Old Nessebar is one of the oldest cities in Europe, with a history of more than 3,000 years. Until the 9th century, it was called Mesembria and was one of the main trading centers of the Black Sea, where they cast their own coins - silver, gold and copper. Now the ruins of the city are located on a small rocky peninsula, which is 850 meters long and 300 meters wide. Every year, archaeologists discover new traces of ancient civilizations and cultures here.
At the beginning of our era, Nessebar experienced a difficult period of Roman rule, and then became part of the Greek colonies and was destroyed by the Turks in the 15th century. The city regained its grandeur in the era of the Bulgarian National Revival. In ancient times, there were about 40 churches here, unfortunately, the ruins of only 9 have survived to this day, of which only one is active - the Church of the Holy Mother of God. Today, Nessebar is under the protection of UNESCO and is a real pearl of Bulgaria - a world masterpiece of architecture that has survived to our times. This place is perfect for an educational holiday with family and friends.
Old town of Nessebar
Nessebar (Nesebar) is one of the oldest European cities and the most beautiful cities in Bulgaria, founded over 2000 years ago. Despite numerous hotels and tourist complexes, Old Nessebar, located on a small peninsula, still remains exquisitely ancient and romantic.
From the beginning of the first millennium BC. e. there was a Thracian settlement, later turned into a Greek colony. From ancient times to the present day, the ruins of the fortress wall, towers, gates, reliefs, and the remains of Byzantine baths have been preserved in Old Nessebar. The land here still holds many secrets, so the excavations are still ongoing.
At the end of the 1st century, the first Christian woman-great martyr, Saint Irene of Macedon, died in Nessebar.
The cultural and economic heyday of Nessebar fell on the XIII-XIV centuries, but in 1452 Nessebar fell under the pressure of the Turks. From the time of the Ottoman yoke, the old fountain and Turkish baths have been preserved.
In 1956, Nessebar was declared a city-museum, and in 1983 the Old Town was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.
Among the sights that you need to see in Nessebar are the churches of Christ Pantocrator, St. John the Baptist, St. Sophia, etc., the monument to St. Nicholas, as well as the western fortress wall with a gate. In addition to the architectural beauties, Nessebar is rightfully proud of its beautiful sandy beaches, cozy cafes and restaurants, and very close to the city is one of the most famous resorts in Bulgaria - Sunny Beach.
And what sights of Nessebar did you like? There are icons next to the photo, by clicking on which you can rate a particular place.
New Nessebar
New Nessebar is part of the resort town of Nessebar, located on south coast In Bulgaria. The city is more than two thousand years old, it is recognized by UNESCO as a museum city. New Nessebar is a modern part of the city, which is full of hotels, apartments for tourists, restaurants, banks, offices, cafes, souvenir shops, etc. New Nessebar provides tourists with everything necessary for a quality holiday, and the old part of the city provides an excellent opportunity for walking and sightseeing .
The old part of the city is completely opposite to the new one, it is located on a small peninsula, where historical buildings built in the 16-19 centuries, narrow streets, ancient churches, museums, etc. are concentrated.
Many consider the beaches of Nessebar to be one of the most beautiful in Bulgaria. They are located in the southern part of the bay, where the beach areas are bordered by picturesque sand dunes.
Nessebar is a great place for a family vacation, and those who like to light up at night can go to neighboring Sunny Beach or Burgas. In addition to historical sights and magnificent beaches, Nessebar has a water park and an amusement park, which can be reached by a free bus. The city also has many cozy taverns, restaurants and cafes.
Eco-bar "Michael's"
Eco-bar "Michael's" is a unique and, perhaps, the only bar in the world, the interior of which is completely decorated in the form of a stalactite cave. Tables and chairs here are located in recesses between hanging limestone icicles of the most bizarre shapes, and between the tables there are streams of water in the form of streams that flow into a small reservoir lined with greenery. By the way, on the pebbles of this pond you can see many small turtles.
The bar menu offers all kinds of non-alcoholic and alcoholic cocktails, as well as very tasty and varied fruit desserts.
