Move Over Spain! This European Beach Destination Is Cheaper & Less Crowded
Everyone knows Spain for its scenic Mediterranean coast, interspersed with vibrant resort cities and hugged by crystal-clear seas, however in case you’ve been to the Iberian nation prior to now three or 4 years, you’ve got in all probability seen how shockingly costly and busy it is turn into.
From a median overnight rate of $201 in Barcelona to unsustainable ranges of overtourism within the fashionable trip island of Mallorca, the place anti-tourist sentiment has been dangerously brewing, we would not be the primary in line to board that flight.
Fortunately, there’s an thrilling Spain dupe tucked away within the way more offbeat, lesser-known Southeastern nook of Europe inflicting fairly the commotion these days, and if we should add, it is way cheaper and fewer crowded:
Bulgaria Is All The Rage This Yr!
Once you consider Bulgaria, you in all probability conjure up photos of wintry landscapes, Soviet-style concrete blocks, and Orthodox piousness.
Whereas there’s some reality to that, one thing most individuals do not know is that it turns right into a summer season paradise within the hotter months.
Had been you even conscious that Bulgaria’s shoreline on the Black Sea extends for an uninterrupted 235 miles and is lined with quaint seashore cities that simply could not be additional aside from the stereotypical grayed-out, war-torn model of Jap Europe?
Or that, as an illustration, it is about as heat because the Mediterranean, if not hotter?
We child you not:
Some cities alongside the coast have a median each day most of 84.2°F and lows of 66.2°F, and in case you’re pondering whether or not to pack an additional jumper or two ‘simply in case’ it will get chilly, child, you higher save house in your carry-on for some extra swim shorts as a substitute.
To not brag, however no different journey information web site stays on prime of journey traits like Journey Off Path, and we reported a few years in the past on how the Black Sea is a new Mediterranean in the making, and we’re glad to see others are lastly catching on:
Why This Lesser-Identified Nation Is So Fashionable Proper Now
- It is cheaper
- It is stunning
- It is not as crowded
This yr, The New York Times featured this a part of the world in their listing of ‘greatest locations to journey’ in 2025, whereas CEO for Europe-based journey company TUI was recorded stating Bulgaria ‘might rival vacation hotspots akin to Mallory and Menorca’ in summer season.
Newcomers are additionally taking to social media in droves to showcase Bulgaria’s magnificence: on TikTok alone, the hashtag #bulgaria alone has racked up over 2.5 million posts.
Customers will share their captures of sandy seashores, sleepy coastal villages that appear frozen in time, and beautiful nature but to fulfill the spoils of mass tourism.
A number of the hottest TikTok’s, nonetheless, consult with Bulgaria’s affordability as a seashore vacation spot, in comparison with Spain, Italy or Greece.
This submit by TikTok person @heroiisa specifically highlights Varna as an affordable summer season getaway, the place lodging costs vary from solely $8 to $30-a-night, meals value between $5 and $12 in native eating places, and the seashores look untarnished, with crystal-clear waters:
@heroiisa BUDGET TRAVEL GUIDE TO VARNA, BULGARIA✈️ Varna is among the greatest locations to go to if you find yourself younger and on a funds!✨ All costs are in USD and primarily based on a sensible funds for BUDGET vacationers in Varna, Bulgaria💸 🏨Lodging: $8 to $30/night time per particular person in case you keep in a hostel dorm or share an condo or a double room in an inexpensive guesthouse/lodge with somebody. This will depend on the season, the decrease finish of the costs is for shoulder season (April-June or September-October) and the upper finish for prime season (July-August). 🍛Meals: there are many choices for $5 to $12/meal. When you cook dinner, you are able to do it even cheaper than this! ☀️Actions: $0-20 relying on what you wish to do! I didn’t spend a lot cash on actions in Varna as a result of there are numerous free issues to do however there are additionally some paid actions you are able to do relying in your funds. 🚌Getting there: You may get to Varna by bus or practice from different widespread Bulgarian locations and cities like Sofia, Burgas, or Plovdiv. Bus and practice tickets rely upon the route however are often very reasonably priced ($2-12). ✈️Flights: On the subject of flights, you possibly can fly into Burgas, Sofia, Plovdiv, or Varna from many European cities with Ryanair or Wizz Air after which take public transportation to Varna. It’s additionally an choice to fly some place else within the Balkans and take public transportation from there you probably have time for an extended journey.
That is an account by a single traveler, however Budget Your Trip, our personal most popular platform for monitoring costs throughout totally different international locations, corroborates that Bulgaria is certainly on the cheaper finish in terms of summer season locations.
Extra particularly, vacationers will spend a median $27 on meals per day, until they’re touring luxuriously (in that case, they need to funds $73), and $72 on inns, for complete week-long journey bills of $1,076 for 2 individuals (or the equal in Bulgarian lev).
The place To Go In Bulgaria In Summer season?
- Sunny Seashore
- Nessebar
- Varna
- Burgas
- Sveti Vlas
There are numerous world-class locations to select from in case you’re skipping Spain and heading to Bulgaria this yr.
If you search Outdated World attraction and tradition, go to the picture-perfect, cobbled Nessebar. This walled metropolis occupies the tip of a slim peninsula and has a wealthy historical past courting again a number of millennia and comprising durations of Thracian, Greek, and Roman rule.
Its ensemble of Byzantine church buildings and fortifications are a UNESCO World Heritage Web site, and the hotel-lined South Seashore, a brief drive from the Outdated City, has been awarded Blue Flag standing, owing it to its cleanliness.
Searching for a conventional seashore getaway as a substitute, Mallorca-style?
Sunny Seashore will not be an island, although it’s, because the identify signifies, a sun-drenched resort growth unfolding alongside an azure Black Sea filled with seashore bars, the place beer prices as low-cost as $2, and a waterfront 3-star Hotel Zaara will solely set you again by $35-a-night.
Eager on an all-inclusive deal as a substitute?
HI Hotels Imperial Resort has nightly charges from a shockingly reasonably priced $80 this June, all meals included, and entry to all resort areas, together with the pool and health heart.
We’re not going to mislead you: Sunny Seashore can get a bit crowded in summer season, not resulting from an inflow of international vacationers however resulting from its recognition with Bulgarians (and the neighboring Romanians) themselves. So, for some peace and quiet and extra exclusivity, there’s Sveti Vlas to the northeast.
A laid-back yacht marina boasting a plethora of eating choices, and a number of other lengthy miles of untouched advantageous, golden sands, it has 5-star inns from $66 per night time––try the Garden of Eden Complex.
For a metropolis break, our prime picks are Burgas and Varna, the biggest conurbations on the Bulgarian coast, and two bustling Black Sea ports well-known for his or her historic heritage––even the Starbucks in Varna is constructed on prime of Roman relics!––and thriving nightlife.
They’re additionally the gateway to the coast, internet hosting low-cost flights from quite a few European locations within the excessive season, beginning in Could.
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