Balchik, Bulgaria 2022 – Not for a Beach Vacation, but for Cultural Journeys

Hello everyone. We're going to talk about a town that's not considered a proper beach vacation spot, but is considered the perfect weekend escape. After reading this article, you'll find out if Balchik is worth a vacation. We'll also evaluate the resort based on all the key criteria. You can also participate in our assessment by leaving your rating at the end of the article.
Balchik is also the third largest port city after Varna и Burgas and this is Balchik.
General information
In Balchik, time seems to stand still. It's unlike other resort towns. Beauty and grace surround you on all sides. Vacationers stroll the small streets. The town's streets are quaintly laid out in tiers on the hillsides, creating a romantic atmosphere.

Photos of Balchik

The town's name is emblazoned on the hilltop. The resort's charm is further enhanced by the local homes—all built of white stone with red roofs.

If you want to see Balchik in all its glory, we recommend viewing it from the sea or from the hill at the very beginning of town. We saw the most tourists from Romania.

This was evident from the number of license plates and souvenir flags. We saw the most tourists, not counting the City Beach, at the palace of the Romanian Queen Maria, "The Quiet Nest.".

Location

The resort of Balchik is located in the northern part of Bulgaria, 42 kilometers from Varna. The town is located on the southern slope of a mountain and is protected by a bay. Recently, a considerable number of English, Irish, and other foreigners have settled here. Balchik is connected to another resort, Albena, by a pedestrian promenade over seven kilometers long.

It's so nice to walk or ride a bike along the sea's edge.

How to get there?

The nearest airport to Balchik is in Varna, which is 47 km away.

Buses from Varna to Balchik run regularly, every half hour to an hour. Buy the cheapest bus tickets. You can do it here. You can also take a taxi. Paid parking costs €1.50 per hour, but even paid parking in the center is often full. You can book a private transfer to Balchik. here.

Beach

Balchik's central beach is the largest and most popular among the nearby beaches.
But it is only big if you compare it with other, even smaller beaches.

The central beach is barely two hundred meters long. The beaches are highlighted in orange on the map, and the rest of the coastal space is taken up by a dam with an embankment and docks for boats and ships.

It's located next to the city port. This beach is ideal for children due to its shallow waters. The beach has fine sand and small shells. There are lifeguards and a medical team at Central Beach, along with showers and changing rooms.

As with other beaches, you can rent umbrellas, sun loungers, pedal boats, etc. In addition to the paid umbrella area, there is also a free beach area.
But keep in mind that the road to the beach is completely unimproved; you'll have to walk through a parking lot with passing cars. There are no sidewalks or even asphalt, but there is dirt, small stones, and dust.

In addition to the central beach, there are very small improvised and unequipped beaches next to the bars.
Our traditional column is measuring the sea water temperature. We took the temperature on one of these small beaches. The sea water temperature was 26.8 degrees Celsius.

Prices at one of the beaches: Umbrella - 3 euros, sun lounger - 2.5 euros, tent - 12.5 euros. Prices at the central beach are the same, but sun loungers cost 3 euros.

See the photos in the gallery for prices on water attractions on the central beach.

It's worth noting that the beaches in Balchik have not been awarded the Blue Flag. The sea water also appeared dirty, making it difficult to swim.

Near the city there is Lake Tuzlata with therapeutic mud.

Accommodation

Accommodation prices start from 25 euros per night for a double room when rented for a week.

This is the price of a room in a guesthouse, relatively far from the sea. Moreover, the return journey will be uphill. The city offers hotels of varying star ratings.

You can rent a room in a hotel on the seafront. A double room at the 4-star Mistral Hotel is €90 during the season. However, these hotels are usually fully booked.

Nutrition

Balchik offers a wide selection of dining options. There are also many bars by the sea. You can also sit at one of the bars on the promenade with a view of the Palace.

Prices at a bar on the seafront. Snack vending machines can be found on the streets. Closer to the city center, at the top of the hill, there's a Lidl store.

What to see in Balchik?

Balchik is home to two of Bulgaria's 100 National Tourist Sites: the Botanical Garden and the Palace architectural and park complex. Along with these, Balchik boasts lesser-known but interesting tourist attractions, such as the History Museum and Art Gallery.

The most beautiful part of the palace is undoubtedly its gardens. They were created by the renowned Swiss gardener Jules Jani. Admission to the palace is charged, paid at a separate ticket office before entering the botanical garden. The cost for an adult is 3.50 euros. There are queues at the ticket office.

The Balchik Botanical Garden covers an area of approximately 6.5 hectares. The total number of plant species grown in the garden exceeds 2,500.
To enter the park, you will need to pay 6 euros per adult at the ticket office.

There is a small exhibition and fair on the embankment where you can try and buy honey-based products.

You can rent a boat, a motorboat or take a ride on a ship.

Advantages of the resort

Disadvantages of the resort

Conclusions

Balchik is suitable for those seeking a relaxing vacation in a small seaside town surrounded by attractions. We cannot recommend this resort primarily for those for whom the quality of the sea and the beach are their top priorities when choosing a vacation spot.

Have you been to Balchik and what did you like? Write in your comments.

Sea water temperature in Balchik by month

Weather in Balchik today

BALCHIK WEATHER

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