Aqua Paradise Amusement Park
Aqua Paradise - relatively new, very big park attractions, which is located in Nessebar. The water park covers an area of 30,000 square meters. An incredible number of slides, tunnels, slopes, pools and attractions make this park the best and most preferred among tourists. The management of Aqua Paradise took care of the maximum safety of its visitors and every vacationer can relax and enjoy the entertainment without unnecessary fears. Slides and attractions wrap around ancient castles and huge water pools.
There are many small cafes and restaurants on the territory of the water park, which are ready to satisfy your hunger with delicious traditional dishes at any time. This is a great place to relax as a couple, with a fun company or with your family.
Windmill" Old town of Nessebar
At the entrance to Sary Nessebar - the peninsula, the first thing that meets on the way is a windmill. The old windmill, standing on the isthmus leading to the city, is a symbol of old Nessebar. Made of rather rough materials and darkened with time, at one time it obviously served its intended purpose, working due to the power of powerful autumn winds. Today, tourists are happy to take pictures against its background.
Church of St. Sophia "Old Metropolis"
The Church of Hagia Sophia, also known as the Old Metropolis, is an Orthodox church located in the town of Nessebar. It is part of the historical architectural reserve, which is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. It is assumed that the place where the church now stands was previously the center of the Old City. The construction of the cathedral dates back to the end of the 5th - the beginning of the 6th century. Researchers have established two periods of construction of the building. The temple acquired its current appearance during the First Bulgarian Kingdom - at the beginning of the 9th century. In the Middle Ages, the church served as a cathedral for the metropolitan diocese of Nessebar. In 1257, the temple was plundered by the Venetians, many religious relics were subsequently taken to the church of San Salvatore in Venice.
Church of Christ Pantocrator
This church in Bulgaria gained fame for its richly decorated facade. Rows of arches, triangular ceramic ornaments and various other decorations give the church a charming look.
Vinotheque Christi`s
Hristi's wine cellar is one of the main centers of wine tourism in Bulgaria and one of the most visited places in Nesserb by tourists. Here you can not only taste local Bulgarian wines, but also learn a lot of interesting things about the history of local winemaking from the owner of the wine cellar - Christina.
Initially, Christina was engaged in the sale of wine made in her winery to various shops and bars in the city, after which she decided to open this small, but already very popular tasting room in order to develop wine tourism in Nesserba and popularize Bulgarian wines abroad.
Guests of the wine cellar will have the opportunity to taste four types of locally produced wine from various grape varieties, including Gimza, Feteaska, Mavrud, as well as white, red, sparkling wines and a variety of Bulgarian brandy.
South Beach Nessebar
south beach Nessebar, near the hotel "Aphrodite". Narrow sandy beach, about 2 km long. Lovers of big waves will like it, as it is located right by the sea. The South Beach has been awarded the Blue Flag, which the World Environment Facility honors the best eco-beaches. About half of the beach area is occupied by a paid zone, where you have to pay for sunbeds and umbrellas, and you are not allowed to sunbathe on your own towel or sand :-(
Bedroom Bar Club
Bedroom Beach Club is one of the establishments of Cacao Beach resort and entertainment complex and is focused on youth recreation.
The literal translation of the name is "bedroom", which corresponds to the main idea of the institution - it is in some way a bedroom on the beach. The organizers invite you to sit down and end a hot day in the bedroom, with cold tea and fresh fruit on the "bedside" table. The bar also offers a wide selection of alcoholic cocktails.
The idea of the institution is territorially embodied in the division of the recreation area (open and closed terraces with tables and sunbeds around the pool) and the bar with the dance floor.
The bar hosts themed parties and concerts by famous DJs.
The most popular attractions in Nessebar with descriptions and photos for every taste. choose best places to visit the famous places of Nessebar on our website.
Individual and group
Having visited Old city Nessebar, I was convinced that the historical sights of Bulgaria are in no way inferior to those in Greece, Italy and other European countries, which we associate more with a beach holiday. Take, for example, the resort of Nessebar: the old town, whose history spans several millennia, still retains traces of several eras. This is a unique attraction that Bulgaria can rightfully be proud of.
