Location: The town of Bourgas is the second largest city on the Black sea coast and it is an administrative center of a district. It is situated in the farthest end of Bourgas bay and is 390km. away from Sofia. The town ranks fourth in size among the biggest towns in the country after Sofia, Plovdiv, and Varna. It is situated in the south-eastern part of the country. Due to the low level of the coast three lagoon lakes were formed: Atanasovsko, Bourgas, Mandren. The town is situated between the sea and the first two lakes however it has grown so much that nowadays it almost touches the third, Mandra Lake.
 
History: Bourgas is a successor of the late Roman small town called Deultum founded by Emperor Vespasian as a military colony for veterans. Later it was renamed Develt, which is now the name of the present day village of Debelt. Three small villages are included in the present territory of the city Kastiacion, Skafida, Rossokastron. There was built a town around the mineral springs well known in the area. Thracian tribes lived here before the commencement of this construction work. The glory of the neighbouring towns did not allow the small fortresses to expand. In the middle Ages a small fortress called Pirgos was erected, probably used as a watch-tower on the Bulgarian territory.
It was only in 17th century that Bourgas was given its present name and its location as it is was determined. It was called Ahelo-Bourgas. After the Liberation it was called Bourgas, and it was a small settlement with 2950 inhabitants. Ever since, the town has grown and the population has increased almost 100 times. It became a lively center of the Southern Black Sea coast, a city of well developed industry and trade, with a busy harbor. In 1903 the railway station in Bourgas started functioning.

Places of Interest: The District Museum of History was founded in 1925 with cooperation with the archeological association. Today it houses an archeological hall with a rich collection from the old colonies on the Black Sea coast. There are numerous ceramic vessels, coins and jewellery items from antiquity, tombstones, and plates of Thracian horse-riders, tools, miniature models of ancient settlements.
The Art Gallery was established in 1945 with halls exhibiting foreign art, the work of Bulgarian artists, and icons painted by Revival icon-painters.
The St. St. Cyril and Methodius Cathedral is located near the marketplace and is interesting for its marvelous frescos and wooden altar.
The Ethnographic Museum has an interesting collection of traditional masks of koukeri and costumes typical of the region objects from the everyday life, and ritual accessories. There is a video hall where you can watch ethnographic and historical films. A number of traditional Bulgarian fabrics embroidery typical of the district is exhibited. The museum is hosted in a house from 1873, later declared a cultural monument.
The Museum of Nature and Science contains many exhibitions describing the geological characteristics of the earth, the region, the flora and fauna More than 1200 exhibitions of insects and reptiles have been exposed. Over 140 species of fish, plants, growing in the districts of the Strandja, protected and endemic species are on display.
The Philharmonic, the Opera House, and the Theatre of Drama are hosted in three different buildings and function all through the season. Together with the Puppet Theatre they outline the cultural atmosphere in the city with their interesting concerts and performances. An interesting sight of Bourgas is the Armenian Church located close to Bulgaria hotel. It was built in 1855 by the local Armenian minority supported by Bulgarians.
There are numerous festivals and holidays held in the city of Bourgas: Five days of the Classical German and Austrian music at the end of April, International Festival of Children’s Choirs- the end of May, the International Festival of the Small Forms called “Theatre in a small Suitcase” - May, June, Three weeks of Opera and Classical Music in Memory of the Conductor Emil Chakurov- July; International Folk Festival and a week of the Arts for Children – August , International Pop and Jazz Session called “Bourgas and the sea”- September, International Tournament in Standart and Latin- American Dances- December.
The climate here is temperately continental with a distinct impact from the Black Sea. One of the biggest industrial plants on the Balkan Peninsula, the Neftochim Corporation, is located in the vicinity of the city. The Port of Bourgas is the biggest sea port in the country. A Duty Free Zone was established in 1989 with the objective to create most attractive conditions for foreign investors. Art and culture, together with propagation of cultural values is fostered by 7 state-owned and 11 municipal institutes. On the territory of Bourgas municipality there are 2 universities and 4 colleges functioning, comprising more than 6200 Bulgarian and foreign students.
The artistic spirit of the local people adds up to the unique atmosphere of peace and isolation from the hectic city life. Only Bourgas enables you to enjoy the breathtaking folklore show of the Balkan countries in the International folklore festival; the rich variety of colors and odors in the annual National exhibition FLORA-Bourgas excite every citizen and visitor of the town.
The event is held under the motto "Nature - Man - Harmony"; in no other place, but Bourgas one can feel the rhythm and enjoy the dances of the International contest for standard and Latin and American dances; only Bourgas will give you a warm welcome - hospitality and kindness of the southerners are deeply moving; the emotional Bourgas nights will remain a never-to-be-forgotten experience; no other spot of Bulgaria is so close to sea and its romantic atmosphere as Bourgas. The Old Bridge - the symbol of the city - keeps not a single secret of young and old.
Bulgaria has joint the EU, and now expects a huge influx of foreign business enterprises which in return will cause the economy to rise further.  With the current market, Bulgaria offers excellent value for money and this is reflected in property prices - a serious opportunity for a holiday home or investment.
Surrounding areas: Bourgas is not only an important industrial centre in the country, but also a tourism one. What attracts people here mostly is undoubtedly the sea. The town is a starting point for visiting the seaside resorts in the area - The Slantchev Bryag resort (Sunny Beach) and Elenite holiday village to the north and  Duni holiday village, renowned for its unique architectural composition, to the south. Bulgaria is fast becoming one of the most popular holiday destinations and investment markets in Europe, with its fantastic white beaches and clear and safe waters of the Black Sea.  Not to mention the history and culture of this country with beautiful wild flowers, spectacular mountain views and towns surrounded by fortress walls with narrow cobbled lanes, taking you back in time where you will see an enticing mixture of medieval churches, aged wooden houses, local folk and everyday business life. In Sunny Beach resort, you can find an area of entertainment activities, restaurants where you can enjoy traditional food and wine, enjoy local music and floorshows or you may just want to relax among the beauty of this country.
Atanassovo Lake is to the north between the airport and the city. It is 10km. long and is a nestling site of many marsh and sea birds migrating from Gibraltar and the Bosphorus. A part of the lake is a biosphere reserve; bulrush and cane grow here, there are sites for fishing, swimming and rest. Bourgas Lake is a nestling site of numerous pelicans, ibis, and herons. It offers many opportunities for having a rest as well. Mandren Lake is 10 km southwards of the city and is also an important ornithological reserve with a large bird population in summer. Small lagoons are formed in it. It is appropriate for rowing tours and recreation. St Anastasia Island is 3 nautical miles far from the city. The name of the island is associated with the exile of the left wing revolutionaries in 1923-1925, and of anti- Fascists in 1943-1944. That is why after 1944 the island bore the name Bolshevik.
The salt pens of Bourgas are a sight of interest too. They border the Bourgas Lake, and some of them even stretch to Atanassovo Lake. The mineral public baths are 13 km north-west of the city in direction Aitos. There are remains of an old Roman town called Aetos built round the mineral springs. The settlement near the baths was called Terma, Termopolis, Megaliterma. In 16th century a Turkish hamam (bath) was erected; it is still existing and functioning. There is curing mud, a balneo-spa, a resort policlinic, and a rest home. The village of Kraimorie is to the south of Bourgas on the way to the ancient fortress of Pirgos. There is a nice beach near the village, as well as rest homes and private lodgings for holiday-makers. Otmanli Park is 15 km away from Bourgas near Choukalya Cape. It is situated in a thick forest on a territory of 6000 decares. There is a hunting reserve and bungalows for recreation rest.

