KAVARNA, BULGARIA - WORTH A VISIT? COMPLETE TRAVEL GUIDE
Located less than 50 km from Romanian Border and 60 km from Varna, Kavarna can be the ideal place if you want to be away from the crowds and have a slightly different vacation at the Black Sea.
Being a fairly small village, tourists do not crowd to come here and this makes it quite attractive, both for people who want to escape from the hustle and bustle specific to the big cities and for people who have a small budget for a vacation. I say this because, from my experience, at least when it comes to accommodation, the quality-price ratio is more than decent. This destination is one of my favorites when I don't want to spend a lot of money and at the same time have some relaxation, fun, maybe visit new places.
Although at first glance it seems that there is not much to do and visit, you will be surprised, Bulgarians know how to make the most of everything they have, managing to put together a consistent list of activities that you can do and places to visit. Which you can visit, even if you don't have a car (I will elaborate on this topic during this article).
HOW TO GET TO KAVARNA:
The closest city with an international airport is Varna. From there, the easiest is to rent a car and drive on an easy road about an hour, even less. Another option to come here is from Constanta, Romania, situated at a distance of 100 km, or Bucharest, which is a little more farther.
For those who do not have a personal car, or who do not want to get involved with driving, the road can be just as simple. There are bus routes from the big cities that run to Kavarna. The best prices, I noticed, are from Bucharest. Most travel agencies offer these tours, without you being obliged to purchase accommodation from them. The options, which I found and to which I leave a link, are from Alltur and Direct Booking.
WHERE TO STAY IN KAVARNA:
For accommodation, you have countless options from both travel agencies and booking sites such as Airbnb or Booking. At Booking you can also choose the desired meal option, with "All inclusive" offers.
Among the options I had when I organized my trip to Kavarna, I chose to book a studio room at Calithea Complex. It had a pretty good rating on Booking, being, by the way, also my recommendation, only if you get here by car. The location is above the town, on one of the spurs of the hill that surrounds the bay. The climb is much too long and difficult to walk, so you will have to use your car to reach the beach. There is a spacious and free parking right next to the beach. Don't risk parking in unorganized places because illegally parked cars will be picked up.
Returning to the accommodation, the studio was clean, spacious, cool and with a superb view of the sea. The staff was kind and if I have another chance, I will return to this location.
Other accommodation units available on Booking, which caught my attention and which have great ratings:
Villa Allegra - accommodation unit that has one-bedroom or two-bedroom apartments. All apartments have a kitchenette. The accommodation unit has parking;
Royal Grand Hotel and Spa - 4-star accommodation unit, which has double or family rooms. It is equipped with an indoor pool, bar, restaurant, private beach and you can book an all-inclusive stay;
White Lagoon Resort - accommodation unit, which has double rooms or apartments. It has 8 swimming pools, private parking, private beach and you can book an all inclusive stay;
WHERE TO EAT IN KAVARNA:
Regarding restaurants, the situation is not excellent, but good and there are few options with decent food. The most common recommendation, both from locals and on Trip Advisor, was for the Bulgarka Restaurant. We didn't get to try their food, because we received the recommendations before leaving the resort.
Instead, we ate at one of the restaurants on the beach, the Royal Beach Restaurant. The food was decent. The staff didn't speak English but were polite. For everything that can be seen in the picture, I paid approximately 60 leva.
THE BEACHES OF KAVARNA:
The resort is not very popular when it comes to beaches, but the ones that do exist, although only 4 in number and quite small in surface area, manage to offer a quiet and relaxing setting for visitors. The fact that they are not crowded is a great advantage for those who want to escape the noisy crowds typical of popular tourist destinations.
Their boundaries are well marked, protected by solid walls of stabilopods, which provide a barrier against stronger waves, making the water relatively calm and safe for swimming. In some areas, the beaches are separated by spaces dedicated to small boats, which adds a picturesque charm to the landscape, creating an interesting combination of relaxation and water activities. Thus, although the resort does not impress with the size of its beaches, they compensate with their discreet charm, tranquility and relaxing ambiance that they offer. The first of them is wild, being quite few places even for a towel. The entry into the water is smooth.
The beach in the Royal Grand Hotel area, which is divided into two, one that is with sunbeds and umbrellas of the hotel and does not have its own access to the water, and the second part is public, with a smooth entrance to the water. If you are staying at the Royal Grand, you can enter the water from the public beach.
The third beach in the resort is Royal Beach, which manages to satisfy both those looking for the comfort of equipped beaches and those who prefer more natural and quiet areas. Half of this beach is equipped with sun loungers and parasols, which provide a pleasant place for relaxation and tanning. There are showers, restaurants and bars in the area.
The other half of the beach is left undeveloped, maintaining a wild appearance, ideal for those who prefer to put their towel directly on the fine sand. The entrance to the water is gentle, making Royal Beach an excellent choice for families with small children, for beginner swimmers, or for anyone who wants to enjoy a relaxing swim without strong waves.
The fourth beach in the resort is located in a more secluded place, hidden behind the port wall, which gives it a special charm and a quiet atmosphere, away from the hustle and bustle of the more popular tourist areas. This beach is completely undeveloped, maintaining a wild and authentic look, without facilities such as sun loungers, umbrellas, or restaurants. It also has no sand, but is mostly covered with stones of various sizes, which makes access to the water quite difficult and uncomfortable, especially without proper water shoes.
For this reason, the beach is not exactly suitable for swimming, or classic relaxation in the sun, but it compensates with the rustic atmosphere and spectacular views it offers. It is an ideal place for those who appreciate unspoiled nature and want to escape to a quieter corner, away from the crowds. I recommend visiting this beach especially for relaxing walks at sunset or sunrise, when the gentle sunlight creates a magical play of colors on the surface of the water and on the walls of the port.
PLACES TO VISIT IN KAVARNA AND NEAR BY:
The town itself is not the best in terms of tourist attractions, on the other hand, at a relatively short distance by car, there are several places that are worth seeing. As I said at the beginning of the article, Bulgarians know how to make the most of everything they have, managing to put together a list of activities and excursions from the small Black Sea Coast village.
Nearby, whether you have a car or not, you have the option of visiting tourist places, by purchasing certain tours or day trips. Although I have not tried any of the options that I am going to talk about, I must admit that I will get my revenge at the first opportunity. With attached link here, you can choose between: picnic on the yacht, ride on the pirate ship, visit to Balchik, Jeep Safari, the Bulgarian village of Solnik, the river of turtles and the stone forest, visit to Nessebar or the experience of looking for truffles.
In Kavarna, if you arrive in August, it is good to know that every year, the "Sea Festival" takes place. In 2022, it took place between August 8-14.
Other locations you can visit on your own: - Russalka, one of the resorts with the most beautiful beaches on the Black Sea, about which I wrote a separate article, click here. - Tyulenovo, for water sports enthusiasts, offering ideal conditions for activities such as kayaking or paddleboarding. The panoramic views of the rocky coast create a fairytale setting, ideal for memorable photos or for moments of meditation and tranquility. The sunsets and sunrises are spectacular, transforming the place into a perfect refuge for nature and adventure lovers. - The castle and the botanical garden in Balcic, find the article here. - Kaliakra Cape; - Bolata Bay; About Kavarna, Kaliakra and Tyulenovo, I also made a vlog. Please like and subscribe if you liked it.
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