The old town of Nessebar occupies a small peninsula, connected to the coast by a thin isthmus, along which a highway passes.
History of old Nessebar
The first Thracian colony on the territory of present-day Nessebar existed 1000 years ago BC. A few centuries later, the Thracian Greeks settled on the peninsula, who were replaced by the Romans. Today, only archaeological finds that can be seen in museums remind of the ancient period of the history of Nessebar.
When the Roman Empire collapsed, the territory of present-day Bulgaria became part of Byzantium. Since then, the remains of military, civil and religious buildings have been preserved in Nessebar.
At the end of the 12th century already AD, as a result of an uprising led by the Bulgarian aristocrats Ivan and Asen, the Second Bulgarian Kingdom was formed, which included Nessebar. During this period, numerous churches were built on the territory of the peninsula, made in the Byzantine architectural traditions using opus mixtum masonry, which involves the simultaneous use of brick and limestone. These structures are much better preserved than the buildings of the Byzantine period.
The Ottoman period of the city's history, which began at the end of the 14th century, when Bulgaria fell under the onslaught of the Turks, reminds of itself with an abundance of characteristic houses with a stone bottom and a second floor made of wood. These buildings belong to the period of the so-called Bulgarian Renaissance, which began at the end of the 18th century against the backdrop of a weakening Turkey.
How to get to Old Nessebar
Since Nessebar is not just a piece of land, but almost an island, you can get there not only by land transport, but also by water.
By land
The most affordable option is by bus.
From Burgas and Pomorie, buses 10 and 11 will suit you, the ticket price is 6 leva or just over 3 euros. They go once every hour and a half.
Bus number 1 runs from Sunny Beach 4-6 times per hour (fare 1.3 leva or about 0.7 euros), and also buses 5 and 8 pass three times per hour, which capture and (fare 1.5 leva or about 0.8 euros). The ticket is purchased from the conductor and is strictly for cash.
Also from Sunny Beach you can get to Nessebar and on an open "train". This attraction costs around 3 leva (about 1.6 euros) and runs 2-3 times per hour. At the same time, I did not notice that this type of transport had some kind of rigidly fixed point of departure, but in any case they leave from the central part of the resort, and a ticket is bought upon landing from a barker standing nearby.
The most expensive option is by taxi. Here the amount starts from 10-15 leva (5-8 euros), but it makes sense to resort to this method only if you are returning from Nessebar late at night. In this case, be sure to bargain.
By sea
Pomorie and have a permanent water connection with the peninsula. There are two ports in Old Nessebar - the northern one, where a sea taxi arrives from Sunny Beach and St. Vlas, and the southern one, where ferries from Sozopol and Pomorie sail. In the diagram below, the places where water transport arrives are located at the places where the dotted lines come from.
Boats from Sunny Beach and St. Vlas leave 2-3 times per hour, and the ticket price is 15 leva (about 8 euros) one way per person and is purchased on the spot.
I also draw your attention to the fact that water communication with Nessebar may be suspended if the sea is stormy.
Architecture of old Nessebar
Old Nessebar is a real museum city, so it is not possible to list all the architectural monuments without exception in one article. The main ones are shown in the diagram below. 
Byzantine monuments
Churches of the Byzantine period have survived to this day in a badly ruined state. I will talk about some of them in the section devoted to the religious buildings of Nessebar, but for now let's go through the monuments of civil and military architecture.
City walls and gates
In fact, my acquaintance with the old Nessebar began with them. Although the gates are now in a semi-ruined state, they look very picturesque. Here, tourists are waiting for another attraction of Nessebar - this time alive. 
Sometimes it seems that this person plays all day without rest and, according to eyewitnesses, the piper played on the remains of the Byzantine walls back in the 80s of the last century - I don’t know if it was this one or another. Although the musical performance on the walls is free, anyone can donate as much as they see fit to the indefatigable piper.
