Sozopol day trip from Burgas or Sunny Beach

Updated: October 29, 2026

Sozopol is about 35 km south of Burgas, around 40 minutes by car, and about 65 to 70 km from Sunny Beach, roughly 1 hour to 1 h 15 min. A day there gives you the old town on its rocky peninsula, the archaeological museum and the southern fortress wall, a long lunch by the sea and an afternoon on the beach.

Getting there

Buses run regularly from Burgas to Sozopol, and in summer boats also run along the coast. From Sunny Beach the trip usually involves a change in Burgas. A driver is the better option if you want to leave at your own time, travel with children and beach gear, or add a stop such as the Ropotamo river.

Starting point	Distance, about	Drive time, about
Burgas centre	35 km	40 min
Burgas Airport area	45 km	50 min
Sunny Beach	65 to 70 km	1 h to 1 h 15 min
Pomorie	50 km	55 min

Use the booking form above to send your route and date. Burgas is pre-filled; if you are starting from Sunny Beach or another resort, change the pick-up point in the form.

A day in Sozopol

Time	Plan
09:00	Pick-up in Burgas
09:45	Drop-off near the old town
10:00 to 12:00	Old town lanes, wooden houses, the churches of St George and the Virgin
12:00 to 12:45	Southern fortress wall and tower
13:00 to 14:30	Lunch with a sea view
14:30 to 15:30	Archaeological museum, with finds from ancient Apollonia
15:30 to 18:00	Beach time at the Central or Harmanite beach
18:00	Return to Burgas

What makes Sozopol different

Sozopol was founded by Greek colonists in the 7th century BC as Apollonia Pontica. The old town sits on a narrow peninsula, with stone ground floors, timber upper storeys and lanes that run down to small viewpoints over the rocks. It is a living town, not a museum, with cafés, galleries and fishermen’s boats in the harbour.

• Old town: best early in the morning before the day visitors arrive.
• Archaeological museum: painted vases, anchors and objects from Apollonia.
• Southern fortress wall: a reconstructed section with a small museum.
• St Ivan island: visible from the town; access is limited, so check locally if you want to go.

The old town’s lanes are narrow and traffic is restricted in summer. Plan to be dropped at the edge and walk in.

Old town or new town?

Sozopol has two halves. The old town on the peninsula is where the history, the wooden houses and the best views are. The new town, to the south, has wider streets, hotels and the long Harmanite beach. On a day trip, spend the morning in the old town while it is cooler and quieter, then move to the new town side for the beach in the afternoon.

When to go

June and September are ideal: warm sea, fewer crowds. In July and August Sozopol is busy, especially at weekends, and parking is hard to find, which is one reason a drop-off works well. In early September the town hosts the Apollonia arts festival, with concerts and exhibitions.

Practical notes

• Bring swimwear and a towel if you want the beach; changing facilities vary.
• The museum and the fortress wall have their own hours; check before you go, especially outside summer.
• Cash is useful for small cafés and beach sunbeds.
• If you are staying in Sunny Beach, an early start avoids the busiest traffic around Burgas.

Combine with

South of Sozopol, a boat trip on the Ropotamo river fits easily into the afternoon; see our guide to the Ropotamo river boat trip. Further south, the Strandzha mountains make a full day of villages and forest. For more ideas, read day trips from Burgas.