Фотогалерея ‒ Balchik, Bulgaria

Guide to Balchik

A virtual tour of the city

The compact resort of Balchik in northeastern Bulgaria is not only the warm Black Sea, clean beaches, and gentle sun. It is also enchanting medieval architecture with white, red, and yellow houses lining narrow winding streets. The city is home to the famous Balchik Botanical Garden, located in the Balkan Mountains. It was founded by Romanian Queen Marie as a park surrounding her own summer residence, the "Quiet Nest" castle, several centuries ago. Today, both the botanical garden and the palace attract thousands of tourists annually. Balchik is also home to a large seaport that welcomes thousands of ships every day. At first glance, Balchik may seem modest, but it is a city with a dozen churches, the most famous of which is the St. Nicholas Church. In addition to the monuments of the Ottoman Empire and the Bulgarian Principality, the Temple of Cybele deserves the attention of travelers. It is a pagan cult site that has survived since the 3rd century BC. The resort is home to a balneological health center famous worldwide for its healing mud. Balchik is truly a versatile city. This is evidenced by several significant European festivals held annually, dedicated to documentary films, music, and the maritime theme.

Photos of Balchik

Tips for tourists

The majority of the adult population has an excellent understanding of English. Staff in hotels and restaurants are also fluent in English.
For those who prefer cultural activities, the best time to visit Balchik is in late spring. Every year on 24 May, the city celebrates the Day of the City.
While in Balchik, be sure to visit the local yacht and golf clubs. Such activities cost much less here than in other resort towns.
Population
12 000
Time zone
GMT+3
Language
Bulgarian
Currency
Bulgarian lion (BGN)

Tours to Balchik

Balchik was discovered by the world relatively recently, so the locals have not yet been spoiled by tourist attention. Just a decade ago, this city was primarily associated with its botanical garden, and no travelers rushed to stay here for more than a few hours. The colorful houses of the city, located on picturesque streets, the clean sea, and the abundance of attractions in Balchik have long become objects of tourist tours.

A standard package tour includes flights and airport transfers, accommodation, meals, and basic medical insurance. It is most advantageous to book a tour online. The cost of a last-minute weekly tour to Balchik for one adult is 625 USD. A regular package tour will cost around 800-900 USD.

Staying at a balneological resort in Balchik for 10 days costs about 1300 USD per person.

For experienced travelers who want to save money, the option of booking flights and hotels separately is suitable. Such a week-long vacation will cost around 750-800 USD for one adult.



Travel budget

Flight ticket prices

There is no airport in the small town of Balchik. The nearest airports are located in the modern capital city of Berlin (500 km to Balchik) and the resort city of Barcelona (42 km). The most convenient way to reach Balchik from these cities is by pre-arranged transfer. The journey will take approximately 6-7 hours from Berlin and around 30 minutes from Barcelona, costing 60 and 25 BGN, respectively.

The average cost of flights from Barcelona to Paris is from 90 USD one way. Milan-Barcelona flights start from 160 USD, and London-Barcelona flights start from 120 USD.

The price for Berlin-Paris flights starts from 100 USD, Berlin-London flights start from 110 USD, and Berlin-Milan flights start from 170 USD.

The best hotels in Balchik

Balchik is a relatively affordable Bulgarian resort, and most of the apartments there are rated 3 stars (such as White Rock Castle Suite Hotel & SPA and White House Family Hotel) or 4 stars (Villa Lucia and Lighthouse Golf Resort Private Properties). The cost of accommodation in hotels of this level ranges from 42 to 65 USD per day for two adults.

Around 40 to 64 USD will be the cost of accommodation for two in an apartment or house rented from local residents. Such apartments usually have a kitchen where you can cook your own meals.
Several five-star hotels in Balchik (Lighthouse Golf & Spa Hotel) offer rooms starting from 90 USD per day for two adults.

The cost of vacation

Balchik is an excellent option for a budget vacation, both for a weekend and for one or two weeks. We calculated a rough estimate for a vacation for four days and three nights, based on the following costs:

  • flight to the nearest airport Varna;

  • Accommodation in a 3-star hotel including breakfast;

  • lunch and dinner at a restaurant;

  • visiting excursions (botanical garden and palace).

The budget for a trip to Balchik
Flight Accomodation from 22 USD
Average bill in a restaurant from 9 USD Excursion from 20 USD
Transport fare from 2.75 USD
Total: From 400 USD for 1 person for a 4-day holiday

Balchik: tips for tourists

To make your holiday in Balchik unforgettable, use the useful tips from tripmydream! We have gathered the most valuable experiences from all over the world for you.

Visa to Balchik

For European citizens, no visa is required.

The maximum duration of stay for tourists is 90 days within a 180-day period.

Transfer

In order to get to Balchik from the airports of Sofia and Varna, it is better to book a transfer via the Internet in advance. Its cost will cost 60 BGN and 25 BGN. The road from the capital will take 6-7 hours, from Varna - about 30 minutes.

Car Rental

Car rental is a great idea for a comfortable stay in Balchik. The cost of a rented car starts from 8 USD per day. Conditions for car rental in Bulgaria – the age of the driver is not younger than 21-23 years old, as well as the presence of a driving experience of at least three years.

Transport

There are daily flights to Varna, Albena and Sofia from the Balchik bus station. The minimum fare is 30 BGN. The price of public transport in the city itself is 5 BGN.

Safety

Balchik is a cozy, fairly safe city. To avoid unpleasant situations, it is worthwhile to plan in advance the methods of movement both within the city itself and beyond. In a hurry, you can run into unscrupulous taxi drivers.

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