Golden Sands is the most popular resort in Bulgaria and one of the oldest. Construction began in 1956, and Soviet basketball players were its first guests. Then tourists from neighboring Czechoslovakia began to arrive: they were not ready to let them into the Adriatic, but Bulgaria approached. Since 1963, the resort began to receive guests from Western Europe.
The settlement is located on the territory, which since 1943 has had the status of the natural reserve "Golden Sands", and borders on another reserve - "Baltata", which was formed in 1963. Ecological trails and observation platforms are laid along their territories. If you want to look at the subtropical coniferous forest - you should go to Golden Sands, if you want to see the swampy floodplain forests where many waterfowl nest - then to the north, to Baltata. In addition, there is a unique rock monastery Aladzha nearby - the main attraction of the northern coast of Bulgaria.
Golden Sands is a large resort where everyone will find something of their own. There are quiet streets and noisy embankments, where music does not stop until the morning, there are inexpensive apartments, and there are five-star hotels operating on the "all inclusive" system.
With the beaches here the situation is, as elsewhere in Bulgaria: sun loungers and umbrellas are paid. There are not very large free zones where you can settle down with your umbrellas, as a rule, they are opposite to not the best areas of the seabed. Lifeguards are on duty on the beach, there are many pools with water activities, and in the center of the resort there is a picturesque port with yachts.
Areas of Golden Sands
Several suburban settlements adjoin Golden Sands, so the resort can be rather conditionally divided into the following zones:
- Kranevo.
- North Beach.
- Central beach.
- South Beach.
- Gull.
- Baba Alino.
Kranevo
Quiet resort village between Golden Sands and Albena. It is focused on a relaxing family vacation: there are no noisy entertainment and night discos here. But here it is much cheaper than in the neighboring promoted Albena.
Accommodation in Kranevo is mostly 2-3 star, very basic. There are quite a few hotels located in the interior of the city, on the second or third line, there are few of them on the first. At the same time, in essence, everything a tourist needs is here: a rose cosmetics store, a small vegetable market, a large supermarket, and many restaurants with Bulgarian cuisine, and you can get to Golden Sands or Balchik by bus. So this is an ideal place for a quiet, unassuming holiday at the sea: the beach here, as elsewhere in Bulgaria, is wide, sandy and free, there is infrastructure on it, there is also entertainment.
The village is located on the hills, the upper streets offer beautiful views of the sea and the coast, and food in the "upper" restaurants costs just a penny. Of the sights - a small church, built recently. Between Kranevo and Albena lies the green area of the natural reserve "Baltata", which has several ecological paths and walking routes.
Kranevo is an ideal choice for those who need an inexpensive and quiet vacation by the sea in a beautiful green place.
North beach
The quietest and greenest part of the resort, behind the pier. The beach here is not wide, there are not as many water activities as in the center, but it is much more comfortable to swim without dodging trampolines and catamarans. There are also restaurants on the embankment - but they are cheaper and do not boom with music so much. The largest free zones are located here, but be careful - it can be inconvenient to swim in front of them, there are many large stones. To the north, practically on the border with Kranevo, there is a nudist zone.
To the north, there is an interesting attraction - the Chiflika ethnographic complex, a picturesque village with its own restaurant, workshops, brandy production and stables. It is about the same distance from Golden Sands, Albena and Kranevo. It hosts folklore programs such as "Bulgarian evenings". In "Chiflik" there is a hotel - "Monastyr", where you can stay. It's far from the sea, but you can take a walk in the mountains and the Baltate Nature Reserve on foot, on a bicycle, or on a horse.
Central beach
The center of the resort with all its advantages and disadvantages. It is always noisy, always fun, there is always something to do - but there are always crowds of people, and it is not cheap. In the center, there are two attractions on the embankment itself: the beautiful church of St. John the Baptist and the model of the Eiffel Tower 32 meters high.
On the beach in the very center is the famous youth bar Mojito Beach Bar, and not far from it is the Arrogance Music Factory nightclub. Next to the Admiral Hotel there is an amusement park with ferris wheel, panic room, go-kart and more. The International Hotel has the largest casino in Bulgaria.
In the center is the main entertainment at this resort - the Aquapolis water park. Perhaps its only drawback is that it is located quite high on the ledge, and you need to climb to it by stairs - with children and in the heat it can be difficult. Everything here is as usual in water parks: there are slides for adults, there is a paddling pool and a slow river for the little ones, there is a bar right in the pool - you can spend the whole day having fun.
The easiest way to get from the center of the resort is to the Golden Sands Natural Park. There are routes with information posters in the park, most of them, except for these posters, are not marked in any way: these are ordinary forest paths, not wooden paths, so it is better to prepare sports shoes. But there are several routes specifically for children, and there is a route equipped for people with disabilities. The park has viewing platforms with views of the sea and as many as 13 springs from which you can drink. Deer, wild boars, badgers, squirrels, foxes are found here, a plane tree grows, which is 200 years old (it is specially fenced and provided with a sign). The Park Information Center, where excursions can be booked on request, is next to the Zora Hotel.
South Beach
South Beach is the oldest and most contrasting area of the resort, and here a lot depends on which hotel you choose. It begins with a noisy and crowded section closer to the center, but further away there is the elite zone "Riviera". Once upon a time there was a government seat here. The oldest hotel in this area, Oasis, was built in 1956. In total, there are five prestigious hotels and a balneological SPA center: the fact is that there are mineral thermal springs here. The area is equipped with its own tennis court. Access to it is paid for everyone except for guests of these five hotels, so there are usually not as many people on the beach as in the center. And behind this zone begins a wild rocky beach - absolutely free, but without any infrastructure at all.
From the southern part of the resort, on foot or by bus, you can conveniently get to the rocky monastery of Aladzha. Cells and churches with fragments of ancient paintings have been preserved from it. These are natural caves designed for life. The upper level of the monastery offers a stunning view of the entire area, and at its foot there is a small museum.
Gull
The area south of Golden Sands is so close that no precise border can be drawn between them. Another quiet and budget place, known, however, for what is officially considered the oldest resort in Bulgaria: first they began to build here, and then in Golden Sands. Once upon a time, several houses of creativity were created in Chaika, and not only Bulgarian intellectuals, but also many writers and journalists from the USSR came here to rest. The architectural appearance of Chaika makes a nostalgic impression.
The length of the beaches near Chaika is about 2 kilometers, rather conditionally they are divided into three sections according to the largest hotels: Noy, Kabakum and Sled Trabata. The beach near the Noy hotel is the most crowded, and there is the most entertainment here, but there are no noisy night parties and discos here - for this you have to go to Golden Sands.
The area is perfect for long walks - 4 kilometers towards Konstantin and Elena is the ecological park of Varna.
Baba Alino
An area remote from the sea, roughly between Chaika and Golden Sands itself. This is the most budget accommodation option, because from any hotel here you will have to walk at least a kilometer to the sea. But it is quiet here, and the restaurants are the most budgetary in Golden Sands, but no less tasty than on the embankment. There are villas with beautiful views, semi-rural houses with their own gardens, and most importantly, this is a great place to stay in the cold season to explore nearby attractions and walk in autumn or spring parks. It is close to the highway, which is easy to get anywhere, and close to the entrance to the national park and the monastery of Aladzha.
