Seaside city hardly visited by Brits is as pretty as Greece | Travel News | Travel

Brits fed up with  overcrowded resorts in Greece could find the perfect alternative further east, in the Balkans.

Sozopol is an ancient seaside town in Bulgaria.

Instead of the Mediterranean, it can be found on the shores of the Black Sea.

It boasts two stunning white sand beaches – and a gorgeous old town that looks like something from the pages of a storybook.

Picture terracotta-topped houses and winding cobbled lanes and you’ll get Sozopol’s general gist.   

It’s the oldest settlement on the Black Sea and was originally settled by the Ancient Greeks and named Antheia, more than 2,500 years ago – but was renamed Apollonia. It has endured a tumultuous history since then – and was all but destroyed during a Roman siege in 72 BC.

By the end of the first century AD, the town had been had been rebuilt – and the name the name Sozopolis first appeared in written records. During the Ottoman, rule which began in 1453, the town was known as Sizebolu, Sizeboli or Sizebolou.

Some of this history can be still seen in the streets of this city that’s had many names. There’s a seven-metre-high ancient gate, a fortress – and more than 180 Ottoman homes from the 18th and 19th centuries.

Greek marble friezes and other artefacts dating back thousands of years can be found in the Sozopol Archeological Museum. Meanwhile, the city’s Church of St Cyril and St Methodius is home to a rather macabre historical relic.

The church houses what are reputed to be the knuckle bones of St John the Baptist. These were found in the ruins of a medieval monastery on nearby St Ivan Island – and have been carbon-dated to the time of Jesus, who St John baptised.

Today, the city attracts tourists from around Europe. Bulgaria attracts millions of visitors a year – with many arriving from Turkey, Romania, Greece and Germany.

However, in 2023 fewer than 400,000 Brits visited Bulgaria. By comparison, Greece welcomed 4.5 million UK travellers last year.  

So if you’re keen to avoid your countrymen and women, Sozopolis could be an attractive option. It’s just three hours and 15 minutes from Gatwick Airport – and Brits don’t need a visa, but must have a valid passport.

And it’s cheaper than many other holiday destinations. Bulgaria is in the top 25% of countries in Europe for its affordability – and pint of local beer can cost as little as £1.50.