Thermae
Today, only the ruins of the lower level have remained from them, which anyone can see, but it is difficult to touch the ancient stones, since a barrier has been installed around the ruins of the thermae. 
Tank
It is a rectangular reservoir for collecting water - the only thing left of the water supply system of ancient Nessebar. Unfortunately, only the walls and foundations of the columns that once supported the ceiling have survived to this day.
Monuments of the Second Bulgarian Kingdom
From this period (XIII-XIV centuries) only churches have survived to this day, which largely borrow Byzantine traditions, but they are predominantly of the cross-domed type, while religious buildings dating back to the period when Nessebar was part of the Eastern Roman Empire are 3-5-nave basilicas. Read more about the medieval temples of Nessebar in the section dedicated to churches.
Monuments of the Ottoman period
This period, which was not the most rosy for the inhabitants of Nessebar, had two characteristic features in terms of architecture. Firstly, the height of Christian churches was limited by the height of the rider sitting on a horse, so that the temples of this period are more like barracks or barns. Secondly, closer to the decline of Turkish rule, the era known as the Bulgarian Revival began.
Architecture of the Bulgarian Revival period
These are residential buildings, which are one and a half to two centuries old. Distinctive features are the second floor finished with wood, as well as the fact that the upper level protrudes and, as it were, hangs over the lower one.
In addition, not far from the entrance to the old town, on the isthmus connecting Nessebar with the mainland, a wooden mill attracts attention. Unfortunately, I could not determine exactly when it was built, but judging by the appearance of the boards, its age is at least 1.5-2 centuries. Today, the windmill is one of the symbols of Nessebar and is very popular with birds.
Museums of old Nessebar
But there are not so many museums in the classical sense of the word in Old Nessebar.
Film Museum
This small museum, it would seem, does not fit at all into the atmosphere of antiquity that reigns on the streets of Nessebar. At the same time, once inside, you understand how self-sufficient this place is.
Unfortunately, the inscriptions on the exhibits are rather sparse, so I cannot say which of them is the original and which is a copy, but, in my opinion, in this case this issue is not fundamental. Before us is not just a museum of wax figures, among which movie characters predominate, - so one of the exhibits is the torso of the "mercury" from the second part of the movie "Terminator" at the moment of "tightening" the wounds. There is also a Freddy Krueger glove, and a copy of Darth Vader's lightsaber, and the dark lord himself is presented in the museum without a helmet. There are also more banal figures - Batman, Joker, Iron Man and others. In any case, this is an institution where I personally took a lot of cool selfies, many of which I consider to be full-fledged souvenirs of visiting Nessebar.
The entrance to the museum is usually guarded by an imperial stormtrooper from Star Wars, who also willingly takes pictures with everyone.
The entrance ticket costs 10 leva (5.2 euros). Opening hours are best checked locally, but during my visit it was open until 21 or 22 pm.
How to get to the Film Museum
The museum is located on Messembria Square near the Church of Christ the Pantocrator. The facade of the building faces the main street.
Archaeological Museum of Nessebar
It is here that the ancient heritage of this ancient city. The museum has a rich collection of antique dishes, coins, reliefs depicting scenes from ancient mythology, but in terms of these indicators it is inferior to large museums in Italy and Greece, but this is compensated by an excellent Russian audio guide, thanks to which even inconspicuous at first glance exhibits turn out to be interesting. In addition, the museum presents gold items from Thrace, as well as evidence of contacts between Nessebar merchants and the cities of medieval Russia. 
Opening hours and ticket prices
An adult ticket costs 6 leva (3.1 euros), a child ticket costs 3 (about 1.6 euros). In addition, for 20 leva (10.4 euros) you can buy a ticket that gives you the right to visit the ethnographic museum and five churches, which I will discuss below. The cost of an audio guide is 5 leva (2.6 euros), despite the fact that you can listen to it together.
The museum is open daily from 9.00 to 19.00.
How to get to the archaeological museum
Getting into the museum is very easy: as soon as you pass through the main gate, it will be on your right hand.
