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Burgas, Bulgaria

Burgas (also Bourgas) is a city on the Black Sea coast of Bulgaria.

Burgas is a city on the Bulgarian Southern Black Sea coast. It developed more actively at the beginning of the 20th century, and today it is a large industrial center with many tourist attractions in the region. Built by the sea and surrounded by lakes, Burgas offers relatively mild weather characterized by cooler summers and warmer winters.
Three lakes surround Burgas – Vaya (also known as the Burgas lake), Atanasovsko lake and Mandrensko lake.
There are historical pieces of evidence that the lands that today Burgas occupies were inhabited since ancient times. However... Read more

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Burgas, Bulgaria

Destination:
Mediterranean

Burgas (also Bourgas) is a city on the Black Sea coast of Bulgaria.

Burgas is a city on the Bulgarian Southern Black Sea coast. It developed more actively at the beginning of the 20th century, and today it is a large industrial center with many tourist attractions in the region. Built by the sea and surrounded by lakes, Burgas offers relatively mild weather characterized by cooler summers and warmer winters.
Three lakes surround Burgas – Vaya (also known as the Burgas lake), Atanasovsko lake and Mandrensko lake.
There are historical pieces of evidence that the lands that today Burgas occupies were inhabited since ancient times. However at that period most of the lands that today Burgas covers were small fisherman villages and fortifications. It was hard to flourish under the pressure of the better developed at that period trade centers Nesebar and Sozopol. At the end of the 19th century, the city had less than 3000 inhabitants.
The Burgas Bay turned out to be very favorable for the navy, and the Port of Burgas developed at the beginning of 20th c. The trade and the industry are the driving force of the city even today. The oil refinery was constructed in mid 20th c. And produces many plastic and oil products, as well as gas.
The tourism is not particularly developed in Burgas, but the city is a stop for the picturesque century-old towns Nesebar and Sozopol. Many large luxury holiday resorts were constructed in the Bay of Burgas. For lovers of nature, there are many camp-sites.

Districts

  • Center – the nightlife, hotels, and sights are located here, bus station, train station, shopping area
  • Bratya Miladinovi – living area close to the city center
  • Lazur – living area with hotels, close to the beach and the nightlife in summer
  • Vazrazhdane – living area relatively close to the city center
  • Zornitza – living area, close to the beach and the Atanasovko lake
  • Izgrev – living area, not interesting for tourists, close to the Atanasovsko lake
  • Slaveikov – living area, not interesting for tourists, the Asen Zlatarov University buildings are located in this district
  • Meden Rudnik – living area, not interesting for tourists, no beach there, but close to Vaya and Mandrensko lakes
  • Sarafovo – formerly a village, now it is a district of Burgas, close to the beach, close to the airport, far from the city center
  • Kraimorie – formerly a village, now it is a district of Burgas, close to the beach, far from the city center
  • Dolno Ezerovo – formerly a village, now it is a district of Burgas, far from the city center, close to the Vaya (Burgasko) lake - at its North bench
  • Gorno Ezerovo – formerly a village, now it is a district of Burgas, far from the city center, close to the Vaya (Burgasko) lake - at its South bench
  • Lozovo – formerly a village, now it is a district of Burgas, far from the city center
  • Akatziite – mostly industrial region
  • Pobeda – mostly industrial region
  • 5th Kilometer – the district is getting bigger as some big retail chains build their stores in this region.
Source:
Text is available under Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0
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Burgas, Bulgaria: Port Information


The cruise port is located close to the city center. 
The port has 2 berths for cruise liners. There are two passenger terminals with great tourist facilities.
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Get around Burgas, Bulgaria


Bourgas has a well developed public busing system. Buses also travel to all resorts and cities along the coastline. Hitchhiking is also a very popular and successful means of transportation in the region.
Public transport regularly runs from 5 AM-11 PM. There are both buses and trolleys. Tickets are sold on the bus by special collectors, and you should pay for them.
There are also small mini-buses that run regularly and cover some routes of the city. You should pay to the driver when you get off the mini-bus.
Taxis are another convenient way to travel around. There are many licensed operating companies. Be careful with scammers and always keep an eye on their tax-counter machine.
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What to see in Burgas, Bulgaria


The city of Burgas developed after the beginning of the 20th century and most of the buildings in the city center date from this time. The city Gallery of Fine Arts is hosted by a secession style synagogue.

