Golden Sands Bulgaria, Bulgarian beach resorts

The resort of Golden Sands (Zlatni Pyasutsi) is the largest one on the northern Black Sea coast (more than 1800 hectares). It is situated 18 km north-east of Varna, 488 km east of Sofia; it is bounded on the north by Kranevo and on the south by Chaika Villa Area, and merges with the St. Konstantin and Elena Resort.
Above the resort is the Frengen plateau of limestone structure, which is liable to landslide and erosion. The area is famous for the purest sand on the Black Sea coast. In Turkish times it was called Ouzounkoum ? the long sands.

The resort is smothered in lush vegetation and with the numerous bushes and trees it resembles a real park. The mineral water running out of several big pipes onto the beach, as well as the marvellous deciduous wood bordering the Frangen Plateau turn Zlatni Pyasatsi into one of the pearls of the Bulgarian coast. The construction works commenced back around the year of 1950, and is still going on. Most of the alleys are asphalt-covered, the shore is paralleled by small streets, nice cosy hotels with picturesque parks around them, steps leading to small bays on both sides of the resort ? favourite corners for tourists and holiday-makers in search for solitude.
The constant temperature of about 27°C and the microclimate of Zlatni Pyasutsi throughout the season make it a wonderful place for having a rest and fun. There is a casino, many bars, mini-golf playground, horse-carriages and attractive carts, water slides, good conditions and equipment for practising all kinds of water sports with the assistance of licensed coaches.

One can attend and participate in the following festive: the Strongest Man Competition, Miss and Mister ?Zlatni Pyasutsi? Competition, competitions for all breeds of dogs, Satellite Tennis Tournament, Old-fashioned Auto Rally, International Festival for Standard and Sport Dances, etc.
The Zlatni Pyasatsi Resort offers at the disposal of its gueats 61 hotels and 10 luxury villas. Some of the hotels have swimming pools and fitness halls; most of them have exchange bureaus where the tourist companies leave up-to-date information as well.

As is usual, each hotel has a snack-bar or a restaurant. There is a profusion of restaurants offering various kinds of specialties and entertainment in different styles. As a rule the best artists of the northern Black Sea coast dance and play here in Zlatni Pyasutsi. The following establishments are interesting for their architecture, entertainment programme and cuisine: Vodenitsata (The Water Mill), Tsiganski Tabor (Gypsy Tabor), Kosharite (Sheepfolds), Zlatna Ribka (Golden Fish), Kriva Lipa (Crooked Lime-tree) and Dionisus. There are a lot of snack-bars, fast food, grill- and toast-bars and various other ways to service the tourists.
The transport between Zlatni Pyasutsi and Varna is particularly well organised. Apart from the bus lines connecting the resort to the city and to the airport as well, there are a lot of minibuses, private route taxis and ordinary taxis. Because of the big competition the prices of the tickets are moderate.

In the immediate proximity of the resort is the interesting Aladzha rock monastery. It hosted Hesy-chasts in 12th century and has an interesting history. Nowadays only a small part of the frescoes are preserved but the experience of being in a monastery nestled on a high steep rock is unforgettable. The monastery is declared a cultural sight and houses a small museum.