A Couple's Guide to a Romantic Getaway in Bulgaria

Located in the picturesque Rose Valley, in the town of Kazanlak, Hotel Palas offers simple elegance. The hotel’s 45 rooms are spacious, comfortable and all feature a wide range of mod cons including cable TV, air conditioning, minibars and room service. Couples can enjoy a romantic dinner at the hotel restaurant or relax at the on-site spa. If you’re itching to get out and explore, there is plenty you can learn about the region’s Thracian heritage: visit local rose oil distilleries or if you happen to be here in June, join in the celebrations of the annual Rose Festival.

Another Rose Valley gem, this upscale resort brings health and relaxation sharply into focus. Utilising local mineral springs, Hotel Sevtopolis combines traditional spa treatments and balneology to create relaxing rituals aimed at healing physical ailments. Rooms are modern, stylish and spacious and feature all the amenities you need to make yourself feel at home. It’s the perfect choice for a romantic weekend away where you can focus on each other as well as individual health and wellness.

Located in the heart of Burgas and overlooking the seaweed-sprinkled waters of the Black Sea, DAS Marina Burgas is the perfect place for a modern seaside escape. Rooms are airy and flooded with natural light, offering great views as well as comfort. Though the hotel has a business focus, the nearby 6th Sense Spa Centre and Salini Mediterranean Restaurant have plenty of romantic potential. The hotel’s prime location also puts you steps away from Burgas city centre – start by exploring the Sea Garden of Burgas, perhaps the most romantic spot in the city.

This forest-shrouded hotel in the foothills of Strandzha Mountain is 15 minutes from Burgas and 17 minutes away from Utopia Beach – though we doubt you’ll want to leave much. As a self-contained, well, utopia, this hotel offers a truly unique experience in Bulgaria. Aside from modern, stylish rooms, you will find an outdoor swimming pool, a relaxation area, an outdoor cinema and library as well as a web of hiking and cycling trails around the property.

Overlooking foam-capped waves, this small boutique hotel has a secluded location on the shores of the Black Sea, only 20 minutes away from Burgas. Each of the 21 rooms has a distinct character and all are stylishly decorated in marine shades of blue, white and grey. During the day, you can lounge on the beach, rent a bicycle or strike up a match of tennis. When the sun sets, it’s time for a date at the on-site restaurant where fresh fish is always on the menu.

Combining relaxation and wine, Uva Nestum Wine & Spa is a winery hotel with 24 rooms and nine suites that are both modern and spacious. You can easily spend all day exploring the 5,000sqm (53,819sqft) grounds – start with a visit to the Uva Nestum Winery and end with a vinotherapy ritual in the hotel’s signature Barrel Bath Room, where you can soak in the TheraVine Pinotage Bath Elixir (that’s a tub of wine byproducts to you and me). It’s sure to go down as one of your most original dates.

A member of Relais & Chateaux, the Zornitza Family Estate shows a deep appreciation of Bulgarian heritage. The estate’s boutique hotel and six private villas feature exposed timber beams, red bricks and design-led furnishings, setting the scene for personalised therapies at the Zoma Body & Soul Spa, a beginners golf lesson at the on-site nine-hole course and even individual tours of the estate’s vineyards and eco-farm. Don’t forget dinner at the upscale aEstivum or the more casual Bistro 55, both a perfect finish to the day. A concierge is also available to help you plan romantic experiences across the wider region.

Blu Bay Hotel offers rustic charm and understated luxury in a prime seaside location. All rooms are nautically inspired and equipped with a flat-screen TV and a coffee machine – our favourite is the sea view double room, with a sun-filled balcony overlooking the marina. For a romantic day out, explore the cobblestone streets of ancient Sozopol before returning to the hotel for a dip in the infinity pool followed by a delightful meal at the on-site Boca Grande restaurant. Finish off with a cocktail in Soho Bar.

You don’t have to leave the country’s capital in order to enjoy a romantic getaway. In the heart of Sofia, this landmark hotel built in 1956 blends classical style and opulent decor in a way that highlights Sofia’s architectural heritage. For instance, the on-site restaurant – Labels – features plenty of gold accents as a nod to Bulgaria’s long history of gold smelting. Enjoy the lavish decor, indulge in a decadent meal and rekindle your love in a truly iconic setting. Did we mention the hotel is also built atop the foundations of a historical Roman Fortress?

A weekend at the elegant Lighthouse Golf and Spa Hotel offers a luxury break that might just have everything you’re looking for. Overlooking the Black Sea, the hotel is in a prime location and offers breathtaking views. It also has stylish rooms, a top-of-the-line Spa & Wellness Center, a signature championship golf course, six restaurants, tennis courts, a football field, volleyball courts, a shooting range and so much more. If you’re looking to find romance on an active holiday, this is the place for you.