Bulgaria or Montenegro – where is it better to relax in 2021
Among the popular tourist destinations in Europe, Bulgaria and Montenegro are approximately on the same level in terms of price-quality ratio, offering travelers a wonderful beach holiday and a solid list of excursion routes. And for many tourists it is not enough just to make a choice: Bulgaria or Montenegro – where to go on vacation? To make a final decision, you should learn about the features of recreation in each of these countries and, based on personal preferences, make the right decision.
Flight and distance
Nearly 1,800 kilometers separating Moscow and Sofia are covered by planes in 3.5 hours. Daily air communication between the two metropolitan air terminals is carried out by Aeroflot. The cost of a round-trip flight directly depends on the date of the flight and varies from 8,000 to 20,500 rubles. A flight from Moscow to Varna (or Burgas) and back will cost from 7,000 to 17,000 rubles, and the travel time one way will take less than 3 hours. Flights in this direction are operated by S7 Airlines 4 times a week.
Traveling to Montenegro is on average cheaper. The largest number of flights from Russia is received by the Tivat airport, where planes fly from Moscow, Krasnodar, St. Petersburg, Rostov-on-Don and other cities on a regular basis.
Air communication with Podgorica is established only from Moscow. The distance between the Russian capital and Tivat is 2,000 kilometers, which takes just over 3 hours by plane to overcome. Daily flights are carried out by Aeroflot, Air Serbia and Montenegro Airlines at a price of 5,000 to 15,000 thousand in both directions.
Visa
The visa legislation in Bulgaria is considered one of the most loyal in the European Union. Tourist visas are issued quickly and without any special bureaucratic obstacles. If a potential tourist has an open Cypriot, Croatian or Romanian visa in his hands, entry into Bulgaria is free for him. The same rule applies to holders of valid Schengen visas.
If the applicant plans to visit the European Union for the first time, then a short-term visa to Bulgaria is issued in the usual manner. It will take 4 working days to receive it (the countdown starts from the date following the day the relevant application was submitted). At the time of application, the validity of the passport should not expire earlier than 3 months.
When applying for a tourist visa to Bulgaria on your own, the applicant submits a standard package of documents to the visa center or the Consulate. Among them – a completed application form, a passport, a photograph of 3.5 * 4.5 cm, medical insurance (policy), copies of round-trip tickets, certificates from the place of work and from the bank, hotel reservations, as well as a receipt for payment of the mandatory consular fee in the amount of 35 euros. The visa fee is estimated at 20 euros.
A serious advantage of holidays in Montenegro is the absence of the need for a visa permit. For Russians planning to stay in Montenegro for no more than 90 days, a visa and insurance are not needed. The customs and border control procedures have also been simplified.
It is worth declaring only large sums of money. The only export ban applies to objects of artistic and historical value. On the territory of Montenegro, Russian tourists are allowed to carry 2 liters of wine, 1 liter of strong alcohol and 200 cigarettes (or 50 cigars).
The best time to relax
Sunny and hospitable Bulgaria is good in any season of the year, however, the maximum tourist influx is recorded here during the period when beach holidays come to the fore. The Black Sea resorts of Bulgaria begin to be actively filled with foreigners already in May, but the full-fledged swimming season starts a little later. The sea warms up to comfortable temperatures only in early June.
Until that time, tourists prefer to sunbathe on the shore, go on excursions and have fun at resort discos. The summer holiday season ends towards the end of September. The Bulgarian ski season depends on the chosen resort and is considered quite short – no more than 2-3 months. The peak occupancy of hotels in Borovets, Bansko and Vitosha falls on January-February, but in some years the ski season ends only in April.
Montenegro boasts a longer beach and swimming season: on its Adriatic coast, you can fully relax from the first decade of May to the end of October. During the entire warm half of the year, the water in the sea has a temperature not lower than + 22 ° C, and there is little precipitation even in autumn.
Popular resorts
Bulgarian beach resorts are attractive for their affordable prices and a variety of hotel facilities. The best resort infrastructure can boast of Golden Sands, Elena and St. Constantine. The most vivid impressions and pleasant acquaintances await tourists at the party resorts in Bulgaria, such as Sunny Beach, where there are many attractions, bars and clubs. Ravda, St. Vlas and Elenite are visited by those who are looking for a measured, relaxing holiday with their family or alone.
In the case when a beach holiday needs to be supplemented with a quality “excursion”, travelers should consider destinations such as Sozopol and Nessebar.
