Things To Do in Sozopol

Sozopol’s old town stretches out across a peninsula, so you’ll be treated to panoramic sea views along with a history lesson. Keep an eye out for the triple-decker wooden houses as you stroll through the streets – they sprang up during Bulgaria’s revival period in the 18th century. There are around 200 in total, and some are classed as national monuments. Make tracks to the shoreline, and you’ll come across the remains of the East Gate of Apollonia – the last intact section of the ancient city.

You’ll find Bourgas a half an hour drive away, nestled in Bourgas Bay. It’s the perfect destination for a daytrip, with a six-kilometre-long Blue Flag beach, a huge shopping centre, a bulk of museums, and a sprawling park – known as the Sea Garden – to its name. The city’s also a really popular spot with paragliders, so you’ll want to keep your eyes on the sky.

Less than a kilometre off of Sozopol’s coastline is St Ivan Island, the largest island in the Bulgarian Black Sea. Although it’s just a quarter of a mile wide, it’s got a history packed with ancient invasions, pirate legends and war stories – some dating back to the 4th century BC. Today, the island’s mainly a nature reserve, home to over 70 different species of birds, which nest on the rocks. You can catch a boat over from Sozopol’s harbour to explore this small-but-mighty isle for yourself.

Each September, the town hosts the Apollonia Festival of Arts for around 10 days. Held annually for over 30 years, the celebrations include theatre performances, live music, art exhibitions and film showings. It usually lines up an excellent programme of jazz nights, too, if you fancy upping the tempo.