According to a2zgov.com, Balchik is a city on the Black Sea coast, northeast of Varna (42 km), 500 km from Sofia and 70 km from Romania. Balchik is the third largest port city in Bulgaria after Varna and Burgas. The bewitching architecture of the city – white, red, yellow houses, located in the form of an amphitheater, make Balchik especially attractive in spring and summer, at the time of rapid flowering.
How to get to Balchik
By bus from Sofia (travel time about 10 hours, fare 35-50 BGN). The central bus station of Balchik is located on Ribarski square (Cherno more street).
By plane from Sofia or Varna. From Varna to Balchik by taxi (30-40 BGN).
Hotels
Balchik attracts tourists not only with a variety of beach hotels of various categories, but also with rest houses, sanatoriums and boarding houses. The hotels of the resort are suitable for both health tourism and families with children.
Cuisine and restaurants
Many restaurants with European and national cuisine. You can taste dishes of Russian and Ukrainian cuisine at Vechernyaya Odessa restaurant. Koraba restaurant (Emonta St/ 2269 tel) is original in its design. The institution is made in the form of a ship, from the inside of which a beautiful view of the sea opens.
Entertainment and attractions of Balchik
The Historical Museum is located on the central square of the city. The museum has a rich collection of exhibits dating back to the era of the Roman Empire. The Ethnographic Museum of Balchik is located on the street. Dimitar Zhelev, in the house of Atanas Shterev, a wheat seller.
One of the bright sights of Balchik is the botanical garden and the residence of the Queen of Romania, Mary of Edinburgh (1921). By order of the queen, Italian designers created: a palace park and a chapel (based on the design of the Cretan labyrinth), a summer residence, 10 villas, alleys with millstones, earthenware jugs from Morocco, a castle with a minaret.
One of the most beautiful places is the Garden of Allah. The Silver Well, 200 species of trees, 3,000 species of exotic plants, 250 species of cacti, and a throne on the coast are the Queen’s favorite place, where she loved to watch the sunset so much. Among European parks, the botanical garden is second in size and wealth only to the park in Monaco.
No less interesting is the complex consisting of the buildings of the school and the Church of St. Nikola on Dimitar Zhelev, 3. Archaeological monuments of Balchik have been known since antiquity, one of the Greek colonies was located here.
A well-known balneological mud complex is located 5 km from the city in the Tuzlata region. Mineral and hydrothermal springs, firth healing mud, natural mud-salt lakes, hydrogen sulfide baths are far from a complete list of services, both therapeutic and preventive.
15 km from the city is the village of Obrochishte, famous for its Ottoman fort. The Dervish Monastery, which was built in the 16th century, is also located here. It is believed that St. Atanas is buried here. There are many entertainments in Balchik – a yacht club (60 yachts), a golf club (20 holes), nightclubs, bars, discos.
Events in Balchik
The city hosts many events:
May 24 is the day of the city;
Children’s Music Festival Usmivkite na Moreto (in June);
Balfest – International Documentary Film Festival (June 18-25);
In September, events are held in honor of Stefan Tsanev and Ivan Granitsky, prominent public figures in Bulgaria.
Prices on the page are for July 2021.
Borovets
Borovets (Borovets; aka Chamkoria) is the oldest and largest ski resort in Bulgaria, operating from November to May. At one time, this cozy town has already hosted the Alpine International Ski Cup twice.
Telephone code
8-10-359-2-phone number.
How to get to Borovets
Flight to Sofia, then transfer – an hour and a half (about 70 km); or flight to Plovdiv, then transfer for about two hours (130 km).
On your own, you can get from Sofia by bus or minibus from the bus station “South” (departure every half an hour), which follow to Samokov (one hour on the way). Every 15 minutes, minibuses start from Samokovo to Borovets, where they stop at the Samokov Hotel and go back to the city from the parking lot in front of the Ela Hotel.
On your own car: from Sofia you need to keep the course Gorublyany – Pancharevo – Samokov – Borovets. There should be no problems with parking at the resort, at the entrance there is a large guarded paid parking lot, free guarded ones for guests of the Rila and Samokov hotels, and everywhere you can stick it.
Borovets Hotels
Borovets offers its guests comfortable accommodation in hotels of different stars (from 2 * to 4 *), apartments, small cottages. From remote hotels, tourists are delivered to the ski lifts by free buses.
Ski tracks of Borovets
Borovets is conventionally divided into three ski areas: Sitnyakovo, Yastrebets and Markudzhika. Sitnyakovo is suitable for beginners and intermediate skiers, and is also suitable for training. There are sections for slalom and giant slalom. Yastrebets (1300-2369 m) is recommended for intermediate skiers, there is one “black” and three “red” slopes. The Markudzhik ski area (2208-2543 m) is for intermediate skiers: there are “blue” and “red” slopes.
In addition, in Borovets there are 20 km of cross-country ski runs in the area of the gondola lift, ski jumps for jumps 75 m and 50 m long, as well as good conditions for snowboarders (18 runs). And also: 12-kilometer “Musalenska pateka” track for beginners and intermediate skiers.
All lifts are open from 9:00 to 16:30. There is an evening track with a separate lift, which operates from 17:00 to 22:00.
Ski passes: one-day ticket costs 58 BGN from December to March, there is a half-day ski pass for 35-45 BGN. For a week of unlimited skiing, they ask for 340 BGN.
Entertainment and attractions of Borovets
Popular excursions: seven Rila lakes (excursion with or without skis, accompanied by an experienced guide), Malyovitsa peak, Musala peak, photo safari, royal residence in Bistrica, Rila Monastery, trips to the cities of Plovdiv, Sofia and Melnik.
Lots of restaurants, bars, discos, nightclubs and cafes. Sleigh rides, panoramic helicopter tours, evenings of Bulgarian folklore, wine tasting and original dishes of the Bulgarian national cuisine, “ski carnivals”.
