Nessebar is a UNESCO World Heritage Site nestled on a peninsula that just out majestically into the Black Sea. Because of the efforts the town has undertaken to protect its historic core, many of the best guest houses and Nessebar hotels are located in Bulgarian Revival houses and other historic buildings.
Here are our picks for where to stay in Nessebar for every budget so you can enjoy a fabulous trip surrounded by history.
Most of the hotels on this list are located in Nessebar’s historic Old Town, but we’ve included a few that are located in the newer part of the city on the mainland as well.
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Where to Stay in Nessebar on a Budget ($50 USD or Less a Night)
Here are our favorite Nessebar hotels for budget travelers.
Boutique Villa Azzura
This hotel has two options for rooms, double or triple, and each style comes fully furnished and well-equipped for a budget-friendly rate. With double rooms that you can snag for as low as $42 USD, you’d be hard-pressed to find a better deal in the city. However, with only four rooms available, you want to book in advance.
The rooms have a cozy and relaxing appeal with a mix of modern contemporary and comfortable furniture and décor. There are multiple windows in each room to ensure natural lighting, plus curtains thick enough to block sunlight if you’re someone who wakes up late (or you decide to stay out and enjoy the Sunny Beach nightlife). The bathrooms have underfloor heating and are spacious with complimentary toiletries.
If you check in late, there is a key box at their entrance and you won’t have to worry about not being able to see someone at their front desk. If you have a car with you, you can park nearby for a fee – BGN 8 (around $5 USD). The lot is about five minutes away from the hotel on foot.
»» Check out guest reviews, prices, and availability at Boutique Villa Azzura here ««
Alex Guest House
Alex Guest House will remind you of rustic cabins, but this is part of the Bulgarian Revival-style of architecture that you find throughout the town. The exterior of the house looks very nice, due to the old-style wooden architecture and the flowering plants on the balcony that add a provincial feel.
There is a mini kitchen where you can prepare breakfast and cook simple meals. All rooms have a private bathroom, microwave, kettle, and a mini fridge. The bathrooms can be a bit small, but we think this is a small trade-off for the price.
You can get a room for as low as $45 USD. The entire property is non-smoking, but they do have a designated spot where you can smoke outside.
The best part about your stay at this location, according to most guests, is that it is very quiet – despite being close to most of the restaurants and bars. You can really enjoy a good night’s sleep, especially if you are very tired from walking all day!
»» Check out guest reviews, prices, and availability at Alex Guest House here ««
Hotel St. John Nesebar
This is a very sophisticated and elegant hotel, and you will be surprised at just how lovely it is for the price. The hotel is in one of the old-style wooden houses in the area, complete with balconies featuring luscious plants.
The rooms are really budget-friendly, especially for how nice the hotel is. The suite rooms (which are the largest and have their own balconies) can be booked for as low as $43 USD and fit up to three guests comfortably.
Each room is equipped with a minibar, closet, flat screen TV, and comfortable beds. Free toiletries are also given along with a cabin shower and a separate toilet area. They also soundproofed each room to ensure that you won’t hear the noise since it is in the heart of the Old Town.
Their 24-hour service desk can assist you with any particular needs you may have, and you may also ask them to book your car rentals, airport shuttle or laundry services. If you want to have parties or events, you can inquire about their meeting or banquet facilities. Overall, this hotel is a pretty big contender with all the budget priced hotels in the area.
»» Check out guest reviews, prices, and availability at Hotel St. John Nesebar here ««
Seagull Hotel
Seagull Hotel is a family-friendly property in the center of the Old Town, which is ideal for visiting all of Nessebar’s nearby attractions. The rooms have wooden floors, and you will love their ensuite bathrooms – each includes a hydromassage shower plus free toiletries. The decor is simple with an emphasis on guests being able to enjoy their cozy and comfy rooms.
All rooms have their own balcony where you can see the sparkling blue sea as much as you want. They also feature a minibar and cable TV (though expect most channels to be in Bulgarian).
It has a bar and restaurant also named Seagull with a terrace where you can enjoy local dishes and traditional Bulgarian cuisine. You have to try their fresh seafood dishes! Those who have rented cars can park for free at nearby, and you will be given access cards which ensures a secured space and added peace of mind.