Ethnographical museum
First of all, its visit should be considered as an opportunity to visit inside a typical Bulgarian Revival house. The main highlight of the interior are the richly decorated ceilings against the background of an ascetic decoration in general. As for the exhibits, these are details of national costumes, and ancient icons, and photographs from the beginning of the 20th century, through which one can trace the recent history of Nessebar. 
Opening hours and ticket prices
During the season, the museum is open daily from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and the entrance ticket costs about 3 leva (1.6 euros). For more information about opening hours and prices, you better find out on the spot or at the ticket office of the archaeological museum.
How to get to the ethnographic museum
The museum is located on Messembria Street. To get there, you need to go a little deeper into the old city.
Churches of Nessebar
To begin with, a few words about the five churches, inside which museum expositions are located today. Perhaps these places of worship are the best preserved.
Since I visited them on a single ticket, I recommend finding out the cost of visiting each temple separately on the spot, but I think it will be within 1-3 leva (0.52-1.6 euros).
Church of St. Stephen
Built in the 11th century, it is notable for the fact that a real garden with fruit trees adjoins it, and I was quite surprised when a hospitable museum employee unexpectedly treated me to figs grown in it. In the same garden, the foundations of ancient columns are on display for everyone to see.
It was built in the traditions of Byzantine architecture using opus mixtum masonry. Inside, icons and frescoes have been preserved, while many biblical scenes are distinguished by cruelty.
Church of Christ Pantocrator
This is already the period of the Second Bulgarian Kingdom - the XIV century. It is also well preserved, and inside you will find an exhibition. vintage maps as a reminder that Nessebar has always been an important trading hub. In addition, some archaeological finds are exhibited there - in particular, slabs from the Roman period of the city's history.
Church of John the Baptist
Built in the 10th century, it looks like Russian churches of the pre-Mongolian period, many of which have survived in Veliky Novgorod and the Vladimir region. Inside there is an exhibition of icons.
Church of the Holy Savior
This is already the 17th century, that is, the period of Ottoman rule. Deprived of a dome, elongated and having a sloping roof, outwardly it resembles a barn, and this was done for a reason. 
The fact is that when these lands were under the Turkish protectorate, Christian churches had a strict height limit. The wall frescoes are very well preserved in the church itself.
Church of Paraskeva
Another example of the architecture of the period of the Second Bulgarian Kingdom of the XIII century. The church is notable for the fact that the entrance to the bell tower was carried out not from the inside, but from the street. The bell tower itself has not been preserved, and the steps have survived to this day. Inside, preserved frescoes from the demolished in 1958 church of George Golemi are exhibited.
Other churches of Old Nessebar
Below I will talk about the main temples in the old city, which are now not used as museums. The condition of some of them today is extremely deplorable.
Basilica of Hagia Sophia
It’s a paradox, but the most popular monument of religious architecture in Nessebar is the 5th-6th century Hagia Sophia, which is now in ruins. The facade, the remains of the walls and the internal arched colonnade have survived to this day. The cathedral is open to everyone, which is what lovers take pictures in the arches.
Church of Our Lady Eleusa
Built in the 6th century, today it is in a frankly deplorable state. At the same time, it is even strange that a barrier from vandals was not built around it. From Greek, the name translates as "Church of the Tenderness of the Virgin".
Church of Archangels Michael and Gabriel
A well-preserved picturesque monument of the era of the Second Bulgarian Kingdom of the XIII century.
Despite the high degree of preservation, it is impossible to get inside today.
Church of St. Todor
It is also a monument of the 13th century, but as a result of the restoration, the temple looks more like a covered garage. Probably, such a step was taken in order to strengthen the historical masonry itself. Entrance inside is currently closed.
Church of the Assumption of the Virgin
Built in the 19th century, it is the newest of the churches of old Nessebar and the only functioning temple on the peninsula. Although outwardly it bears little resemblance to the temples of the Byzantine period, in some places one can observe the masonry of opus mixtum.
Entrance to the church is free, and it is better to check the opening hours and schedule of services on the spot. Important note: photography is not allowed inside.
