Sunny Beach, Bulgaria 2021 – Pros and Cons: Prices, Beaches, and Accommodation

Hello everyone. Are you interested in a vacation at Sunny Beach in Bulgaria in 2021? How do you get there? What accommodations should you choose? How much does it cost?
This is our second time visiting Sunny Beach this year. The first time, in June, there were very few people, and almost nothing was open. But in July, there are people, and almost everything is open.
General information
Sunny Beach isn't the most historic resort in Bulgaria. But it's certainly the most popular and largest. The first hotel in Sunny Beach opened in 1959. Sunny Beach, lush and moderately developed just 20 years ago, is a preferred destination for family vacations.

Lots of photos

Today, it's a different story entirely—the densely populated Sunny Beach has become a party destination for young people from all over Europe who come here to spend their summer holidays, which lasts from June to the end of September. 

Location of Sunny Beach

The Sunny Beach resort is located on the shore of a bay, forming a semicircle. The beach at Sunny Beach stretches for 8 km and is part of the city. Nessebar. To the south, Sunny Beach merged with Nessebar, and to the north with Sveti Vlas. You can order an individual transfer to Sunny Beach. here.

Sunny Beach Climate

Sunny Beach enjoys a humid subtropical climate, mild and pleasant, without the unpleasant heat peaks of Mediterranean resorts. Sunny Beach truly lives up to its name: from May to October, it averages approximately 1,700 hours of sunshine. The average annual temperature is approximately 14°C. July sees the most sunshine hours, with 356. The average sea temperature in May is 18°C, rising to 24°C in June, and the warmest in August, at 27°C.  

Transportation

The nearest airports are: Burgas (about 35 km) and Varna (approximately 100 km), and the journey from the latter is on a two-lane road through a mountain pass. Therefore, during the summer months, this route can be congested. The journey can take up to three hours by car. The Burgas-Pomorie-Nesebar-Sunny Beach route is mostly four-lane. Regular bus service to all major Bulgarian cities is provided by the bus station (Avtogara), located near the city center. 

Buses to Burgas (travel time is approximately 30 minutes) depart every half hour and are offered by several companies. During the summer, buses also depart hourly to Sofia (travel time is approximately four hours) and Plovdiv (Travel time is approximately 2.5 hours). Bus tickets from Burgas to Sunny Beach cost around 7 leva. You can save almost half the price by taking a bus from Sofia, which will cost you half the price, 3.58 leva. Buy the cheapest bus tickets. You can do it here.

Prices for intercity tickets:

Sunny Beach - Overview	7 lev
Sunny Beach - Varna	11 lev
Sunny Beach - Nessebar	1.50 lev

The resort is not connected to the Bulgarian railway network. 

Sunny Beach Beach

The entry into the sea is gentle, making it suitable for children. The sand is clean and fine.

The beach is up to 100 meters wide in places. The water quality and beach maintenance are excellent. The Sunny Beach resort itself was designed with the latest water treatment technologies in mind.

For this reason, the Blue Flag environmental award has been flying high on the beaches of Sunny Beach for many years. However, due to heavy and prolonged rainfall, as seen in the video, the water isn't as clear as usual. All three beaches—North, Central, and South—received the prestigious international Blue Flag environmental award this year. Authorities say there will be at least 4.5 meters between umbrellas this season. Prices for umbrellas and sun loungers vary slightly from beach to beach, typically around 1 euro.

Accommodation

Sunny Beach hotels on the map:

What about accommodations and hotels? The choice is vast, from ultra-economy to five-star. Accommodation prices start at €18 per night for a double room when booking a week in high season. Prices start at €20 per night for a double room in a 3-star hotel when booking a week in high season. And from €42 per night for a double room in a hotel with breakfast, lunch, and dinner (full board). If you choose only breakfast and dinner, the price is even lower. However, hotels on the seafront will be significantly more expensive.

Nutrition

Sunny Beach has a wide variety of dining options. Many cafes and clubs are located right on the beach. Some hotels offer full board or buffet meals. If you prefer to take your own meals, you can buy groceries in small shops or larger ones, such as Grandmarket Janet and the recently opened Lidl.

These stores offer a unique selection: Janet offers an interesting selection, similar to stores in Russia and Ukraine, and surprisingly low prices. Lidl is a German grocery chain with a unique selection and low prices, comparable to those in Bulgaria.

Sunny Beach infrastructure and entertainment. 

Sunny Beach has two modern water parks. The closest one is called Action, and the one further away is called Nessebar.

It's difficult to choose a favorite water park, as competition between water parks means they add new attractions every year before the season starts to attract customers. Both water parks have free shuttle buses running every 20 minutes (water park price applies). The bus stops are marked with special information signs, which provide information about the bus schedules for the water parks. In the very center of the resort, there's Luna Park, with rides that are generally closed during the day and open in the evening, with official opening hours from 5 PM to midnight. A full range of water attractions awaits you at Sunny Beach. A boat departs from this pier for the trip to Nessebar. 

The resort operates mini-trains that travel along designated routes. Bicycles, electric bikes, electric scooters, and electric Hummers are available for rent.

If you'd like to rent a car, there are numerous rental companies at the resort. Prices for 2020 cars start at €17 per day for a 5-day rental. Tennis and mini-golf are also available.

Right in the center, there's the Erma Spa Turkish baths, where you can book a full program or individual treatments. This year, we also saw a new offering: FISH – a foot spa peeling with FISH.

For those who enjoy driving cars, there's a go-kart club with its own track. It's located next to the main road, where you'll see a plane like this. Paintball is also offered.

There's a shooting club with a clay pigeon shooting range. Sunny Beach also has an equestrian club.

Numerous excursions are available directly from Sunny Beach. Here are some of the highlights: a 4-hour catamaran cruise; a picnic on a yacht; a visit to Balchik and Cape Kaliakra; a tour of the Bulgarian Riviera – Varna and Aladzha; a trip to Ravadinovo Castle, near Sozopol, suitable for children; a visit to the village of Zheravna, an architectural reserve that has preserved numerous architectural ensembles from the 18th and 19th centuries; an ATV safari; a private shopping tour to Burgas; diving; and deep-sea fishing.

The main attraction for tourists is the nearby historic town of Nessebar, which was founded more than 3,200 years ago.

The town of Nesebar is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. You can get there by bus (1.50 leva), a small electric train, or a boat departing from the main pier in Sunny Beach.

Sunny Beach also hosts events such as the "Decade of Symphonic Music," part of the International Folklore Festival, fashion shows, and various beach competitions. The Golden Orpheus Song Contest was held here until 1999.

The Pros of Sunny Beach

Cons of Sunny Beach

If you've been to Sunny Beach and what you liked or disliked, please let me know in your comments.

Sea water temperature in Sunny Beach by month

Today's Weather in Sunny Beach

SUNNY BEACH WEATHER

Video version of the article:

Bulgaria's Seaside Resorts on the Map   Winter Resorts in Bulgaria on the Map    SPA Resorts in Bulgaria on the Map    All of Bulgaria's Beaches on a Map  Nearest Airports in Bulgaria on the Map  Sunny Beach Photos Sunny Beach — What to See? Sunny Beach Map