginning of September (although it does not fall on a year, and in early September it may already be cool). You can come to Bulgaria with a baby in May, before the summer heat begins.
July and August are the peak of the high season in Bulgaria, when the number of tourists reaches its maximum. In September, the beaches are slowly emptying, although if you are lucky with the weather, for another two or three weeks you can bask in the cool sun and swim in the sea. Warm and dry autumn is also good for excursions. At this time, you can visit Sofia or Plovdiv.
Well, winter is the time to ride alpine skiingoh. Winter resorts welcome guests from mid-December to mid-April. It is better to come with a child in the period from mid-January to the end of February, when the resorts are a little less busy and the weather conditions are favorable for skiing.
Do not forget about the numerous festivals that take place in Bulgaria almost all year round. It is especially interesting to visit children's creative festivals with a child: "Stars of Albena", "Sun, Joy, Beauty", "Sea Shell" and others. All of them take place in the summer at the most popular resorts.
It is advisable to think about when is the best time to go to Bulgaria at least six months before the trip. Accommodation in popular resorts is booked in advance, and on the eve of the season, only the least comfortable rooms or apartments may remain available.
Weather and climate
It is impossible to generalize the weather of different Bulgarian resorts, and there is no need: for those who dream of the sea, information about the climate of the seaside resorts will be useful. For those who are going to devote their holidays in Bulgaria to skiing, more important information about winter weather conditions in Bansko or Borovets.
In general, the climate of Bulgaria is characterized as temperate continental, but on south bank has Mediterranean features. The season opens at the end of May - beginning of Junewhen the air temperature rises to + 21-25 ° С. During this period it sometimes rains, although mostly clear weather remains.
The end of June and the beginning of July are the time for better rest in Bulgaria with children. There is still no heat, the water in the sea has warmed up enough, and the number of tourists remains moderate.
In July-August, the air warms up to + 27-28 ° С, and sometimes up to + 30 ° С. Despite the generous sun, even in the hottest months, the stuffiness is not felt due to the light breeze from the sea. It is important to take into account that with the onset of evening it gets noticeably colder on the seashore. On summer nights, the air temperature drops to + 16-18 ° С.
September weather in the resorts of the northern part of the coast is unpredictable, although often the beginning of autumn is still quite suitable for a beach holiday. But in the southern resorts, where the temperature is kept at + 25 ° C, you can sunbathe and swim for another month.
At the end of September, the holiday season in Bulgaria comes to an end, but the warm and dry October is good time for excursions. When the thermometers are + 19 ° C, and the sun is shining in the sky, it is very pleasant to wander the streets of old cities or go for a walk in the mountains.
From November to March, there is a lull in Bulgaria - but not for ski resorts... In December, temperatures drop below freezing and snow falls in the mountains.
By the middle of the month, the first alpine skiing enthusiasts are already on the slopes. The average temperature of the winter months is -5 ° C, there are almost no severe frosts. Excellent skiing conditions remain on the mountain slopes until the end of March.
April in Bulgaria is already a truly spring month, with changeable weather and first warmth. By the beginning of May, the temperature in the seaside resorts reaches + 20 ° C: a new tourist season is approaching.
Sea water temperature
A wide sandy strip, even rows of sun loungers, a clear sea and just a few swimmers who quickly plunge and hurry to the shore - this is a typical landscape of Bulgarian beaches in early summer.
You can already sunbathe, but the sea temperature is not suitable for swimming: at + 20 ° C, not everyone decides to enter the water.
But by the end of June, the water temperature in Bulgaria rises to + 23-24 ° C. Even little ones can swim in such water, especially since near the coast, where the sea is shallow, the water warms up to + 25-26 ° С.
Such comfortable conditions for swimming will remain until the very end of summer. And in September the sea will still be warm enough: the water temperature by the end of the month will not drop below + 22 ° С.
The main difference between the coastal regions lies in the water temperature (within 2-3 degrees) due to the peculiarity of the currents and the presence of mountains in the northern part, which means the duration of the swimming season.
While you can still swim on the southern coast in September, the water on the northern coast may already be cool at this time.
