Market in Golden Sands, Bulgaria. Shopping in Bulgaria: markets and shopping centers. Shopping in Burgas, Bulgaria

In the Soviet Union, getting to Bulgaria and buying something in local stores was considered a great and rare success. Today, Russians have access to shopping all over the world. But, despite this, shopping in Bulgaria is a very interesting activity, and all thanks to the Balkan markets and the European abundance of shopping centers and malls. In general, there is something to spend money on in these parts, and you can shop both in large cities and at resorts. The good news is that although joining the European Union forced prices for goods in Bulgaria to rise, they still remained very attractive, especially if you buy locally produced products.

What to buy

First of all, you should know in advance what is worth buying and what is not. This applies to any country, including Bulgaria. If we talk about souvenirs and other trinkets for the soul, then the best thing you can buy here is local products and alcohol. For example, only in resort towns can you find honey in small clay pots; in the markets there is simply a huge selection of local sweets and spices. An excellent gift is sujuk. This is a local veal sausage that is sold well packaged in all supermarkets. Main alcoholic drink- rakia, a huge selection of which is offered by markets and shops in Bulgaria. Another specialty is mastic. This is a strong herbal tincture. For lighter drinks, you can buy wine - from homemade to vintage, which, by the way, is no worse than French.

Locally produced clothing, especially linen, is also inexpensive here. Shopping in Bulgaria is also good for those who are concerned about buying shoes: they are inexpensive and the quality is excellent. Moreover, the products are made mainly of leather. The same is true with clothing: local production is of very high quality, and on the outskirts of any large city there are huge outlets where you can replenish your wardrobe for the whole family for little money.

Local cosmetics based on rose water and oil also deserve attention. It is sold in shops, pharmacies, supermarkets and all shopping centers. Moreover, this is not only skincare, but also medicinal and decorative cosmetics.

Where to buy: markets or shopping centers?

There are a lot of shopping centers, markets, and small shops in Bulgaria. You can buy almost any goods there. Stores with locally produced clothes and shoes are quite cheap, especially outlets in big cities, but you shouldn’t expect from the world brands special discounts. Prices in Bulgaria for brands sold in branded departments (for example, Zara or Mango) are the same as in Russia. Although there are sales here, that’s when you can buy something decent for little money.

The advantage of markets is not only their color, but also the opportunity to bargain. Sometimes you can discount up to 20 percent from the original price. But in small shops and shops it is inappropriate to bargain; prices are fixed. However, be sure to look into these when shopping in Bulgaria. sunny Beach, Golden Sands and other resorts cannot boast of large malls, but it is in such shops that all the most interesting things are sold.

Sofia

A big city with, of course, many shops and markets. Large shopping centers, popular among tourists, are located on Vitosha Boulevard. This is central pedestrianized street, along which there are many shops, restaurants and benches. The shopping gallery near the Palace of Culture also deserves attention. You can buy everything at once in Sofia’s largest mall, Paradise Center Sofia. Here you can find clothes from world and Bulgarian brands, furniture, books, children's goods, entertainment, and even the only rooftop amusement park in the city. It is quite possible to spend the whole day here.

Sofia also has such a feature as shopping streets, all the shops on which specialize in one type of product. This is very convenient if you want to buy something specific. For example, Exarch Joseph Street specializes in the sale of shoes.

The outlets that we have already mentioned are scattered throughout the city, but the largest selection is in the Sofia Outlet Center on Tsaregradskoe Shosse. Here great amount international - Convers, MEXX, Kenzo, S. Oliver and many others. All collections are from previous years, and the prices are very attractive.

Speaking about markets in Sofia, one cannot fail to mention the oldest one - Women's Pazar. They say that it has been in effect since the Ottoman yoke. Be that as it may, today it is located in the very center of the city, restored and offers its visitors local products and souvenirs.

Another interesting market is located near Women's Market, on Maria Luisa Boulevard - this is Hali, which has been operating for two centuries. This is not only a place where you can buy souvenirs and food, but also a historical and architectural landmark of the capital.

Varna

This Big City, which, like Sofia, has many places where shopping in Bulgaria is possible. Look for the largest stores between the Drama Theater and the Black Sea Hotel. In the old part of the city there are expensive shops and boutiques, and on Varenenchika Boulevard the prices are more reasonable. The next points for shopaholics are Independence Square and Prince Boris Street. The large mall is located right behind the bus station building, this is the Varna Grand Mall.

If, while in Varna, you want to take a stroll through the bazaar, go to Drin Street, there is a market where, by the way, they accept not only currencies - dollars and euros.

