Compared to many resorts in Bulgaria, Nessebar has one big advantage - an excellent opportunity to combine a beach holiday with sightseeing, which the Old Town is so rich in.
So you can be sure: family vacation will turn out to be rich and exciting, even if you will not leave the resort.
The rest of the resort of Nessebar looks exactly as a town on the seaside should look like: old houses, new hotels, summer bliss, a sandy beach and a warm sea. When to go, what to do, what to see and where to live - our review contains everything you need to know about holidays with children in Nessebar.
Nessebar on the map of Bulgaria
The town of Nessebar (or Nessebar) is located in the southern part of the Bulgarian Black Sea coast, in the Burgas region, the administrative center of which is the city of Burgas. Nessebar consists of two parts - the Old and New Towns.
Old Nessebar is a historical part, which is located on a small peninsula and is connected to New Nessebar through an isthmus 400 meters long.
The distance from Nessebar to Burgas is 35 km, to Sozopol - 68 km, to Sunny Beach - 6 km, to St. Constantine and Helena - 109 km, to Golden Sands - 117 km, to Albena - 128 km.
The old part of the city is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List: in the place where Nessebar is located, the Thracian settlement of Messembria once stood - the remains of the fortress walls and towers have survived to this day.
Vacation with children
When the sun shines in the sky, and the sea rustles at your feet, worries disappear from your head by themselves.
Secondly, because it is a beautiful city. The old part of Nessebar with its narrow cobbled streets is interesting for traditional Bulgarian architecture, a large number of churches listed in the world UNESCO list of cultural monuments, as well as well-preserved medieval ruins.
A pleasant addition for visitors to the Old Town are numerous streets with souvenir shops, shops, restaurants and cafesallowing you to truly enjoy your vacation at the seaside resort.
Thirdly, because it is not a boring city. Nessebar for children - there are many playgrounds, a small amusement park and a very large water park, children's billiards and bowling.
With a baby, you can walk in the city park, and with older children, conquer the dunes on the beach.
Fourthly, because it is a cozy city. You will be pleased with a wide selection of modern hotels, villas and apartments of various price categories and for every taste. They are all tidy with good service.
Most hotels offer accommodation options in rooms equipped with a kitchenette. In Nessebar you can always find inexpensive but comfortable accommodation compared to other resorts. Perhaps that is why they often come here to relax with a child for a month, and sometimes for the whole summer.
Finally, the well-developed transport links with other cities speaks in favor of rest in Nessebar. Even if you do not plan to travel to southern Bulgaria, you will probably want to visit Sunny Beach - the famous resort is only 5 minutes away.
When is the best time to go
The main purpose of a trip to Nessebar is, of course, a seaside vacation. Since the city is located on the south coast, swimming season in Nessebar begins at the end of May and lasts until the end of September.
It makes sense to come to the opening of the season in Nessebar if you are not going to swim in the sea. Sea water will warm up by the end of June, and until that time you will have to take only sunbathing.
It is best to have a rest with small children in June - early July, when it is not too hot and there is no such large influx of tourists as in mid-July or August. The flow of tourists will subside in September, and then Nessebar will again become an excellent place to relax with a child.
The answer to the question of when is the best time to go to Nessebar can be found in the calendar of cultural events. In June, the city hosts a children's festival "Sun, Joy, Beauty", in July - several creative festivals, in August - a major pop-rock fest, and in September there is a honey fair.
In addition, on August 15, Nessebar celebrates the city day, and this is an occasion for colorful shows and fireworks. Information about the most interesting events is published on the official website of Nessebar.
Weather and climate
The climate of Nessebar is perfect for relaxing with a child at sea. Warm, sunny weather without intense heat from May to September.
The average temperature of the summer months in Nessebar is + 26 ° С. On days when the temperature rises higher, the sea breeze softens the heat. Fresh air and intermittent rain.
The beach season at the resort begins in June, when the daytime temperature reaches + 25 ° C. In the first two weeks of the month the sea is still cold, but the second half of June and the beginning of July is the time for a better holiday in Nessebar with children.
The air in July warms up to + 28 ° С, and sometimes you can see + 30 ° С on the thermometers. In August, the heat stays at the same level, but at the end of the month it becomes a little cooler.
In September, the daytime temperature is + 25 ° C: this is again a favorable time for rest with a child.
At the end of September, tourists who come to Bulgaria to sunbathe and swim leave. But a vacation in Nessebar, scheduled for mid-autumn, will only bring pleasure: you can wander around the old town for a long time and walk along the sea for hours, enjoying the fresh air.
October is usually very warm and dry, with daily temperatures around + 19 ° C. From November to March, the resort has a mild southern winter. During the day, the temperature is kept at + 6-10 ° С, at night there are slight frosts.
But in April, spring is already in charge on the coast - cool, but sunny. In May, when the daytime temperature reaches + 21 ° C, you can come with a baby to Nessebar. At this time, you are not in danger of acclimatization difficulties.
The peculiarity of the climate of the southern part of Bulgaria - significant decrease in temperature at night... Even in hot months with the onset of darkness it gets colder up to + 16-18 ° С. In May and October, nighttime temperatures can drop to + 12 ° C.
Sea water temperature
The first tourists come to Nessebar in May. In late spring, it is often hot in summer, but the sea has not yet had time to warm up. Taking sea baths at a temperature of + 15 ° C is a dubious pleasure.
By the beginning of June, the water temperature in Nessebar will reach + 20 ° С, and in July the water will warm up to + 23 ° С. The highest sea temperature is in August: about + 24 ° С.
You can still swim in the resort in September, as the water temperature is + 22 ° C. But by the end of the month, the number of bathers is rapidly decreasing, as the sea cools down to + 18 ° C.
Sea and beach
A beach holiday in Nessebar has no peculiarities: the coast is clean, well-groomed everywhere, the infrastructure is developed, entertainment is available. And yet, not all the beaches of the resort are suitable for a family vacation at the sea. It is better to leave rocky areas of the coast to unpretentious tourists, and sit on the sand with children.
The most convenient beach for children is Yuzhny. It is located between Nessebar and Ravda. A wide sandy strip stretches for 2 km. The bottom in this place is flat and gently sloping, but the sea is periodically rough. Part of the beach is equipped with umbrellas and sun loungers (they can be used for a fee, while the entrance to all beaches is free). There is a children's play area at the beginning of the beach.
There is a small beach next to Yuzhny, which is adjacent to the city park. It does not differ in landscaping, but there are not many tourists. With the onset of heat, you can move to the park - children will be delighted with the opportunity to explore new playgrounds.
The sandy beach "North" also boasts cleanliness and good infrastructure. But for families with a child, it is not very convenient, since there are rocky areas at the entrance to the sea. In addition, during a storm, seaweed is washed ashore.
The territory and the beach of New Nessebar smoothly turn into the famous one. So if you suddenly get bored or, for example, want to swim and sunbathe somewhere else - welcome to Sunny Beach!