Montenegro, which has a very compact size, can be explored by travelers far and wide. In just one day you can ride along the entire Adriatic coast and explore the most famous resorts in Montenegro.
The best resorts on the Budva Riviera are Budva, Przno, Sveti Stefan, Petrovac, Rafailovici, Becici, Milocer, Bar and Sutomore. The Ulcinj Riviera is known for such resorts as Ulcinj and the island of Ada Bojana. Among the popular places for a beach holiday on the coast of the Hercegnov Riviera, Herceg Novi and Tivat stand out especially brightly.
Entertainment
Summer holidays in Bulgaria are beach tourism, complemented by active water activities, including numerous water parks – Aqualand on the outskirts of Lauta Park in Plovdiv, Aqua Paradise in Nessebar, Aqua Planet in Primorsko, Action in Sunny Beach. Popular Bulgarian water parks are also Aquamania in Albena and Aquapolis in Golden Sands. All of them work only during the warm season, opening at the end of May and ending the season in mid-September.
You can have an extreme rest and recharge with a generous dose of adrenaline in the Kokolandia Adventure Park, located in Sofia. Then you should visit the local zoo – the oldest in the country. And in the vicinity of Varna, tourists have a chance to visit the largest family park in Bulgaria, Happy Land. Since Bulgarians are very fond of holidays, each such event is held on a grand scale. And since anyone can attend spectacular celebrations, festivals and holidays have long become one of the favorite entertainments of tourists.
Of particular interest to travelers are the May Rose Festival, the Day of Bulgarian Enlightenment (May 24), the Day of Folk Awakeners (November 1), the September Plum Festival, the Young Wine Parade, held at the very end of autumn. In spring and summer, Bulgaria turns into a huge festival venue. Musical, culinary, cinematographic, orthodox, children‘s events… the cultural program in Bulgaria is more than rich.
Montenegro, despite its measured way of life, has achieved no less success in the field of resort entertainment. Popular tourist attractions here are beach holidays, diving, shopping, gastronomic and wine tourism.
The list of festivals held in Montenegro is no less impressive than in Bulgaria. Locals are very fond of the atmosphere of the holiday and at every opportunity they organize this or that festival. It often happens that, despite the theme of the event, the celebration ultimately comes down to dances, songs and endless tasting tables filled with national food.
Locals and tourists consider Christmas, New Year and Old New Year to be their favorite festive events. In the summer calendar of events, the July blueberry festival in Plav, the August olive fair, the film festival in Herzen Novi, the honey festival in Beran and the large gastronomic festival in the village of Njegusi deserve special attention. At the end of August, large-scale farewells to summer are also held in Petrovac and the Kotor Carnival.
Excursions
Compared to other tourist countries in Europe, Bulgaria has a more modest excursion potential, however, there are many interesting routes and memorable sights here. The most popular are sightseeing tours of Sofia and Burgas, a photo walk along the old Nesserb, a trip to the mountain gorge of the goddess Bastet with a visit to waterfalls and an ancient sanctuary.
A lot of enthusiastic reviews are left by tourists after visiting the Strandzha Reserve, where the so-called “kissing” stones are located and, according to legend, the ancient spirits of Bulgaria live. Many vivid impressions will be given by an excursion to a fairy-tale castle with an unusual name “In love with the wind”, a guided walk around Sozopol and a trip to the northern coast of the Black Sea.
There are more attractions in Montenegro, and the list of excursion destinations is more extensive. The richest in attractions is the Montenegrin resort of Budva and its environs. Must-see guides call a walk through the old town in Budva, a car tour of the monasteries of the Budva Riviera, a trip to Skadar Lake and the Lovcen Nature Reserve.
Travelers vacationing in Montenegro should not miss the opportunity to visit cozy Petrovac, see the most beautiful fjord of the Mediterranean (the Bay of Kotor), see the Montenegrin shrines – Ostrog, Zetsky Athos, Cetinje Monastery and Daibabe. If you have time in Montenegro, you should definitely visit the “sea” capital of Kotor, explore the romantic Herzen Novi, explore the “wine roads” of the country and go on a boat trip from Bar.
Hotels
Most Bulgarian hotels were built in the second half of the last century, and in recent years the process of their reconstruction has been actively going on. Some of them are completely rebuilt, others are modernized and ennobled. But the trend is that there are more and more quality hotels in the country. By the beginning of each tourist season, all hotels undergo cosmetic repairs, which tourists with small children rush to take advantage of when planning a vacation for May-June.
