Albena is a relatively small beach resort on Bulgaria’s Black Sea coast. It is not as well known to international tourists as the two large beach destinations in Bulgaria – Sunny Beach and Golden Sands, but it is the preferred destination for many Bulgarians. Albena (?????? in Bulgarian) is situated 12km south of the town of Balchik, 14km north of the Golden Sands resort and only 30km from the city of Varna. Varna has an active international airport that is accessible year round from most major European cities.
Located at the foot of hills planted with trees and shrubs, Albena is spread along a small bay. The resort is protected from winds and has a long beach, 6km long and 150m wide. The construction boom that occurred in many of the other resorts in Bulgaria was more tempered in Albena. It features medium sized hotels, mostly built during communist times, but thoroughly renovated. The lack of substantial new development means that Albena has preserved its original design with wide open spaces between the hotels, full of greenery. It has a wide beach that is seldom crowded. In fact, the entire resort is significantly quieter and calmer than the buzzing Sunny Beach and Golden Sands. Close to Albena, and officially part of the resort, is the national nature preserve Baltata. In combination they offer something from both the modernity of new beach side resorts and the preserved unspoiled nature.
The picturesque town of Balchik, with its botanical garden is located only 12km from Albena. The botanical garden hosts the architectural park complex “The Castle” – the residence of the Romanian queen Maria in the beginning of 20th century. The resort offers excellent conditions for medical treatment, sports, congresses and education. It offers a medical spa, a congress facility, a theatre, and a sports center.
Albena and its vicinity offer a wide range of accommodation options including hotels, guest houses, apartments and villas. A number of new hotels and guest houses were built around Albena in the last few years making it possible for visitors to Albena and the region to enjoy their holiday. The owners of many private holiday apartments also decided to make their properties available for rent to tourists.
