Golden Sands is one of the best places for a beach vacation in Bulgaria. The local streets are lined with verdant trees, the hotel overlooks the blue sea and picturesque hills, and it takes minutes to get to the beach from anywhere. Let’s get to know this resort better and see what there is to do in and around the town.
Most tourists arrive on vacation in Golden Sands from Varna, where the international airport is located. To get to the hotel in comfort, you can order a car from a car rental company and pick it up right at Varna Airport. You need to come to the company’s counter, execute the documents and the manager will provide the booked car.
Average rental prices in Golden Sands by car class
It is worth renting a car for those who plan to travel from the resort to Varna, other surrounding towns and countryside attractions. You can rent a car directly in Golden Sands, but it is better to send a request in advance: during peak season, the car you want may not be available.
Car classes |
Price per day |
Deposit amount |
|---|---|---|
compact cars |
from 6 EUR (12 BGN) |
from 150 euros |
small cars |
from 18 EUR (36 BGN) |
from 150 euros |
standard |
from 20 EUR (40 BGN) |
from 200 euros |
minivan |
from 26 EUR (52 BGN) |
from 300 euros |
SUVs |
from 35 EUR (70 BGN) |
from 800 euros |
luxury |
from 60 EUR (120 BGN) |
from 1500 euros |
*Prices are valid for November 2024. Check the available cars in the city and review the offers from rental offices.
What do you need to rent?
For car rental in Bulgaria you will need an ordinary European valid driver’s license with an unexpired expiration date (MVL is not required), a passport and a Visa/MasterCard bank card for making a deposit.
Minimum age is 23 years old and a minimum of 3 years of driving experience. For drivers under 23 years of age – extra. costs 6 euros per day and double deposit.
Make a reservation in Golden Sands better 7 days in advance to get good discounts from the rental company.
How to choose a rental car?
Determine where you will be traveling: within Golden Sands, to another city via the highway, or cross-country in the mountains and along the coast. Consider who will be riding with you, i.e., how many passengers will be in the car.
Travelers |
Car body |
Transmission |
|---|---|---|
Two people |
coupe, compact sedan or hatchback |
Manual |
A loner |
coupe, sedan, hatchback |
Automatic, Manual |
Company of 2-4 people |
full-size sedan, station wagon or hatchback |
Automatic |
Company of 5-7 people |
minivan |
Automatic |
Family 3-4 people |
full-size sedan, station wagon or hatchback |
Manual |
Goals and routes |
Transmission |
Engine capacity |
Comment |
|---|---|---|---|
Short trips around the city |
автомат |
1.1-1.6 liters |
In the city there will be enough coupe, sedan or hatchback with an automatic transmission with a small engine capacity. |
To sights off-road |
automatic, manual |
1.6-2 liters |
To overcome ups and downs, it is preferable to choose a car with high ground clearance and not the smallest engine. |
To other cities along the highway |
machine |
2-3 liters |
To save on gas stations and comfort when overtaking, it is better to take a diesel car with a powerful engine. |
Car rental companies
Top Rent-a-Car – National rental company of Bulgaria. The best prices and new cars with minimal mileage, usually up to 50,000 km. Still remains a leader in quality and comfort of services.
Discover Cars – World Travel Awards winning car rental comparison site. Customers can find, compare and rent a car in Bulgaria. Competitive prices at over 10,000 locations worldwide.
EconomyBookings – International booking service for economical car rental. Large selection of cars, more than 20,000 rental points, 150 countries. 24/7 reservation and support service.
Rentalcars – World leader in online car booking. Rentalcars is part of the American company Priceline, which also includes Booking.com.
Localrent – Car rental broker in local rental companies. Low prices, low deposits: from 0 to 300 euros. Manual confirmation of the selected vehicle option.
BikesBooking – Online booking service for motorcycles, scooters, ATVs and bicycles around the world.
GetrentaCar – Marketplace for renting vehicles from local owners at the best prices. Competitive prices in Bulgaria, best price guarantee, tender system. 24/7 support in 20 languages. Prepayment is only 15%.
Cities near the resort
Useful information
Info |
Data |
|---|---|
Nearest airport |
25 km (30 minutes) |
IATA code (airport) |
VAR |
Airport information desk |
+359 52 573 323 |
Language |
Bulgarian. |
Currency |
BGN – lv. (Bulgarian Lev) |
Country code |
+359 |
Police/ambulance phone number |
112 (free) |
Direction of movement |
right-handed |
Speed limit outside the city |
90 km/h (56 mph) |
Speed limit within the city |
50 km/h (31 mph) |
Permissible blood alcohol level |
0.05‰ ppm |
Availability of access to the sea |
beach resort |
Weather during the year
The bathing season in Golden Sands lasts for a relatively short time. The sea warms up to a comfortable 20°C by early June. In July, the water temperature reaches 24 – 26°C. By September, the heat subsides and the velvet season begins, which lasts until the end of the month.
Average temperature by month:
Jan. |
Feb. |
March |
Apr. |
May |
June |
July |
Aug. |
Sep. |
Oct. |
Nov. |
Dec. |
|
t air, °C |
+2 |
+3 |
+6 |
+11 |
+16 |
+20 |
+22 |
+22 |
+19 |
+14 |
+9 |
+5 |
t water, °C |
+7 |
+6 |
+7 |
+10 |
+16 |
+21 |
+24 |
+25 |
+22 |
+18 |
+14 |
+10 |
September is not only characterized by welcoming sunshine, but also by low prices. A hotel or car rental during the velvet season will cost up to 30% cheaper than in July or August.
Parking areas
There is almost no free parking at the resort. You have to pay for a parking space near the beach, and on many streets parking is not allowed at all. At the height of the tourist season, the tow truck comes quickly, so it’s best not to break the rules.
If your plans include regular trips by car, choose a hotel or apartment with free parking – there are quite a few of them here. Otherwise, you will have to use paid parking, which usually costs 1 – 2 leva per hour.
Attractions in the vicinity of Golden Sands
People come to Golden Sands for a beach vacation. Swimming in the sea and sunbathing in the soft sun on the local coast is a pleasure. Thanks to the wide sandy beach and mild climate, the city is loved by tourists vacationing with children. You can have fun not only on the seashore, but also in the local water park “Aquapolis”.
Beaches and water parks
However, not only parents with children will find entertainment to their liking in Golden Sands. There are plenty of restaurants and nightclubs in town, with many of them located right on the beach. Sip a Cuban cocktail in the shade of a thatched roof, go wild at a party or simply make new acquaintances in a rock bar – in Golden Sands there are all possibilities for this.
Nature Park
In the northern part of the town, near the Zora and Breeze hotels, is the entrance to a protected wildlife park. Forest trails lead hikers through thickets of Mediterranean vegetation, providing a pleasant coolness on a sultry day. The park has a winery that offers tours and tastings.
A monastery in the mountains
Inquisitive travelers will find a lot of interesting things to do around Golden Sands. The nearest attraction is the Aladzha Monastery, carved into a rock a couple of kilometers from the town. Monks settled here as early as the first centuries AD, but later the temple was looted by Ottoman soldiers. Today there is an archaeological museum within the walls of the monastery.
Музей ретро-авто
If sunbathing on the beach of Golden Sands became boring, it is worth visiting neighboring Varna, where there is a whole scattering of galleries and museums. Archaeology, history, navigation, painting – almost every field of human endeavor is reflected in the local exhibition halls.
Retro car enthusiasts will love the museum under the roof of the Grand Mall. If you like ships and the glitter of cannons, head to the Maritime Museum on the waterfront. There is also an aquarium with exotic fish – a good place to visit with children.