There are several beaches in the old part of the city, but they are not sandy. You can sunbathe on a comfortable beach near the Seaport - the shore there is covered with a small shell, which is very pleasant to walk on. But during the summer months, the bottom is overgrown with algae, so you hardly want to swim there.
Nessebar (Nessebar in Bulgarian) is the most beautiful city on the Bulgarian Black Sea coast. Excursions to Nessebar are offered to tourists of all Bulgarian resorts, and rightly so: the city is worth seeing. Reviews about Nessebar are always enthusiastic.
The city is divided into two parts: old Nessebar is located on a peninsula connected to the mainland by a narrow road. New Nessebar is located on the coast - it is a resort town, in which, in addition to hotels, there are also ordinary residential buildings. However, people also live in old Nessebar.
History of Nessebar
Archaeological excavations in Nessebar continue The first finds on the territory of old Nessebar date back to the XII-XI centuries BC. It is believed that the city was founded by the Thracians, or rather, by a certain Mena, after whom the settlement was named Menebria. Later the city became a Greek and then a Roman colony (Messembria), then it was included in the Byzantine Empire, then - in the Bulgarian state.
During the Ottoman yoke, the city was gradually destroyed and ruined. First of all, this concerned Christian churches, of which there are many in the territory of the old city. During the Bulgarian Revival, the town was built up with houses in a characteristic style: a stone first floor with small windows and a second floor of wood protruding above it.
At the beginning of the 20th century, the city began to develop as a resort. In 1934 Nessebar was returned to its Bulgarian name - Nessebar (the Turks used the name Mesembria). In the 50s, the mainland part of the city began to develop - the so-called. New Nessebar. And the Old City was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1983, today archaeological excavations and restoration work are being carried out there. At every step you can see picturesque ruins, both old stonework and a remake, stylized in antiquity.
Tourist Nessebar
Non-working mill - a symbol of Nessebar Today, on the territory of Old Nessebar there are 42 churches, which is quite a lot for a small, in general, peninsula. Only one of these churches is active.
The archaeological museum, the churches of Sveti Stefan and Sveti Spas, as well as the ethnographic house are part of the Starienne Nessebar museum. Other famous sights of the city are the remains of the fortress wall and the old mill located on the isthmus that connects the old part of the city with the mainland. This mill does not work, but it is a kind of symbol of the city.
Paid parking is located on both sides of the peninsula. You can park your car for free on the mainland. In Old Nessebar itself, you can only walk on foot.
Souvenirs in Nessebar - for every taste, but the production is mainly Chinese. The city center almost entirely consists of souvenir shops, some of which are open even out of season. The selection of souvenirs is quite large, but many of them are made in China, so if you buy, for example, Trojan ceramics or some other practical souvenir, be careful when buying so as not to buy a fake.
It is also full of restaurants, the prices of which depend on the distance from the sea. The closer to the sea, and the more beautiful the view, the more expensive. And the views of the coast are beautiful everywhere. Whichever way you look - endless sea spaces. Coastal resorts are visible from the peninsula - including,.
Useful
Old Nessebar offers a beautiful view of Sunny Beach, Sveti Vlas, Elenite and the mountains. The peninsula is small - less than a kilometer in length, only 300 m in width. Once the city was larger, but a long time ago during an earthquake, almost half of it went under water. In good weather, they say, this underwater part can be seen. You can see the city in a couple of hours, but it's better to set aside more time to visit the peninsula. Still, an excursion in the style of "gallop across Europe" with an ever-hurrying guide does not allow you to fully enjoy the beauty of the old city, feel the charm of its narrow streets, breathe in the sea air and admire the magical views. An independent walk allows you to get to know Nessebar better.
Getting to the city is not difficult - buses run here from all the nearest resorts. You can get there and.
New Nessebar is located on the mainland Despite the fact that the old Nessebar has the status of a city-museum, people live in it and hotels function. There are many hotels in New Nessebar - by the way, they are cheaper than those located directly on the peninsula, nevertheless, you have to pay for a touch of antiquity. by the way, in New Nessebar it is better (in the Old Town - sand and small pebbles, in New - only sand).
It's a big mistake to visit Bulgaria (especially in the southern part of the country) and not visit Nessebar. It is also easy to get here from the northern part of the coast, but the road through the mountain pass seems to us personally a little tiring. Although it is definitely worth it to endure once for the sake of touching the beauty of this place. A little advice: it is better to visit Nessebar not in season, when the city is crowded with tourists, but, say, in spring or mid-autumn. We were there for the first time at the end of October, and, I must say, there were still a lot of tourists.
But in the summer there is more entertainment besides walking the streets. For example, you can go to, which, contrary to its name, is located at some distance from the city.
Having visited the old town of Nessebar, I was convinced that the historical sights of Bulgaria are in no way inferior to those in Greece, Italy and other European countries, which we associate more with beach holidays. Take, for example, the resort of Nessebar: the old town, which has a history of several millennia, still keeps traces of several eras. This is a unique landmark that Bulgaria can be proud of.
The old town of Nessebar occupies a small peninsula, connected to the coast by a thin isthmus, along which a motorway passes.
History of old Nessebar
The first Thracian colony on the territory of present-day Nessebar existed 1000 years ago BC. Several centuries later, the Thracian Greeks settled on the peninsula, who were replaced by the Romans. Today, only archaeological finds that can be seen in museums remind about the ancient period of the history of Nessebar.
When the Roman Empire collapsed, the territory of present-day Bulgaria became part of Byzantium. Since then, the remains of military, civil and religious buildings have been preserved in Nessebar.
At the end of the 12th century AD, as a result of an uprising led by the Bulgarian aristocrats Ivan and Asenei, the Second Bulgarian Kingdom was formed, which included Nessebar. During this period, numerous churches were built on the territory of the peninsula, made in Byzantine architectural traditions with the use of opus mixtum masonry, involving the simultaneous use of brick and limestone. These structures are much better preserved than the buildings of the Byzantine period.
The Ottoman period of the city's history, which began at the end of the 14th century, when Bulgaria fell under the onslaught of the Turks, reminds of itself with an abundance of characteristic houses with a stone bottom and a second floor made of wood. These buildings belong to the period of the so-called Bulgarian Renaissance, which began at the end of the 18th century against the backdrop of a weakening Turkey.
How to get to Old Nessebar
Since Nessebar is not just a piece of land, but almost an island, you can get there not only by land transport, but also by water.
By land
The most affordable option is by bus.
From Burgas and Pomorie, buses 10 and 11 are suitable for you, the ticket price is 6 leva or a little more than 3 euros. They run every hour and a half.
Bus number 1 runs from Sunny Beach 4-6 times per hour (the fare is 1.3 levs or about 0.7 euros), and buses 5 and 8 pass three times per hour, which capture and (the fare is 1.5 leva or about 0.8 euros). The ticket is purchased from the conductor and strictly for cash.
Also, from Sunny Beach you can get to Nessebar and on an open "train". This attraction costs around 3 leva (about 1.6 euros) and runs 2-3 times per hour. At the same time, I did not notice that this type of transport had some kind of rigidly fixed point of departure, but in any case they leave the central part of the resort, and a ticket is bought when landing at a barker standing next to it.
