Bulgaria's Black Sea coast expects another record summer

Bulgaria's summer tourism season officially began on June 1, with the country's Black Sea coast preparing for another strong year after record growth in 2025.

According to the National Statistical Institute and the Ministry of Tourism, registrations of foreign visitors rose by 9.8% last year, while the number of Bulgarian holidaymakers increased by 2.9% compared with 2024. A nearly 4% rise in overnight stays placed Bulgaria among the EU's 10 fastest-growing tourism markets, while tourism revenues for the January-November period reached nearly 3.9 billion euros.

Optimistic outlook for 2026

The Ministry of Tourism reports a 3% increase in early bookings for the summer season and forecasts overall visitor numbers to rise by around 5% compared with previous years. Beaches along the Black Sea coast are ready to welcome holidaymakers, while seasonal inspections by the authorities are already under way.

Preliminary booking data show sustained demand for Bulgaria's leading seaside resorts, with Sunny Beach, Golden Sands and Albena ranking among the most sought-after destinations.

First summer as both eurozone and Schengen member

The 2026 season marks Bulgaria's first summer as part of both the eurozone and the Schengen area, a development expected to boost travel from other EU countries. Tourism businesses say the removal of currency exchange costs will make payments easier and help attract more independent travellers from Western and Central Europe. Bulgaria also continues to market itself internationally as a safe, peaceful and affordable destination. According to tourism industry estimates, prices remain around 20% lower than in neighbouring Greece and Turkey. This year, 26 beaches and six marinas along the Bulgarian Black Sea coast have been awarded the internationally recognised Blue Flag eco-label, the highest number of certified sites in the country's history.

Traditional markets remain strong

According to the Ministry of Tourism, organised family holidays and package tours continue to generate the strongest demand. Most advance bookings come from Poland, the United Kingdom, Germany, the Czech Republic and Romania.

Tour operators are also reporting growing interest from organised groups from France and Israel.

Domestic tourism remains harder to predict, as many Bulgarians continue to rely on last-minute offers and short breaks during weekends and public holidays.

Charter flights and air links

For the 2026 summer season, Varna Airport will once again operate without direct charter flights from the United Kingdom. British travellers will instead rely on scheduled low-cost and traditional airlines offering direct services.

Charter traffic from the UK remains concentrated at Burgas Airport on the southern Black Sea coast. Major charter programmes from Germany, Poland, the Czech Republic, Austria, Switzerland and Israel continue to operate, with some routes increasing their frequency.

Together, the airports of Varna and Burgas offer extensive charter programmes linking Bulgaria's Black Sea coast with more than 20 European countries.

Seasonal inspections under way

Authorities have launched seasonal inspections on beaches along the Bulgarian Black Sea coast.

The checks involve several institutions and focus on the presence of the required number of lifeguards and medical facilities, the certification and safety of water attractions and jet skis, hygiene standards, commercial activity and fiscal compliance.

During the active summer season, pets are prohibited on supervised beaches, with the exception of certified guide dogs accompanying people with disabilities.

Interactive beach map

The Ministry of Tourism has launched an updated interactive map of Bulgaria's beaches. Concession holders are required to publish and update the prices of umbrellas and sun loungers in real time to improve transparency and prevent overcharging. Information is updated following inspections.

Important contacts

Visitors who encounter violations or irregularities on Bulgarian beaches can contact the relevant authorities.

European emergency number: 112

Ministry of Tourism
https://www.tourism.government.bg/bg/contact

Tel: +359 2 904 67 99 (working hours)
Tel: +359 2 9046 831 (after 7 p.m. and on weekends)
E-mail: control@tourism.government.bg

Consumer Protection Commission
https://kzp.bg/bg/kontakti

Consumer hotline: 0700 111 22

National Revenue Agency
https://nra.bg/wps/portal/nra/kontakti/connection.nap

Information centre and reporting line:
0700 18 700
+359 2 9859 6801 (from abroad)

E-mail: infocenter@nra.bg

Municipal police and inspectorates

Burgas:
056 841 560
0885 009670 (24-hour duty line)

Varna Regional Police Directorate:
052 615 166

Text by: Desislava Semkovska
Editor: Diana Tsankova