• Bulgaria is changing and there are no longer any restricted areas to visiting yachts. It is not a common country for cruisers, though visitors have reported having a positive experience.
• Bulgaria and Romania became the newest Member States to join the Schengen area as of 31 March 2024.
• Once cleared in, there is no requirement to check in with any authorities at intermediate ports, except when clearing out again. Officials are reported to be very friendly and helpful. See Clearance for full details on entry and exit procedures.
• The best port to clear in coming from Turkey is Tzarevo, and coming from Romania is Balchik. Yachts can also clear-in at Varna and Burgas. Burgas is a large commercial harbour with limited facilities for private yachts, Sozopol would be a better place to stop.
• In recent years several good marina facilities have been built. On the north Black Sea coast, Rusalka, Tyulenovo, Balchik, Golden Sands and Varna are all good stopovers. On the southern Black Sea coast Burgas, St. Vlas, Nesebar, Sozopol, and Dyuni all have yachting facilities.
• The Bay of Burgas, between Sveti Vlas and Sozopol, is a real cruising ground where it is possible to find relatively isolated anchorages.
• On January 1 2007, Bulgaria joined the European Union (EU).
• See the Publications section for the latest cruising guides to the Black Sea.

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