Golden Sands Attractions

Just to the south of the Golden Sand resort lies the Aladzha Monastery, a UNESCO World Heritage site. The monastery dates from the 12th century but the site may have been inhabited as long ago as the 4th century. "Aladzha" is the Turkish word for "colourful" and the name is believed to have been derived from the wall paintings with which the monastery was originally adorned. Nowadays just a few of the paintings remain. The monastery also houses a small museum.

For the more actively minded, the resort of Golden Sands contains no less than seven swimming pools (one of which is indoors) plus facilities for tennis, volleyball, basketball and horse riding. Children too are well catered for with organised activities and puppet shows. The new "Aquapolis" water park to the north west of the resort is one the biggest attractions and considered to be one of the best of its kind in Europe. The park has capacity for some 3,000 people.

The promenade area of Golden Sands is busy by day and particularly so by night. The promenade is lined with bars, cafes and restaurants serving a whole range of international cuisine from Italy, Turkey and China as well as more traditional local dishes. There are also many beachfront bars, pubs and nightclubs in which to while the night away, some featuring live music and other performances. Prices are generally very competitive compared to domestic prices but you may find, depending on where you go, that some items cost as much as they do at home.

Other popular excursions include Varna, the third largest city in Bulgaria, and Balchik. The architectural and cultural highlights of Varna include the Cathedral of the Assumption of the Virgin dating from the 19th century and the Square of Independence ("Ploshtad Nezavismost").