The first seaside resort in Bulgaria St. St. Constantine and Helena has always been very close to my heart. When I was little, my parents and I regularly organized walks around Druzhba (the old name of the resort) to escape the noise of the city, spend quality time together and spice up our daily life. The combination of peace and quiet, the aroma of a pine forest and healing mineral water was a prerequisite for a truly fulfilling weekend getaway.

I have been observing the transformation of the complex and I can say that in recent years it has increasingly grown and flourished and offers a competitive tourist product that is highly appreciated by people from all over the world. With slow but sure steps St. St. Constantine and Helena is becoming a preferred destination for luxury, gourmet and spa tourism.

Every single detail in the resort is in harmony with the rest, following the latest trends in architecture and interior design, but also preserving the nature of the region. The synergy between the individual hotels and restaurants in terms of architecture and style contributes to the overall elegant look of the resort. Another perk are the many attractions nearby that are worth visiting.

Visit the monastery of St. St. Constantine and Helena

 The monastery “St. St. Constantine and Helena” is the heart of the resort and the place where it all began. In the last years of Turkish slavery, the monastery cells were rented out to residents of Varna and people from different parts of the country to spend the summer sunbathing and relaxing by the seashore.

At the beginning of the 20th century, a sanatorium and a hydrotherapy facility were built around the monastery “St. Constantine”, and later the first grape healing station in Bulgaria was built there, which combined grape healing and balneology. 1908 is considered the date of birth of the resort and this year it turns 115 years.

You can find the oldest tree in the complex near the monastery.

Take a walk around Primorski Shopping Centre

While walking through the Primorski Shopping Centre, it is as if you are transported to a lively Italian piazza, with the difference that the square is located several metres away from the beach. The sandy coloured clock tower and lush vegetation lend a Mediterranean charm to the place and add to the cultural experience of visitors. In the same place, you can take handmade jewellery and accessories of Bulgarian brands as a gift and experiment with street food. I highly recommend the bubble lemonade, as I’m not a big fan of bubble tea. I was also surprised by the variety of healthy treats – smoothies and raw desserts.

I can also share my experience from Primorski Hotel, which is also part of the complex. We stayed there during our stay in St. St. Constantine and Helena and we were impressed by the modern minimalist interior with bohemian and industrial accents. Personally, I quite liked the idea of ​​opening up the spaces – the sink was in the bedroom instead of a dressing table, the bathroom was in a separate niche with a shower and the wardrobe was open without doors – only with hangers. A great convenience is the underground parking. If you book directly on the hotel’s website, you get all-day access to the water and thermal area of ​​the Aquahouse Thermal & Beach spa centre for free.

Soak your cares away at Аquahouse Thermal & Beach

Aquahouse Thermal & Beach fully uses the healing power of the thermal water. It has a favourable effect on diseases of the locomotor and peripheral nervous system, skin and gynecological diseases. In addition to the standard herbal infrared sauna, steam bath, salt room, hammam, outdoor and indoor pools and a children’s area, for me the pearls in the crown of the complex are the flotation capsule and the outdoor panoramic sauna with a view of the sea. It is a curious fact that 20 minutes in the salt room is equivalent to a 2-hour walk in a pine forest as an effect on the body.

Other places in the resort where you can benefit from spa treatments are: Medical SPA Centre Azalia, Astor Garden SPA and Health Spring SPA , part of the new Aquahouse Hotel & SPA.

Explore the Euxinograd Palace from the outside and the inside

Euxinograd Palace has improved a lot since the last time I visited it back in 2013. It has undergone a long restoration, the authentic look of the furniture has been restored and it is now possible to view the interior as well. ⁣ The summer government residence is a masterpiece of French, Austrian and Swiss architects, while the picturesque gardens have gathered the rich collection of plants belonging to Tsar Ferdinand who was an amateur botanist.

Note that in order to visit the palace, it is necessary to submit a request in advance to e-mail: euxinograde@government.bg. with three names and social security number of those interested, desired date and time of visit. Conversations are held in Bulgarian every day except Monday at 9:00 a.m., 12:00 p.m. and 3:00 p.m. If you do not travel by car, you can reach the residence by buses No. 9 and 409.

Discover the secrets of Aladzha Monastery

Aladzha Monastery is one of those places that both fill you with peace and are shrouded in mystery. I will tell you a few legends related to the monastery that gave me chills:

The Legend of the Hidden Treasure

Local legends say that in one of the underground labyrinths of the monastery the monks hid a huge treasure which included holy books, crosses, icons and other riches. The abbot was the only one who knew the way there. When we fell under Turkish slavery, word of the treasure quickly spread and reached the pasha. He ordered his men to search for it, kill the monks and the abbot and burn the monastery. The secret of the treasure forever remained with the abbot.With the destruction of the monastery, its real name disappeared, and henceforth it was called “aladzha” – colourful from Turkish.

