In the height of summer we take a look at the Bulgarian Black Sea coast with its sandy and beautiful beaches, providing excellent conditions for sunbathing and swimming. How much does a sunbed and an umbrella on the beach cost this summer?

An inspection by experts of the Ministry of Tourism last month showed that out of a total of 132 beaches, more than 10 offer free umbrellas and sunbeds this season.

Which Bulgarian beaches are free this summer?

These are the southern beach near Shkorpilovtsi, the beaches "Riviera" and "Bunite 2" near Varna, "Obzor Motel" in the resort town of Obzor, "Burgas - north" and "Burgas - central" in Burgas, as well as the central beach of Aheloy. Free umbrellas and sunbeds can be found south of Burgas, on the beach "Atanasovska kosa", the central beach of Tsarevo and the beach of the nearby campsite "Nestinarka". There are other areas offering free beach accessories but they have not been included in the statistics of the Ministry of Tourism yet.

An umbrella and a sunbed on a total of 73 Bulgarian beaches will cost you anywhere between 1 and 5 euros a day. In some places, however, beach comfort can be expensive. For example, if you choose to relax on "Bozhurets-Topola" Beach near the town of Kavarna, you will have to pay about 17 euros per day for an umbrella and a sunbed.

There are 4 lifeguarded Bulgarian beaches without umbrellas and sunbeds this summer. These are the Fisherman's Beach near Varna, Batovski Beach, located between the resorts of Albena and Kranevo, the beach "Mineral Pool - South" in the resort  of "Constantine and Helena", as well as "Sozopol - West 2".

The Ministry of Tourism has actually prepared an online interactive map where one can check the price of umbrellas and sunbeds on the Bulgarian Black Sea Coast.

Compiled by: Veneta Nikolova

English: Alexander Markov