Summer is the time for school holidays, and families often use this time for a joint vacation. Parents think and children dream of the sea and sun. When choosing a country that offers a beach vacation, consider Bulgaria. Visiting Bulgaria expands the geography of travel without compromising on cost, quality, or services.
When to Go to Bulgaria with Children
All Bulgarian summer resorts are located on the Black Sea coast. The beaches are mostly sandy with gradual, gentle slopes into the sea, ensuring safe water activities for children. During the hottest summer period, from mid-July to the end of August, the shallow waters of Bulgarian resorts warm up so much that even the youngest tourists can swim until late evening.
Hotels in Bulgaria
Many Bulgarian hotels have adopted the “All Inclusive” system, which is convenient for vacationers. Bulgarian service surpasses Turkish and Egyptian counterparts by offering full-quality children’s meals. Parents on vacation are relieved of the worry of feeding their beloved children.
The “buffet” in Bulgaria offers a wide selection of dishes to suit all tastes, and among non-alcoholic drinks are genuinely natural juices, rather than powdered substitutes. Bulgarian hotels continue to offer tourists options such as breakfast only, half-board, or full board.
This is convenient for those who do not want to be tied to the hotel for meals. Dining out is possible everywhere and at affordable prices. Cafes, taverns, and seafood restaurants are found at every turn. Each establishment’s chef delights guests with national cuisine dishes prepared according to their own signature recipes.
Advantages of Vacationing in Bulgaria
Along the entire Black Sea coast of Bulgaria, near the resorts, there are water parks equipped to European standards: Action (Sunny Beach), Aqua Paradise (Nessebar), Aqua Planet (Primorsko), Aqua Land (Plovdiv), Waterland (Kazanlak), AquaPolis (Golden Sands).
You can spend a summer family vacation at one of Bulgaria’s resorts while benefiting your health. Many resorts are located in nature parks and national reserves. The clean forest air combined with the ionized sea air creates a healthy atmosphere. Breathing here is easy.
Near the resorts are mineral springs, whose waters are piped directly to the coast. Vacationers can alternate swimming in the sea with rinsing in mineral waters.
Spas and clinics offer health programs for children and adults. The distances between Black Sea resorts are small, and regular bus services operate between cities.
Using public transport for economy, you can move from resort to resort in search of new entertainment or to visit ancient towns along the coast. You can spend a vacation in Bulgaria comfortably.
Popular Resorts in Bulgaria
Albena
The Bulgarian Black Sea resort Albena is entirely designed for family vacations with children. It boasts unique natural landscapes and a modern tourist infrastructure. Albena’s coastline is so vast that it seems endless. The clean sea and sandy beaches are marked with the “Blue Flag.” The gentle slope into the sea is convenient for vacations even with the smallest children.
Albena is a true children’s paradise. Along the entire coastline, numerous and diverse playgrounds are equipped with inflatable slides, water attractions set right on the sea surface. Entertainment programs are organized and conducted, involving both children and their parents.
A cheerful train runs along the resort, offering rides along Albena’s coast. Active sports enthusiasts often rent bicycles, allowing the whole family to ride around the city and along the sea on specially equipped bike paths.
The resort borders the Baltata Nature Reserve, which all vacationers visit. A boat ride through the liana forest, with cascading waterfalls that children love to splash in, is a delightful experience. Boat trips often pass near Cape Kaliakra, where dolphins are found.
Friendly sea animals escort yachts with tourists, bringing children genuine joy. Beach vacations in Albena can be diversified with cultural and historical programs, visiting the nearby ancient town of Balchik, the ancient Arat-Teke Monastery, and the botanical garden with the unusual Queen Marie’s palace. Such trips broaden children’s horizons and bring spiritual satisfaction to adults.
Golden Sands
Golden Sands, located in a nature park of the same name, is considered the most elite resort in the country by tourists and Bulgarians alike. Despite high attendance, the complex is consistently awarded the “Blue Flag.” The clean sea, sandy beaches, and shallow waters make vacations with children comfortable.
Golden Sands’ beach area is not as extensive and wide as Albena’s but is surrounded by dense forests. The resort life here is very active, attracting many young people with numerous discos, bars, cafes, restaurants, and casinos. Everywhere you hear lively music.
In the city center, entertainment venues are so close together that the streets have a real buzz that infiltrates hotel rooms. Despite the noisy atmosphere, children enjoy the resort because, in addition to swimming in the sea or hotel pools and traditional water activities on the beach, there is the “Aquapolis” water park. A quiet spot can still be found by choosing a hotel on the city’s outskirts.
Sunny Beach
Sunny Beach surpasses Golden Sands in size but not in noise. It is particularly popular with European youth, who party to the fullest. There are over a hundred bars, clubs, and discos for party lovers. Their leisure time is in the evenings and nights.
Many return to their hotel rooms only in the early morning. During the morning and day, life in the city is quiet and calm, with the main concentration of tourists on the beach, where all kinds of entertainment are offered.
Despite the noisy environment, Sunny Beach attracts tourists with children because of the “Action” water park, the largest in Bulgaria. Many vacationers leave Sunny Beach to visit the ancient city of Nessebar, just a two-kilometer walk away.
Obzor
Obzor is a great place for vacations with children, with a quiet, peaceful atmosphere. The resort has picturesque nature, with the Stara Planina mountain range descending to the sea, covered with pine forests. The air is crystal clear, and the sea is shallow.
A narrow strip of sandy beach features a children’s health complex “Obzor,” which operates like a camp, but family vacationers can send their children there during the day. Experienced caregivers supervise the children all day long. The children enjoy socializing with new friends.
Obzor is somewhat secluded from civilization, far from other resorts. While exploring the coast is possible, it requires a long journey on narrow mountain roads. Usually, vacationers stay within the resort.
For children’s entertainment, the city has the “Castle” entertainment center, designed like a castle, located right on the beach with numerous playgrounds for all ages. Popular attractions include water slides that kids descend directly into the sea. The resort’s atmosphere encourages a quiet, leisurely vacation, with good service at affordable prices.
Best Time to Visit
The best time to visit Bulgarian resorts with children is from mid-July to the end of August. During this period, the shallow waters warm up so much that even the youngest tourists can enjoy swimming until late evening.
Conclusion
A summer vacation in Bulgaria with children is an excellent choice for parents. The country offers a variety of beach resorts with modern amenities, safe swimming conditions, and numerous entertainment options for children. Whether you choose Albena, Golden Sands, Sunny Beach, or Obzor, you are sure to have a memorable and enjoyable family vacation.