Golden Sands

The Golden Sands resort is located not far from Varna, so large shopping centers and markets are located there. But in the resort area there is where to spend money.

First of all this resort place famous for its silver jewelry. Look for them in shops scattered along the coast. As for clothing, you will have to go to Varna for brands, but the production of local factories is presented here in abundance and inexpensively.

Shopping in Burgas, Bulgaria

This is a big one seaport, which many tour operators advertise as a cheap shopping mecca. Please note that shops in Burgas are only open from 10 am.

Mostly all the interesting shops are concentrated on Aleksandrovskaya Street and Bogorodya Street, which crosses it. Be careful: sellers who know about the glory of their city and how popular shopping in Burgas (Bulgaria) are trying to cash in on gullible tourists and pass off Turkish and Chinese items as locally produced goods, and even at high prices. Nevertheless, we recommend visiting the Burgas Plaza shopping center, although it is located at the opposite end of the city.

Nessebar

Despite the very modest size of the city, very successful shopping in Bulgaria is possible here. is very close, so while relaxing at this resort, visit Nessebar. Many European and local brands, clothes, shoes, souvenirs - the choice is very large. Sales, like everywhere else in Europe, are in July and January, but discounts can actually reach 70 percent.

In the old part of the city (landmark - Father Paisiy Street), pay attention to the souvenir shops with local crafts. Prices for silver, ceramics, and leather are lower here than in Sofia or Burgas. But it’s better to look for clothes in stores in the new part of Nessebar. There are fewer tourists there and prices are lower.

• On the pages of information resources dedicated to the topic we are considering (shopping in Bulgaria), reviews unanimously speak about the simply indecent cheapness of goods. In fact, many of these reviews are outdated. Of course, prices here are lower than in Europe, but you won’t be able to buy good things for next to nothing, don’t even hope.
• Most shops and markets open around 9 am and close by 6 pm. Shops in Bulgaria often close for lunch, but, of course, not in large malls.
• It is appropriate to bargain at the market, and you can pay in levs, dollars and euros.
• The advice is not so much about trading, but will be very useful in communicating with the seller: remember that Bulgarians express denial by nodding their heads, as we agree, and vice versa.
• And if shopping in Bulgaria somehow doesn’t suit you, then you can take a bus to neighboring Istanbul.

A few days ago I flew with my daughter from the Golden Sands resort (Bulgaria), rested at the Perla Hotel (Pearl) 3* for 8 days, which was enough.

The main advantage of the Golden Sands resort is the SEA, it is very gentle, clean, warm, slightly salty, and on some days azure in color, no worse than the Mediterranean!!!

We collected a lot of shells, including rapana.

We took a promenade through the night resort once and didn’t want to do it again.

A lot of Germans, mostly very elderly, have heard Ukrainian, Finnish, Bulgarian, Polish and even French. There are also quite a few young people. There are more of our Russians than anyone else, so it seemed to us. Bulgarians, those who are older, speak Russian easily, young people have difficulty expressing themselves, and do not know English.

My daughter refused to go to the disco, even though the guide gave us 2 free invitation tickets, including a free cocktail.

We didn’t go to the cafe either, I had a desire, but my daughter didn’t share it (((

There are cafes for every taste - bars and restaurants with local and Italian cuisine, and even with their own Eiffel Tower, which shimmers with different patterns at night!

I think that the Golden Sands resort is for children - perfect place for relaxation, it’s a pity that the free area by the sea is very narrow, and the cost of a sunbed under an umbrella for 1 person is 19 leva, which is a little expensive.

There are a lot of midges on the beach that resemble ants and small spiders. Initially, they did not bother us (they are weightless and almost unnoticeable), but they constantly sit on the body. By the end of the holiday, my daughter was already starting to get nervous - she was very afraid of insects. But I'm fine.

It rained for a couple of days, but it didn’t spoil our mood. We just got burned out and enjoyed walking the streets.

In supermarkets we bought strawberries, cherries, nectarines, apricots (on average price per kg = 5 leva or 2.5 euros, so not so cheap, but tasty). My daughter wanted watermelon, I didn’t try it, but her stomach still hurt after watermelon, so nitrates are clearly present...

I tried local, Bulgarian ice cream, the glaze was clearly made from palm oil, but I didn’t buy it again.

Bulgarian beer is tasty, light, and costs 1-70 leva (in the store).

Still water is tasteless, no matter what you drink or not, just like wine.