The most expensive option is by taxi. Here the amount starts from 10-15 levs (5-8 euros), but it makes sense to resort to this method only if you return from Nessebar late at night. In this case, be sure to bargain.
By sea
There are constant water communication with the peninsula, Pomorie and. There are two ports in Old Nessebar - the northern one, where a sea taxi arrives from Sunny Beach and St. Vlas, and the southern one, where ferries from Sozopol and Pomorie arrive. In the diagram below, the places where the water transport arrives are located at the places from where the dotted lines exit.
Boats from Sunny Beach and Sveti Vlas depart 2-3 times per hour, and the ticket price is 15 leva (about 8 euros) one way per person and is purchased locally.
I also draw your attention to the fact that the water communication with Nessebar may be suspended if the sea is stormy.
The architecture of old Nessebar
Old Nessebar is a real city-museum, so it is not possible to list all architectural monuments without exception within the framework of one article. The main ones are shown in the diagram below. 
Byzantine monuments
The churches of the Byzantine period have survived to this day in a badly damaged state. I will tell you about some of them in the section dedicated to the religious buildings of Nessebar, but for now we will go through the monuments of civil and military architecture.
City walls and gates
In fact, my acquaintance with old Nessebar began with them. Although the gate is in a semi-ruined state today, it looks very picturesque. Here, tourists will find another attraction of Nessebar - this time alive. 
Sometimes it seems that this person plays all day without rest and, according to eyewitnesses, the piper played on the remains of the Byzantine walls back in the 80s of the last century - I really don't know if this one or another. Although the musical performance on the walls is free, anyone can donate as much as they see fit to the tireless piper.
Thermes
Today, only the ruins of the lower level remain of them, which anyone can see, but it is difficult to touch the ancient stones, since a fence has been installed around the ruins of the thermal baths. 
Tank
It is a rectangular reservoir for collecting water - the only thing left from the water supply system of ancient Nessebar. Unfortunately, only the walls and foundations of the columns that once supported the ceiling have survived to this day.
Monuments of the Second Bulgarian Kingdom
From this period (XIII-XIV century), only churches have survived to this day, which largely borrow from Byzantine traditions, but they are mainly of the cross-domed type, while religious buildings dating back to the period when Nessebar was part of the Eastern Roman Empire are 3-5-nave basilicas. Read more about the medieval temples of Nessebar in the section on churches.
Ottoman monuments
This not the most rosy period for the inhabitants of Nessebar had two characteristic features in terms of architecture. Firstly, the height of Christian churches was limited by the height of a rider sitting on a horse, so that the temples of this period are more like barracks or barns. Secondly, the era known as the Bulgarian Revival came closer to the end of Turkish rule.
Bulgarian Renaissance architecture
These are residential buildings, which are one and a half to two centuries old. Distinctive features are the second floor trimmed with wood, as well as the fact that the upper level protrudes and seems to hang over the lower one.
In addition, not far from the entrance to the old town, on the isthmus that connects Nessebar with the mainland, a wooden mill stands out. Unfortunately, I could not determine exactly when it was built, but judging by the look of the boards, its age is at least 1.5-2 centuries. Today the mill is one of the symbols of Nessebar and is very popular with birds.
Museums of old Nessebar
But there are not so many museums in the classical sense of the word in Old Nessebar.
Film Museum "Film Museum"
This small museum, it would seem, does not at all fit into the atmosphere of antiquity that prevails on the streets of Nessebar. At the same time, once inside, you understand how self-sufficient this place is.
Unfortunately, the inscriptions on the exhibits are rather sparse, so I cannot say which of them is the original and which is a copy, but, in my opinion, in this case this issue is not fundamental. Before us is not just a museum of wax figures, among which movie characters predominate, - so one of the exhibits is the torso of the "mercury" from the second part of the film "The Terminator" at the moment of "tightening" the wounds. There is also Freddy Krueger's glove, and a copy of Darth Vader's lightsaber, and the dark lord himself is presented in the museum without a helmet. There are also more banal figures - Batman, Joker, Iron Man and others. In any case, this is an institution where I personally took a lot of cool selfies, many of which I consider to be full-fledged souvenirs in memory of visiting Nessebar.
The entrance to the museum is usually guarded by an imperial stormtrooper from Star Wars, who is also willingly photographed with everyone.
The entrance fee is 10 levs (5.2 euros). It is better to check the opening hours on the spot, but during my visit it was open until 21 or 22 pm.
How to get to the cinema museum
The museum is located on the Messembria Square near the Church of Christ Pantokrator. The facade of the building faces the main street.
Archaeological Museum of Nessebar
It is here that the ancient heritage of this ancient city is presented. The museum has a rich collection of antique dishes, coins, reliefs depicting scenes from ancient mythology, but in these indicators it is inferior to major museums in Italy and Greece, but this is compensated by an excellent Russian audio guide, thanks to which even inconspicuous exhibits are interesting at first glance. In addition, the museum displays gold items from Thrace, as well as evidence of contacts of Nessebar merchants with the cities of medieval Russia. 
Opening hours and ticket prices
An adult ticket costs 6 leva (3.1 euros), a child ticket costs 3 (about 1.6 euros). In addition, for 20 leva (10.4 euros) you can buy a ticket that gives you the right to visit the ethnographic museum and five churches, which I will discuss below. The cost of the audio guide is 5 levs (2.6 euros), although you can listen to it together.
The museum is open daily from 9.00 to 19.00.
How to get to the archaeological museum
Getting into the museum is very simple: as soon as you pass through the main gate, it will be on your right hand.
Ethnographical museum
First of all, a visit to it should be seen as an opportunity to visit inside a typical house of the Bulgarian Renaissance. The main highlight of the interior is the richly finished ceilings against the background of the ascetic decoration in general. As for the exhibits, these are details of national costumes, and ancient icons, and photographs of the early 20th century, which can be used to trace the modern history of Nessebar. 
Opening hours and ticket prices
During the season, the museum is open daily from 10 am to 6 pm, and the cost of the entrance ticket is about 3 levs (1.6 euros). For more information on opening times and rates, you better find out on site or at the ticket office of the Archaeological Museum.
How to get to the ethnographic museum
The museum is located on Mesembria Street. To get there, you need to go a little deeper into the old city.
Churches of Nessebar
To begin with, a few words about five churches, inside of which there are museum expositions today. Perhaps, these places of worship are the best preserved.
Since I visited them on a single ticket, I recommend finding out the cost of visiting each temple separately on the spot, but I believe it will be within 1-3 levs (0.52-1.6 euros).
St. Stephen's Church
Built in the 11th century, it is notable for the fact that it is adjoined by a real garden with fruit trees, and I was surprised when a hospitable museum employee unexpectedly treated me to figs grown in it. In the same garden, the foundations of ancient columns are displayed for all to see.
It was built in the tradition of Byzantine architecture using opus mixtum masonry. Icons and frescoes have been preserved inside, while many biblical scenes are brutal.
