Sunny Beach Holiday Guide

There are plenty of UK flights to Bourgas Airport and the transfer time is 40 minutes to Sunny Beach.

It can be tricky to drive here, unless you learn the Cyrillic alphabet, as there are only a few signs written in English. Hiring a taxi may be easier.

Sunny Beach boasts a spectacular, eight kilometre long, sandy, Blue Flag beach stretching in a beautiful semi-circular east-facing bay. It's got clean water, fine golden sand and plenty of space for sun loungers and umbrellas.

Also check out Long Beach and take a short trip by small boat from the two piers to the ancient village of Nessebur.

The coast is extremely beautiful, but head away from the beach for cool green parks, forests, stunning mountains and healing mineral springs. There's an aqua park in Sunny Beach and another at nearby Nessebur where you can check out the historical village.

A quiet sunset boat trip sailing up the coast and back is a must, while the dolphin show at nearby Varna will be fun for kids.

The Bourgas thermal baths, 15 kilometres from the city, date back to the fourth century BC and are certainly worth a visit;  however you may find them rather cold after the warm mineral spas at Sunny Beach.

Borgas, Bulgaria's fourth largest city, is an attractive place surrounded by three lakes with masses of museums and shops and a beautiful Sea Garden with its open air theatre and little zoo.

Holidaymakers can also book a jeep safari further inland for some impressive scenery. The Blue Mountains in Sliven are fabulous while the Valley of Roses in the Sredna Gora Mountain Range is stunning.

There is plenty of British food available with an increasing number of fast food restaurants, but do try the shish kebab, moussaka and sheep's cheese salad.

The Bulgarian yoghurt is absolutely delicious too and Bulgarian red and sparkling white wines can be excellent. It's easy to order too as there is virtually always a menu in English.

With more than 100 hotels and 130 bars and restaurants plus casinos, there are plenty of good buzzing places to go whatever your budget. They range from rather smart to informal and noisy and several have folk shows for those seeking a taste of traditional Bulgaria.

The resort has a charming family feel, but those looking for a bit more action will find some bars where they can really let their hair down. The beer is cheap compared to the UK too.

There are enough shopping centres here to keep most families happy with cheap designer clothes, CDs and handbags. it's more fun; however, to head to the masses of art and craft bazaars and stalls where there's loads of atmosphere – and prices for handmade pottery, jewellery, knitwear and lace are reasonable.

The attraction is definitely the beach with its clean, shallow waters, but there are also playgrounds, slides, waterslides, sport schools, children's pools, karting, cycling, beach volleyball, playgrounds, water-skis, surfing, mini-golf and trampolines for entertainment.

Parents will find relaxing spa treatments, children will love everything from food they recognise, to the friendly smiles, to the colourful national costumes worn in some of the restaurants.