The largest beach resort on Bulgaria’s Black Sea Coast, Sunny Beach is renowned for its spacious strip of sand and pulsing nightlife. Boasting a number of thrilling water parks and fascinating wreck dive sites, Sunny Beach is also on the doorstep of historic Nessebar.

Things to do

Sunny Beach’s five-kilometre-long stretch of sand is its main draw, with plenty of beach umbrellas and chairs for rent. Test your skills on a water scooter, get a bird’s-eye view while parasailing or cool off in clear waters ideal for swimming.

If you’re travelling with kids, let them run loose at Action Aqua Park, which boasts a range of pools, a lazy river and a miniature zoo. Alternatively, head to nearby Aqua Park to experience its adventurous water slides and pool areas catering to all ages.

Want to go diving in the Black Sea? Sunny Beach is home to a number of dive shops that organise day trips and scuba diving courses. Explore the merchant vessels, warships and submarines that litter the seafloor while getting up close to dog sharks, black bottlenose dolphins and seahorses.

Just to the south of Sunny Beach is the ancient town of Nessebar, whose cobblestone streets feature Byzantine-era fortifications and the ruins of the 5th-century Church of St. Sofia. Admire the mural paintings within the 11th-century Church of St. Stephen and peruse the artefacts and iconography on display at the Nessebar Archaeological Museum.

Getting around

Burgas Airport is a 30-minute drive from Sunny Beach and regular buses make the journey along the Black Sea Coast. The resort is easily explored on foot or you can rent electric scooters, bikes and Segways in Sunny Beach.