»» Check out guest reviews, prices, and availability at Seagull Hotel here ««
Guest House Neli
If you are looking for a guest house near the beach, but still considering your budget, then Guest House Neli is perfect. They have double rooms that feature a terrace, ensuite bathroom, ironing facilities, closet, sofa bed and racks for clothing and towels. The rooms have flourished tiles for the floors and colorful printed bed covers as well as chandeliers on the ceiling.
The size of each room is just right for 2-3 guests with cozy bathrooms – not something you can beat for a beachfront hotel that you can get for as low as $34 USD (can’t really complain).
Each room also has access to the terrace where you can get nice views of the Black Sea plus enjoy the refreshing breeze.
»» Check out guest reviews, prices, and availability at Guest House Neli here ««
Mid-Range Places to Stay in Nessebar ($50-100 USD a Night)
If you want something a little more upscale, check out our recommendations for the best mid-range accomodations in Nessebar.
Villa Elea
The rooms and apartments are playful and unique, so you won’t see a single style repeated. The beds are huge and comfortable with clean fresh you’ll want to dive into after a long day of sighteseeing.
You can choose from a 1 or 2-bedroom apartment or a superior double room; all have a good views of the sea. Groups or larger families can also book their apartments which can host up to six guests. Housekeeping also cleans the rooms daily to keep them in tip top shape. Heating and A/C are available so you feel comfortable regardless of the season.
There’s also free on-site parking which is great for those who have cars. Just be reminded that you need the access card so you can park, which you need to get at their front desk.
»» Check out guest reviews, prices, and availability at Villa Elena here ««
Mary Homes
This apartment-style accommodation is on the lower end of the mid-range budget options, and you can choose from a 1-bedroom or studio apartment room. The rooms are decorated in a lovely ochre and wood color palette.
They feature hardwood floors and wooden furniture (from the beds to the tables and desks), plus a small dinner table where you can enjoy your meals (or more likely, delicous leftovers). Though you can use the small kitchenette to cook any meals you don’t want to eat out or order in.
If you plan on packing lightly, but wish to stay longer, you can use their washing machine for free so you won’t have to go scouting for a laundromat nearby (or wash your clothes in the sink).
»» Check out guest reviews, prices, and availability at Mary Homes here ««
Italia Hotel
Italia Hotel is perfect for those who can’t afford a beachfront hotel but still want something close to the beach and jam-packed with a lot of features. Most of the rooms feature calming blue decor. Digital Nomads take note: rooms are equipped with work desks. Their rooms are perfect for couples or smaller families as well.
Breakfast in the morning has great dishes to choose from, so you can start your day with a healthy meal before you saunter over to the beach (which is 10 mins away) or any nearby attractions.
They also have wellness facilities like a gym, an outdoor pool with a bar and some vending machines, plus a sauna. Moms deserve a break and you can have a trustworthy babysitter take care of your kids for you if you need to go out. You can also allow kids to have fun at their children’s playground or the inflatable toys they can borrow when they swim at the pool.
»» Check out guest reviews, prices, and availability at Italia Hotel here ««
Best Luxury Hotels in Nessebar ($100+ USD a Night)
If you want to enjoy the best that Nessebar has to offer, here are our picks for the best luxury hotels in Nessebar.
Panorama Beach Nesebar
Families looking for a nice vacation can check into the Panorama Beach Nesebar. Not only is it near the beach, but it also has spacious rooms specifically catering to families and groups of up to six. It showcases classically styled rooms with mahogany furniture and a lovely balcony with folding tables and chairs. It also has everything you need which will make you feel more at home.
It also features a kitchen with utensils and dinnerware so you can prepare a nice dinner or lunch for your family or heat food you bought nearby. After eating, you can soak in the sea views from rooms’ private sitting areas.
During summer, you can enjoy a dip in the nice and refreshing pool. There’s also a pool bar where you can order some cocktails and sip while enjoying the hotel’s sun loungers.
»» Check out guest reviews, prices, and availability at Panorama Beach Nesebar here ««
Къща за гости Янка (Guest House Yanka)
Къща за гости Янка (Guest House Yanka) has a total of 6 rooms to offer guests and it is located in front of the Kosharitsa Village. It is a four-storey guest house located in a beautiful complex. The rooms are fully-equipped with most of the necessities to make you feel at home. There’s also housekeeping that helps keep the rooms clean and expect them to knock at your door daily.
»» Check out guest reviews, prices, and availability Къща за гости Янка at here ««
What to Pack for a Bulgarian Beach Vacation
Waiting to get on the train from my last trip to Sunny Beach and Nessebar.