Church of Christ Pantokrator
This is already the period of the Second Bulgarian Kingdom - the XIV century. It is also well preserved, and inside you will find an exhibition of old maps as a reminder that Nessebar has always been an important trading hub. In addition, some archaeological finds are exhibited there - in particular, slabs from the Roman period of the city's history.
Church of John the Baptist
Built in the 10th century, outwardly it resembles Russian churches of the pre-Mongol period, many of which have survived in Veliky Novgorod and in the Vladimir region. There is an exhibition of icons inside.
Church of the Holy Savior
This is already the 17th century, that is, the period of Ottoman rule. Deprived of a dome, elongated in length and having a sloping roof, it looks like a barn outwardly, and this was done for a reason. 
The fact is that when these lands were under Turkish protectorate, Christian churches had a strict height limitation. In the church itself, the wall frescoes are very well preserved.
Church of Paraskeva
Another example of architecture from the period of the Second Bulgarian Kingdom of the XIII century. The church is notable for the fact that the entrance to the bell tower was carried out not from the inside, but from the street. The bell tower itself has not survived, but the steps have survived to this day. Inside, there are preserved frescoes from the church of George Golemi demolished in 1958.
Other churches of Old Nessebar
Below I will talk about the main temples on the territory of the old city, which are now not used as museums. The condition of some of them today is extremely deplorable.
Basilica of Hagia Sophia
It's a paradox, but the most popular monument of religious architecture in Nessebar is the 5th-6th century Saint Sophia Cathedral, which is now in ruins. The facade, the remains of the walls and the inner arched colonnade have survived to this day. The cathedral is open to all comers, which is what lovers of taking pictures in the arches use.
Church of Our Lady of Eleusa
Built in the 6th century, today it is in a frankly deplorable state. At the same time, it is even strange that a fence from vandals was not built around it. The name is translated from Greek as "the Church of the Mother of God".
Church of the Archangels Michael and Gabriel
A well-preserved picturesque monument of the era of the Second Bulgarian Kingdom of the XIII century.
Despite the high degree of preservation, it is impossible to get inside today.
Church of St. Todor
It is also a 13th century monument, but as a result of the restoration, the temple looks more like a covered garage. Probably, such a step was taken in order to strengthen the very historical masonry. The entrance is currently closed.
Church of the Assumption of the Virgin
Built in the 19th century, it is the newest of the churches of old Nessebar and the only functioning temple on the peninsula. Although outwardly it bears little resemblance to the temples of the Byzantine period, in some places one can observe the laying of opus mixtum.
Entrance to the church is free, and it is better to check the opening hours and the schedule of services on the spot. An important point: taking pictures inside is prohibited.
Church of John Aliturgetos
Another architectural monument of the Second Bulgarian Kingdom, which during my visit was closed for restoration. The architectural feature of this church is the presence of two entrances inside. The word "aliturgetos" is translated from Greek as "unlit"
Modern monuments of Nessebar
This is, first of all, the sculpture of St. Nicholas located in front of the entrance to the city, who at all times was considered the patron saint of fishermen, sailors and travelers, so that in the port he belongs.
Infrastructure of old Nessebar
Despite the fact that before us is a one hundred percent open-air museum, if you wish, you can find there all the necessary attributes of the tourist infrastructure.
Hotels
As for the hotels located on the territory of old Nessebar, I can only say that there are a lot of them, and for details I refer to the sites of popular booking systems.
Beaches
Strange as it may seem, there are beaches on the peninsula, if you can call that a few small patches of sand, on which there was even a place for sun beds and umbrellas. Sand, as elsewhere in Europe, belongs to everyone, and as for the infrastructure and operating mode, I recommend checking it on the spot. 
Another thing is that I do not see any reason at all to visit the beaches of old Nessebar, since the new part of the city is much more adapted for such a vacation, and you can read about it.
A few words about food items
There are many food outlets in old Nessebar, and I will not recommend any specific ones here. Let me just say that the cost of lunch decreases with distance from the main entrance to the city. At the same time, restaurants in Nessebar in the old town, located next to the Byzantine gate, are distinguished not only by high prices, but also by extremely slow service, since there is always a full house there. Most cafes and restaurants are dominated by Bulgarian cuisine, but if you wish, you can find something else: for example, the Czech restaurant “Praha”.
In addition, on the territory of old Nessebar, as in other resort towns in Bulgaria, here and there are trays with delicious ice cream, which is sold for 1.69 levs (about 0.9 euros) per 100 grams, excluding the weight of the waffle cup, which is free ... However, it was in old Nessebar that I saw trays with prices of 1.99 levs (about 1 euro) per 100 grams, but there are few of them. In addition, there are ice cream trays at the price of 1 lev per ball, but the range of flavors there is less wide.
Souvenirs in Old Nessebar
There are many souvenir shops in the old town. At the same time, in addition to magnets, mugs and hand-painted ceramics, I was amazed by the abundance of objects with the symbols of the Third Reich - flasks, ashtrays, orders, etc. Moreover, many of the finds, at least according to the sellers, are genuine artifacts from the Second World War.
Amphitheater
Unfortunately, it bears little resemblance to an antique monument, but it is actively used during the holidays, when free performances are held there. In particular, I had the pleasure of watching the ballet "Swan Lake" on the stage of the amphitheater, albeit in a truncated version.
A few words in the end
Despite the crowds of tourists, I sincerely believe that if you are relaxing on the Bulgarian coast, Old Nessebar is a must-see. At the same time, even if you are not a lover of history, this place with embankments open to all the winds and picturesque multi-tiered buildings is simply saturated with serenity and relaxation. To feel it, you just need to turn off the main streets towards the sea.
Nessebar is one of the oldest cities in Europe - the first mention of it was found in a manuscript, which is more than 3000 years old! The city is quiet, charming and impressively good. Its narrow cobblestone streets and small wooden buildings create a unique atmosphere of antiquity. It is important to note that Old Nessebar today is a city-museum and is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. Fantastic landscapes, coupled with historical monuments that are found here almost at every step, attract not only ordinary tourists to the city, but also bohemians. Where else to look for inspiration and peace from the vanity of light, if not here? Walking along the cobbled streets of Old Nessebar, you can easily come across a famous artist, writer or actor.
And the city really inspires ... It is surrounded by the remains of the fortress walls, built by the ancient Thracians, and the very old Eastern gate of Nessebar is crowned with two beautiful pentagonal turrets. On the territory of the settlement, you will see a large number of churches, but only one of them remains active - the Church of the Holy Mother of God, in which there is a miraculous icon. Every August, thousands of pilgrims from all over the world flock to her. Information boards are located next to each historical site of the city, allowing tourists to explore the ancient city without involving a guide. Families who come to Old Nessebar with children can alternate sightseeing with relaxation in one of the playgrounds that are found on the streets of the city. A lot of cute souvenir shops with a huge number of different trinkets and souvenirs is another exciting activity, especially since you can see many items and toys for young tourists in the shops.