Museums

  • Ethnographic Museum, 69 Slavianska Str. Mon-Fri 10:00-19:00; Sat 10:00-18:00. Includes various ethno exhibitions in its program, offers summer school of Arts, Crafts, and Dances.
  • Archaeological Museum, 21 Bogorodi Str. Mon-Fri 10:00-19:00; Sat 10:00-18:00. Variety of exhibitions, ancient Roman, Byzantine, and Greek antiques.
  • Historical Museum, 31 Lermontov Str. Mon-Fri 10:00-19:00; Sat 10:00-18:00. Tells both local and national history, various guest exhibitions from other museums and countries.
  • Nature and Science Museum, 30 Fotinov Str. Mon-Fri 10:00-19:00; Sat 10:00-18:00. Covers flora, fauna, subjects of medicine, physics, various thematic exhibitions.

In winter museums are closed on Saturday and Sundays.
There are many galleries as well, some of them are Bogoridi, Briz - Boiadzhiev, and Petko Zadgorski Art Gallery.

Nature

  • The Flora is an international exhibition of flowers held annually since 1985. It takes place in pavilions in the

    Sea Garden

    (Morksa grading) near the North Beach. Its motto is Nature-Human-Harmony and visitors are welcome to enjoy the picturesque atmosphere among the flowers and also buy rare or uncommon plants. The Flora is usually held at the end of April - beginning of May, but most of the flower compositions stay for the public until the late summer.

  • Poda

    . Is protected area part of huge wetland area, vitally important as a resting station for many birds using the East European migration route known as the Via Ponticum. As well as many waders, gulls and terns there are also rare and threatened species such as Pygmy cormorants, Dalmatian pelicans and Red-breasted geese which may be seen feeding here. For birdwatchers from other countries, the Burgas region is famous as a migration viewpoint.
Poda can be reached by public transport. It is situated on the South exit/entrance of Burgas on Highway E87—the road to

Sozopol

—just before the turn for Kreimorie. The conservation center building is specially designed for its purposes: the center has three large terraces as viewpoints for birds. Inside exhibitions illustrate the great variety of Poda's nature.
  • The city has a huge park called Sea Garden (Morska gradina) with a variety of green species and a fantastic view of the Burgas Bay. The garden starts from the central bus and train station. There are small stairs to the sandy beach, and in summer the coast is full of cafes and nightclubs.

Mosta (the Bridge) is a t-shaped pier at the sea garden - one branch of the "t" has stairs up to a viewing platform, locals boys practice diving off the other branch. It's a nice place for a walk, or you can sit at the nearby cafe and watch the world go by.
Walking in the garden little by little it becomes wilder, and you reach the salt-pans. The 'salt-factories' produce many tons of salt every year. A small train runs across the salt-pans, riding it you can see how salt is made and refined. The salt-pans are part of the Atanasovsko lake waters.
Because the city is a trade center, it has always been open to new religions and foreigners. The St Kiril and Metodii church are located in the city center. Also, visit the Armenian church located next to Bulgaria Hotel.

Burgas lakes

Three lakes surround Burgas:

  • Vaya (the Burgas) lake – the largest natural lake in Bulgaria. It is located to the west of Burgas. The water is 4-11% salty. Fresh water comes from 3 rivers and the neighboring Mandrensko lake that is turned to the dam. The lake waters are dirty, and it is not recommended to swim there. A lot of people go fishing there. Via Pontica – one of the largest bird migration ‘highways’ passes over the lake and more than 250 bird species can be seen there. Carp fishing is popular in the lake.
  • Atanasovsko lake – It is located to the North of Burgas. The water is 20-27,5% salty, and this makes it very favorable for salt-production. Its northern side is connected to the Black Sea. The Burgas – Nesebar – Varna road passes through the lake. Due to the specific salt flora in the region, more than 70% of all birds that can be seen in Bulgaria can be seen in the Atanasovo lake zone especially during the autumn migration. Part of the lake is a natural reserve and are under restricted access.
  • Mandrensko lake – It is located to the South of Burgas. Until 1934 it was a salty lake but later its structure was changed, and a dam was constructed here. Today it is not a salty lake. Four rivers get into the lake. Via Pontica – one of the largest bird migration ‘highways’ passes over the lake. On the side of the Mandrensko lake is located the Poda bird and sparrow watching zone.
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What to do in Burgas, Bulgaria


Water and Sand Sports and Activities

In summer you can go surfing and kite-surfing in the bay. There are a few surf and sea sports schools, which you can find on the North Beach. You can also book diving.