White wine "Varna" put me to sleep, even though I only drank a glass, a 0.7 liter bottle costs 5 leva (in the store), and the taste is uninteresting. We bought "MALIBU" rum at home, the price for 0.7 liters was 21 leva, but in some places we saw it for 28 leva.

My daughter and I bought a whole arsenal of Bulgarian cosmetics (it’s better to buy in a supermarket, as it’s cheaper than in the stalls located on every corner). I remember that since Soviet times, Bulgarian skincare cosmetics were very much valued because of their naturalness!

There is absolutely nothing to buy; consumer goods from China are everywhere. It is better to buy souvenirs in supermarkets (they are cheaper there), but there is less choice, and Duty Free sells the same souvenirs for 2 times more expensive(((

I wanted to buy a ceramic plate (5 leva) as a souvenir, but my daughter didn’t like the color, so she took a pot of pink elixir and a wooden spoon with the inscription “BULGARIA” from the supermarket.

The Golden Sands resort is located near a large and ancient city where the airport is located. The city offers many interesting attractions, restaurants, shops and other entertainment. From Varna to Golden Sands you can get by buses No. 209, 309, 9, 89, 109, which run regularly, or by taxi.

The resort stretches along the coast for several tens of kilometers. Hotels in Golden Sands are located on several coastlines. A train regularly runs along the main paths of the resort, which delivers directly to the hotel if it is not on the first coastline. All hotels in Golden Sands are connected by large streets along which you can stroll in the evening. There are restaurants, cafes and clubs where entertainment shows are held. Souvenir shops, clothing stores, banks, parks and other infrastructure and entertainment facilities are scattered along the roads.

Restaurants and cafes in Golden Sands

The best restaurants in Golden Sands are located in the center, near the coast. The average bill for one person in such an establishment will be from 20 to 50 $. In simpler restaurants you can have lunch for $10-20 per person.

Considering that the Golden Sands resort is considered privileged in Bulgaria, we were not able to meet a large food market. Perhaps because this is simply not necessary, according to local entrepreneurs, since many people come here to hang out and not to eat fruit. In addition, there is basically nowhere for a large market to be located. After all, the territory of this resort is a mountainous area with densely growing vegetation. And the small space that has been reclaimed from forests and mountains is occupied by hotels and roads.

Where can you buy fruits and vegetables at the Golden Sands resort?

1) Fresh fruit can be bought at any roadside store. As I already wrote in the Bulgarian shops section, the most basic types of fruit are presented here, in small quantities. Sometimes watermelons, melons, apples and other large fruits and berries are laid out on mini counters next to the store near the entrance. Personally, we have bought bananas, apples and oranges more than once. It seems that everything was imported and was no different from those in Moscow. And the prices are almost the same, but at least definitely not cheaper.

2) Individual fruit trays also abound. Next to us, near the ruins of the landslide, there was always one small ruin with vegetables and fruits. Moreover, even at a late time, an obese man sat in a chair there and could easily weigh a kilo of potatoes without asking unnecessary questions. In addition to the most common fruits, there were all the necessary vegetables for cooking: potatoes, onions, carrots, tomatoes, cucumbers, etc. Unfortunately, a lot of things are imported, except for figs, which grow well here. Approximate prices for fruits and vegetables in leva: melons 2.8, apples 1, peaches 3, tomatoes 2.7, cucumbers 1.5, cherries 3, cabbage 0.8. Various nuts from 15 to 22 leva per kg, seeds from 3 to 6 leva, various olives also from 3 to 6 leva per kilogram.

Below are some photos of the trays

3) I would highlight separately private traders who sell their harvest at the gates. It’s not uncommon to see an open gate, next to it there are a couple of boxes containing fresh figs, pears, apples, and other fruits and vegetables. And all this is fresh, grown behind the same fence, cared for with our own hands, warmed by the Bulgarian sun. Not far from our hotel, from one such house, grandfather and grandmother were trading, who spoke Russian well. I couldn’t resist taking a picture of her fence, house and garden.

The photo shows a private house that was next door to our hotel.

4) Near beach stools. No matter how funny it may sound, this is exactly what it looks like. On the way to the beach, on the path there is some kind of stool, in it there is a small tray with cups of berries (blackberries, raspberries). What is remarkable about such “points of sale” is the attitude of their sellers towards their goods, I have never seen anything like this. He literally selects each berry and puts it in a glass. It turns out berry after berry, one more beautiful than the other, not a single one rotten. And even if the price per kilo is more expensive, who needs a kilo of raspberries, but eating a glass on the beach is very nice.

P.S. I won’t talk about prices; they depend on seasonality, whether fruit grows in the country, the sellers themselves, exchange rates and other factors.