Old Nessebar occupies a very small peninsula, the width of which is barely 300 meters, and the length is just over 800 meters. The peninsula has a thin connection with the mainland in the form of a narrow isthmus, which, during a raging sea, is completely flooded with waves. Solitude and remoteness from the modern world is especially felt here in bad weather, when the old city is cut off from the mainland. However, this phenomenon should not be feared - with the end of the storm, the narrow streets again fill with newly arrived tourists. First of all, they rush to the main attraction of the city - an ancient three-story mill, built during the Bulgarian Renaissance. It is located at the very entrance to Nessebar. The famous Nessebar retro parade throughout Bulgaria starts from this ancient city symbol. The city continues to carry out infill development, while houses are allowed to be erected exclusively in the old style. This means that the buildings must have a first stone floor, and a second wooden one. Thus, the authorities are trying to preserve the unique spirit of the ancient city.
If you find yourself in Old Nessebar late in the evening, you do not need to worry about an overnight stay - there are a large number of hotels and inns located in old houses. We recommend a trip to Old Nessebar to guests of the southern coast of Bulgaria. You can easily reach this city on foot from the new Nessebar and by car and public transport from Pomorie, St. Vlas and a number of other resorts. The main thing is to bear in mind the peculiarity of the city streets. All of them are paved with stones and paving stones, on which movement with a baby carriage is difficult. Therefore, it is better to postpone a trip to Nessebar with a small child until better times.
Highlights
This city is one of the oldest settlements in the world, where life has never been interrupted for millennia. By the decision of the Bulgarian government in 1956, its historical center with numerous monuments was given the status of an architectural and archaeological reserve, and in 1983 Nessebar was included by UNESCO experts in the prestigious list of the World Heritage of World Civilization.
The old town is the historical district of Nessebar. This is an ancient settlement with powerful fortified walls, antique structures, millennial churches, located on a small rocky peninsula, separated from the continent by a narrow isthmus, well fortified by a stone fort. In this picturesque corner of Nessebar with its winding cobblestone streets, there is an absolutely amazing architectural development, characteristic of the Renaissance of Bulgaria, which began after the country's liberation from the Turkish yoke. The modern part of the city, called New Nessebar, is built behind the isthmus, on the continent. Here you will find hotels, apartments, studios, hostels for every taste.
The long beaches of Nessebar, stretching north and south of the city, are famous for their golden sand and clear sea water. Almost all of them have rental points for all kinds of equipment for practicing water sports. For lovers of long-distance sea travel, there are centers that organize cruises on boats and yachts.
Residents of the city are friendly to tourists, many speak Russian, English, and speak other European languages. The local cuisine deserves special praise, which has absorbed the traditions of hearty Balkan cuisine and the sophistication of Turkish dishes.
History of Nessebar
The foundation of Nessebar dates back to the Bronze Age. Archaeological findings suggest that the city is at least 3,200 years old. The Thracians who inhabited these lands at that time erected fortifications on a small peninsula, built two trading ports on the southern and northern sides of the fortress, where nature has already created comfortable natural bays protected from storms. The city was named Melsambria, in memory of the legendary founder, leader of the first settlers of Mels. This legend is mentioned by the Roman historian and geographer Strabo in his encyclopedia, written in the 1st century BC. e.
Outside the fortifications, the settlement was surrounded by gardens and vineyards. Since ancient times, excellent wines have been made here, and artisans have made excellent weapons, metal products, known in all cities on the Black Sea coast, with which the inhabitants of Nessebar conducted an active trade. Thracian ships brought here dishes from Egypt, fabrics and gold-embroidered clothing from Asia Minor, fruits and spices from North Africa. Fragments of Thracian fortifications have survived to this day, they stand out in the later northern city wall with their archaic stonework.
One of the natives of ancient Melsambria left a bright mark in world literature. According to legend, the famous fabulist Aesop was a Thracian, and he was born here around 620 BC. e.
Later, the Dorian Greeks, who arrived from the city of Megara, settled in Nessebar. They expanded and strengthened the Thracian defensive walls, erected temples and a theater, and built schools. At this time, the city flourished and already minted its own coins - bronze, silver, gold. It is noteworthy that archaeologists find them in ancient settlements on the coast of the Black and Mediterranean Seas - this testifies to the extensive trade contacts of Nessebar.
It is known that in 425 BC. e. Nessebar joined the community of Greek cities, led by Athens. Several buildings have survived in Nessebar since the Hellenistic period - agora, marble acropolis, temple of Apollo.
In 71 BC. e. the legions of the Roman commander Mark Lucullus approached the walls of Nessebar. The townspeople decided not to resist and opened the fortress gates without a fight. So Nessebar was not destroyed and became part of the Roman Empire under the name of Mesembria, becoming an important cultural and commercial center of the province of Roman Thrace. At the same time, the city retained the right to issue its own money, and it was also granted trade and political privileges. The Romans built public buildings here, marble baths with pools, equipped a water supply system and other engineering communications.
In the 1st century here, in the city square, by order of the Roman governor, one of the first Christian great martyrs, Saint Irene of Macedon, was executed.
In the early Middle Ages, after the collapse of the Roman Empire, Nessebar belonged to its eastern part - Byzantium. In the IV century, the townspeople adopted Christianity. During this period, the oldest surviving churches in the city were built in the name of Hagia Sophia.
The second half of the 1st millennium became a troubled time in the history of Europe and was marked by the Great Migration of Nations. In 681, hordes of Türks-Bulgars, who came from the distant Azov Sea, invaded the Danube lands of the Byzantine Empire. The warlike invaders founded their vast Bulgar Khanate in Thrace. The well-fortified Mesemvria turned into a military outpost on the restless border of Byzantium with Bulgaria. In 812 the city was besieged by the troops of the Bulgar Khan Krum, and two weeks later Messemvria fell. Many residents died, the survivors fled. The Bulgars and Slavs, who came with the Turks from the east, settled in the city.
Half a century later, the Byzantines regained Messembria. But in 917, a bloody battle of Aheloy took place in the vicinity of Nessebar, in which the troops of the Bulgarian king Simeon defeated the Byzantine army. The emperor Leo Phoca, who led the campaign, fled to Constantinople on a ship awaiting him in the harbor of Nessebar. For several centuries Nessebar was the subject of military conflict between Byzantium and the Bulgarian kingdom.
In 1366, the city was taken by storm by the troops of the crusaders under the command of Count Amadeus of Savoy. The lucky count sold the city to the Byzantine emperor for 15,000 gold ducats, but in the next century, the Turkish army overthrew Byzantium, and in 1453 the Ottomans captured Nessebar - a few months before the fall of Constantinople. The city was severely damaged.
It is interesting that during the stay of the city under the rule of the Turks, none of the local Christian churches was rebuilt into a Muslim mosque, as was practiced by the Ottomans everywhere. The townspeople were against, and the conquerors, avoiding conflict, erected their temple and minaret next to the ancient churches of Christians.
Turkish rule here lasted for about four hundred years, until the 20s of the last century. In 1829, a military squadron of the Russian Empire approached Nessebar from the sea, and from land the city was surrounded by Russian Uhlan regiments. After the very first shots of the naval guns, the Turkish garrison of Nessebar surrendered, and the city was freed from Turkish oppression forever. Residents of the city remember with gratitude the support of the Russians. Among the sister cities of Nessebar are the Russian St. Petersburg and Sochi.
