Nessebar Holidays

Set on Bulgaria’s Black Sea, Nessebar is a bit of an old hand – it’s been around for the past 9,000 years. And you know it’s worth looking at when UNESCO has put its name behind it. It’s the old town that takes most of the applause with its cobbled streets, tiny squares and churches. But the place wouldn’t be the same without the modern hotels – and a whopping great waterpark.

Nessebar has two sandy beaches that run either side of the new town. South Beach has nabbed a Blue Flag award for its 2.5-kilometre stretch, which is packed with parasols. You’ve got drinking spots right on the sand here, and back-up bars and restaurants along the prom. Over to the north, Nessebar’s second beach is a quieter spot.

Separated from the modern resort by a causeway, Nessebar’s old town can certainly turn heads. It’s like wandering around an open-air museum here, with old churches, traditional timber houses and the remains of the thermal baths. And if you want to know more about the history, you can pop in to the Archaeological Museum.

A 10-minute bus ride and you’re in Sunny Beach. The resort’s calling card is the eight-kilometre sweep of sand, and if you’re here after dark there’s a bundle of bars and clubs. And if you fancy something different, an hour and a half's drive gets you to Varna with its pretty sea gardens, zoo and planetarium.