Bulgaria is called the land of roses. Therefore, products based on rose oil and water are considered traditional souvenirs.

In shops and supermarkets in Golden Sands you can choose from perfumes, creams, gels, shampoos, tonics based on rose oil and water. You can even buy jam and honey made from rose petals. Microdroplets of precious rose oil give soap, hand cream, tonic, shampoo, shower gel, and perfume samples a lasting pink aroma. I listed what we bought in the souvenir shop for mere stotinki - at prices ranging from 1 leva to 5 leva. We purchased perfumes from manufacturers from Central Bulgaria, where the Valley of Roses is located: Kazanlak, Karlovo, Plovdiv.

Fridge magnets are in great demand among tourists due to their attractiveness and low cost. In Golden Sands they sell magnets with views of the sea, cities, roses, landmarks, inscriptions and wishes.

Ceramic products are in demand - bowls, pots, plates, jugs, mugs, teapots, salt shakers, sugar bowls. We bought a teapot for 12 leva and a stewing pot for 10 leva with an original ornament, which always contains “kapki” (drops). We also bought for 8 leva a ceramic mug with landmarks: Varna, Nessebar, Balchik and the Albena resort.

Pay attention to the embroidered woolen tablecloths - red, green and white - in Bulgarian cafes and restaurants. They go well with Bulgarian ceramics. True, tablecloths are a bit expensive: 15 – 20 leva. We bought four red napkins with national embroidery for 2 leva each. A teapot with a Bulgarian ornament on an embroidered red napkin looks great and the aroma of tea reminds us of Bulgaria.

In general, Bulgarian textiles and knitwear are distinguished by their quality and inexpensive price. The most common products are linen tablecloths, towels, napkins, shirts, blouses, and bed linen. I liked a white 100% cotton T-shirt in a store on Golden Sands. The body feels good, and most importantly I liked the application in the form of a map Black Sea coast Bulgaria with all the resorts and memorable places, many of which I visited.

Bulgarian dolls are a good gift. For a little girl it is better to buy a doll in national clothes. Dolls in strange shaggy clothes with and without masks - kukeri (mummers) - have, according to popular belief, protective functions.

In souvenir shops you can buy a witch in a pointed cap, similar to Gingema and Bastinda from the fairy tale “The Wizard of the Emerald City”. But I was very impressed by the big witch, who began to giggle evilly and wave her broom when she clapped her hands. This doll is a good gift for a mother-in-law. Much better than the ball-like spiny fish. These fish are sold in abundance, which means there is a demand for them.

The works of wood carving masters are beautiful. It is interesting that in Bulgaria this art is practiced exclusively by men. Wooden boxes, spoons, wall plates, and clocks with scorched roses will create home comfort.

Art lovers can bring watercolor or oil paintings of Bulgarian landscapes or landmarks from Golden Sands. An interesting gift would be an individual or group portrait drawn by an artist, of whom there are many on the artist street. The cost of a portrait is from 90 to 390 leva, depending on the number of persons depicted there.

A colorful reminder of the Black Sea will be beads made from white and colored shells, which look great on a tanned neck. Necklaces, earrings and bracelets made from shells also look beautiful. Well, silver items generally look great on skin with a southern tan. Silver products in the Golden Sands resort are sold in many shops.

Rarely does anyone leave Bulgaria without taking with them a bottle of fine Bulgarian wine or something stronger - rakia or cognac. We were no exception - and took with us the five-star Pliska cognac. I also liked the cost of a bottle of cognac in the Nectar store on Artists Street - about 10 leva (200 rubles). Try buying 5-star Bulgarian cognac in Russia for 200 rubles!

In shops on Golden Sands, a bottle of red wine “Kadarka” and white wine “Tamyanka” cost around 3 leva (60 rubles).

Bulgarian moonshine - rakia - is not for everybody. It is best to buy grape brandy. But there are plum, apricot, cherry and apple brandies. At the Magura cafe on Golden Sands I drank Pescherska brandy. I recommend it - it's good! For dinner at a picnic restaurant near the town of Kavarna, we poured grape brandy from a barrel. With Shopska salad and Bulgarian chicken, the classic rakia went with a bang.

For exotic lovers, it will be interesting to take with you anise mastic - a strong drink of 40 - 50 degrees and mint liqueur - menta. But these are very exotic drinks.

On a hot sunny day, or even in the evening, it’s good to have a glass of beer. At Golden Sands I drank light beer “Bolyarka”, “Zagorka” and “Shumenskoe”. Give it a try. I think you'll like it.