Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Kavarna, 17km east of Balchik, is a sleepy administrative town of little interest in itself,
although it's famous (in Bulgaria) as the venue for the
Kaliakra Rock Fest
(
www.kaliakrarockfest.com
)
, which attracts international acts every June. It's also the
most practical base for anyone wishing to explore the Kaliakra Cape.
The pedestrianised ul Dobrotitsa, running south from the bus station, is where you'll
find the post office, banks and cafes. Halfway along, the
Church of Sveti Georgi
(ul
Rakovski)
is worth a quick look for its icons. Another low-key sight is the
History Mu-
seum
(ul Dobrotitsa 1B; admission 2 lv; 9am-5pm Mon-Fri)
, displaying some Thra-
cian and Roman oddments.
The seafront is around 3km or so downhill from town, and can be reached by hourly
buses from the bus station if you don't fancy the walk. Impressive white cliffs watch over
the harbour and sandy beach, which is patrolled by lifeguards.
There are four daily buses to Balchik (4 lv, 30 minutes), and hourly buses to Varna (6
lv, 1¼ hours). There are a few minibuses each day to Bâlgarevo and Shabla and one or
two to Rusalka and Krapets. The border with Romania is closed along the coast here.
Sleeping
Thracian Cliffs Golf Resort & Spa $$$
( 058 510 510;
www.thraciancliffs.com
; apt from 394 lv; )
Located in
Bozhurets village, west of Kavarna, this sprawling all-suite resort is centered on a stun-
ning 18-hole golf course, designed by Gary Player. The suites are large and luxurious and
there are excellent restaurants on site. Windsurfing and waterskiing are available at the
beach, if golf's not your thing.
RESORT
Hotel Venera $
( 87 003;
www.venera-bg.eu
; ul Chaika 6; r 20-30 lv;
GUESTHOUSE
)
Around 150m from the
sea, Hotel Venera is among the better options in Kavarna.
THE LEGEND OF KALIAKRA
According to a local myth, as the Turks advanced on Kavarna in the 14th century, a group of 40 beautiful young
women, fearing a life of slavery, dishonour or worse at the hands of the Ottoman soldiers, tied their long hair to-
gether and, holding hands, threw themselves off a cliff along the Kaliakra Cape. Some displays relating to this le-