The hotel potential of the country is represented mainly by 3 and 3 luxury hotels operating on a “breakfast only” food system, but there are not so many “fours” and “fives” in Bulgarian resorts. You can stay for a couple of nights in Sofia not only in three-star city hotels, but also in budget hostels.
However, the trend of recent years shows that hoteliers prefer to invest in the construction of modern 4 and 5 hotels, as the number of wealthy tourists choosing Bulgaria for their holidays is growing year by year. Bulgarian sanatoriums, which are very popular with foreigners, deserve special attention. The most famous of them are located in the vicinity of Burgas and Pomorie.
In Montenegro, the situation with hotels is similar, except that the choice of five-star hotels here is still more extensive. Most luxury hotels can be found in resorts such as Sveti Stefan, Budva and Kotor.
There are hotels with affordable prices in any resort town of Montenegro, and one of the cheapest is considered to be a vacation in Ulcinj. In addition to standard beach hotels, travelers can stay in a guest house, rent a villa on the coast or an apartment. When booking accommodation for a long period, the owners provide tourists with a solid discount.
Service
In most Bulgarian hotels oriented towards foreign guests, the European level of service is maintained, but there is no need to talk about luxury and pomposity. The rooms have everything you need, including a safe. But the minibar is only in expensive hotels. In general, the service in Bulgaria is much better than many travelers who vacationed in this country during the Soviet Union think.
Waiters, guides and hotel staff in Bulgaria do not refuse tips. And although this reward is provided exclusively on a voluntary basis, customers traditionally leave about 10% of the amount in the check as a tip.
Tourist service in Montenegro lags behind the European level in many respects. This also applies to the equipment of rooms in hotels, and the list of available services, and landscaping. Four “stars” in Montenegro and, for example, in Nice are not the same at all, but any tourist can count on cleanliness in his room, friendly service and a delicious buffet.
Most often, beach and city hotels in Montenegro operate on a “breakfast only” system, but modern hotels offer guests half board or even all inclusive. Tipping is welcome, but not required. Their size is also not regulated and completely depends on the impression that the client has about the quality of service.
Tour prices
Bulgaria and Montenegro belong to the same price segment of European tourism. Prices for tours are comparable to each other, so tourists can only decide on the direction. In both cases, the rest will be budgetary: in comparison with the well-known tourist countries of Europe, Bulgaria and Montenegro offer quite affordable prices.
The most expensive travel will be at the height of the beach season, as well as during the Christmas and New Year holidays, spring and autumn holidays, as both of these countries are deservedly considered family destinations. The cost of the tour is also affected by the chosen resort, the “star” of the hotel and the type of food. Significantly save on vacation can be in the case of buying a “burning” tour or early booking.
All inclusive or breakfast
Both Bulgaria and Montenegro are characterized by rest according to the “breakfast only” system. This type of food is very convenient for tourists who combine beach and sightseeing types of tourism, especially since there are no problems with food here. Restaurants, cafes, pizzerias and supermarkets are found at every turn.
Couples with children sometimes prefer hotels where boarding is possible – breakfast, lunch and dinner, or rent an apartment with a kitchen to cook their own meals. There are very few hotels operating on the “all inclusive” system in these countries, but if you wish, you can choose the right option.
Beaches
The main seaside resorts in Bulgaria have well-equipped free beaches, so during the season it is crowded on the coast. At the same time, most of the beaches were awarded the Blue Flag – the European guarantor of environmental friendliness.
| Beach | Peculiarities |
| Sunny Beach beach | The longest beach on the Bulgarian coast. Fine, yellow, clean sand. Gentle entrance to the sea. Children's rest. Noisy night parties on the beach. |
| Albena beach | The widest Black Sea beach in Bulgaria. Soft, yellowish, fine sand. Clean coastline. Small depth near the shore. Great place for water sports. |
| Golden Sands beach | Mountainous landscape. Rapid increase in depth. Clean sea. Youth rest. Not suitable for children's recreation. |
| Beaches in Tsarevo and Ahtopol | Clean, sandy, picturesque, sparsely populated. A modest selection of tourist attractions. Calm, quiet vacation. |
| Beach in Obzor | Clean, well maintained. Warm sea, smooth entry into the water. Children's rest. Affordable prices for tourist infrastructure and entertainment. |
The coastline of Montenegro is represented by 73 kilometers of picturesque beaches. Here you can find sandy and pebbly, wide and narrow, wild and public beaches for every taste.
