Golden Sands Holidays

The beautiful beach resort of Golden Sands is located in the north of Bulgaria's picturesque Black Sea Coast and close to the historic city of Varna.

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Golden Sands Resort Travel Guide

Golden Sands is the perfect name for this beautiful beach resort. The sandy beach is indeed golden, it's also wide and long, making it perfect for beach lovers of all ages! In the middle of the last century someone had the very good idea of creating a place where people can come and be healed by the beautiful clear waters of the Black Sea and relax on the beach or in the cool shade created by the forest that sweeps down to meet the beach.

It wasn't long before Golden Sands grew and became the wonderful beach resort it is today with lots of hotels and entertainment such as restaurants, bars of all shapes and sizes including one in an Eiffel Tower replica!

Although Golden Sands is Bulgaria's second largest beach resort it does have a nice relaxed feel. As you enjoy a walk along the promenade as the sun is setting everyone is winding down and enjoying the warm evening and the beautiful setting.

The long sandy beach, beautiful views across the Black Sea and a wide choice of hotels and a relaxed feel make Golden Sands the perfect choice for a wonderful and memorable summer holiday to Bulgaria.

Things to see and do

Activities at Golden Sands start but definitely do not end with the beach. The main stretch of sand goes on for three and a half kilometres and is as wide as 100 metres in places. Being a Blue Flag beach means it is safe to swim, but some adventurous visitors may wish to try some of the water sports including banana boating and jet skiing, windsurfing and parasailing. To really make the most of the wonderful' seaside location, scuba diving courses are also available, helping beginners fall in love with the underwater world.

Back on dry land, you can race the rest of the family at the local go karting track or head off-road on quad bikes. If operating a vehicle sounds like too much hard work, maybe choose to have a round of mini-golf or a spot of archery instead.

One of the easiest places to explore due to its close proximity to the resort is the Aladzha Monastery, carved out of the cliff just above Golden Sands. This breathtaking place dates back to the 12th century, it has a chapel and small museum offering an insight into its history. Take note of the stunning frescoes on the little church's walls, which were painted by the Hesychast monks who called the monastery home.

Golden Sands summer holidays resort is also ideally located for trips to Nessebar and Varna, which while quite different to each other, both have their attractions. Nessebar is all about the history, with cobbled streets and quaint houses, while Varna is more modern, but known for its coastal charm.

Nightlife at Golden Sands

Whether you prefer to spend the evenings sipping cocktails at a bar on the beach or blasting out karaoke classics with your friends, Golden Sands has the nightlife options to meet your needs. Most of the hotels have entertainment facilities, but there is plenty to cater to those who may wish to venture further afield.

Eating and drinking

Bulgaria offers great value for money, so eating out is relatively inexpensive, with the choice of going native and trying cold cucumber soup and grilled kebabs or opting for something more familiar like pizza or a Chinese dish.

Be sure to take advantage of the fresh cheeses and locally grown olives - you can almost taste the sunshine in which they grow. You may also like to try typical tipples of the region, as wine and brandy are both produced in the area and are of a very good standard.

Shopping

Golden Sands has a good selection of shops, but for those serious shopaholics, the city of Varna is within easy reach, just 18 kilometres away. There is a big pedestrianised area lined with various shopping outlets and several shopping malls offering international brands at prices much lower than in the UK. At the other end of the scale, visitors may wish to browse the market stalls selling everything from fruit and vegetables to gifts and souvenirs.

Getting around

Most of the hotels, restaurants, beach and attractions in Golden Sands are quite close to each other, making getting around relatively easy. Do not expect this corner of the Black Sea coast to be flat, however, which means those with mobility issues may require assistance. The bus service is frequent and reliable, making it a useful alternative, while daytrips to interesting locations in the region are easily arranged.

Practical information

The closest airport to Golden Sands is Varna airport, Bourgas airport is an alternative, and it takes less than three hours to fly there from London. Operating two hours ahead of British time, don't forget to put your watch forward when you fly for summer holidays to Bulgaria.

With an average ten hours of sunshine each day during the high season in July and August, you are unlikely to miss the weather back home. Summer temperatures can hit over 30 degrees, perfect for when youâre on the beach or by the pool!

Learning a few phrases in Bulgarian always goes down well with the locals, but staff in the hotels and restaurants of the summer resorts tend to have good English skills. The local currency is the lev with approximately 2 levs for each pound sterling

Weather

Average High Temperature (°C)

Average days with sun

Map

Quick Facts

Location

Black Sea Coast (North)

Arrival airport

Varna & Bourgas

Number of hotels

Beach

Sandy

Transfer time

40 min (Varna), 2hrs 30m (Bourgas)

Currency

Bulgarian Lev (BGN)

Typical cost of

Lunch Pizza - £3

Local Beer - under £2

Three Course Meal - £15

Resort List

Bourgas Area

Varna Area

St Constantine and Helena

Bulgaria Mountains

Bansko (Summer Sun)

Bansko (Winter Ski)

Borovets (Summer Sun)

Borovets (Winter Ski)

Popular Golden Sands Excursions

There is a great selection of excursions available for you to book in resort through your local rep. For your own peace of mind, we recommend that you only book excursions through your Balkan Holidays Rep to ensure you are booking with reputable excursion suppliers.

Real Bulgaria

An absolutely amazing day out to discover what this country is really like. Join us on a picturesque journey through traditional Bulgaria with fantastic photo opportunities.

Water Parks

Don't miss the chance for a fun filled family day out with lots of slides and flumes, crazy and lazy rivers, pools and much more sure to give the kids a day to remember.

Lazy Day Cruise

A summer holiday isn't complete without a day spent lazily cruising along the coastline, while topping up your tan, swimming and fishing.

Nessebar Discovery Tour

Walk through the old town where you can see remains of more than 40 historical churches, then take your time and enjoy the best of the many sea food restaurants in the town.

The Night of Tradition

Experience and taste Bulgarian culture like never before with authentic Bulgarian food and lessons in traditional Bulgarian dancing.

Tattoo Party Boat

When the Sun is out... enjoy snorkeling adventures and the adrenaline-kicking swing! The bars are open and we guarantee the most fun day of your summer.

Khans Tent

This unmissable evening in the resort is filled with live music, international artists and a delicious four course meal that will keep you entertained throughout the night.

VIP Catamaran Cruise

Sail on board a luxury Catamaran. Enjoy lunch and sip on drinks from the open bar. A millionaire's delight!

Why book with us?

Balkan Holidays has 58 years of experience in providing great value summer and winter holidays
and since 1966 we have sold millions of holidays.

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* Offer is for coach transfers for summer package holidays from the airport to the resort and back. Not vaild for Lakes and Mountains and Golfing holidays in Bulgaria, Slovenia, Plitvice in Croatia, Istria area holidays and Summer Short Breaks. Free coach transfers are on winter ski package holidays to Bulgaria and Slovenia. Offer is not applicable for Winter Ski Weekends. If you are travelling on a low cost airline please check if transfers are induced prior to travelling.Low deposit is not valid with flights operated by low cost airlines.
** All sales are subject to continuing availability. Voucher Codes are only applicable to new bookings at the time of booking and cannot be used on existing bookings. Voucher Codes are not combinable with Late Deals, Group bookings, Free Child Places or Loyalty Discount. Balkan Holidays decision is final and reserve the right to withdraw this offer at any time.

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