Useful Tips about Sunny Beach, Bulgaria
Things to see and do
Sunny Beach is abundant in places to see and visit. Everything in the resort is geared toward tourists and providing them with entertainment, recreational and leisure activities. There is a bit of everything for everyone: water ski, surfing, banana rides, paragliding, water jets and many more. One of the most exciting places is the Action Aqua Park. With over 13 water attractions, quite a few cocktail bars and a restaurant, it’s a great way to spend your day.
It’s almost impossible to visit Sunny Beach and not stroll on the beach promenade. Adorned by the water front hotels on one side and the spectacular beach on the other, it is a great place for walks during the day and night as well. There are endless shops, souvenir stands and boutiques all along its length, as well as great bars, taverns and restaurants worth visiting.
The artist’s street is opposite the hotel Mercury, right by the Corner Bar is a must see. Tens of artists’ paintings are on display and you can take one as a souvenir or have your portrait painted. Nessebar is one of the places you must visit while in Sunny Beach. Take a local bus or a taxi (it is only a 10 minute ride away) or take a nice walk along the beach. Once there, the thousand year old history, churches and archeological finds, cobble streets and romantic port will enchant you. St. Vlas has become connected to Sunny Beach. Heading north along the beach strip, you’ll eventually reach the Dinevi Marina, which in addition to the town centre is a nice place to visit while on vacation.
Regardless of what you decide to do, the sunny weather is guaranteed. All you have to do is make sure you have fun and get the most out of what Sunny Beach has to offer.
Getting Around town
Getting around the Sunny Beach resort is pretty straight forward and easy to do. Although the resort’s streets don’t have names, the hotels should serve as orientation points. There is a main street which runs through the resort, making access by car quite easy. There is a local bus which starts off at St. Vlas, goes through Sunny Beach and goes to Nessebar. This is by far the most cost effective way of transportation. Taxis are always on hand to take you anywhere as well and can be seen on the main street, around the central bus depot or in front of hotels.
The fun way of getting around town and going to Nessebar is certainly via the attraction trains. The open- air miniature trains start of at the centre of the resort and take you along a picturesque ride to the new town of Nessebar.
Warnings
- As with most resorts and crowded places in general, pick pockets and thieves are one of the major concerns in the area. Found most often on the beach, on the public buses and in crowded areas, there are certain precautions you can take. When on the beach, don’t leave your belongings unattended when going in the sea. When on the bus, hold your personal belongings close to you and be aware of who’s around you. Most often, thieves tend to be gypsy women who travel and work in groups and usually have a child with them
- At night, prostitutes tend to work mostly on the beach and dark alleys. This can turn a pleasant night stroll into an unpleasant encounter. Some tend to approach people aggressively and try to talk them into using their services, but will generally not harass if no interest is expressed.
- Do not exchange money on the street. As tempting as some of the exchange rate offers might be, common sense should let you know that exchanging money on the street or in any place other than a bank is a scam.
- Most people who come to Bulgaria enjoy it precisely because of the hot, sunny weather. Beware, however, because excessive sun exposure can lead to extreme sunburn and dehydration. Drink plenty of water and use sunscreen when out in the sun. Avoid extended periods of time on the beach, especially around noon when the sun is strongest.
