Nessebar Holiday
Nessebar is one of the most ancient towns in Europe with a history going back 7,000 years. Sitting on a small rock peninsula with a narrow causeway linking it to the mainland it has a unique appearance and atmosphere. Partly, this is due to its amazing mixture of architecture, which includes the ruins of over 40 churches dating back to the 3rd century, Roman and Greek pavements, and beautiful houses from the 16th century. It is also, however, because its beach is considered to be one of the finest on the Black Sea coast.
Many visitors to Nessebar prefer to stay in the old quarter, enjoying its narrow cobblestone lanes and old wooden houses with strings of dried fish hanging from their roofs. Declared an architectural and archaeological reserve, its sights include the 6th century Basilica, a Turkish bath and windmill and sections of the fortress wall that once surrounded the town. Other visitors like to walk along the peninsula to discover the mainland beaches of fine golden sand which, to the north, connect with those of the larger resort complex of Sunny Beach. But whether enjoying the quiet of the old town, or the busy beaches and watersports facilities further up the coast, Nessebar is one of Bulgaria's finest attractions.
Beaches
In the new part of Nessebar on the mainland, the 4km beach stretches north and south from the town and features the finest sand along the Black Sea coast. During the summer, the water is a pleasant 25ºC and its slightly sloped bottom makes it ideal for bathing. In the north, the beaches meet those of the resort of Sunny Beach, renowned for its clean and calm seas, numerous small parks, natural sand dunes and watersports facilities.
Shopping
Shopping in and around Nessebar is easy. Local shops sell clothes and other holiday essentials, while the streets of the old town are crowded with souvenir and craft stalls. Look out in particular for beautiful hand made crochet-work, pottery, jewellery and carpets.
Nightlife
In Nessebar itself, there is a good amount of nightlife ranging from the crowded Tequila Bar to the more formal bar-restaurants like Karamela. In Sunny Beach, a short busride up the coast, there are many more bars and lots of nightclubs which stay open until the early hours.
Local Specialities
The old town of Nessebar is rich in restaurants, old-style mehanas and pubs. These range from those serving general European cuisine to the restaurants in the port area that serve traditional dishes like fried cheese and fish bites. Local beer and wine is very cheap and if you venture to the other nearby villages, meals are even cheaper.