Food
A characteristic feature of some resorts in Bulgaria is the widespread use of the all-inclusive system. This is very convenient if you are going to relax in isolated resort complexes, where there is a relatively small selection of shops and restaurants.
If you are wondering which resort in Bulgaria to choose so as not to worry about the food of all family members, pay attention to Albena, Golden Sands, Elenite, Duni. Many hotels in these resorts offer all-inclusive meals as well as special children's menus, including diet menus.
In resort towns (Nessebar, Sozopol) the all-inclusive system is practically not used. Hotels often offer breakfasts, while lunch and dinner are available in restaurants. Many Bulgarian dishes are suitable for baby food.
If you are planning an independent vacation in Bulgaria with children and are going to settle in an apartment to cook the usual food for the children, ask about the presence of good shops and markets in the resort.
The necessary products can be bought without any problems in Nessebar, Sunny Beach, Sozopol. From St. Constantine and Helena it is convenient to go shopping in Varna.
Children's camps
A good way to find out which resorts in Bulgaria are suitable for families with children is to find out if these resorts have summer camps for schoolchildren. There are no unexpected discoveries here: children's health camps operate both in the northern and southern parts of the Bulgarian coast.
Near Albena there is a large international camp "Brigantina", not far from Sozopol - an international children's center "Primorsko". Good conditions for independent recreation of children can boast of Golden Sands and Sunny Beach.
Treatment
While studying the information about the resorts of the Bulgarian Black Sea region, you have probably come across references to balneotherapy centers. Indeed, sources of valuable mineral watersshown in the treatment of various diseases.
You can improve your health at the Albena Medical Center, in Kranevo, St. Constantine and Elena, Pomorie. Between Varna and Burgas there is a children's room. Many balneotherapy centers are located in the western part of Bulgaria. The largest mineral resort is Velingrad.
Transport
Main view public transport in Bulgaria, used by tourists - buses. Most often, travelers travel by intercity buses, although some resorts can be reached by public transport: for example, from Varna to St. Constantine and Helena can be reached by city bus.
Transport in Bulgaria adheres to a clear schedule, which can be found on the websites of the resorts. On popular routes, buses run quite often, every 15-40 minutes. On less popular destinations, buses run several times a day.
The cost of tickets depends on the distance of travel and starts from 1 leva for travel on city buses. Children under 7 years old enjoy free travel, but this requires a special transport card. Tickets are sold on buses, and conductors do not always ask you to buy tickets for children.
Trains are also convenient for getting around Bulgaria, especially if you are planning a long trip - say, from Sofia to Burgas. Recently on the website of the Bulgarian railways there was an option to buy electronic tickets.
Despite the well-developed transport links, sometimes a taxi is the only way to get to your holiday destination. This applies mainly to isolated resorts, for example, Dyuni or Borovets.
Bulgaria is so close to us that many, going to foreign resorts, immediately go to a beautiful far away, and it seems to "fly by". And in vain: after all, in Bulgaria there is everything you need - the sea, the mountains, and interesting excursions for adults, and fun for children.
The former country of the socialist camp, in 2007 Bulgaria became a part of the European Union, but not completely: the currency is still local - the Leva, and it became possible to enter the country on a Schengen visa only from the beginning of 2012. It is impossible to enter the Schengen zone with a Bulgarian visa - some EU members object to the country's final entry into the European Union, accusing Bulgaria and Romania of being unable to control their borders. Nevertheless, in terms of tourism and service, Bulgarians try very hard to follow European standards - and they succeed. At the same time, prices are still! - not at all European, which is why the flow of tourists is growing every year. Our compatriots are also attracted by the absence of a language barrier.
Resorts in Bulgaria are open all year round. The length of the Black Sea coast is 378 kilometers, and almost all of them are covered with wonderful white and golden sand. And resorts. Let's start our survey from the south and head north.
Sozopol
Sozopol is a large city on the southern coast: small and large shops, cafes on the rocks by the sea, where you can sit for eternity, souvenir breakdowns, performances by visiting singers to have somewhere to go in the evening - in general, you can lead a real resort life here. Only the beaches are too small, so new hotels are being built far from the city.
