The city of Sozopol is located in a picturesque bay on the south coast of Bulgaria, about 35 kilometers south of Burgas. Among other things, holidaymakers have the opportunity to drive through the bay to see the city from the water. The peninsula and the small bay were discovered by the Greeks about 2,600 years ago. They settled there and founded a new city, which they named “Apollonia” after the god Apollo. He was considered the protector of the arts. In addition, the city reflected the spirit of democracy that prevailed in Greece at the time. Sozopol was a very influential and important place in ancient times. There was even its own currency. An anchor was depicted on the Sozopol coin. Later, the city was in the hands of various powers that left their mark on the streets of the old town.
The beautiful old town offers visitors and locals a romantic atmosphere
Sozopol, with its 5,000 inhabitants, is one of the oldest and most popular seaside resorts on the Bulgarian Black Sea coast. Its beautiful old town attracts holidaymakers from all over the world. Walking through the historic center, visitors stroll along the cobbled streets, past respectable old houses. You will see numerous remains from the Roman, Byzantine and Ottoman Empires. The old town is rightly known for its romantic charm. The large, dark wooden houses that are so characteristic of Sozopol were built between the end of the century 18th and beginning of the 19th century. The majority of the houses are now
Converted into family hotels.
The modern Sozopol of today
In addition to the romantic atmosphere of the “Old World”, Sozopol offers two beautiful beaches and numerous cafes, boutiques and galleries. The city has long since reacted to the influx of tourists in the high season. There are plenty of parking spaces in front of the entrance to the Old Town. The new and modern part of Sozopol is full of hotels and restaurants. The range of accommodation is varied and ranges from luxury hotels to guesthouses and small bungalows. There are also some campsites in the immediate vicinity. These include: Gradina, Zlatna Ribka, Kavatsi, Veselie and some others. In the city’s restaurants, visitors are spoiled with a variety of specialties at typical Bulgarian Black Sea prices. It is especially worthwhile to enjoy the specialties of the Black Sea in a family restaurant.
There is plenty to do in and around the city
Holidaymakers have the opportunity to enjoy the medieval-looking Ravadinovo Castle with its towers. The imposing castle is located about eight kilometers from Sozopol and seems to have sprung from a fairy tale book. It is covered with ivy in many places and has a beautiful large garden, with bridges and ponds. In an underground room there is an art gallery where many old paintings can be seen. On top of that, visitors will find one of the most important cultural monuments of Sozopol in the old town. It is the Church of the Blessed Virgin “Sveta Bogoroditsa”. It has been included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. The church from the Ottoman period is built on a wooden structure and decorated with beautiful wooden icons. On top of that, every September there is the big “Apollonia Art and Film Festival” in the city. After that, various cultural activities such as dance performances and art exhibitions take place. People dance to the music that is played everywhere in the center.
Water activities: boating, fishing, snorkeling and deep-sea diving
Water sports enthusiasts also have the opportunity to enjoy the beautiful underwater world while snorkeling and deep-sea diving. The town’s beaches offer plenty of activities, including jet skiing, surfing, beach volleyball, boating, and fishing. There are numerous water sports providers where guests can book a diving or snorkeling trip. In the Ropotamo nature reserve, south of Sozopol, holidaymakers can take boat trips on the river and observe numerous birds and plants of the area.
Weather in Sozopol
Since Sozopol is located on the Black Sea, there is always a cooling breeze from the sea in summer. In the warm months, the average temperatures are between 25 and 27 degrees Celsius. The average seawater temperature is 24 to 26 degrees. In July, there are about eleven hours of sunshine per day. Most precipitation generally falls in April and November. In winter, temperatures drop to freezing.
Holidays in Sozopol: the most important information
Journey
- Airport: Burgas Airport (BOJ), about 45 km north of Sozopol. Regular bus and taxi services take travelers to Sozopol.
- Bus: Long-distance buses from larger cities such as Sofia and Plovdiv run regularly to Burgas, from there there are local buses to Sozopol.
- Car: Good road connections along the Black Sea coast make Sozopol easily accessible.
Important telephone numbers
- Emergency: 112
- Police: +359 550 22222
- Fire Department: +359 550 33333
- Ambulance: +359 550 44444
- Sozopol Tourist Information: +359 550 25797
Supermarkets
- Lidl: Vasil Levski Blvd., Sozopol
- Billa: Industrial Area 1, Sozopol
- T-Market: Republikanska St., Sozopol
- Janet: Sozopol (a local supermarket with a wide range of products)
Doctors and hospitals
- Medical Center Sozopol: Republikanska St., +359 550 22222
- Medica ALPHA Clinic: Morski Skali St., +359 550 22203
- Burgas Hospital: The nearest larger hospital, about 45 km away, +359 56 810 120
Important words with translation
- Hello – Здравейте (Zdraveyte)
- Thank you – Благодаря (Blagodarya)
- Please – Моля (Molya)
- Yes – Да (Da)
- No – Не (Ne)
- Sorry – Извинете (Izvinete)
- Where is…? – Къде е…? (Kade e…?)
- How much does it cost…? – Колко струва…? (Kolko struva…?)
- Emergency – Спешен случай (Speshen sluchay)
- Doctor – Лекар (Lekar)
- Hospital – Болница (Bolnitsa)
Holidays
- New Year’s Day: January 1
- National holiday: March 3
- Easter: variable (March/April)
- Labour Day: 1 May
- Saints Cyril and Methodius: May 24
- Independence Day: 22 September
- Christmas: December 25
Opening hours
- Shops: Usually Monday to Saturday from 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., Sunday often shorter opening hours.
- Supermarkets: Usually daily from 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.
- Restaurants: Lunch from 12:00 to 15:00, dinner from 18:00 to 22:00.
- Banks: Monday to Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Things to see and do
- Old Town of Sozopol: Explore the cobbled streets, old wooden houses and historic churches.
- Archaeological Museum: Shows artifacts from the ancient and medieval history of Sozopol.
- Ravadinovo Castle: A fairytale castle near Sozopol.
- Beaches: Central city beach, Harmani beach and the surrounding beaches such as Kavatsite offer ideal places to relax and swim.
- Sozopol Art Festival “Apollonia”: An annual festival that celebrates art, music and culture.
NUDISM
- Nudist beaches: The nudist beach of Kavatsite is popular with nudists and offers a relaxed atmosphere.
Post / Stamps
- Sozopol Post Office: Miletus St. 11, Sozopol. Opening hours: Monday to Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
- Stamps: Available at the post office and in some kiosks and supermarkets.
- Costs for letters and postcards to Germany: Standard letter up to 20g: approx. 1.50 BGN; Postcard: approx. 1.20 BGN
Safety
- Crime: Sozopol is considered very safe. Observe the usual precautions as in any tourist city.
- Emergency number: 112
Current
- Voltage: 230 volts
- Sockets: Type C and F (as in Germany)
Tip
- Restaurants: 5-10% of the invoice amount
- Taxis: Round up the amount
- Hotels: 1-2 BGN per day for cleaning staff
Customs
- Allowances within the EU: No customs restrictions on personal belongings.
- Alcohol: Maximum 10 liters of spirits, 20 liters of alcoholic beverages with less than 22%, 90 liters of wine, 110 liters of beer.
- Tobacco: 800 cigarettes, 400 cigarillos, 200 cigars, 1 kg of tobacco.
