Golden Sands - Introduction

A glorious stretch of beach along the Black Sea coastline, Golden Sands (Zlatni Piasatsi) has proved to be one of Bulgaria's (and the Black Sea's in general) biggest and most popular beach resorts. Its popularity grows every year, matched by the increase in hotels and apartments being built, though not as high a rate as elsewhere in the area. The main path, which runs along the beachfront, is where most of the action is; shops, bars, clubs and restaurants. Golden Sands is a fun resort easily accessible from Varna, and there are plenty of activities in the area if all that sunbathing, swimming and partying gets a little too much. There are no street names in Golden Sands, and everyone uses the main hotels to orientate themselves.

Who Goes There
With its long strip of soft golden sand, and wall-to-wall bars, restaurants, shops and clubs lining it, the resort is definitely one for young people out for sun and fun. The vast majority of visitors are European package holiday-makers, especially German, British and Danish, with Bulgarians preferring to come late in the tourist season.

Where in the World
Golden Sands is on Bulgaria's Black Sea coast, 17km (10 miles) north of Varna, in the east of the country. The capital Sofia is 470km (292 miles) west. This superb stretch of beach covers around 4km (2.5 miles), and the resort is continually being built up. More hotels and apartments are constructed to the north and south, following the coastline, and further back from the sea towards the different ‘levels'.

When to go
This is a purpose-built resort that exists only in summer; everything closes down after September and gets back into action in mid-May, with temperatures reaching around 30°C (86°F) at the height of summer.

Beach
The entire beach comprises glorious soft golden sand, with clear waters (the beach has been awarded a Blue Flag) and moderate waves - although not enough for surfing. There are plenty of activities on the water, from diving (with official qualified instructors), paragliding, parachuting and water-skiing. Volleyball courts towards the southern end of the beach provide fun on the sand.

Beyond the Beach
The Yacht Port (next to the Marina) organises daily yacht excursions, including a two-hour panoramic cruise with lunch, a night-party, day-long sail to a secluded beach in Varna and a fishing trip (with equipment included). Tennis courts at the Palm Beach Hotel sports club are floodlit for night games. It's a stiff walk through the Golden Sands Nature Park but worthwhile, to the 13th century Aladzha Monastery 3km (2 miles) southwest.

Family Fun
A two-hour Pirate Party sailing on a yacht is huge fun for kids, with water bombs, games and lunch (Yacht Port, various agents). To the west of the main resort is the huge Aquapolis Water Park with waterslides, and games suiting children (and adults) of all ages. There are six bowling lanes and pool tables at the Palm Beach Hotel sports club, and a small Children's Fun Park in front of the Admiral Hotel. Children over three can race on tiny motorized cars around the small track opposite Hotel Lilia. For bigger kids, the Karting Track to the north of Varna has 270cc and 200cc karts.

Retail Therapy
The seafront, and pavement just behind it, is lined with stalls and small shops with a vast array of beachwear, jewellery, clothes, CDs and trinkets. Souvenirs include painted ceramics and a bewildering selection of painted Russian dolls. The small supermarket Aldi has several branches, positioned every few hundred metres near the beach, for basic food, sunscreen and wines. The area behind the Hotel Admiral at the centre of the resort, has outdoor stalls with fruit and vegetables. Serious shoppers make the short trip to Varna for its collection of great fashion boutiques.

A Night on the Town
Bars and clubs along the beachfront make for a lively night with partying until dawn. The newly refurbished PR Club (in front of Grand Hotel International) has glitter-balls, chandeliers and lasers, and takes its partying seriously with guest DJs and a chill out area facing the shore. Slightly further north is the Irish Pub, which attracts the football fans with its Sky Sports screen. Next to Harry's Diving Centre, party animals can sample the range of 101 cocktails at Ministry of Cocktails (Central Beach) or kick off the evening with a stylish aperitif at the Viennese Café (Hotel Admiral). A Middle East ambience, complete with sheesha pipes and Arabic music, greets visitors at Orient (Hotel Admiral). In addition, many nightclubs are located in the large hotels, including The Blue (Astoria Hotel) and Arrogance (Hotel Astera).

Eating Out
With the resort's huge selection of snack bars, restaurants and cafes along the beach, diners will be spoilt for choice. Catering to a tourist taste, most have steaks, pizzas and burgers on the menu, and some specialise in Bulgarian cuisine, although in practice are likely to have a bit of everything. Hop on board the old warship Golden Dreams, moored on the beach near the Admiral Hotel, and dine on deck under the sails and rigging, which kids will love. There is traditional music, dance and dining at Chiflika (opposite the Golden Dreams ship), and Georgian Cuisine has a different slant on Black Sea dishes (in front of Hotel Admiral). For stylish and unusual dishes, Apple Green (Hotel Kempinski) is a small, zen-like restaurant with Asian-European fusion cuisine.

Getting Around
The resort is easy to explore on foot, with no street names and using the hotels to navigate. The tiny motorised train, brightly painted, trundles slowly along the seafront between the Marina in the north and the Admiral Hotel. Bicycles and mopeds can be hired from most major hotels and travel agencies. Bus 409 runs regularly between Varna airport and the southern entrance to Golden Sands, via Varna city centre, and also to the neighbouring resort of Sveti Konstantin. Varna is a major transport hub for other Black Sea resorts, and further afield.

Exploring Further Afield
Varna, 18km (11 miles) south, is the main city along the Black Sea coast, with historical and cultural attractions and plenty of shopping. Yacht Port travel agents run minibus trips to historical Balchik's picturesque whitewashed cottages perched on sandy cliffs lying 13km (8 miles) north of Golden Sands. Kaliakra Cape and its Nature Reserve, 43km (27 miles) north, is popular with bird-watchers.

Splashing Out
Go the whole hog and hire a yacht and crew for your own private party on water (from Yacht Port, near the Marina, and agents). Treat yourself to a Thracian Wine Ceremony at the Kempinski Hermitage Hotel, a full body treatment including a body scrub, body wash, massage and bathing in wine.

Flying In
Varna Airport (VAR)

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