Sveti Vlas (also known as St. Vlas) is a beautiful coastal town of approx. 3000 inhabitants, situated just 4 kilometers north of Sunny Beach and 8 kilometers from Nessebar. This magnificent resort is a great combination of beautiful seaside at the foot of the Balkan mountain range

location

Saint Vlas Resort is situated at the foot of Stara Planina Mountains, on the Black Sea Coast and is in close proximity to the city of Bourgas - 40 km, Bourgas international airport - 38 km, Nesebar - 8 km,  Elenite Holiday City, and one of the most famous Bulgarian resorts - Sunny Beach - 4 km.

Transport

There is regular bus transport from Nessebar, Sunny Beach and Bourgas to Sveti Vlas, and plenty of private minibuses, route and ordinary taxis. There is also water transport to and from Nessebar and Bourgas to Sunny Beach. The international airport of Burgas is a 20 to 30 minute drive away and is served by international carriers and charter airlines from throughout Europe.

History

Saint Vlas is one of the oldest inhabited places in Nesebar Region. During the years of existence it has had different names and they are all connected with the Christian monasteries that were built nearby.

It is believed to have been established by the Thracian tribe of Larisi in the 2nd century BC. In the XIV century it was renamed "St. Vlas" after the patron saint of the cattle growers and merchants. He was a saint, honored by the Christians and the Catholics. In the past there was also a monastery of the same name, burnt down by pirates. During Turkish yoke it was known as "Kyuchuk Manastir" after the monasteries in the vicinity of the village. After the Liberation- in 1886 the village restored its name of St. Vlas.

Tourism

The last several years the village changed fundamentally its image. Many new cozy hotels appeared. A lot of new guest houses and accommodation rooms has been built too. Also the tourists can enjoy many nice, stylish restaurants and bars, offering good cuisine. The town is also famous for its brand new and beautiful yacht port, which is being developed close to the water base of the local fishermen. Marina yacht port offers everything needed for a yacht lover to enjoy unforgettable summer holiday. People can hire and even buy yachts there. Sv Vlas has grown as a tourist resort in recent times, serving as a quieter alternative to nearby Sunny Beach. The gap between the two places is shrinking as more hotels are built along the coast. The excellent combination of mountains and sea turns St Vlas into a holiday village with unique climate favorable to the curative climate influence on diseases of the lungs. The beach strips are more then 3 km long in total and 15 to 40 m wide on average.

Sights

One of the most famous temples is St. Vlas resort is "Saint Atanasii the Great" temple - an impressive church, built in 1864.