Church of St. John Alyturgetos
Another architectural monument of the Second Bulgarian Kingdom, which was closed for restoration during my visit. The architectural feature of this church is the presence of two entrances inside. The word "aliturgetos" is translated from Greek as "unlit"
Modern monuments of Nessebar
This is, first of all, the sculpture of St. Nicholas, located in front of the entrance to the city, who at all times was considered the patron saint of fishermen, sailors and travelers, so he has the right place in the port.
Infrastructure of old Nessebar
Despite the fact that we have before us a 100% open-air museum, if you wish, you can find all the necessary attributes of the tourist infrastructure there.
Hotels
As for the hotels located on the territory of old Nessebar, I can only say that there are a lot of them, and for details I refer to the sites of popular booking systems.
Beaches
Strangely enough, there are beaches on the peninsula, if you can call it that a few small patches of sand, on which there was even a place for sunbeds and umbrellas. Sand, as elsewhere in Europe, belongs to everyone, and as for the infrastructure and operating hours, I recommend checking on the spot. 
Another thing is that I don’t see any point at all in visiting the beaches of old Nessebar, since the new part of the city is much more suitable for such a holiday, which you can read about.
A few words about food outlets
There are many food outlets in old Nessebar, and I will not recommend any specific ones here. Let me just say that the cost of lunch decreases as you move away from the main entrance to the city. At the same time, restaurants in Nessebar in the old town, located next to the Byzantine gate, are distinguished not only by high prices, but also by extremely slow service, since there is always a full house there. Bulgarian cuisine prevails in most cafes and restaurants, but if you wish, you can find something else: for example, the Czech cuisine restaurant “Praha”.
In addition, on the territory of old Nessebar, as well as in other resort towns in Bulgaria, here and there there are stalls with delicious ice cream, which is sold at 1.69 leva (about 0.9 euros) per 100 grams, excluding the weight of a waffle cup, which is free . However, it was in the old Nessebar that I saw trays with prices of 1.99 leva (about 1 euro) per 100 grams, but there are few of them. In addition, there are also stalls with ice cream at a price of 1 lev per scoop, but there the range of flavors is less wide.
Souvenirs in Old Nessebar
There are many souvenir shops in the old town. At the same time, in addition to magnets, mugs and hand-painted ceramics, I was struck by the abundance of items with the symbols of the Third Reich - flasks, ashtrays, orders, etc. Moreover, many of the finds, at least according to the sellers, are genuine artifacts from the Second World War.
Amphitheater
Unfortunately, it bears little resemblance to an ancient monument, but it is actively used during the holidays, when free performances are held there. In particular, I had the pleasure of watching the ballet "Swan Lake" on the stage of the amphitheater, albeit in a truncated version.
A couple of words in the end
Despite the crowds of tourists, I sincerely believe that if you are relaxing on the Bulgarian coast, Old Nessebar is a must-see. At the same time, even if you are not a history buff, this place with the embankments open to all winds and picturesque multi-tiered buildings is simply saturated with serenity and relaxation. To feel it, just turn off the main streets towards the sea.
A very long time ago, about three thousand years ago, on a small peninsula, a little over 800 meters long and only 300 meters wide, a fishing town was founded, which has now turned into a beautiful and interesting museum city for tourists, included in the UNESCO list, as a settlement belonging to the world cultural heritage. A winding dam 400 meters long leads to Old Nessebar, on the sides of which the gentle warm sea splashes, swans sway on the waves, and an old mill stands on the road. Tourists, entering Old Nessebar, plunge into the romance of the ancient, as if descended from the pages of fairy tales, narrow streets. Everything here is saturated with history, and the cobbled streets still keep the echo of the steps of people who walked along them in ancient times.