Sozopol
Some people immediately buy apartments on the coast. Let's say the French actress and model Letizia Casta bought an apartment in Sozopol, which conquered her while she was filming a film nearby, on the island of St. Anastasia. In general, it is the Russians who are the main buyers of Bulgarian real estate at sea. This is not surprising: prices are the lowest of all EU countries. The most popular product is apartments at a price of 40 to 60 thousand euros - a lot of such transactions have been made over the past 2 years. There are more expensive housing, but Russian buyers seem to go further to the Mediterranean Sea for it.
In order not to think about whether there is a place on the beach, it is worth considering hotels near Sozopol.
Arkutino, Sozopol
Hotel ARKUTINO RESORT 4 * - a cozy and very quiet hotel, lost in the dunes - for lovers of solitude, tranquility and uncrowded beaches. The hotel is ideal for families with toddlers - organic products from the backyard, which the hotel owners are very proud of (and rightly so), fresh air, no noise, night discos and crowds of tourists. Nothing but a forest, a strip of low, grassy dunes, and the sea. The only trifle that becomes important when a small child is in the arms is that the hotel stands on a hillock, so you have to climb the steps often. And to the sea you have to walk along a wooden deck through the dunes. Very romantic and poetic, but, frankly, it is not very comfortable with a stroller. But these are all minor quibbles, in fact, the hotel is very pleasant and quiet.
Arkutino, beach and bar
Hotel LAGUNA BEACH RESORT & SPA 4 * located on the other side of Sozopol on the seashore and is suitable for those who come with a large family and for a long time. In the main building there are 37 apartments of various sizes overlooking the swimming pool, river and sea. There is a rooftop Jacuzzi bar and barbecue. There are also 3-storey villas with apartments of different sizes with kitchens. The hotel territory is small for so many people, but VIP-villas are striking in scale - on the terraces, you can arrange chamber social receptions.
Laguna Beach, Sozopol
Pomorie
Pomorie is a large balneological resort. Pomeranian mud is delivered to all resorts and SPA in Bulgaria. Israelis travel in a stream, disdaining their Dead Sea, because all balneological services in Bulgaria are much cheaper. Spa hotels offer special 3, 5 and 7-day programs that include massages, face and body masks. The combination of mineral springs and mud is very useful for healing, rehabilitation and simply getting rid of stress - and not only in summer.
Sunset Resort, Pomorie
Huge hotel complex SUNSET RESORT 5 *where at the reception we were met by lovely girls Petya and Vanya (these are the Bulgarians) - this is a whole city where there is everything for relaxation. Six buildings, six restaurants, closed and outdoor pools, bowling alley, cafes, detached villas with apartments right on the beach, a large kids' club with a labyrinth - and another separate one - right overlooking the large beach. Umbrellas and sun loungers when booking a room with catering all inclusive are included in the price, which is important in Bulgaria, because their prices are different at each resort, but they are rather big everywhere - 6-8 euros per set.
Long distances on the territory of the hotel allow you not to forget about physical activity, and nearby shops - shopping for groceries to cook in the apartment.
Sunset Resort, Pomorie
Next to this hotel complex, on the second line, there is a hotel Festa Via Pontica Resort with luxurious family rooms, whose area redeems some distance from the sea. There is also a winery Via Pontica: Opened in 1932, it still welcomes tourists, showing off its huge casks and its wines - red, white and pink. At the tasting, with a light snack and different sorts - for example, a traminer with the scent of a rose - they tell stories: that wine becomes rosé because pomace and seeds are added to the wort for several hours, and that 2 glasses of wine a day is just a mandatory norm for health.
sunny Beach
It is the largest Bulgarian resort town, stretching for 5 kilometers along beautiful beaches. There is everything: shops, restaurants, discos, casinos, night bars on the beach, where you can lie in hammocks under the starry sky. Two huge water parks - the competition is so strong that those who want to ride from the huge water slides around the city are collecting free buses - you just need to find a stop with a bright poster.
The resort is youthful and very democratic. It feels like I was in a campus that they forgot to dissolve for the holidays: the main crowd is European schoolchildren and students.
