site.btaBlue Flag Award: Harmanite Beach Among Most Visited in Sozopol

Harmanite Beach in Sozopol is among the Bulgarian sites that have received the Blue Flag Award in 2025. The award is given by the Denmark-based Foundation for Environmental Education, with over 50 countries participating in the programme. In order to qualify for the Blue Flag, a series of stringent environmental, educational, safety, and accessibility criteria must be met and maintained.

The official opening of the summer season in Sozopol will be on June 7, the municipality told BTA. To meet all the requirements for receiving the "Blue Flag", the concessionaire has planned to install the necessary lifeguard posts, areas with umbrellas and sun loungers, as well as a free area where visitors will be able to place their own beach equipment.

Residents of Sozopol commented that Harmanite Beach is among the most visited beaches in the area. "It has everything you need - clean water, facilities for children and many restaurants nearby. In the evening, there are many people in the restaurants by the beach, especially in the summer. The area is very nice," Irina Zlatarova said. She expressed the opinion that the sea water near Sozopol is among the cleanest on the Southern Black Sea Coast.

"This is one of the few beaches where maintenance is visible. We feel safe that both the sand and water are clean," said a family from Plovdiv, who added that they visit Sozopol every summer. As a holder of the Blue Flag Award, the beach applies a strict waste management system, including separate collection, with containers located in several places.

BTA is presenting all 30 Bulgarian beaches and harbours awarded the Blue Flag by the international jury of the Programme in Copenhagen. It is the 30th anniversary of the first award for the country - the pilot Blue Flag was raised on Sunny Beach on July 4, 1995.