Accommodation and Catering: The town offers many hotels of different categories, many private lodgings, two big camping sites in proximity to Bourgas. The most famous hotels are Park Hotel, situated on the shore of Atanassovo Lake, deluxe category; Primorets Hotel; Bulgaria Hotel and Cosmos Hotel. The most expensive among them is the Bulgaria Hotel, the cheapest accommodation is found in the private hotels in the suburbs.
The town is full of restaurants, pubs, beer-houses, taverns, and refreshment stalls and grocery’s shops. The most famous restaurants are National, Staryat Pristan (the Old Pier), Starata Gemiya (the Old Boat), Bourgaska Sreshta (Meeting in Bourgas), as well as the restaurants at the hotels. Most of the luxury restaurants have orchestras playing, some offer entertainment, too. Generally the food in the city is cheap, especially if one shops in the marketplaces. The more practical tourists may use the services of the traditional bakeries, pizza houses, and self-service establishments.

Transport: Bourgas Airport is open for domestic and international flights throughout the year. There are flights to Sofia every day, and during the summer there are up to 7 flights daily in both directions. The flight to the capital city takes 40 min. The railway station in Bourgas has connections with all main directions round the country. The express train to Sofia travels less than 6.30 hours; and takes 3 hours to get to Plovdiv, the second biggest town in Bulgaria. Reservation in a sleeping car should be made at least a week earlier during the summer. The bus station is next to the railway station. Buses in many directions including Sofia start from there. There are a lot of private carries to the south and to the north of Bourgas to the towns and resorts situated about 50 km away from the centre. One can rent a bicycle. There is regular city transport – buses, trolley-buses and route taxis.