Ahtopol tourist info and hotels

The town of Ahtopol is located over a sharply jutted cape, eighty-seven kilometers southeast of Bourgas and has around 1500 inhabitants. It has 2 long beautiful and picturesque beaches, the 2nd one, which is to the north of Akhtopol being used mainly by nudists.
The town is situated over area, which once was a Thracian settlement. Akhtopol was presumably colonized in the sixth century BC. The Romans called it Peronticus while the Byzantine leader Agaton reorganized it after barbarian invasions and named it on his own name - Agatopolis. The town of Ahtopol oftentimes changed hands between the Byzantines and the Bulgarians, and when the Ottoman forces came at the end of the fourteenth century, it was named Ahtenbolu. It was burnt down and ravaged by sea pirates numerous times with the most recent fire being in 1918 when the town was been completely devoured. There are still remains of the Ahtopol’s fortress and a fountain with a carved horseman, which are the only traces left from the ancient times.

 

The Assumption Church and the St. Yani Monastery are attractive sights for tourists coming around. In the afternoon and evenings, romantic guests enjoy pleasant walks to the lighthouse and crawling over the adjacent rocks next to the quay, beneath which one can see a lot of crabs and various kinds of fishes. Some 5 km south of Akhtopol is the outfall of Veleka River, one of the most picturesque rivers that flow into the Black Sea, together with Ropotamo and Kamchiya Rivers. The outfall of Veleka River is barred by a strip of sand stretching from shore to shore, where many visitors prefer to sunbathe and swim in the river (much colder) and the sea. The village of Kosti, renowned for its fire-dances (barefoot dancers on glowing embers) is located nearby the river’s outfall. Further south, vacationists can sunbathe at the gorgeous beaches of Sinemoretz, Silistar and Rezovo.

Prices in Ahtopol are relatively low due to the plenty of private lodgings and bungalows although some of them are luxurious family villas, set amongst flowers and trees. Yet these usually have to be booked in advance. Something that attracts many holidaymakers in Ahtopol is the highest number of sunny and hot days during the summer season. The resort is preferred by young people, with the most dominant group being hard rock and metal fans due to the few specialized rock-cafes in the town of Akhtopol, including “Tsunami” and” Durvenoto”; but also Bulgarian families with children and pets for the plenty of low-price accommodation in bungalows and family villas.  

Some of the most popular restaurants in Ahtopol are “Morsko Oko” (Sea Eye), the Valdi Hotel's restaurant, “Chetirimata Kapitani” (the Four Captains), “St. Georgi” and “Sirius”. There is a great variety of pubs down the two major streets in the town and close to the quay, offering sea-food specialties and traditional Bulgarian dishes. Prices are generally low and fishermen also sell freshly caught fish around the quay, while one can buy fruit and vegetables from the local grower’s stalls all over the town.
There is regular bus and minibus transport to Bourgas (crossing on its way many of the picturesque towns and villages in the southern part of the coast) and the adjacent towns of Sinemoretz and Rezovo.