| Beach | Peculiarities |
| Guvant Beach, Budva | A beautiful pebble beach with a smooth sandy entrance to the water. Miniature. Famous for picturesque sunsets. |
| Mogren Beach, Budva | Small-pebbled, in some places almost sandy beach, considered one of the most romantic in the country. Located on the coast of a small bay. Very narrow in places, but incredibly atmospheric. Private. During the season, a nominal fee is charged for admission. |
| Beach on Sveti Nikola, Budva | Great place for swimming. Warm, clear sea. Rocky coast. Pebble on the shore. Complete resort infrastructure. |
| Yaz Beach, Budva | A long sandy (sometimes pebbly) beach on a rocky shore. Comfortable, gentle entrance to the sea. Azure color of water. Children's rest. In the distance, there is an area for nudists. |
| Slavic beach, Budva | Picturesque pebble beach. Very crowded in season. The noisiest and “party” place in Montenegro. Developed infrastructure. Lots of entertainment for kids and adults. |
| The beaches of the Herzegnovskaya Riviera | Stony, rocky beaches. Incredibly picturesque scenery. Parts of the coastal zone are separated from each other by rocks. There are sea urchins. |
| Red Beach, Bar | A mixture of sand and coral remnants. Unusual landscape. Sand and pebble areas. Health tourism. |
| The beaches of the Ulcinj Riviera | Unique gray basalt sand. Healing effect of sand. Health tourism. |
| Ada bayana beach | Fine-grained and coral sand with a mild radioactive effect. Health tourism. Picturesque landscapes. |
Vacation with children
Bulgaria is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Europe for budget holidays with young children and teenagers. The local beaches have a large number of water attractions, children's and sports grounds, inexpensive cafes and eateries. Resort water parks are open only during the “high” season.
In hotels, baby cots are available for small guests, and in restaurants, high chairs are available. As for the children's menu, it is far from being presented in all hotels, so young parents often prefer apartments with their own equipped kitchen as an accommodation facility.
In Montenegro, young tourists are quite comfortable and fun. Most of the beaches are perfect for children's recreation, and the infrastructure and entertainment on the coast are quite adapted to the tastes and needs of children and their parents. Petrovac is considered the best place for children's tourism, where, in addition to a wide, clean beach, there is a long walking area, an excellent observation deck and comfortable hotels.
shopping
Shops and shopping centers in Bulgaria, for the most part, work seven days a week, but there are still those whose working hours in the old fashioned way mean customer service from Monday to Friday. Fruit vodka brandy, pink liquor, anise mastic, Turkish delight, Plovdiv sweets, rose petal confiture, walnut nougat, as well as local raw smoked sausage “lukanka” are brought as food souvenirs.
Other useful purchases will be rose oil, Bulgarian cosmetics, ceramics, leather shoes, clothes and accessories. The cost of bags made of genuine leather starts from 1300 rubles, wallets – from 1100 rubles, suitcases – from 2300 rubles. For a pair of high-quality shoes, they will ask from 1,500 rubles, and at the height of sales – half as much. One gram of silver in Bulgarian jewelry stores costs from 200 to 800 rubles. The cost of 1 ml of rose oil starts from 750 rubles. Prices for ceramics start at 150 rubles per item.
The most famous shops are located on Vitosha Boulevard and Pirotska Street in Sofia, on the main shopping alley in Varna, on Aleksandrovskaya Street in Burgas and on Prince Alexander I Street in the center of Plovdiv.
In Montenegro, shops start their work at 6 am and close at 22-23 pm. Many of them work seven days a week. There are 24-hour grocery stores in all cities of the country. From the trip, tourists bring clothes and accessories with resort symbols, wickerwork, local wine. One of the most popular is the Vranac wine, priced at about 8 euros per bottle.
The rating of gastronomic souvenirs from Montenegro continues with prosciutto (14-16 euros per kilogram) and olive oil (a good one costs no less than 8-10 euros for a half-liter bottle). The best shopping is in Bar, where new collections of clothes, accessories, shoes and jewelry are delivered by ferries directly from Italy. The prices are much lower than in the Italian retail network.
Conclusion
Bulgaria and Montenegro are budget tourist destinations that compare favorably with their European neighbors with a good ratio of affordable prices and a decent level of service. Beach, excursion, gastronomic and ecological types of tourism are equally available to tourists from Bulgarian and Montenegrin resorts.
Another thing is that each of these countries has its own atmosphere and mentality, and natural landscapes are radically different from each other. But this is already a matter of taste, so you need to choose the direction to which the “soul lies” more.