Towns

For investment purposes the towns in Bulgaria fall into three main categories, Ski, Spa and Coastal, and in addition there is Sofia - the capital city.

Capital City

Sofia is the administrative, cultural and industrial centre of the country. With significant EU funding earmarked, the capital is likely to attract lots of international workers, leading inevitably to increased demand for office space and ultimately residential housing. Indeed many international firms are already located there. The population has doubled in the past five years and there are now 1.2m people living in Sofia. The city is expected to attract 100,000 new inhabitants per year, over the next 5 years, mainly from the countryside and other cities, looking for jobs.

Sofia absorbs almost half of all the FDI into the country. Unemployment levels are much lower than the rest of the country (3% versus the national 10% in 2005). Luxury homes currently lead the market in terms of yield levels which should reach 10% in the next couple of years.

Ski

Bansko is Bulgaria's number 1 ski resort, having the best and most modern ski centre in Bulgaria. During recent years a multi-million euro investment in a brand new skiing area has been made by Yulen, the company which has the licence to run the skiing area of the resort. It has the best snow record and the longest ski season (15 Dec - 15 May) of all Bulgarian ski resorts. During the last couple of years this resort has absorbed massive investment with new hotels and resort facilities either finished or just under construction. A brand new resort area with super luxury hotels and holiday apartments is being developed just opposite the gondola, which gives Bansko some of the finest hotels in the country.

The town of Bansko is 925 m above sea level. It is just 160 kilometers away from Sofia and 6 kilometers from Razlog. Bansko has developed into a favourite ski & snowboard destination, thanks to the excellent ski facilities, combined with the unique architecture and historical significance. The 14km of slopes is at 2000-2600 m. The Pirin mountains, where it is situated, has a predominantly Alpine character and highest peak in the area is Vihren 2914 m. There is a new gondola lift (Dopplemayer) which starts from Bansko. Although the resort is relatively new on the global circuit, it has plenty to offer to its guests.

The well developed mountain resort and a living historical town makes for a unique combination.The traditional Bansko taverns (called "Mehana"), with their exceptional charm and style, offer local atmosphere including their cuisine and good selection of Bulgarian wines. Most of the local "Mehanas" even offer live folk music. All local cafes and bars offer a variety of local and light refreshments. Discos and night clubs work without time limit, and usually close early in the morning.

Golf courses are being built nearby, between Bansko and Razlog, with investors looking at projects such as spa centres, five star hotels and apartment complexes in and around Bansko. Bansko attracts the majority of the tourists from the UK. Bansko is bidding to host the 2014 Winter Olympics. It is increasingly seen as holding a key place in the buy-to-let market/fly-to-let market places.

Pamporovo is a modern ski resort in the heart of the Rhodopi mountains. It is the most southern ski resort in Europe and also the sunniest Bulgarian mountain resort, with wonderful snow throughout the whole season. Pamporovo is situated 1650 m above the sea level, at the foot of peak Snejanka (1926 m). It is 240 km far from Sofia and 85 km from Plovdiv. It has an exclusive climate featuring a soft winter with about 120 sunny days during the skiing period. The significant influence of the Aegean Sea is noticeable here, with the the ski season running from mid - December to mid - April.

The average air temperature is - 3 ° C during the winter months. The gentle profile of the mountain with its rounded slopes and summits makes Pamporovo particularly suitable for beginners, but there are also difficult ski runs like the Giant Slalom run which is an excellent test for any ski expert. More than 100 highly qualified ski instructors, fluent in different languages, are there to teach beginners, intermediate skiers and snowboarders. The ski runs in Pamporovo cater for all levels of competence and it is said to have the best ski schools in Bulgaria.

Borovets is the oldest Bulgarian winter resort with a history dating from 1896. Huddled in pine woods 1390 meters above sea level (with highest pistes at 2600 m) makes a perfect place for relaxation and recreation. The climate is also considered to be healthy. Usually the slopes of Borovets have snow cover from mid December until April. Borovets is also easy accessible - 12 kilometers along first class roads connects it with Samokov; Sofia (the capital of Bulgaria) is just 72 kilometres away. The excellent facilities for ski sports attracts thousands of mountain lovers from Bulgaria and the rest of the world. There are 45 kilometres of ski pistes at varying levels of difficulty, including runs for beginners.

The resort is a regular host of various winter sports competitions. It has twice hosted World Cup competitions in alpine skiing. Its biathlon track is one of the best in Europe. Borovets is an alpine-type resort that provides very good conditions for snow sports during the winter, including: skiing, night-skiing, snowboarding, cross-country skiing, ski jumps and ski-doos. There are more than 200 ski instructors fluent in foreign languages and some of them are former professional skiers.

Black Sea Coast

Albena is six miles north of Golden Sands, it is a purpose-built resort. The step-pyramid architecture of its hotels means it is quite distinctive and modern-looking. It has well-looked after lawns and flower beds and has a beach, lined with bars. It has plenty of activities on offer, but has a reputation for being among the most expensive of the resorts. It has a good rental infrastructure attractive to the European market and it is possible to let out property in high and low season.

