Golden Sands

Location: Golden sands is the biggest sea resort on the north Black sea cost (more than 1800 hectares). It is situated 18 km. north-east of Varna and 488 km easterly of Sofia. It is bounded on the north by Kranevo and on the sougth- by the Chajka Villa area and it murges with St. St. Konstantin and Elena resort. Above the resort is the Frengen Plateau of limestone structure, which is liable to landslide and erosion. The Black Sea beaches are covered with crystal clear sands. Because of its natural beauty, the Bulgarian Black Sea coast has become a famous international resort area. It is a magnificent resort with richly forested hills, white golden beach and clear blue sea. There are a lot of very famous and ancient mineral water springs. The resort is situated in the area, which is a Bulgarian National park. The resort beach strip is 3, 5 km long and up to 100 m wide. The average air temperature in the summer is 27-30 degrees and the water temperature is 25-28 degrees.
Golden sands suits both sun-worshippers and sightseers being near Varna - the third largest town in Bulgaria, the pearl of the Bulgarian Black Sea coast with a great number of places of interest.
History: In Turkish times the area was called Quzounkoum, meaning literally 'long sands'. It was not inhabited up to the 50ies of last century. The resort construction started in 1957 and about two decades, the area was transformed into a modern holiday complex with more than 100 hotels, numerous restaurants, bungalows, camping sites, etc.
Places of Interest: In Golden Sands are organized exhibitions of Bulgarian artists, Bulgarian language courses, folk songs and dances, vanguard fashion shows. You can take part in beauty contests, beer festivals, parad of retro cars, to mention but a few. You can enjoy the performances at Varna International Summer Festival of opera, ballet, theatre and jazz music, folklore and others Roulettes, slot machines, black jack and many other games of luck will provoke the gambling spirit you have never suspected you have. If you feel like dancing, the modern nightclubs along the beach will be the place for you. And finally your night can end with a cocktail at one of the numerous small beach bars. The cultural and information center in the complex offers a rich and versatile concert program, folk music performances and shows in the open.
Your acquaintance with the most ancient layers of the European and world civilizations and cultures will complement to what is going to be a full and versatile holiday. Come to know the traditions and lifestyle of the Bulgarians by visiting the museum towns of Balchik and Shoumen, Rila and Rozhen monasteries, Srebarna natural reserve and Etura. You will have the time of your life during the excursions by air, sea or bus to the ancient cities of Cairo and Istanbul. There are 10 tennis courts, balling alley, mini- golf court, horse riding base, renting of bicycles, shooting gallery, as well as good conditions for practicing all kind of water sports, with the assistance of qualified trainers at disposal of the guests of Golden sands.
Golden sands resort organizes for your children many sports competitions, games and other pleasant occupations, discotheques and unforgettable meetings with their favorite characters from puppet shows. At the children's sport centers they can ride ponies and shoot with balls. There is a slalom slide, mini golf, computer and electronic games, children' railways, inflatable castles. Rolba slides and toboggans. The mineral springs in the complex are with very good curative characteristics. There are several balneological and fitness centers. More than 100 kind of medical cervices offered, combined together with different curative and rehabilitative programs. Specific climate, pure air, sea water, rich in mineral sals and microelements, curative mud and different kind of herbs are unique by the nature. The diseases treated are the following ones: arthritis, stress, neurosis etc.
There are four particularly valuable mineral springs with a flow of 150 m3/sec. Several balneotherapy and fitness centers have been established on the basis of their curative properties. The resort offers over 100 different kinds of medical services, combined with various treatment and recuperation programs. Apart from traditional methods, treatment with pain products - propolis and beesvenom - is also available, and ancient Chinese medical methods are also used. The mineral springs at Golden Sands provide health and beauty all year round.
Surrounding areas: In the immediate proximity to the resort is the interesting Aladzha Rock Monastery. It is one of the numerous Middle ages monasteries, uncovered in northeast part of Bulgaria. It is situated in a beautiful woodland country, about 17 km. away from Varna. The monastery name "aladgha" is Turkish and it means bright and colored. The monastery premises are on two levels, vertical dwelling cut in the rock. In the east part of the first level is the entrance, and in the outermost part behind a stone wall is the tomb.
Unfortunately, the most of the wall paintings are used and irreparable. Nowadays only a small part of the frescoes are preserved but the experience of being in a monastery nestled on a high steep rock is unforgettable.
The second level is naturally dwelled in the rock, in its east part is situated the chapel. Near by is situated a group of caves named Catacombs. There are also found ceramics, coins, graphites, etc. During the 13 and 14 c. the Aladgha rock monastery rock and the Catacombs represented parts of a big monastic complex. Since 1906 year the Aladgha rock monastery operates as a museum, and tourist site.
One can visit Ghiflika Ethnographic complex and St. St Kostantine and Elena Resort. Chiflika Complex is located thirteen kilometers away from the Albena tourist complex, in Batova area. Chiflika's unique architecture and museum collection of authentic findings, related to the traditions of the Bulgarian country-people, take us back to the atmosphere of the Bulgarian village at the beginning of 20th century. Having a picnic in the complex can make everyone feel close to nature, to ancient times, to the spirit of Dobroudja valley, to the simple and open-minded soul of the Bulgarian country-people from the past.
Tourists can also enjoy the hospitality, taste some cold grape brandy, delicious Bulgarian dishes and sparkling wine. The irresistible attractions can make everyone feel closer to the Bulgarian folklore, take part in a traditional Bulgarian wedding or other popular celebrations and get to know the mentality and the traditions of the Bulgarians from the past. This can all turn your visit in the complex into a unique experience St. St. Kostantine and Elena is the oldest resort along the Bulgarian seaside and it is only 9 km away from and Varna. The resort's construction began almost a century ago, in 1908, and the origin purpose of the resort was to host patient ill suffering from tuberculosis.
The resort is named after the nearby St. St. Konstantin and Elena Monastery, built at the beginning of the 18th century. Today the monastery also offers tourist accommodation and a high-quality restaurant. The Evksinograd government residence is located south of St. St. Konstantin and Elena. The residence is built in a New Baroque style with a beautiful garden, fountains, and a staircase leading down to the beech though access to it is restricted to particular hours and days of the week.

Accommodation and Catering: The hotels in the resort are more than 65, as the three stars hotels are predominated, also there are 3 villa villages. More of the hotels dispose with sauna, fitness hall, balneological center, and an exchange office.
The numerous restaurants offer local and international meals. The following establishments are interesting for their architecture, entertainment programme and cuisine: Vodenitsata ( The Water Mill), Tsiganski Tabor (Gypsy Tabor), Kosharite (Sheepfolds), Zlatna Ribka (Golden Fish), Kriva Lipa (Crooked Lime - tree) and Dionisus. The Indian restaurant has a chef from India and is of special interest to the visitors. The sea resort Reviera lies neighboring the Golden sands and it offers a unique combination of cozy atmosphere and sea cost all the year raund.

Transport: Transport between Golden sands and Varna is remarkably well organised. Apart from the bus lines connecting the resort to the airport, there are a lot of minibuses as well, private route taxis and ordinary taxis. Because of the big competition the prices of the tickets are moderate.