St Vlas Holidays

from £ 347 pp

Holidays to St Vlas roll out gold-sand beaches, a mountain backdrop and a glitzy, restaurant-packed marina. And if you want to crank up the volume, Sunny Beach is just down the road.

Black Sea resort

St Vlas – or Sveti Vlas, to give it its full name – is wedged between the Black Sea and the Balkan Mountains at the northern tip of Bourgas Bay. Its laid-back vibe and sandy beaches have made it a firm favourite with families, who prefer the quiet atmosphere to the town’s lively neighbour, Sunny Beach.

Sandy beaches and a swanky marina

The town dates back to the 2nd century, but these days its modern through and through. The smart marina is a hangout for the yacht set, and has a generous haul of restaurants and bars. You’ve got a clutch of golden sandy beaches, too.

On the doorstep

Curving south around the bay, you’ll hit Sunny Beach and then Nessebar. The former is the place for full-on partying, with tons of bars, clubs and restaurants. Nessebar, on the other hand, is all about history, cramming Roman and Greek ruins, 40-odd churches and traditional wooden houses into its UNESCO-stamped old town.