For more than a century, Nessebar remained a quiet place, whose inhabitants were mainly engaged in viticulture and fishing. As a resort and tourist center, Nessebar began to develop in the late 50s of the last century.
Geography and climate
Nessebar municipality occupies the northern part of the Black Sea coast of the administrative region of Burgas. Historical monuments, clear sea, natural diversity of coastal mountainous terrain, rich flora form a peculiar appearance of Nessebar, which remains charmingly attractive in any season and in any weather.
The old town occupies a peninsula protruding into the Black Sea, measuring only 850 x 350 meters. To the south of the isthmus connecting the Old Town on the peninsula with the New Town on the continent, there are unique sand dunes in Bulgaria and a magnificent beach about 2 km long.
Nessebar is located almost four hours by car from Sofia, one hour from Varna and half an hour from Burgas.
The climate in Nessebar is moderately continental; the tourist season here lasts from May to September. You can sunbathe on the beaches in early May, during the day the air temperature rises to +20 ° C, but the water in the sea is still cold. During this period, there are rainy and cool days. The swimming season opens at the end of spring, when the coastal waters warm up to +18 ... + 20 ° С. From the second decade of June, the sea warms up to +23 ... + 25 ° С, such indicators are often held until mid-September. In general, vacationers can enjoy the sun and swimming for about six months, even at the end of September the air temperature is kept at +21 ... + 22 ° С.
The peak season in Nessebar is in July-August. The air temperature for weeks exceeds +30 ° С, the sun is quite aggressive, in the afternoon it is better to plan excursions. On windy days, the waves wash up the seaweed, but the staff quickly cleans the beaches.
The heat subsides by September, here this period is called the velvet season. Tourists with school-age children go home, and the resort beaches are becoming quieter and more spacious.
From October to April, the flow of tourists decreases, but true connoisseurs of antiquity argue that autumn is the best time for a calm and thorough acquaintance with the sights of Old Nessebar, when you can wander through the deserted streets blown by a fresh sea breeze, take wonderful photos of city landscapes, arrange a romantic dinner in a quiet fish tavern. By the way, prices in restaurants and shops, hotels and apartments during this period are minimal.
Attractions of Nessebar
The main street of Nessebar, Khan Krum, leads to a narrow isthmus leading to the peninsula where the Old Town is located. Nature has created an ideal place for the defense of the settlement here - there is no other way to the city by land. Guests are greeted by an old windmill, and then the impressive ruins of the city gate with a powerful tower and the remains of stone fortress walls rise. The fortified entrance to the city was erected in the 3rd century by the Romans on the site of an even more ancient fortress. The central street of the Old City, which bears its ancient name - Messembria, begins behind the gate.
The narrow streets of Nessebar, paved with granite paving stones, are filled with tourists from all over the world from morning till night in high season. They come from the hotels of the continental Nessebar, they come from the hotels of the nearby resort of Sunny Beach or the remote resort centers of the Black Sea coast of Bulgaria to get acquainted with the attractions located in the ancient city.
Each house here is an old manor house, which serves as a source of solid income for its owners. In any of the houses in Old Nessebar, you will find a retail outlet - a souvenir shop, an antique salon, a grocery store, a wine cellar, a bar or a tavern. According to a long tradition, the buildings are two-storey, the first floors are made of stone, the second are wooden, hanging over the basement. The houses are covered with colorful tiled roofs. Many of them were built during the Bulgarian Renaissance, in the 18th-19th centuries. The windows and balconies are adorned with flowers that emphasize the festive mood of the streets.
About a third of the ancient city is now flooded by the sea. Under the water, one can discern the deep-seated fortification walls overgrown with algae. Bulgarian archaeologists have conducted several underwater expeditions, during which well-preserved structures from ancient times were discovered. An interesting exposition in the Archaeological Museum acquaints tourists with their finds.
In tiny Old Nessebar, exactly 40 ancient churches once stood. With a population of several thousand people, it was the city with the largest number of Christian churches per capita, as well as the built-up area in all of Bulgaria, and perhaps in the whole world. Unfortunately, the time and numerous sieges of the city in the past centuries did not spare its temples. Almost all of them are destroyed, archaeologists have so far discovered the ruins of 26 basilicas, some of them are hidden under the sea waves.
In some churches, entrance is paid, the funds raised are used to finance restoration work. It is convenient for 20 levs to purchase a single subscription to the Archaeological Museum and six of the most interesting temples.
The oldest of them was built one and a half thousand years ago. In 1929, an archaeological expedition discovered under a layer of soil on the northern bank of Old Nessebar the foundations and remains of the walls of the Basilica of the Holy Virgin, erected in the 6th century. This church was part of a monastery complex destroyed by an earthquake and sunk in the 14th century. The cleared surviving ruins are overgrown with ivy. This is one of the best places for photo shoots, a recognizable business card of Nessebar. Images of the basilica are published in all tourist brochures and city guides.
Attention is drawn to the majestic ruins of the Basilica of Hagia Sophia, also built in the 6th century. The first residence of the metropolitans of Nessebar was located here.
Art critics call one of the well-preserved churches the most beautiful in Bulgaria. This is the Basilica of Christ Pantokrator, which gives the most complete idea of \u200b\u200bthe structures of Byzantine architecture of the XIV century on the territory of Nessebar. Patterned rows of red bricks alternate with yellow ones, creating a mesmerizing pattern of masonry walls. Elegant arches are decorated with white stone inserts. The interior decoration and frescoes have been lost. There is a small museum in the church, where you can see a collection of medieval maps depicting Nessebar and its surrounding territories, neighboring countries located on the shores of the Black and Mediterranean seas. The entrance is paid - BGN 3 per person.
The perfectly preserved Church of St. Stephen or New Metropolis was built in the 10th century. The architect erected this three-aisled basilica of stone and red plinth, solid Byzantine brick. In the masonry of the outer walls, one can distinguish architectural elements taken from the ruins of ancient temples - the pedestals of the statues, fragments of marble and granite columns. The inner walls are painted with magnificent frescoes by Byzantine masters. It has been established that three artists, invited by the Metropolitan of Nessebar from Constantinople, worked on the paintings. In the altar part, you will see the masterfully restored metropolitan throne made of carved wood, church utensils of the 16th century. Artifacts unearthed here by archaeologists are on display in the church wall. Admission is paid - for adults about 6 levs, for children - 3 levs. It is allowed to take photos in the temple without using a flash.
The 16th century Basilica of St. John Aliturgetos is also well preserved. It is located to the right of the city gate, next to the Roman amphitheater. Festivals and other cultural events are often held here. Interestingly, the temple was never consecrated for services (Aliturgetos in Greek means Unsanctified). The reason for this was the death of several workers who fell from high walls at the completion of construction.
