Sofia Airport → Sozopol

Founded by Greek colonists from Miletus around 610 BC as Apollonia Pontica, Sozopol claims the title of Bulgaria's oldest town, and its Old Town still feels like a working fishing settlement rather than a resort — narrow lanes of weathered stone-and-timber houses, drying fishing nets, and small boats bobbing in the harbour. It has long been a magnet for Bulgarian writers and artists looking for something quieter and more authentic than the big coastal resorts, and every September it hosts the well-regarded Apollonia Arts Festival.

Sozopol has good sandy beaches on both the northern and southern sides of the peninsula, so there's swimming as well as sightseeing, and the seafood — grilled or fried straight off the boats — is some of the best on the coast. It makes an easy day trip from Sunny Beach or Burgas, or a lower-key base for a longer stay.