Reached in less than four hours from London airports, cheap Bulgaria holidays are a mash-up of untamed landscapes, breathtaking coastlines and captivating cities bursting with history and culture.

Often seen as a more economical alternative to popular Mediterranean destinations, Bulgaria offers stunning beaches featuring a balance of family-friendly resorts and party towns. You can enjoy it all with a sunny outlook as, similar to the rest of southern Europe, long hot summers enjoy temperatures of up to 30°C.

Even in the shoulder seasons of May and October, when you can bag an extra good bargain, the temperatures still hover at 17°C, making it a great climate for plenty of exploring.

While the resorts of Sunny Beach, Nessebar and St Vlas are developed with visitors in mind, there are still plenty of less discovered bays along the charming Black Sea coast. Try quiet Elenite or Obzor Beach for uncrowded breaks – but still with everything close at hand.

Enjoy a walking tour of Nessebar

Located on the southeast, rocky peninsula of the Black Sea Coast, Nessebar is a major seaside resort offering a host of Bulgaria holidays, in particular, the popular All Inclusive hotels.

Although, don’t be fooled by the modern hotels stretching along the golden beach, because away from the array of sun loungers, you’ll find the magnificent old quarter. This is an UNESCO World Heritage Site, filled with grand 18th century houses and the remains of over 40 churches from different periods of history.

Connected to the mainland via a narrow strip of land, the old town is full of Roman ruins and Bulgarian houses, complete with terracotta rooftops and cobbled streets. Enjoy walking through this romantic, living museum, picking up locally made souvenirs from the plethora of street sellers, before heading to one of the seafood restaurants dotted along the harbour.

The Sunny Beach experience

The self-contained, purpose built resort of Sunny Beach is the biggest in Bulgaria and the ultimate party destination. Leaving you wanting for nothing, you’ll find an 18-kilometre stretch of golden sand lined with bars, restaurants and shops. Plus, there’s a host of activities that range from fairground rides to waterparks and parasailing. Everything is all in walking distance in Sunny Beach, so it really is an ideal resort for family holidays in Bulgaria as you don’t need to worry about the kids getting tired or booking taxis.

Popular with the party crowd, once the sun goes to bed the resort goes wild. Along the main strip you’ll find a wide range of bars and clubs ranging from traditional Balkan venues to Coyote Ugly style drinking holes. During the summer months, famous DJ’s host events on the beach itself and you’ll almost definitely stumble into a foam party at one of the mega clubs.

Despite the other party hot spots lie Ibiza, and Ayia Napa tending to be increasingly expensive, you’ll find the drinks keep flowing in Sunny Beach for it’s ever so affordable – and there’s always deals and promotions to take advantage of! Cheap Bulgaria holidays and dancing all night long goes hand in hand.

Vibrant Varna

If you’re looking for vibrant culture steeped in history and a great party atmosphere, head to the elegant coastal region of Varna. Surrounded by gardens, vineyards and groves the city is a significant port and trade centre while offering up an array of lively restaurants, bars and clubs along its promenade.

The beaches are another highlight of course, whether it’s Varna Beach you choose because it’s centrally located with everything you could need for a beach day, or Asparuhovo Beach for the seclusion and tranquility, they all offer something different, but all just as beautiful as each other. Plus, not that you need to think of ways to reign in the spending on holiday in Bulgaria, but beach days are the perfect way for low, or no spend days, making those cheap Bulgaria holidays even better.

Close to the cosmopolitan seaside town of Varna are a hub of cultural and heritage sites. So from here you can enjoy day trips to the Kamchia River and Reserve or discover the natural phenomenon of The Stone Forest.

Spot some wildlife

There are several mountain ranges spread out over Bulgaria that are filled with exquisite natural beauty. The Strandja Mountains are only an hour’s drive from the coastal resort of Sunny Beach, making the area easily accessible. Follow the scenic winding roads through ancient forests that conceal wildcats, wolves and golden eagles, and stop off in the authentic, historical villages as you pass through.

The Strandja Nature Park also harbours a network of caves, steep limestone cliffs, sparkling lakes, mineral springs and ancient Roman ruins. The wild, and sometimes difficult terrain, can be reached with a 4X4 vehicle and many professional drivers offer fun day excursions to the area. This can be a great way to explore and see the sights, while also getting your adrenaline kick in.

Splash out at Bulgaria's biggest waterpark

Like we said, cheap Bulgaria holidays don’t need to be spend doing nothing, there’s plenty to do!

For a wet day away from the beach head to one of Bulgaria’s impressive waterparks. Popular ones are the fun-filled Aqua Paradise waterpark in Nessebar and Action Aqua Park in Sunny Beach. With free shuttle buses servicing the surrounding resorts, the parks provide fun for all ages and promises an exciting and affordable day out.

With both parks having big slides, perhaps the most extreme are at Aqua Paradise, including the 22-metre high Kamikaze slide and 13-metre long Tsunami. Younger guests will enjoy the children’s areas at both parks, with multiple slides and water castle to explore.

There’s plenty of ways to make the most of family holidays in Bulgaria but waterparks are definitely one of the best!