The only functioning church in Old Nessebar is located on Krayberezhna street. It was erected in 1883 in the name of the Dormition of the Most Holy Theotokos, the patroness of the city. The paintings of temple interiors are of great artistic value. There are caskets with the relics of saints revered in Bulgaria and a miraculous icon with the face of Our Lady of Hodegetria in Byzantine writing, created in the 13th century. According to legend, the icon was presented to the temple by the elders of one of the monasteries of Mount Athos. For 700 years, the image has darkened, believers call it the Black Icon. On August 15, the day of commemoration of the Assumption, pilgrims come here from all over Bulgaria. On this day, celebrations dedicated to the Day of the City are held at the walls of the church; a crowded procession is marching along Nessebar, at the head of which priests carry a miraculous icon under the protection of sailors.
Taking pictures in the temple is prohibited, admission is free. On Sundays, during the morning liturgy, a wonderful church choir sings here.
Beaches
The coastal area of \u200b\u200bNessebar is divided into several beaches. The best is the South Beach of the resort, located near the southern quarters of New Nessebar. You can get here by city buses No. 3, 7, 11. There are paid and free parking lots, toilets, changing rooms, cafes and taverns. The beach overlooks the open sea, here you can always swing on the waves and watch the ships passing in the distance. There are also beautiful views of the Old Town from here.
This sandy beach with a gentle entrance to the sea is clean and well-groomed, it is provided with sun loungers, sun loungers, umbrellas. For 10 leva you will be given a beach set for the whole day: an umbrella + two plastic sunbeds. With your own towel or beach umbrella, which can be purchased in one of the shops of Nessebar, you can go to a special zone, 15 meters from the sea, and sunbathe there for free.
South Beach is a holder of the Blue Flag, awarded for cleanliness, decent ecology, developed infrastructure and safety. Here the sea is patrolled by rescuers.
There are several beaches in the Old Town. The landscapes are fantastic, there are no practical storms, but the shore is pebbly, the bottom is rocky, covered with algae. It is recommended to walk here in rubber shoes; there may be sharp shell rock among the pebbles. There are also many concrete beaches, mostly wild ones. The most famous beach on the peninsula is Old Nessebar, located near the Seaport. Its coastline faces southeast and is protected by the bend of the Nessebar Bay. For a sunbed and an umbrella will be asked here from 5 leva.
Not far from the isthmus connecting the Old Town and the New, near a large coastal park, there is a popular wild beach.
The beach north of the New Town, flowing smoothly into the 15-kilometer beach area of \u200b\u200bSunny Beach, is called the North Beach. By the way, in the neighboring resort it is called the South, which often causes confusion.
The North Beach, like the South Beach, is well equipped, the prices for renting beach accessories are identical here - from 8 leva. About a third of the beach is occupied by a free zone.
From New Nessebar by bus number 11 in 20 minutes you can reach the neighboring resort town of Pomorie. There are also excellent sandy beaches, but fewer tourists. For 50 leva a day, you can rent a cozy wicker canopy with four sun loungers at the very edge of the surf, ice cream, fruit, drinks and snacks will be brought to you from the nearest cafe. Nearby is the ancient monastery of St. George, which is worth exploring.
Leisure
Beach football and basketball are popular on the coast of Nessebar, equipment for outdoor games, water skiing is offered everywhere. At the port, you can rent a motor boat or scooter to explore the city from the sea.
Diving enthusiasts from all over Europe come to Nessebar to see its main underwater attraction - the sunken city, which is often referred to as the local Atlantis. There are specialized centers in the city, where there are courses for training beginner scuba divers and organized both one-day diving off the coast (day and night), and yacht trips to other, remote, diving sites.
For hardy travelers, several hiking routes have been developed. Among them - a hike to the nearby mountain slopes overgrown with pine trees, a walk along the sea coast with a swim on wild beaches and a visit to nearby villages, where travelers can expect an ethnic concert and a delicious lunch of Bulgarian cuisine with homemade wines and rakia.
From Nessebar a stone's throw to Sunny Beach. This bustling modern resort lies just three kilometers to the north. On its beaches there are even more shops for renting boats, scooters, and inflatable "bananas". Here you can also join a jeep safari and go to the hilly foothill valley.
Entertainment
In June, Nessebar traditionally hosts the International Children's Festival. At the same time, a festival of sand sculptures is held in Burgas, which attracts masters from all over the world. Their works are short-lived, so if you are on vacation in Nessebar at this time, be sure to go and see. City Day is celebrated in Nessebar in mid-August. It is celebrated on the day of the Most Holy Theotokos, who is the heavenly intercessor of the townspeople.
One of the most popular entertainments among tourists vacationing in Nessebar is boat trips. A short trip will cost about 30 leva. Excursion boats depart from the berths in Old Nessebar, sailing over ancient and medieval structures that are clearly visible under water, which have sunk to the bottom as a result of a powerful earthquake. In clear sea water, one can discern the outlines of the acropolis, ruins of dwellings, public buildings, and fortifications.
In the vicinity of Nessebar, there are extensive entertainment complexes - Luna Park and Aqua Paradise. Entrance tickets for the whole day are 32 BGN for adults and 15 BGN for children. Half-day tickets are also offered. By the time the attractions open at 10:00, decent queues gather at the ticket offices. To avoid them, you should purchase tickets in advance from the receptionist at your hotel's reception.
Captain Jack's club and bar in NessebarThe parks are equipped with modern attractions, various carousels, water slides for children of all ages and extreme adults. Actors periodically perform short shows, animators entertain guests by the pools. You can grab a bite to eat at pizzerias and fast food kiosks, and have a hearty lunch at park cafes and taverns. Please note that you cannot bring food and drinks with you to the amusement parks, the security service vigilantly monitors this, food will have to be left in a paid locker (4 levs). Valuables can be placed in a safe (6 leva).
Of the several nightclubs in Nessebar, the most popular among vacationers are Captain Jack's Night Club and Bedroom Beach, while nearby Sunny Beach offers a wide range of nightlife options.
Purchases
There are no large supermarkets with a wide selection of goods, chic malls and fashionable boutiques in Nessebar, but there are plenty of small shops here. Here you can buy essential goods, food, drinks, beach accessories, good souvenirs. A good selection of souvenirs is presented in the private shops of Old Nessebar. Local potters, continuing their centuries-old tradition, produce ceramic dishes, and archaeological finds often serve as models of vases, jugs and goblets. Another popular souvenir from Nessebar is handmade knitwear. They are rude, but bear the imprint of the old traditions of national dress.
A few bottles of excellent local wine will be a good souvenir for gourmets. Follow them to Aheloy Street in Old Nessebar. Here, in the old house No. 7, the winery and tasting room Winery Messembria are located. Wine tasting is accompanied by sommelier comments, then you can choose the wine you like, it will be packed in a beautiful box and delivered to your hotel. White semisweet grape wine "Messembria" and sweet red and rosé wines made from figs are in special demand.
Another delicious souvenir from Nessebar is the packaging of lukanka, Bulgarian dry-cured sausage with onions and spices. Its shape is unusual and resembles an oblong flat cake or lush pita bread. The producers of this national product claim that the recipe for lukanka dates back to the 7th century.
