Things to Do in Sozopol – Bulgaria

The Black Sea isn’t the body of water that first comes in mind when planning a sunbathing vacation, but if you are daring enough to explore the less popular destinations, I will show you an unforgettable place. Sozopol is an ancient town on the Bulgarian Black Sea coast,  just 35 km from Burgas. If you are the type of tourists that isn’t after just for the sunbathing part of a vacation, but also for discovering local history and cuisine, this is the place to go to. This is not exactly a travel guide, but an article that shows you the most interesting places to visit in this amazing coast ancient city.

The old town is perfectly preserved and consists of several narrow streets, each having its thematic purpose: the food street, the souvenir street, the art street and the street with institutions (post office, banks, taxis, etc). The town also features a beautiful marina where you can rent small boats, windsurf boards or you can book a parasailing session. Sky-jets are also available, as well as a sea tour with a pirate ship. Have I told you that everything comes at extreme affordable prices? What are you waiting for… let’s go and see top things you can do in Sozopol!

The Hotels

You can choose from a wide range of hotels, starting with 3 up to 5 stars, each featuring a great accommodation experience. The personnel is friendly and they have a decent knowledge of English, German and Russian languages. Most hotels feature free parking spaces that have camera surveillance. In addition, you can also find campings that are mostly preferred by students.

The busiest type of the year in Sozopol is from June to September so make sure you book a nice hotel ahead of time. The prices range from 100 euros to 300 euros per night, but my personal recommendation is to go for the 4 start hotels in the new part of the city, where you can find amazing resorts for 125 euros per night (breakfast included).

The Cuisine

I recommend you to skip the all inclusive offers because the old town hosts some brilliant restaurants with breathtaking view on the sea. In this manner, you can taste the local cuisine which is an interesting blend of Blakan and Meditertranean dishes.

Most restaurants are located in restored old buildings that are decorated will great taste. I really loved the ones that feature traditional tableware; such a joy to experience the colors and local motifs.

Make sure you order seafood and fish, because they taste great and all fresh. Expect to pay 50 euros for a 2 person lunch. If you like meat you won’t be disappointing either. The vegetarians has a wide range of dishes to choose from. I personally recommend you the traditional bread and the seafood.

If you like Italian cuisine, you will find a few restaurants that have amazing pizza that is made with Italian ingredients in a really nice brick oven. If you look carefully, you will find some restaurants that are specialized in Asian cuisine.

The Old Town

Sozopol has preserved most of the old building, making it a great place to visit and to uncover the way things used to be a few hundred years ago. I really loved the narrowed streets, the stone paving, as well as the identical tile roofs. Everything fits together perfectly, although there are more architectural styles. You will find the city as being really clean and the people polite and nice to talk to.

Sozopol has a beautiful harbor that is such a joy to watch. Near the marina you will find a parking lot where you can leave your car for 1 euro every hour. I don’t recommend you to leave your car in other places than parking lots, because they are very strict.

You will find ruins of old fortifications and buildings dating from middle age. They are really nice and very well maintained. They blend beautifully with the rest of the buildings, adding a romantic air to the already mystical city.

There are many many souvenir shops in Sozopol so make sure you buy a few items for the loved ones. You can choose from the well known Bulgarian rose products (cosmetics, jams, drinks), handmade jewelry, magnets, ceramics and even wooden boxes. The gift shops are spread evenly all over Sozopol, so it is hard to miss them.

Wandering through the streets of Sozopol has a therapeutic effect on you, as it is both pleasurable for the eyes and for the ears. You can hear the sea waves almost from every location in Sozopol, especially at night when everything slows down and time drips minute by minute creating life lasting memories.

The Beach

If you want to sunbath, you won’t be disappointed. Sozopol has many beaches that clean and offer everything you need for a comfortable leisure time (umbrellas, chaise lounges). You can have a pair of chaise lounges with an umbrella for 10 euros a day. The water is clean and usually warm, so you can take a bath or do water sports. You can rent skyjets or even a kite for parasailing.

If you are creative, you can put our imagination to good use and make a sandcastle. You have plenty of space for that, as well as materials: sand, shells and water. You can improvise and use plastic glasses for the watch towers. I can tell you I had a lot of fun making this castle!

The music isn’t loud so you can relax and enjoy the sun rays. This is a perfect destination for families because this is not a fast paced resort, but one that is really friendly and quiet. You will also be safe swimming, because all beaches has trained lifeguards to watch you.

Ravadinovo Castle

If you really want to make the most of your trip to Sozopol, you can’t miss the Ravadinovo castle. This is one of the most interesting castles you can visit in the world, even if it doesn’t have any historical value. The castle is the recent work of a man which evolved into a theme park. The access fee is 10 euros for adults and free for kids under 7. You can take as many pictures as you like for free. This is a perfect place for a cool photo session, so don’t forget to bring the DSLR camera with you.

The tradition of the castle is to take a pic with the King and once you end your tour you can purchase the picture in exchange of a small amount of money. That is really a great marketing idea! The castle doesn’t have a singular style in which is built, but it’s rather a mix of inspiration pieces taken from other places.

The estate features lovely gardens with colorful plans and lots of animals. You will love the winding paths that carry you from place worth visiting to another. The castle has several restaurants so you can enjoy a piece of cake under the shade of an old tree, while admiring the distinct beauty of the estate. The kids will most likely enjoy the wild goose and the horses.

Old Doors and Windows of Sozopol

I like to hunt for old doors and windows every time I visit a new place, therefore I took a few pictures for you to see the architectural treasure of this old city. At every step you take there is a hidden or obvious gem, so if you are an architecture lover, this place won’t let you down. The wood is used extensively for the doors, gates and windows, all in the same local traditional style. The contrast between the stone walls and the wooden elements of the houses is so pleasant to watch.

This small city is a lot of fun to visit because it combines the convenience of nice beaches and great hotels, with a really old town that holds some architectural treasures. You will find the mysterious air of the glorious past wandering down the small stone paved streets, in search for new tourists to cast its spell on!

Thank you for checking out my article on Things to Do in Sozopol and I hope you’ve found it useful to read. You can see more travel suggestions HERE. In addition, please take a look over my woodworking projects HERE, if you are looking for some building inspiration.

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