St. Anastasia Island
The only inhabited island on the Bulgarian Black Sea coast.
St. Anastasia Island is among the most attractive and romantic tourist destinations on the Southern Black Sea coast. Located in the waters of the Bay of Burgas, it is the only inhabited island in Bulgaria and offers visitors a unique combination of breathtaking nature, rich history and modern tourist infrastructure.
Photo: 5ko / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0
Historical heritage and monastic spirit
The island is formed of volcanic rock and conceals millennia of secrets. The most significant historical monument on its territory is the monastery of St. Anastasia the Pharmacolitria (the Healer) — the only surviving island monastery in Bulgaria, with a history reaching back to the Middle Ages. In 1889 a French company built a lighthouse here, which to this day guides ships in the bay. In its more recent history, in the 1920s and 1940s the monastery buildings were used as a political prison, and from 1945 to 1990 the island was renamed "Bolshevik".
A modern tourist attraction
Today St. Anastasia has been transformed by Burgas Municipality into a first-class tourist destination. The island is reached by a pleasant sea trip aboard a municipal catamaran that departs from Magazia 1 at the Burgas port. On the island itself, visitors can explore an interactive museum that uses modern technology to tell local legends of pirate raids and hidden treasures.
The complex includes an authentic restaurant offering traditional fish specialities and unique monastic recipes, as well as a "lekarna" (small pharmacy-café) serving miraculous herbal infusions and fig lemonade. For those seeking deeper seclusion, there is also the option of an overnight stay in the restored guesthouse, which recreates the atmosphere of the old monastic cells.
Including St. Anastasia Island in your tour itinerary guarantees an unforgettable sea adventure and a touch of the mystery of the Bay of Burgas.