For large purchases, you should go to the shops in Sunny Beach or Burgas. During excursions to neighboring cities in Bulgaria, buses stop at large shops, and tourists are given several hours of shopping.
Local kitchen
Seafood and vegetables dominate the cuisine of the seaside Nessebar. Here they know how to cook delicious fish, squid, shellfish. All summer the markets sell seasonal fruits and vegetables - juicy bell peppers, tomatoes and aromatic herbs, peaches, plums and other gifts from the surrounding gardens and vegetable gardens. Incidentally, there are no meat stalls in local markets. Fresh meat is sold only in specialized stores - mesarniki.
In city cafes you can dine for 15-20 leva (salad, meat or fish dish with a side dish, drink), and the portions are very large and hearty. For 45-50 leva you will be offered a full dinner for two with good wine. In many establishments, you can pay with American Express, Mastercard, Visa bank cards.
Among the stylish restaurants located in the historic center, tourists recommend "Old Nessebar" in reviews. It serves fresh seafood, barbecued pork ribs, and outdoor sheltered tables. The restaurant's veranda offers panoramic views of the Old Town harbor. It prepares dishes according to recipes from the Bulgarian and Mediterranean cuisine. The specialty is gyuvech - meat stewed with vegetables in ceramic pots.
The cozy restaurant "Acropolis" is owned by a family from Macedonia. The owners prepare delicious homemade food with their own hands, and they themselves serve the dishes to the guests. One of the restaurant's specialties is pork stew with mushroom gravy, accompanied by boiled potatoes and pickled vegetables. For the first time, they will offer Bulgarian chorba - a hot soup based on kvass. But at the beginning of the meal, you will be served a Shopska salad of bell peppers, tomatoes, cucumbers, sweet onions and olives, thickly sprinkled with grated sheep's cheese. Fragrant bread is also baked here with their own hands.
Italian cuisine is offered by the Mario cafe and the Kristal restaurant. It employs cooks specially trained in Italy.
You can have a tasty and inexpensive meal in the Aquamarine ethno-restaurant located at the entrance to the Old Town. Its chefs are recognized masters of Bulgarian cuisine. The dishes combine traditional Balkan products, Turkish sophistication and Greek cuisine. In hot weather, they come here to freshen up with a tarator - a spicy cold soup based on fermented milk yogurt with fresh cucumbers, herbs, seasoned with garlic and wine vinegar. The tarator resembles okroshka. Chopped walnuts and almonds give the soup a thick consistency and a unique flavor. It is served with crushed ice. For the second, be sure to order the signature sach - a national Bulgarian dish of three types of meat (veal, pork, chicken) stewed with bell peppers, eggplants, tomatoes and other vegetables with sauce. Sach is cooked in a massive earthen pan; it is served hot on a wrought iron table. Instead of bread, banitsa is brought to the table - a puff pastry with feta cheese.
The portions in Nessebar restaurants are very generous, and not everyone can master them, so here it is in the order of things to ask the waiter to pack the remaining food and take it with you.
Where to stay
Most of the hotels in Nessebar are located in the New Town, where every year new hotels of various categories open their doors, today there are more than 300 of them. Chain hotels of famous world brands have been built. Among the staff there will certainly be workers who speak Russian. The cost of living is influenced by the remoteness of the hotel from the coastline and beaches, rooms with sea-facing windows are much more expensive.
Among the buildings in recent years is the luxurious Sol Hotel Nessebar Palace 5 *. The hotel has an extensive area with a park and swimming pools. It is comfortable to relax here with children, there are two-room family rooms with extra beds, for the little ones there is everything you need. You can invite a nanny, for older children there is a club in the hotel where the children are entertained by animators. The restaurant always has a children's menu. The cost of living in a double room is from 110 € per day.
There are youth hostels in Nessebar with rooms for 3-4 people. During peak season, accommodation will cost 15 € per person per night.
Local residents willingly rent out apartments to tourists in residential areas. A small cozy studio can be rented for 30 €, prices for apartments start at 50 € per day. If you wish, on the outskirts of the New Town you can rent a whole manor house for 60-80 € per day.
Several hotels are located within the Old Town. Among them is the Hotel Saint Nikola, located in an old building, but not devoid of modern comfort. Room cost - from 32 €. The balconies offer views of the sea and the sights of Old Nessebar. The hotel has an inexpensive restaurant, where excellent dishes of Bulgarian cuisine are prepared, discounts up to 10% are valid for guests. The staff is friendly, the administrators speak Russian.
Transport
In New Nessebar, regular buses from the airport or from other cities stop near large hotels, a water park, the entrance to the Old Town. Actually, the resort town is small, everything is located within walking distance. If you are burdened with luggage, you can get to the desired place by city bus (ticket price - 2 levs) or by taxi, the cost of the trip will not exceed 10 levs. There are many taxis in Nessebar, the tariff is usually indicated on the glass of the passenger door of the car - about 3 leva / km. Taxis have counters.
Get to the Old Town by bus No. 1. Since Nessebar and Sunny Beach are one municipal territory, bus routes start in New Nessebar and continue on the streets of the neighboring resort.
If you are planning to explore other coastal resorts, it makes sense to rent a car. The rental price is from 40 leva / day, the driver-renter must be at least 22 years old.
How to get there
The nearest airport to Nessebar is Sarafovo. It is located in Burgas, the largest transport hub in the country. Regular flights depart from Moscow and St. Petersburg to Burgas. Direct flights are operated by Bulgaria Air liners. The cost of a flight from the capital of Russia is 25,000 rubles, from St. Petersburg - 27,000 rubles. During the tourist season, charter airliners fly from large cities of the Russian Federation to Burgas.
There is also a railway connection Moscow - Burgas with a length of 2,200 km. This is a trailed car in the train 059M "Moscow - Sofia". In Bulgaria, the carriage joins another train bound for Burgas from Sofia. In Moscow, the train departs from the platform of the Kievsky railway station every day at 09:30. The trip lasts two days, and you must go through passport control at the border with Ukraine, Romania and Bulgaria. At each border checkpoint, the procedure takes at least an hour.
From Burgas to Nessebar 36 km. These cities are connected by regular bus service. The intercity bus stop is located at the entrance to the airport, route No. 10 goes to Nessebar from there. Buses run at intervals of 40 minutes to 1 hour, the cost of the trip is 8-10 leva, depending on the season and tariffs of the transport company, travel time is about hours, on city streets with busy traffic, traffic jams and jam are not excluded.
From the Burgas railway station, you need to go to Privokzalnaya Square and go along Aleksandrovskaya pedestrian street, dotted with boutiques, to the South Bus Station. From here, buses to Nessebar leave every half hour, the fare is from 3 leva, the travel time is 40 minutes.
Many tourists prefer to get to the resort from the airport or railway station by taxi, which will cost 45-50 leva.
Traveling to Nessebar from Moscow by car will take at least 30 hours if you plan the shortest route along the E95 highway through Ukraine and Romania. The distance will be 1,966 km.
