Albena

Albena was conceived as a planned resort, set in a sheltered bay backed by wooded hills north of Varna and close to Balchik. Its wide, fine-sand beach, where the water deepens gently, made it a natural choice for families with young children from the start, and the hotels arranged behind the seafront keep the shoreline open to the sea.

Much of the resort is laid out for pedestrians, with green walkways and car traffic kept to the edges, which lends the days an unhurried rhythm. The all-inclusive format offered by many hotels makes it predictable on budget, while the nearby forests and the short distance to Balchik provide alternatives for days when the beach isn't the only plan.