If you’re planning a trip to Bulgaria, you’ll want to pack all the normal essentials, but here are a few things we strongly recommend bringing that may not have crossed your mind. For more, check out our complete Bulgaria packing list.
– A physical guidebook, in paper or on Kindle. We love Lonely Planet Bulgaria & Romania for this region and strongly recommend it to supplement blogs. Blogs are great, but a combination of a blog and a guidebook is key to having the best access to information easily at your fingertips.
– A water bottle with a filter. While generally, the tap water in big cities in Bulgaria is drinkable, such as in Sofia and Burgas, we generally recommend using a water bottle with a purifying filter to reduce your plastic consumption and ensure you won’t drink any funny-tasting water on your stomach that could make your trip unpleasant! We recommend the GRAYL water bottle – it filters water perfectly in an instant so that you can even drink from lakes, bad taps, etc.
– Motion sickness pills. Bulgarian train and bus rides can be hot and cause motion sickness! If you have a weak stomach as we do, save yourself and bring some non-drowsy motion sickness pills.
– Wet wipes, hand sanitizer, TP & other Balkan transit needs. Bathrooms in the Balkans on trains and buses tend to be… how can we say it?… not so well-stocked. Save yourself the disappointment and bring a mini-rescue pack of wet wipes & hand sanitizer.
– Travel safety items. We think Bulgaria is very safe to travel, but at the same time, it never hurts to be prepared! Some people like to carry money belts, but neither Allison or I use these.
Instead, we both carry the same PacSafe anti-theft backpack. It has locking zippers, slash-proof construction with metal mesh hidden in the fabric, and tons of other smart security features — all while being cute and stylish enough to be our everyday bag. We recommend it highly for both male and female travelers, as it’s neutral enough to be unisex. We also strongly recommend travel insurance! Our recommendation is at the bottom of the post.
Read more: Essential Bulgaria Packing List: What to Wear & Pack for Bulgaria
More Bulgaria Travel Resources
We LOVE vacationing at the Bulgarian Riviera!
If this will be your first time in Bulgaria, we have some resources to help make your first trip here a breeze. Check out our guide on how to plan your trip to Bulgaria, which goes over everything from visas to ground transportation to budgeting your trip.
Don’t forget to check out our Bulgaria packing list which has details of everything you’ll want for your trip.
If you’re still considering staying in Sunny Beach or Sveti Vlas, we have hotel suggestions for both! Check out where to stay in Sveti Vlas and where to stay in Sunny Beach for our hotel picks in these two nearby towns.
You’ll also want to check out the best beaches in Bulgaria and if you haven’t picked your hotel yet, you can check our favorite beach resorts in Bulgaria here.
If you’ll be flying into Sofia, here’s how to get from Sofia to Burgas and from Burgas to Sunny Beach (Nessebar is on the way, but it’s essentially the same information).
We have a guide to the best Instagram spots in Sunny Beach and Nessebar so you can take incredible photos of your trip! You’ll also want to set aside time to visit the stunning Pink Lake just outside Burgas.
Next, check out our guide to avoiding taxi scams in Sofia. We don’t have taxi guides yet for Varna and Burgas, but the information about common scams and how to avoid them is the same.
You will also want to check out our overview of Balkan currency, which describes Bulgarian leva and what to tip in Bulgaria.
We publish new posts almost every day! Bookmark our Bulgaria and Balkans pages so you don’t miss any new resources that come out between now and your trip!
Don’t Forget About Travel Insurance!
RIP Prescription Sunglasses. This photo was taken about twenty minutes before they floated away at Sunny Beach, never to be seen again.
Finally, make sure you always travel to Bulgaria with a valid travel insurance policy. The country is a very safe place to travel, but accidents or theft can easily ruin your trip if you don’t have the travel insurance coverage to recover the losses. Recently my aunt fell on a train in France and needed surgery, but luckily her travel insurance covered the costs in full. Thank goodness!
For travel insurance, I use World Nomads. I’ve been a happy customer of theirs for almost three years, and I’ve never had an issue when making a claim. I’m happy to refer them to anyone I meet.
>>Get a travel insurance quote for your trip here.<<
Pin this Guide to Where to Stay in Nessebar for Your Trip to Bulgaria
Stephanie has been living in and traveling around the Balkans for the past three years. She’s written for National Geographic Online, appeared on CNN Arabic and in the New York Times, and ridden more Balkan buses than is good for a person.
