Sozopol

An ancient Black Sea town on Bulgaria's southern coast, Sozopol traces its origins to a Greek colony called Apollonia — later devastated by a Roman siege in 72 BC — and retains 18th- and 19th-century architecture alongside a concentration of medieval churches. The annual Apollonia arts and film festival, held each September, draws visitors alongside the summer beach season. The old town sits on a pocket-sized peninsula with sea views on multiple sides, and the café and restaurant scene is substantial for a town its size.

• Population4,500
• Nearest water from center1.2 km
• Nearest mountain from center2.4 km
• UNESCO within 50 km1