Helena Park, Sunny Beach
But there are more demanding places for the public. For example, hotels HELENA RESORT 5 *... The one a little further from the sea - HELENA PARK 5 * - works on the all inclusive system. That all inclusive is ideal for rest with children, probably no need to tell. And for couples and companies not burdened with young children, the hotel is perfect HELENA SANDS 5 *where breakfast and lunch are included in the price of the room. The hotel's first class SPA offers special local treatments: with Bulgarian herbs and sour milk.
Helena Sands
Not far from Sunny Beach - the most visited city in Bulgaria - Nessebar. Old city located almost on the island - a thin isthmus connects it with the mainland - and is under the protection of UNESCO. And although the territory is very small, nevertheless, there are about 40 churches - the XIII century and later. The movement of cars in it is prohibited, but traffic jams are formed by tourists walking in droves along the narrow streets. They are greeted at the city gates by a musician with bagpipes, in the evening - by various ensembles and orchestras, and all day - by sellers of countless souvenirs and cozy restaurants. Open-air festivals are often held. The island looks extremely romantic and is full of small hotels and private apartments, which just beckon to call in with my husband when the season ends and everything around is quiet.
Nessebar
A folklore excursion to the nestinars awaits those looking for strong impressions. The Nestinars are a people who danced on coals to the glory of the Mother of God, a ceremony that is an amazing fusion of paganism and Christianity. Now there are no real nestinarics, but there are professionals who are ready to amaze you with their dance on hot coals. He even carries children in his arms, if the parents do not mind - to cleanse of all diseases. And as everyone is warned: do not try to repeat. Tourists who tried to prove that the coals were probably not hot, and that they could do that too, were taken away with burns.
Nessebar
The novelty of the season - it opens in May 2013 - will be the Happy Land amusement park with an area of \u200b\u200bmore than 30 thousand m 2. On its territory there will be "Mini-Bulgaria", and a western street for little cowboys, and an island of pirates, and the fortress city of Camelot, and the attraction "Gulliver", where Gulliver's adventure in the land of the Lilliputians is recreated in an artificial lake. The park is located 23 km from Varna, in close proximity to tourist complexes Kamchia and Shkorpilovtsi.
Golden Sands
The ultimate dream of a former Soviet tourist, now Golden Sands are catching up with resorts by leaps and bounds Turkey and Egypt, building big hotels, but leaving for the nostalgic pieces of our common past - overgrown stairs and cypresses from the Crimean childhood. For those who are not satisfied with the sea and the endless promenade, there are 2 real casinos - just do not forget to take your passport, they will not be allowed without it.
Sol Melia Hermitage, Golden Sands
In the middle of the bustling promenade is the hotel of the famous Spanish chain SOL - SOL Melia Grand Hermitage 5 *... Large and new, it sits on an elevated position providing stunning views from the balcony. And there are also beautiful rooms - you are not even in a hurry to the sea, so you want an extra hour to soak up the pillows and in comfortable chairs.
Room in Sol Melia Hermitage
SOL hotels, divided into simply SOL and the more expensive SOL Melia segment, maintain the European quality standard and ensure that guests are satisfied with their visit. For sophisticated tourists, the hotel has an even higher level - THE LEVEL is a separate reception, guaranteed sea views, a separate restaurant, a small fenced area to lie down in silence, and its own entrance to the SPA.
Balchik
The main pride and tourist attraction of this small town is the Botanical Garden, the former residence of the Romanian Queen Mary, a woman of an interesting fate, a follower of the Bahá'í religion, who retired here in the 1920s. In addition to a really impressive and intricate garden, where there is even an alley of cactuses (more than 250 varieties), tourists are shown a house, a chapel, and romantic legends about a life-loving queen are told.
Romanian Queen Maria at her residence in Balchik, 1920s
There is a winery - Queen's Wine House on a small hill right on the territory of the palace garden. Its owner is Anna Koleva, a young and very enthusiastic girl - as she calls herself, speaking a mixture of Bulgarian and Russian - "crazy sniffer". Anna produces unusual wines: she herself mixes varieties to get an unusual bouquet. At the tasting, she not only revealed the secrets of winemaking, but also talked about how important the support of her beloved husband is when doing something that takes all the time and energy.
Oh yes, food!