The Legend of the Ghost Monk

According to another legend, the place was then swallowed by the jungle and a mist began to cover the surrounding area. A lone figure of a monk walked like a ghost, accompanied by the ringing of bells from the monastery church. The Turks called him Rumpapa, and we Bulgarians called him Eternal. He appeared from time to time and asked the locals: “Are the cows calving? Do women still give birth?” When he received a satisfactory answer, he mysteriously answered: “The time has not yet come.” However, no one knows about what.

Daily life in the monastery

Everyday life in the monastery was subordinated only to work and prayer. The monks professed hesychasm – extreme ascetic orthodoxy and were obliged to fulfill 3 vows: to renounce everything worldly and their possessions, to overcome their carnal desires and to renounce their will. Only then could they merge with God’s grace. In order to receive a vision and be flooded with Divine light, they had to assume a prayer posture and repeat the Jesus prayer until they fell into a trance.

The mystical case with the last Bulgarian patriarch Euthymius

Proof that a similar phenomenon exists is the case of the last Bulgarian patriarch of the Second Bulgarian Kingdom, Euthymius, with his mentor, Theodosius. Euthymius sees something that shocks him – Theodosius is bathed in light. Later, Theodosius told him with tears in his eyes that he had spoken to God and had good news and bad news. The good thing is that Euthymius will become a patriarch, and the bad thing is that he will be the last one, as it happens in reality.

Have a picnic in Ecopark Varna

The University Botanical Garden, also known as Ecopark Varna, has been my favourite place ever since I went to a green school there. I remember running in the meadows, going down zip lines and having barbecues. I recommend visiting the ecopark in summer when all the plants are in full bloom.

Walking past multi-coloured tulips, blooming roses and exotic cacti is a real delight for the senses. There are also designated barbecue areas, around which you can arrange a very pleasant picnic in nature. Riding lessons, weddings and horse races are organized on the territory of the garden. The Ecopark is open to visitors from April to November and works without a day off.

Take a walk around the Balchik Palace and the Botanical Garden

Balchik is located 36 minutes by car from the resort of St. St. Constantine and Helena. It is a very beautiful seaside town with its busy promenade, closed for cars, and its picturesque sights – the Palace and the Botanical Garden.

Villa “Quiet Nest” is one of the dream houses of Queen Maria of Romania. At 17 years old, the Princess of Edinburgh married the Romanian heir to the throne and became Queen of Romania. Maria wrote poetry and prose, painted and loved fashion and interior design projects. She managed to build the palace in Balchik with funds from the sale of her autobiographical books. The interior of the palace is quite similar to the one of the palace of Count Dracula in Bran, Transylvania.

The botanical garden has one of the richest collections of cacti in Europe, and the royal winery offers free tasting of wines from local producers. Here we tried fruit wine from tomato for the first time. The complex also has a convenient parking lot.

Attend a beach party at Skyfall Infinity Pool in Golden Sands

Only 11 minutes by car from St. St. Constantine and Elena is situated the resort specializing in party tourism – Golden Sands. One of the most attractive places there is Skyfall Infinity Pool in International Hotel. The pool terrace is an ideal place to relax because of its wonderful view of the sea, exotic setting, creative cocktails and fresh summer parties.

Boat trip in Varna Bay

If you are staying at St. St. Constantine and Elena, you should definitely pass by Varna. You can read more about the sights in the city in 100 years of Varna resort town.

Yacht tourism

For foodies and entertainment junkies, I highly recommend the area around the Marine Station, where the nightlife of the city has already moved. There you will find a variety of restaurants for every taste, an amusement park with attractions and a large parking lot – a real convenience for drivers, since it is quite difficult to find parking spaces in the centre.

During the day, the port is an attraction for lovers of yacht tourism. I had never been on a yacht before and it was a completely new experience for me. As we sailed, the captain of the yacht pointed out the fishermen on the quay who were successfully catching scad. He explained to us that this is proof of the purity of the water in the sea, as the scad does not go where it is dirty.

The hosts from yachtsrent.bg  took care of our good mood and allowed us to play music during the sail. Watching the yacht split the waves and chase the clouds to the sounds of your favourite songs is similar to reaching a meditative state. I recommend you organizing such an adventure for a special occasion – a bachelor or bachelorette party, a romantic dinner or a marriage proposal.

Pirate cruise with the party caravel Pinta

Before sunset you can spot a very special sailing ship mooring at the Varna harbour as well. It is one of five replicas in the world – the Pinta Caravel, with which Christopher Columbus discovered America. The pirate ship gives you the opportunity to explore Varna from a completely unknown angle and enjoy panoramic views of Cape Galata, the fallen restaurant and Pasha Dere.

⁣Get ready for a chatty female pirate to ply you with rum and inquisitive toddlers in pirate costumes to search for treasure and scurry around. Overall, the experience is quite fun and suitable for parents with small children. The only downside is the accompanying motion sickness in small doses. It is mostly worth it because of the wonderful views that can be seen at sunset.

A few captured moments from our stay at the resort St. St. Constantine and Helena which was on the occasion of the first travel blogger conference in the form of a business breakfast.