The Seaside Park, Burgas

The Seaside Park is not just a park by the seaside, it’s the heart of the city, the muse and inspiration of generations of artists, poets, and musicians; it’s been the stage of a thousand love stories…

The Seaside Park was built back in 1910 by the landscaper Georgi Duhtev who turned the bare windy space between the city and the sea into one of the most beautiful parks in Bulgaria. His passion for exotic plants brought hundreds of plant species to the park from all continents; they bring an exotic atmosphere to the park even today. The old part of the Seaside Park has been established as a monument of park art. The park spreads over 600 decres and is more than 5 kilometres long. You will need a few hours if you want to walk around it.

If you start your walk from Bogoridi Street, the first thing you will be mesmerised by is the incredible view of the sea, the pier and the port, spreading out before you, standing on the terrace which all Burgas citizens call the “parapet” or the “balustrade”. If the terrace could talk, it would tell you the stories of thousands of lovers’ kisses, of dreamy looks staring into the sea, of children’s laughter, playing with kites in the wind, of the elderly couple who takes a walk to the terrace every day and of all the love, which the Seaside Park sends to the sea just so it can have it back on the sea breeze with the salty spray over the sandy beach.

Enchanted by the beautiful view, you will walk past the colourful and refreshing fountains, telling the city story with its sprays, past the Sea Casino which is now both a culture centre and a favourite place for leisurely activities, past the open stage of the “Snail”, where everyone gathers every day to listen to music during the evening concert or just to relax outdoors, while discussing the latest gossip. The Seaside Park will not only move you but it will also tell you about the city heroes, about all the honourable local and foreign people whose sculptures and busts add to the atmosphere of the park.

Here you will find the Summer Theatre which gathers thousands of visitors and locals throughout the summer season. Further on along the alleys, among the greeneries, past the sweet corn and ice cream stalls, you will find the domes of the Flora, famous for its annual international flower show.

Even if you are a little tired you will feel emotionally recharged. And when you feel like having a bite you can head down to the promenade. It hosts numerous pubs, small and large, which will offer you all kinds of treats, prepared according to old Burgas recipes.

Besides a nice walk, numerous little relaxation areas, an outdoors gym and many restaurants, the Seaside Park can also offer you entertainment which attracts a world-wide audience every year. These include “Burgas and the Sea” Popular Song Contest, the International Folklore Festival, “Spirit of Burgas” Music Festival, “Turn on the City” Contemporary Art Festival.

Emotions, sea, love, calm, or freshness – whatever you’re looking for, you will find it in the Seaside Park. You will also find something you might not have expected – the certainty that you will come back here again – among the sea breeze, the call of the gulls and the refreshing song of the fountains…