  • St. Anastasia island (formerly known as Bоlshevik island) is visible from any point from the Burgas beach. Boats to St. Anastasia island leave from the Bridge. Offered in July and August, leaving at 10:00, 12:00 and 14:00.
  • Bourgas Sand Fest. Is the festival of the sand sculptures held from the beginning of July until the end of August. The sand covers more than 4 ha. in the northern part of the Sea Garden (near the Park Hotel) artists from all over the world (Indonesia, Belgium, Netherlands, Ireland, Italy, Ukraine, Russia and of course Bulgaria) create stunning sand sculptures. Entrance is free. Everyone is welcome to take pictures.
  • Burgas Yachting Week. Takes place at the end of April near the Port and the Most (The Bridge) on the beach. Participants are usually 20-30 yachts from Greece, Turkey, Ukraine, Romania, Bulgaria.

Other sports and activities

Carting Speedway, 126 Stefan Stambolov Bul (Kolodruma), Working time: 11:00-20:30, Speedway - length: 320 m, width: 4m
You can do also do some extreme sports like paragliding or moto-paragliding. Courses and tandem-flights are offered as well. Sky Dog Fly Center, 4 Troykata Sq., fl.2, office 8
More recently small companies have started their private businesses which offer a range of activities for tourists as well as for local people. One of them is PH QUADS which offer an amazing Quad Bike / ATV safari around the hills of Marinka - a small village between Burgas and Sozopol with splendid nature.

Music

Burgas is making its way through the music scene with a few festivals that call international attention.

  • Spirit of Bugas. Takes place for 3 days in the City Central Beach every Mid August. On some scenes, visitors can enjoy all kinds of music - ethnic, rock, pop, indie, Latino and electro. Bands such as Faith No More, Fun Lovin' Criminals, Kosheen, LTJ Bukem, The Sisters of Mercy, Bonobo, The Crystal Method have been on the scene. Workshops for dancing and music are part of the event. In 2009 Times (UK) rated the festival as one of the best in Europe.
  • International Folklore Festival. Is one of the oldest international music events in the city. It started in 1965 as a festival for Balkan dances and music but later expanded and until today more than 18 000 dancers from more than 400 dance formations from all over the world have been part of it. The festival is held at the end of August in a number of venues - Open Air Theatre and scenes in the city garden and central squares. It also offers seminars on the folklore traditions, souvenir shopping and traditional arts and crafts demonstrations.

Cinema

In winter you can go to see a movie. All movies are subtitled in Bulgarian, and rarely there are voiceovers so if the movie is in English, you won't have problems. There are few exceptions for children's movies. Cinema: Trakia cinema (6 Tzar Asen Str.)
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What to eat and drink in Burgas, Bulgaria


Eat

Burgas has an abundance of eating establishments.
There are many pizza places, pubs serving international food, Chinese restaurants. On the main streets, there are kebabs, pancakes, hot dogs, and hamburgers.
In summer many open-air restaurants and pubs pop up by the sea. The area with the largest number of seaside restaurants and pubs is called Kapanite, and it is located on the North Beach in the Sea Garden.

Drink

Burgas has many cafés and small bars. On the main streets, you will bump into their chairs especially in summer.
Broadway and Silver Club are good places for a cocktail and modern dance and pop music.
In summer the Sea Garden is full of cafeterias and beer-places or small pubs. The sandy line is covered with night-bars and discos playing all kind of music.