Old city
Behind the dam, right behind the monument to the patron saint of fishermen - St. Nicholas - parking lots for cars were built, since entry into the city protected by UNESCO is, of course, prohibited, but this circumstance should not frighten tourists, because it is not difficult to get around the peninsula, and you can have a bite to eat in cozy coffee houses or restaurants that can be found on any street. There are many small shops selling all sorts of things and street stalls in the city, you can even buy freshly caught fish in the local port. Particularly interesting are the paintings sold on the streets by local artists, which you can buy for yourself as a souvenir. To fully feel the atmosphere of this amazing city, you can rent accommodation in local houses of colorful construction, where a spacious wooden second floor is erected on the stone foundation of the first floor.
Story
Every year, archaeologists find traces of ancient civilizations and cultures lost in the millennia on the peninsula. Once, around the end of the seventh century BC, Melsambria, a Thracian settlement, was built in these places. Centuries later, the settlement turned into a city leading a lively trade with the countries of the Black Sea and Mediterranean coast. Archaeological finds dating back to the 2nd and 3rd centuries BC, when Nessebar reached its peak, can be seen in the city's archaeological museum. Natural disasters that occurred in antiquity did not bypass the peninsula either, almost half of its lands were swallowed up by the sea, and today, when the sea is calm and the weather is clear, you can see the remains of the ancient port, fortress walls and towers hidden at a depth of about a hundred meters from the coast .
Old Nessebar survived both the rule of the Roman Empire and the entry into the Byzantine Empire. The ruins of limestone towers, fortress walls, temples and aqueducts remind of those times. In 1304, Byzantine rule came to an end and Nessebar was annexed to Bulgaria by the Bulgarian king Theodore Svyatoslav Terter. Unfortunately, in the fifteenth century the city fell during the devastating war against the Turks for Bulgaria. Many unique architectural monuments, churches and even fortress walls were destroyed. For a long time, Old Nessebar was a “provincial” town, where residents lived off fishing and agriculture, and only in the twentieth century the city began to develop intensively thanks to the actively developing tourism in Bulgaria.
Sights of Old Nessebar
The main sights of the city include the architecture of houses built during the Bulgarian Revival period, that is, in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. Roofs and balconies of white-stone buildings with wooden bay windows are decorated with reliefs and fine, skillfully executed carvings. You can get acquainted with the life of the inhabitants of this fertile era in the ethnographic museum.
The archaeological museum, opened in 1994, is very interesting in terms of its exposition, in which visitors can see gold coins and jewelry from the Thracian era and finds dating back to the era of Roman rule. This museum has a large collection of icons.
The miraculous icon of the Holy Virgin is located in the current church of the Most Holy Theotokos and believers on the eve of the holiday dedicated to the Holy Virgin come to her in the hope of being healed of their ailments. Some surviving churches have been turned into art galleries. The famous churches of Old Nessebar include the Church of St. Stephen, inside of which a carved iconostasis of the sixteenth century has been preserved. The temple acts as a museum and the entrance fee is 5 leva for adults and 2 leva for children.
The true pearl of the architecture of Old Nessebar is the Cathedral of Christ the Pantocrator.
The ancient town of Nessebar will enchant with its amazing history and unique beauty. Here you can enjoy delicious exotic dishes prepared from seafood, and stay at the hotels of the peninsula, which have a high level of service.
Nessebar is a very beautiful Bulgarian town, besides it is very old, it is already over 2000 years old. It is considered almost the oldest city in Europe. Of course, now the city has a large number of modern hotels and tourist complexes. But still, despite this, the city, which is located on a small peninsula, is still very romantic and exquisitely ancient.
Even before our era, at the beginning of the first millennium, a Thracian settlement was already located here, which was later turned into a Greek colony. Towers, ruins of the fortress wall, gates, ruins of Byzantine baths, and reliefs remind of those times in Old Nessebar. Archaeological work is carried out to this day, as the city land still keeps a lot of secrets. 
At the end of the first century AD, a very tragic event took place in Nessebar - the execution of the first Christian woman, the Great Martyr Saint Irene of Macedon.
The heyday of culture and economy in Nessebar occurred in the XIII-XIV centuries, but, unfortunately, this time did not last long, in 1452 the city was captured by Turkish troops. From the time of Ottoman rule, Turkish baths and an old fountain have been preserved in the city.
