The Best Hotels in Burgas, Bulgaria

Burgas is a port city, so why not stay in a hotel that reflects the city’s international trade history? The Promenade is a glamorous, beautifully restored house built at the turn of the century by French and Bulgarian architects. The Art Nouveau building, complete with Greek marble and Slovenian wood, excels at understated luxury with a seaside flair.

Nestled in the foothills of the mystical Strandzha Mountains, you can wake up among the trees and walk to the Vista Mare Beach from Utopia Forest’s exclusive property. Alternatively, spend the day enjoying the fresh air onsite – there’s an outdoor movie theatre, a yoga studio and an incredible deck illuminated by string lights for nighttime dinner and drinks.

Kick back, and enjoy an all-inclusive stay at Hotel Boryana, where all you have to think about is what drink you’re ordering next. Your stay on the beach, which borders a nature reserve, includes an umbrella and lounge chair, meals with fresh produce from the onsite organic gardens and, yes, bottomless drinks (from 10am onwards).

Primoretz means “seaside” in Bulgarian, and this hotel has welcomed Burgas beach vacationers since 1959. The luxurious property is located on the southern edge of the Sea Garden, the city park that runs along the Black Sea coast. This institutional spot is also part of the contemporary city-culture scene, hosting the annual Port Prim Art Fest.

On the northern shore of Burgas Bay is the residential neighbourhood of Sarafovo, where you can stay just a staircase away from the beach. The resort’s rooms feel like residential apartment suites, with pleasing neutral colours accented by yellows and blues. Staying outside the city centre has other perks, too. The local wineries of Pomorie – where wine was first produced in the first century BCE – are right down the street for you to visit.

If you love Brutalism and all its blocky concrete, you’ll want to book a stay at Hotel Bulgaria Burgas. The fourth-tallest building in the city was built during the Communist regime as part of a state monopoly. After being renovated in 2020, it is now boasting a sleek, modern interior. Another post-Communism feature is the Sinatra piano bar, where singing waitstaff and popular Bulgarian artists perform.

If you’re lucky, you can book one of the five rooms at No13, each designed by a local artist, with details like original paintings and a diamond-encircled mirror. Beyond the restored yellow Neoclassical house walls, stroll out to the popular pedestrian areas of Aleko Bogoridi Boulevard and Alexandrovska Street. Snag a traditional Bulgarian breakfast of banitsa at Toct Sandwich just down the street.

What’s black, white and red all over? The Hotel Gran Via, whose bold colour scheme extends throughout the entire property. Lounge in the covered summer garden, stroll through the city centre, or head down to the beach – it’s all accessible from this smaller 10-room spot. Grab a simple bite to eat a the downstairs cafe, where you can sit on the terrace in the warmer months.