Travelling from Burgas Airport to Sunny Beach?
The good news is that getting from Burgas Airport to Sunny Beach is relatively easy. You can choose between a private transfer, taxi, bus or rental car, depending on your budget, arrival time and how much convenience you want.
We travelled to Sunny Beach with our two children, so I looked into the different options before our trip. I wanted to know how long the journey would take, how much each option would cost and most importantly which would be easiest with children and luggage.
In the end, we chose a private transfer but that doesn’t necessarily mean it’s the best option for everyone.
In this guide, I’ll compare the four main ways to get from Burgas Airport to Sunny Beach and explain which option makes the most sense for different types of travellers.
Planning a family holiday in Sunny Beach? We also spent five days here with our children. You can read our full Sunny Beach family holiday story for a look at what we actually did during our trip.
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Mini Guide to Sunny Beach
Short on time? Here’s a quick guide to Sunny Beach to help you plan your trip.
Where to stay?
-North – family-friendly & quieter
-City Center – nightlife & entertainment
–DIT Evrika Beach Club Hotel (great with kids)
–Meliá Sunny Beach (close to the beach and nightlife)
When to visit?
From June to early September.
July and August are the busiest months.
What to do?
–Khan’s Tent Restaurant in Sveti Vlas – a great spot for dinner with a view
–Half-Day Black Sea Catamaran Cruise – perfect for a relaxing half-day on the water
–Sunny Beach Water & Amusement Parks – a fun choice for families with kids
Burgas Airport to Sunny Beach: Your Options at a Glance
Here’s a quick comparison of the four main ways to travel from Burgas Airport to Sunny Beach:
| Option | Approx. time | Cost | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Private transfer | 30–45 min | ~40€ | Families & convenience |
| Taxi | 30–45 min | ~40€ | Last-minute arrivals |
| Bus | 45–60+ min | 3€ | Budget travellers |
| Rental car | 30–45 min | from ~89€ for 5 days | Exploring Bulgaria |
Journey times and prices can vary, so check current information before travelling.
If you’re travelling with children or arriving late, I’d personally look at a private transfer first.
Pro tip: if you book a round trip in advance, you can get a more favorable price; for us, it cost 72€. I think it’s worth it, as we could change our pick-up time even on the day we had to go back to Burgas Airport.
If you’re travelling on a budget, the bus is the option to investigate.
And if Sunny Beach is part of a bigger Bulgaria road trip, a rental car could make much more sense.
1. Private Transfer — Best for Families
Journey time: around 30–45 minutes
Cost: ~40€ per direction
Best for: families, convenience and a stress-free arrival
If you want the easiest possible start to your holiday, a private transfer is probably the option I’d recommend.
You arrange the transfer before your trip, so you know that someone will be waiting for you when you arrive. Your driver picks you up at Burgas Airport and takes you directly to your hotel in Sunny Beach.
There’s no need to find the bus stop, work out connections or try to negotiate transport after a flight.
If you’re travelling with children, you can also ask about a child seat when booking, for us it was free of charge.
Why We Chose a Private Transfer
For our family, this was the option that made the most sense.
Our flight arrived quite late, so taking the bus wasn’t really an option for us as the services we’d need had already stopped running.
And honestly, I didn’t want to be standing around an airport at night trying to work out public transport with two tired children and all our luggage.
I wanted to get to our hotel, get the kids settled and start our holiday properly the next morning.
Another thing I liked about booking a private transfer was knowing exactly how much we would pay in advance. After a late flight, the last thing I wanted was to be worrying about the price of a taxi or negotiating a fare.
For us, the extra convenience was worth it.
Best choice if: you’re travelling with children, arriving late, have lots of luggage or simply don’t want to think about transport after your flight.
Travelling with kids? We stayed at the DIT Evrika Beach Club Hotel during our Sunny Beach trip, so you can also read our full hotel review if you’re deciding where to stay.
Travelling with children or arriving late? Check the current private transfer price for your dates before you travel.
2. Taxi — Best for Last-Minute Arrivals
Journey time: around 30–45 minutes
Cost: ~40€
Best for: last-minute travellers
A taxi is probably the simplest option if you haven’t arranged transport before your flight.
You can leave the airport without having to wait for a scheduled bus or organise a transfer in advance. Taxis line up right outside the main terminal at Burgas Airport. Once you’ve grabbed your luggage, walk out through Arrivals and you’ll find them waiting on the ground floor.
For a last-minute arrival, that can be a big advantage.
However, I’d recommend checking the fare before setting off and making sure you know what you’re going to pay.
If you’re travelling with children, it’s also worth checking whether a child seat is available and whether there’s enough room for your luggage.
Best choice if: you want to leave the airport quickly and haven’t booked anything in advance.
3. Bus — Best for Budget Travellers
Journey time: around 45–60+ minutes
Cost: 3€
Best for: budget travellers
If keeping the cost of your holiday down is your priority, taking the bus is the obvious option.
Depending on the service and current timetable, you may need to travel via Burgas or make a connection, so it’s important to check the route before you leave.
Bus 15 connects Burgas Airport with Burgas, where you can continue your journey towards Sunny Beach. Start with bus 15, once you’re in the city, transfer to the M-Bus, which runs on to Sunny Beach
Keep in mind that taking the bus means walking with your luggage, since the bus stop isn’t right outside the terminal, plus you’ll need to transfer. You can check the Burgas to Sunny Beach bus timetable here.
The bus will take longer than a direct private transfer or taxi, but for travellers on a budget, the saving can make it worthwhile.
The main thing to consider is your arrival time.
If you’re travelling during the day and don’t mind a slightly longer journey, the bus can be a good way to save money. If you’re arriving late with tired children and lots of luggage, I’d personally choose something more convenient.
Best choice if: price is more important to you than speed and convenience.
4. Rental Car — Best for Exploring Bulgaria
Journey time: around 30–45 minutes
Cost: from ~89€ for 5 days
Best for: road trips and exploring Bulgaria
If Sunny Beach is just one stop on a bigger trip around Bulgaria, renting a car could be a much better option than arranging separate transfers.
Having your own car gives you the freedom to explore the coast and visit places such as Nessebar without relying on buses or taxis.
It can also be useful if you’re planning to visit several destinations during your holiday.
But if you’re mainly planning to stay at your hotel, spend time on the beach, walk along the promenade and take a trip to Nessebar, you probably don’t need a car.
There’s little point paying for a rental car for the entire holiday if it’s going to sit outside your hotel most of the time.
Best choice if: you’re planning a road trip or want to explore more of Bulgaria beyond Sunny Beach.
Planning to explore beyond the resort? Compare rental cars before your trip to see whether having your own car makes financial sense.
Do You Need a Car in Sunny Beach?
If you’re staying mainly in Sunny Beach, probably not.
The beach, hotels, restaurants and promenade are all walking distance and you can use public transport or taxis for trips further afield.
We’d only consider renting a car if we were planning a bigger road trip around Bulgaria.
If your holiday is mainly about relaxing at the hotel, swimming, going to the beach and visiting Nessebar, a rental car may be more hassle and expense than you need.
Frequently Asked Questions
Hopefully this guide makes choosing how to get from Burgas Airport to Sunny Beach a little easier, so you can spend less time worrying about transport and more time looking forward to your holiday!