In 1956, Nessebar was awarded the honorary title of a city-museum, and since 1983 the city has been included in the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites. 
In the city, first of all, you should visit Christian churches and cathedrals, striking with their beautiful decoration and sophistication, as well as the western fortress wall with gates. In addition to architectural monuments, Nessebar is proud of its sandy beaches, restaurants and cozy cafes. Not far from the old town is a very famous Bulgarian resort - Sunny Beach.
The resort town of Nessebar (Nesebar) is one of the most beautiful cities in Bulgaria, where tourists come from many countries of the world. This is one of the oldest European cities. The first archaeological finds date back to the 12th-11th centuries. BC e. At that time, there were Thracian settlements on the Black Sea coast, one of which was located on the site of the city of Nessebar.
The city consists of two parts - Old Nessebar and New Nessebar. Old Nessebar is located on a peninsula and is connected to the new part of the city by a 400 meter dam. Old Nessebar is a unique architectural and historical monument included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.
Where is located
The city is located in the southern part of the Black Sea coast, belongs to the Burgas region and is the administrative center of a large resort area, in which Ravda, Sunny Beach, Sveti Vlas and Elenite are located.
How to get there
The international airport is located in the city of Burgas, which is 37 kilometers away. Flights are operated daily from Moscow Domodedovo Airport. From Burgas airport to Nessebar you can take a taxi, bus Burgas-Nessebar or bus, Burgas-Sunny Beach, which, on the way, enters Nessebar.
From Nessebar it is only 10-15 minutes by bus number 1 to Sunny Beach, with its almost 10 kilometers long beach and a developed entertainment industry. The climate here is temperate continental, and the holiday season lasts from May to September. In the summer months, the air temperature reaches +27-30 0 C, and the water temperature +24-26 0 C. As a rule, they start swimming in May, but the most comfortable months are July and August. In September begins the Velvet season”, when the daytime temperature drops a little, and the sea is still very warm and you can swim until about mid-October.
Beaches
Equipped beaches are located in the hotel area, on the mainland coast. They have sun loungers, umbrellas and lifeguard posts. The sand here is fine and clean, the water is exceptionally clean, and the entry into the sea is gentle, even and long. You need to move 20-30 meters from the shore so that you can swim. It should be noted that Nessebar is not only a resort, but also an ordinary residential city, so everyone who wants to experience all the delights of night resort life goes to Sunny Beach, which is 15 minutes away by bus. There is a night, very stormy and noisy, life ends at 5 o'clock in the morning, or even later. Many people prefer to walk back and forth along the seashore, which takes about 40 minutes.
shopping
For shopping, a new part of the city with the main street Father Paisius is suitable. There are many shops for different tastes, where you can buy anything you want. In Old Nessebar, you should not spend money on purchases, since all prices there are 1.5-2 times higher. But the abundance of restaurants and cafes, you must definitely use. The prices are reasonable, the portions are large and everything is delicious. Fish restaurants are especially famous with an abundance of dishes and drinks.
Attractions
The main attractions of the city of Nessebar is its old part, where, in addition to the ruins of ancient Byzantine churches, there is a functioning Orthodox church-museum, with a miraculous icon of the Blessed Virgin Hodegetria, which people come to worship not only from all over Bulgaria, but also from other countries. Nearby is the Archaeological Museum and the “Hristi’s” wine cellar, where you can taste wines and cognacs, as well as listen to an interesting story about Bulgarian winemaking.
Approximately two kilometers from Nessebar is the largest in Bulgaria, and in the Balkans, the water park - "Aqua Paradise". You can get there by a free shuttle bus that runs every 15 minutes. There, in addition to unique water activities, there are cafes and restaurants, so they go there for the whole day.
Like a place for summer holiday, Nessebar is very attractive for all categories of tourists. For those who prefer relaxing holiday, it will be comfortable in the hotels of the resort, since there are no discos or noisy night events here, and lovers of fun can go to Sunny Beach, which is nearby.
