Royal Bay

Royal Bay is the beach of Elenite, a secluded holiday complex on the southern Black Sea coast, set at the foot of wooded hills not far from Sunny Beach and Sveti Vlas. The name fits the setting: a small cove beach, sheltered and framed by green slopes — the kind of spot that trades the vast sweep of the big resorts for a sense of seclusion.

The sand is fine and pleasant underfoot, and the entry into the water is gradual, shelving gently — a comfortable shore for families and for anyone after a calm swim. Being a sheltered cove, the sea here is usually on the gentler side; and as everywhere on the Black Sea, there are no tides.

Beach season runs broadly from May to September. It suits families looking for a more tucked-away corner, with easy water and a green natural backdrop. Elenite is straightforward to reach from Burgas — which has the nearest airport — along the coast road linking the resorts around Nessebar and Sunny Beach. For a comfortable day, bring water, sun protection and an umbrella. Its 3.8-out-of-5 rating points to a pleasant beach that is smaller and more resort-bound than the broad public beaches elsewhere on the coast.