Bars and clubs

  • Addict, 6 Vazrazhdane Str. 20:00-04:00. Disco, commercial music.
  • Alibi (located in the Sea Garden). 23:00-6:00. Disco, commercial music, retro parties, black parties.
  • Broadway, 6 Silistra Str. 07:00–24:00. Cafe & bar with a variety of cocktails.
  • Caribe (the North Beach, on the beach alley). 09:00-02:00. Open-air, seasonally in summer, bar & disco club, Latino, and pop music.
  • Barcode (on the beach alley under the Summer Theater). 00:00-24:00. Electro, trance and lounge music, good for the after-party, open seasonally in summer.
  • Dover Strait, 12 Bulair Str. 08:00–02:00. Bar & cigars
  • Elite Poka Club (in the sea Garden). 22:00-04:00. Disco, pop-folk music.
  • London Pub and Restaurant, 4a Tsar Simeon I (At the entrance to Central Beach at the southern end of the Sea Gardens), ☎ +359 889613310. 10.00-20.00. English Pub is serving homemade English food and local beers and wine. English owned and run.
  • Nataly's Style cafe, 21 Alexandrovska Str (Bulgaria hotel). 07:00-24:00. Bar with WI-FI
  • Silver Club, 4 Svoboda Sq (in front of the Municipality building). 07:00–02:00. Cafe & bar with a variety of cocktails.
  • Tequila (in the Sea Garden). 23:00-6:00. Disco, commercial music, retro parties, black parties, seasonally in summer.
  • Gramofona, Bogoridi Str (50 m. from the Sea garden's main entrance). 10:00-02:00. Called this after a big gramophone installation located next to it, open-air cafe & bar, good place for a drink before the clubs.
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Shopping in Burgas, Bulgaria


The shopping area is in the center of the town. It consists of two main streets and a few more small ones. The prices are reasonable. Some of the shops offer local brands while others are international (Benetton, etc.)
Gold shops are pretty popular. Most of the gold jewelry is imported from Turkey.
Silver jewelry is offered on stands on the high street.
A few shopping malls are constructed in the city, but the global crunch postponed some of them. The Burgas Plaza Mall is located at the end of Izgrev living districts. To get there from the city center take bus 211 and get off at the last stop.
International chains like Billa, Carrefour, and Metro, can also be found in the city.
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Safety in Burgas, Bulgaria


Burgas is a safe city. However, some common-sense guidelines should be kept in mind when you travel especially in summer.
In summer the pickpocketing is more common because a lot of pickpockets from the country come to get the advantage of the tourists. Keep your money and purse. Do not leave your property unattended. Often beggars approach foreigners and ask for money. The best will be to pretend that you do not get what they want and walk away. If they keep on following you – get into a shop or sit inside a café to have a drink until they leave you alone. Alternatively, if they still don't go, try to speak to a security guard in the shop, café or bank.
There are some scam-taxi drivers in summer. Double-check the tariff when you get into a taxi. When you exchange money, double-check the rates, ask if there are any taxes and the best will be to ask a few times how many Bulgarian leva you will get for your foreign currency. The normal exchange rate for 1 euro is 1,94 leva. You should be very desperate to exchange at that level, but never allow exchange rate under 1,85 leva.
Be aware of people approaching you on the street offering good exchange rates or anything else. At night avoid speaking too loudly and avoid too dark areas especially in the Sea Garden. Avoid conflicts with drunken people. In summer the Sea Garden and the beach are full of cafes and bars and people who sometimes drink way too much and are easy confronted. Stay away from cases like this.
Be aware of people offering you to taste cherries or other fruits on the street. It is not free and if you taste you will be physically pushed to buy an entire bucket, usually at a very high price. Ignore them and say no firmly.
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Language spoken in Burgas, Bulgaria


Bulgarian is the official language. Russian is commonly spoken. English is widely understood in tourist places.

LOCAL TIME

9:42 pm
March 30, 2020
Europe/Sofia

CURRENT WEATHER

12.61 °C / 54.698 °F
light rain
Tue

7.17 °C/45 °F
overcast clouds 		Wed

5.69 °C/42 °F
moderate rain 		Thu

7.49 °C/45 °F
overcast clouds 		Fri

9.92 °C/50 °F
sky is clear

LOCAL CURRENCY

BGN

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