Experience the best of Nessebar

Founded as the Greek colony of Mesembria more than 2,500 years ago, Nessebar later passed through Roman, Byzantine and Bulgarian hands, and its old town is a World Heritage site. Cobbled lanes run between stone houses with overhanging wooden upper floors, and almost nothing is more than a few steps from the water. A wooden windmill by the causeway has become the town's symbol.

The old town has the ruins of several medieval churches, from the Church of St Sophia, also called the Old Bishopric, to the Church of Christ Pantocrator with its decorative brickwork and the ruined basilica of the Virgin Eleousa. Sunny Beach, a long stretch of sand and a resort, lies just to the north, and the larger port of Burgas is a short way south.

Grilled fish, mussels, fried sprats and shopska salad of tomato, cucumber and white cheese appear on harbour tables, with Bulgarian white wines and rakia to go with them. The sea is warm enough for swimming from about June to September.