Swap Bulgaria’s Sunny Beach for a lesser-known sandy spot loved by locals who call it ‘heaven on earth’

A LESSER-KNOWN beach in Bulgaria promises to be an alternative to the country's ever-popular Sunny Beach.

As a favourite holiday destination among Brits, Sunny Beach can become very crowded in the summer.

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If you're looking for a quieter beach in the country, then one Bulgarian local may have the answer.

Pav Todorova, 28, has been visiting beaches and resort towns across Bulgaria since she was a young child.

Originally from Plovdiv, Pav has been living in London for nearly nine years, but flies back to Bulgaria in the summer to spend time with her family.

And she believes there are better beach spots tourists can visit when they're holidaying in her home country.

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Pav told Sun Online Travel: "All the tourists flock to Sunny Beach because it's Sunny Beach, and the same for St Vlas, which is just north of Sunny Beach.

"But there are a lot of other little towns across the coastline that are cheaper and have nicer beaches."

One place Pav recommended was Veleka Beach in Sinemorets.

She added: "It's this wild beach that my family went to once, and it was honestly one of the most beautiful spots I've ever seen.

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"The sand at Veleka is nothing like the UK, obviously most of the beaches in Bulgaria are very sandy, like nice, soft, sand."

Nestled between the mouth of the river Veleka and the Black Sea Coast, Veleka Beach looks like a tiny strip of land between the two bodies of water.

Pav added: "It's a piece of land, surrounded by water that transforms into a sandy beach."

"Most of the time they have sunbeds and parasols out, but if you go there in the early season, there might not be any, so you might have to bring them."

There are two bars on the beach, including Yoga Bar and Beach Bar, and there's also a tiny kayaking and surf school.

Pav isn't the only visitor who has praised the beach either, with other holidaymakers raving about the lesser-known spot online.

One person wrote on TripAdvisor: "Veleka Beach is definitely the most beautiful place in Sinemorets - don't miss it."

Another added: "A piece of Heaven on Earth."

While another person added on Google: "A very nice beach, it is very beautiful.

"It's partly organised, but with very few sunbeds, so most people bring their own stuff."

Someone else added: "A unique beach, on one side wavy Black sea, on other - calm Veleka river."

Located in Sinemorets, Veleka Beach is a 90-minute drive from Burgas Airport.

Wizz Air operates direct flights between the UK and Burgas, with fares starting at £44 for a one-way ticket.

Meanwhile, for next summer tour operator TUI will be launching flights between East Midlands Airport and Burgas.

Located just a 3-minute drive from Sinemorets, there are plenty of affordable accommodation options near Veleka Beach.

For example, Sun Online Travel have found hotels in Sinemorets starting from £26 per night in the early season.

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Other Bulgarian beaches to visit

As well as Veleka Beach, Pav also praised Perla Beach in Burgas.

She added: "My favourite beach is called Perla Beach, which is inside the Primorsko resort."

According to Pav, the beach was artificially made to transform it into a lagoon, which is why the water is always crystal-clear and calm.

And this undiscovered seaside spot in Bulgaria is just three hours from the UK - and it's set to become popular with Brits in 2024.

Meanwhile, Brit holidaymakers can also swap busy tulip and lavender fields for Bulgaria's lesser-known Rose Valley.

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Europe’s best beaches according to TripAdvisor

Sun's Head of Travel, Lisa Minot, provides insight on some of Europe's best beaches.

1. La Concha Beach: "Bordering the Atlantic in northern Spain, the surrounding mountains protect it from the wind. Its adjoining boardwalk is popular with families, while the coast is popular for surfing."
2. Praia da Falesia, Portugal: "Backed by fiery red cliffs, this Blue Flag beach has golden sands and clear, clean water."
3. Spiaggia dei Conigli, Sicily: "The pristine white sands of this beach are best known as a nesting site for loggerhead sea turtles. The graceful curve of sand borders turquoise waters and looks out onto the tiny islet of Conigli, just off the island of Lampedusa."

Read more on Lisa's views on Europe's best beaches, here.

Located south of the Balkan Mountains, the Rose Valley is entirely unique to Bulgaria.

Holidaymakers can book themselves onto day tours of the Rose Valley from cities like Sofia and Plovdiv.

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