Things To Do and See in Sozopol, Bulgaria

If you’re heading to the Bulgarian Black Sea coast, Sozopol is a great place to be! Its Old Town is absolutely picturesque and worth staying in for a while.

This is a Guest post from Alexander, co-founder of Sozopol Food & Wine Tour. Enjoy!

Go to the beach

When you go to the Black Sea coast for a vocational in the summertime, it is a must to go to the beach. 

Sozopol’s Central Beach is on the East side of the Old Town. It is a beautiful beach with a great view of the South Fortress Wall. The downside to it is that it is a little small and it could get crowded.

Harmanite Beach is another option to go to in Sozopol, though it too can get a little crowded.

Golden Fish Beach is located in a lovely and peaceful bay, and it is the beach of a camping call Golden Fish. It is 3km north of Sozopol.

Join the Sozopol – Food & Wine Tour

This tour is excellent for you if you are interested in the local kitchen, drinks, way of life, legends, and stories. It is a good way to get to know the place in a few hours. You can also get some recommendations on where to eat, ask questions about Sozopol, take some nice photos, and have a great time. 

Website: https://seekingtraveler.com/

Visit the Ethnographic Museum

The Ethnographic Museum is actually one of the most beautiful houses in Sozopol, the old town, which is 200 years old. In this exposition, you will be presented with the culture of the main ethnographic groups in the region.

Where: “Cyril and Methodius” 34 Str.

Time: From 08:30 AM to 12:45 PM and from 01:30 PM to 05:15 PM

Archaeological Museum

In this museum, you can see the artifacts that the long and rich history of Sozopol has left. There you can see the alabaster casket containing the relics of John the Baptist, which were found on the St. Ivan Island.

Where: “Khan Krum” 12, Square

A ride to St. Ivan Island

Speaking of this sacred place, the island is actually the biggest on the Bulgarian Black Sea coast. It is a protected area, home to the biggest colony of seagulls in Bulgaria, and it is only 1km away from Sozopol. The Tourist boats can’t get you there, for you can walk around the island alone, but they can only get you close enough so you can watch it from the boat. What you can do is you can find a fisherman on the harbor and talk to him to get you there, where he will tie up the boat, and you can walk around the island and see the Lighthouse, the temple St. Bogorodica, and the excavation where the relics of John the Baptist have been found.

Visit St. Cyril and Methodius Church

This church is right at the entrance of the Old Town. It looks pretty new, but it is actually built at the end of the nineteenth century. We talk a lot about the relics of John the Baptist. Well, you can see them for yourself because they are exposed in the church.

Where: “Khan Krum” Square

Time: Every day from 06:00 AM to 05:00 PM 

Left – St. Cyril and Methodius Church (photo source: bg.wikipedia); Top right – Archaeological Museum (photo source: sozopol-museums.bg); Bottom right – St. Ivan Island (photo source: sozopol-museums.bg)

Take a walk along the South Fortress Wall

It doesn’t matter if you take a walk during the day or the night. Either way, it is an enjoyable experience. They were built in 511 AC by Emperor Anastasius and were rebuilt and maintained since then. Along the wall, you can sit in many restaurants and bars and enjoy the panoramic view of the sea and parts of the New Town.

 Explore The Castle of Ravadinovo

The Castle of Ravadinovo is about 2km West of Sozopol. It is perfect for a fairy tale getaway. Quite extravagant for Bulgaria, but very beautiful and interesting to explore. There are no guided tours in it, so you are free to wander wherever you like. You should know that there are no sleeping and eating arrangements. You can make great memories and pictures in its vast gardens filled with statues, fountains, lakes with swimming swans in them, and then go inside and explore its hall and rooms.

Website:  https://zamaka.bg/

Top – Castle of Ravadinovo (photo source: voubs.com; Bottom left – South Fortress Wall (photo source: sozopol-foundation.com); Bottom right – The Art Gallery (photo source: transgourme.eu)

The Art Gallery

This gallery is in the building of a former school building a little more than a century ago with a Revival style. It has been declared a cultural monument. Since the year 1991, the building has been made a gallery with a consistent exposition of 287 masterpieces. With paintings of famous artists from Sozopol.

Where: “Cyril and Methodius” 78 Str.

Time: Monday to Friday from 10:00 AM to 09:00 PM

Party and relax at Gradina Camping

If you are looking for a party at the beach, Gradina Camping is where you want to be. It is around a 4km drive from Sozopol, it has golden sands, clear water and a lot of bars for you to visit and party during the day and the night, like Kite Bar, Bar Botanik, Dirty Gradina, Massaro Beach Bar.

If you want to chill and relax lying on the beautiful beach, book yourself a bungalow, or reserve a spot for your caravan and enjoy your vacation on the beach. I will also recommend the Garden restaurant, it has a fantastic view, the food is great, and they create a pleasant atmosphere for you to enjoy yourself.

See you in Sozopol!