Old Town
Wooden houses and cobbled lanes on the peninsula. Beautiful, but busy in summer.
character homesno car
Old town by the sea
Living in Sozopol
An ancient seaside town on a rocky peninsula: lively in summer, peaceful in winter, and 35 minutes from Burgas.
- 1-bed rent
- €450–800
- From Sofia
- About 4.5h by car, or fly to Burgas
- Airport
- Burgas (BOJ)
- Pace of life
- Very quiet in winter, busy in summer
Overview
Is Sozopol right for you?
Sozopol is one of the oldest towns on the Black Sea, founded by Greek settlers as Apollonia. Its old town of wooden houses sits on a small rocky peninsula, with beaches on both sides.
In summer it fills with visitors and festivals, including the Apollonia arts festival in early September. From October to May it becomes a quiet town of a few thousand people, and many expats love it for exactly that.
Burgas is 35 minutes away for hospitals, offices, shopping and the airport, and wild beaches and the Ropotamo reserve are just to the south.
Rents are high for the size of the town, because owners can earn more from summer lets. Many restaurants and shops close in winter. It suits retirees and remote workers who want the sea and don’t mind a quiet winter.
What expats like
- A beautiful old town on the sea
- Some of the best beaches on the coast nearby
- Peaceful from autumn to spring
- Burgas and its airport 35 minutes away
- A friendly community of year-round expats
What to know
- High rents for a small town, driven by summer lets
- Many restaurants and shops close in winter
- No hospital: the nearest is in Burgas
- Very busy roads and parking in July and August
Costs
What it costs to live here
Typical prices for one person, from current listings and Numbeo, checked in October 2026. Rents rise fast, so check imot.bg before you budget.
1-bed apartment, city centre
about €450–800 a month, asking prices
1-bed apartment, outside the centre
about €400–600 a month in nearby villages
Utilities for a 2-bed flat (power, water, heating)
about €90 a month, more in winter
Public transport monthly card
No town buses; buses to Burgas
Mobile plan with 10 GB+ data
about €13 a month
Home internet
about €11 a month
Meal at an inexpensive restaurant
about €12, more in summer
Neighbourhoods
Where expats live in Sozopol
New Town (Harmanite)
Newer flats near Harmani beach, with shops open all year.
year-round livingfamiliesBudzhaka
A quieter headland of newer complexes with sea views.
sea viewscouplesChernomorets
A small seaside village 10 minutes north.
lower rentsquietRavadinovo and inland villages
Houses with gardens a short drive inland. A car is essential.
housesgardensGetting around
Do you need a car?
Walking
The old and new towns are close together and easy to walk.
Buses
Regular buses run to Burgas, more often in summer.
Taxis
Easy to find in summer. Book ahead in winter.
Driving
Almost essential for life outside summer, and for beaches to the south.
Living here
Everyday life in Sozopol
Healthcare
- Local medical centre and GPsState Family doctors and basic care in the town
- UMBAL BurgasState The nearest main hospital, 35 minutes away
- Life Hospital, BurgasPrivate A modern private hospital in Burgas
Schools
- International schools None. The nearest English options are in Burgas
- Local schools Bulgarian state schools. Small classes, teaching in Bulgarian
- Burgas language schools English and other streams. 35 minutes away, entry by exam
Work
- Jobs Almost all local work is in summer tourism
- Remote work Popular with remote workers from autumn to spring, when it is quiet and cheaper
- Coworking Few dedicated spaces; most people work from home or cafés
Weekends
- Ropotamo Reserve A river through forest to the sea, 20 minutes south
- Wild beaches to the south Arkutino, Alepu and Smokinya beaches, within 15 minutes
- Burgas Shopping, the Sea Garden and the lakes, 35 minutes away
- Nessebar A UNESCO old town, about 1 hour away
- Strandzha Forests and old villages, about 1 hour away
Paperwork
Where to sort your paperwork
Migration office (ODMVR Burgas)
Residence permits, EU registration certificates, LNCH
63 Perushtitsa St, Lazur, Burgas · Check hours on mvr.bg
Good to know: Bring originals and copies of everything. Queues are longest early in the morning
KAT (traffic police)
Driving licence exchange, car registration
Burgas traffic police (ODMVR Burgas) · Check the address and hours on mvr.bg before you go
Good to know: Bring a sworn translation for non-EU licences
Sozopol Municipality
Local documents, property tax and vehicle tax
Municipal building in the town · Hours vary
Good to know: Small, with short queues outside summer
National Revenue Agency (NAP)
Tax registration, social security, health insurance status
Find your office at nra.bg · Many services work online with a PIK code
Good to know: Ask for a PIK code once: it saves many visits
Find help in Sozopol
English-speaking professionals near you
Lawyers, accountants, doctors and agents who work with expats in Sozopol and Burgas, checked by our team.
What’s on near Sozopol
Festivals, concerts, traditions and markets across Bulgaria, with what each one is about so you know what to expect.
See events in SozopolCompare
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