Balchik is the 3rd largest city, north of Albena and Golden Sands occupying a succession of sandy cliffs and hills. It has a lot of whitewashed cottages, built above a series of ravines, which run down to the sea. It is popular among the Bulgarians, partly for its inexpensive hotels. It does not see many tourists yet, largely because it lacks a really good beach. It’s main attraction is the Summer Palace of Queen Marie of Romania, a reminder of the interwar years when Balchik was ruled from Bucharest. This is all set to change as two yachting marinas are being created as well as 3 golf courses (D. Mail 18.8.06).

Burgas has a very attractive and friendly tourist centre. The town is investing a lot of time and money giving a much needed facelift to some of the less modern areas - its image is now one of an up-and-coming town. Part of Burgas is home to an oil refinery, with associated chemical plants and deep harbour - which is home to Bulgaria’s oceanic fishing fleet. The presence of visiting ships and passing tourists give it a cosmopolitan feel, especially in late August, during the folk festival. It is surrounded by rich wetland reserves both to the north and south. It is the transport hub for the whole of the coastline from Nesbur down to Ahtopol.

Varna is Bulgaria’s third city and it is situated near chalk cliffs towering over the verdant countryside. It is in the process of westernising, with signs of change everywhere, hoardings splashed with Western brand names to fashion boutiques springing up in the shopping areas. It rivals Sofia and Plovdiv in providing a wide range of sights and museums. It is a beach resort in its own right and has a Riviera–town atmosphere. It also has a shipyard south west of the centre.

Sunny Beach (Slûnchev Bryag) is the largest coastal resort and has long stretches of hotels interspersed with restaurants, and snack bars. Many of the resort’s hotels cater well for western tourists and have been tastefully refurbished. It has an excellent 8 km sandy beach which has received a coveted Blue Flag award and some of the liveliest nightlife to be found on the Black Sea coast.

Nesebur is a World Heritage site 3 km south of Sunny Beach. A peninsular town, its livelihood used to be fishing, although nowadays it depends on tourism rather than its fishing heritage for its wellbeing. It has the best of the coast’s C19 wooden architecture, among a maze of cobbled streets and medieval churches, which are part of the reason it has become an attractive destination for tourists.

Sozopol is a small fishing port, the favoured resort of Bulgaria’s literary and artistic set since the beginning of the last century. It is popular with German and Eastern European package tourists since the 1970s. Its 19th century house on a rocky headland, gives it a certain attraction,. Then there are two excellent beaches, lapped by clean water. Scores of bars and restaurants and a lively promenade, mean it also has a good nightlife. Sozopol is fast overtaking Nesbûr as the coast’s prime attraction. For the first ten days of September, Sozopol hosts the Apollonia Arts Festival, comprising jazz, classical music, theatre and poetry and frequent open-air pop concerts take place throughout the Summer. The harbour is classed as one of Bulgaria's main naval bases.

Golden Sands (Zlatni Pyasûtsi) is a multi-national resort 18 km north of Varna and near the Golden Sands National Park. It is the largest resort on the northern Black Sea coast, with richly wooded hills, white golden beaches and clear blue sea. There are a lot of ancient mineral water springs, dating back to the Thracians and Roman Caesars. The resorts’ hotels are part of the wooded, landscaped strip behind the long sandy beach. Nearby are the remains of the Aladzha Monastery, dating from around 5000 BC. The beach is about 4km long, up to 100 m wide and has the purest sand on the Black Sea coast. With regular temperatures of about 27ºC throughout the Summer season, Golden Sands suits both sun- worshippers and sightseers alike, due to its proximity to Varna. It is a great place for family holidays, with lots of activities organised and facilities aimed at children e.g. sports centre, competitions, games, pony riding, mini golf.

Spa Towns

These have in the past had more appeal for continental Europeans than the British, however there are indications that buyer interest may be shifting as the spa towns have year round vacation properties that offer potentially better yields.

Pomorie lies to the North and has many big hotels. It is one of Bulgaria’s main sources of salt mining and renowned for its therapeutic mudbaths. A lot of the town was destroyed by fire in 1906 and rebuilt during the 1950s. It has a lakeside sanatorium which was once an exclusive health resort in the Roman era, and it still remains important for the local economy.

Bankya is in the foothills of the Lyulin mountain and only 22km from Sofia. It is a spa centre specialising in cardiovascular and pulmonary ailments. The town has several galleries, many restaurants and cafes, small clubs and a racecourse. Due to its proximity to Sofia, it is a place for city dwellers to have weekend residences and as the commute to Sofia becomes easier, then it could become a suburb of the city.

Sandanski enjoys the warmest and sunniest climate in Bulgaria. It is the most popular spa destination with hot mineral springs, whose curative effects have been enjoyed since Roman times. It has a modern appearance, but dates back to the Thracian Medi tribe and is the likely birthplace of Spartacus, who led the great slave revolt against the Roman Empire, in the first century BC.