Nessebar

Nessebar is one of the oldest towns in Europe and a UNESCO gem, an ancient settlement over three thousand years old set on a small rocky peninsula jutting into the Black Sea, linked to the mainland by a narrow causeway. Its charming old town is a maze of cobbled lanes packed with the ruins of dozens of medieval Byzantine churches, characteristic old wooden houses on stone bases, and sea views at every turn, a picturesque and history-rich contrast to the beach resorts of the coast around it.

What you actually see

• The medieval churches - the ruins of dozens of Byzantine churches.
• The old wooden houses - the characteristic timber-and-stone homes.
• The cobbled lanes - the picturesque streets and sea views.
• The peninsula setting - the ancient town jutting into the Black Sea.

When to go

May to June and September for pleasant weather without the peak summer crowds; July and August are hot and packed with beach-holiday day-trippers from the nearby resorts, so the shoulder seasons are far calmer and lovelier.

Honest expectations

Its position beside the mega-resort of Sunny Beach means it is flooded with day-trippers in peak summer and lined with souvenir stalls and touristy restaurants, so it can feel overrun; early morning, evening or the shoulder seasons reveal its real charm. Many of the famous churches are atmospheric ruins. Its ancient history and sea-girt setting, though, are genuine.

Nearby

The resorts of Sunny Beach and the Black Sea coast, and the city of Burgas, are close.