WhattoDoinBurgasWhenItRains:ARainy-DayPlan

TL;DR

Rain in Burgas doesn't ruin the day. The centre is compact, and the market halls, museums, taverns, mall and wine bars are all within a short walk or taxi ride of each other.

Morning: markets and museums

Start at the Central Market Halls. They're covered, they're best in the morning, and they sell honey, rose products, sheep's-milk sirene and jars of lyutenitsa. Bring cash, because most stalls don't take cards. Then spend an hour or two in the archaeological and ethnographic museums. Our city guide lists both as part of a standard two-day visit. Check opening hours locally before you go.

For breakfast, buy banitsa from a bakery. It's filo pastry with cheese and egg, and it costs under €3.

Lunch: a long mehana meal

A mehana (Bulgarian tavern) is the best place to wait out a downpour. Order clay-pot kavarma, kebapche and a shopska salad. Main courses are typically €8–13. Many taverns have live folk music after 20:00. If you'd rather sit somewhere calmer, Incanto has a shaded garden restaurant with an all-day menu. Check the weather before you pick an outdoor table.

See more options on our eating guide.

Afternoon: Galleria Burgas

Galleria Burgas is the city's largest enclosed mall, about ten minutes from the Sea Garden. It's open 10:00–22:00 and has a cinema, a food court and a supermarket. It's also handy if you've forgotten an umbrella, a phone charger or a warmer layer. More on shopping in Burgas.

Evening: wine and small plates

Ti Bar is a book-lined wine bar in the city centre. It has small plates and a good Bulgarian wine list. Try a Melnik or Mavrud red. If the rain stops, walk down Bogoridi street to the bars near the Sea Garden entrance.

If it clears

The Sea Garden is free and is at its best just after rain. Don't swap in a day trip on a wet forecast, though. Nessebar and Sozopol are much more enjoyable when it's dry.

Plan the rest of your trip at travelburgas.com.