The Bulgarians are fed very tasty. And inexpensive: just have lunch - 10 euros per person, sit in a fish restaurant with a stunning sea view - 20-30 euros. The famous Shopska salad and other vegetable salads with various herbs and spices, hot meat dishes - kavarma, gyuvech, kebab. There are infinitely many dishes with cheese and feta cheese, for example, shop-style siren - a dish of eggs, cheese, tomato, baked in a pot. Or a bannya - a puff pastry roll with feta cheese, spinach or something else. If you want something exotic, you can try giblet milk soup - shkembe chorba, which Bulgarians are very proud of. Another unique product is kiselo mlyako - in fact, natural yogurt made by fermenting milk with a special bacterium, as they explain locals, "living only in the Bulgarian climate". We called it that way - "Bulgarian stick". A big fan of her was the world-renowned biologist Ilya Mechnikov, who published several articles on Bulgarian yoghurt because he considered it the main anti-aging agent. A wonderful cold soup with cucumbers, dill and garlic is made from jelly mlyak. And what a delicious dessert made from jelly jelly with green figs - you can eat it for breakfast, lunch and dinner, without fear for your figure and fading with happiness!
Speaking of food, Bulgarian wine cannot be ignored either. Decent Bulgarian wine - dry red wine produced only here - mavrud, ruby, from international varieties - white wines traminer, chardonnay. Most of the Bulgarian wines - varietal - are named after the main grape variety from which the wine is made. And don't be scared low prices: inexpensive good wines are a rule for Bulgaria, not an exception. For lovers of something stronger, except for the well-known brandy, there is a Bulgarian drink with a frightening name for the Russian ear called "mastic" - 47-degree anise vodka - it is bought as souvenirs for men.
And women are waiting for other dangerous pleasures - cosmetics shops with rose oil and water. Why dangerous? Because you want to spend all your money. And there are so many different - gastronomic, cultural and aesthetic pleasures in Bulgaria that you have to choose what to spend.
Plans for the summer
"Booking of summer tours to Bulgaria has already begun, and it is safe to assume that the upcoming season in this direction will be successful - at least at the level of last year. And according to optimistic forecasts, the growth of tourist traffic will be 15-20%. Bulgaria's popularity among russian tourists increases every year, - says Valeria Khramova, Head of the Europe Department of Transaero Tour. - Some hotels will be extended early booking until April, but when buying tours to popular resorts it is better to hurry up. The company "Transaero Tour" will traditionally offer all options for hotels from 2 * to apartment complexes. "The company also retains exclusive rights to a flight in superior class (business class) of the airline" Transaero ". And 2-3 days before departure On the flight, a promotion is regularly held - a drawing of a business class flight.
Temptingly written!)
I do not know! I just fired up a trip to Bulgaria. Therefore, as there will be time next year, I will definitely go there with my family on vacation.
Children's holidays in Bulgaria: where and when to go, especially for families with children in Bulgaria. Children's camps and programs for teenagers' recreation. detailed information about children's holidays in Bulgaria from the "Subtleties of Tourism".
- Last Minute Tours to Bulgaria
- Tours for the New Year Worldwide
Holidays in Bulgaria with children are in constant demand among Russian tourists. The infrastructure of local resorts, the sea and beaches are somewhat reminiscent of Turkey, only trips to Bulgaria are cheaper, and the flight will take less time, which is important for families with small children. Resting in another country with a baby is always stressful, but in the case of Bulgaria it is minimal. Since the local climate is an improved version of the Russian one, no acclimatization is expected.
Climatotherapy is one of the most comfortable, pleasant and safe methods of treatment. Natural factors play a decisive role in choosing a climatic resort: temperature, humidity, the presence of the sea, solar activity, etc. The main procedures are aerotherapy (air baths), heliotherapy (sunbathing), swimming and leisure in the fresh air. Sea salts and other trace elements contained in water and air are useful for children with weak immunity, frequent respiratory diseases, disorders of the nervous system, endocrine diseases.
Beach vacation
The best destinations for families with children
All articles about children's rest on "Subtleties"
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Children's camps in Russia and abroad
- Children's camps in Bulgaria and Turkey
- Moscow and Moscow region
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