Nessebar Resort, Bulgaria
The seaside resort Nessebar is an ancient city and one of the most popular destinations on the Bulgarian Black Sea Coast. Known as “the Pearl of the Black Sea“, Nesebar has a long history, defined by more than three millennia of ever-changing stories. Moreover, nature has been very generous to the region. The coastline is about 50 km long and the combination of sea and mountains is unique. That’s why many tourists come here every summer.
The small city contains two parts separated by a narrow human-made land with the ancient part of the settlement on the peninsula (formerly an island), and the more modern part on the mainland side. The older part shows evidence of occupancy by a variety of different civilizations throughout its existence. At the crossroads of several cultures, Nesebar is a town with a rich history. Due to the plenty of historic buildings, in 1983 UNESCO included Nesebar in its list of World Heritage Sites.
Location of Nessebar
Nessebar is located in Burgas Province, in the central part of the Bulgarian Black Sea coast. The nearest airport is International Airport Burgas (BOJ) – 25 kilometres. The most popular summer place in Bulgaria Sunny Beach is within walking distance. There are regular busses to the biggest cities Burgas and Varna.
Top 3 Things to do in Nessebar
As a modern tourist spot, Nessebar provides a variety of accommodation possibilities – hotels, apartments, guest houses, and many restaurants. Everyone will find the best places, depending on the budget for a summer holiday. The proximity to Sunny Beach affords many entertainment and nightlife options. Among the most popular things to do in Nessebar are:
1. Walk around the Old town of Nessebar (UNESCO)
Feel the ancient history behind the old fortress walls; follow the narrow cobbled streets and visit the pretty workshops selling local art and handcrafted souvenirs – jewellery, woodcarving, pottery, etc. For the culture-seeking tourists, there are many museums and churches. Do not miss the Archaeological Museum, which presented evidence of 4 civilizations – the Thracian, the Hellenes, the Romans, and the Byzantines. Read here our guide to all attractions and places to visit in the Old town:
2. Relax on the beach in Nessebar
There is a small sandy beach in the Old town and several in the “New” part of the city. The biggest one is “South Beach”, covered with fine golden sand. There are restaurants and cocktail- bars, paid zone with umbrellas and sunbeds as well as a free zone. The north part is connected with the resort Sunny Beach and its long beach.
3. Have fun in Aquapark Nessebar
The park with the greatest diversity of water slides, rivers, and pools in Europe is perfect for a day out with kids or friends. The most famous are: the King Cobra, the Space Shuttle (the longest slide in Europe), the one-of-a-kind Dragero Multislide, the only Surf Simulator in Bulgaria … probably you will need more than one day in Aquapark Nessebar.
Top 3 Attractions in Nessebar
Nessebar is not only a summer resort with many hotels and restaurants, but it is also a cultural tourism destination. It is the best place for travellers seeking a bit more of a cultural experience. The most popular and interesting attractions in Nessebar are cultural monuments:
1. The Church of the “Holy Archangels Michael & Gabriel”
It is a partially preserved medieval Eastern Orthodox church. Its rich external decoration was done in Nesebar’s characteristic style and has unique coloured brickwork and artwork inside. The church was built in the 13th or 14th century and is still in use. (Actually, there are about 40 churches in Nessebar that you can explore).
2. The Historical museum
It has 4 exhibition halls chronologically following the development of the city throughout the different epochs. Visitors will see the bronze statue of Emperor Claudius; remains of items from the everyday life of ancient Thracians, a silver coin treasure, bronze vessels, part of a statue of god Apollo, the torso of a statue of Heracles, a statue of Tyche, the goddess of good fortune, that date back to the 4th century BC; around 250 icons pained by local icon-painters, etc.
3. The Mill
The first thing you will see when entering the old town is the Wooden Windmill – one of the symbols of Nessebar.
Top 3 Best Excursions from Nessebar
The historical Old town and the fabulous small beaches are making the Nessebar a desirable summer destination. In case you have more time, you can explore the area around. The Black Sea coast is famous for its gorgeous wild nature. Some day trips from Nessebar, that you can participate in to investigate the nature diversity are:
Jeep Safari
An off-road adventure through beautiful villages, green forest, and small lakes.
Honey tasting at the last stop.
“Nature & Adventure”
It is the most preferred trip for nature lovers! The tour includes a visit to a cave, off-road driving in the forest, and a folklore program in a typical mountain village.
St. Anastasia Island trip
The beautiful island “Saint Anastasia” is a great idea for a boat trip from the port in Burgas and excursion through the centre of the city.
Nessebar is a piece of heaven, where modern tourism amenities are combined with cultural traditions. It is the cultural and historical UNESCO treasure of Bulgaria and one of the most popular summer places. Nessebar is a must for everyone who visits Bulgaria. Do not miss getting to know the ancient Old town when going on a summer holiday!
