Nessebar, a city-museum and UNESCO World Heritage Site, is another marvellous day trip from Burgas, located just 35 kilometres away. This ancient town, often called the "Pearl of the Black Sea", sits on a small peninsula connected to the mainland by a narrow causeway, offering stunning sea views on both sides. Its cobblestone streets wind through a historic centre filled with over a millennium of architectural treasures, including the Church of St. Sofia, a 5th-century basilica, and other medieval churches like St. John the Baptist and St. Stephen. The Old Town, a maze of narrow lanes and 18th-century houses, invites leisurely exploration, with artisan shops and street vendors adding to its charm. Nessebar was once a Thracian settlement and later a Greek colony, playing a key role in the development of trade and culture in the Black Sea region. Its unique blend of ancient ruins, Byzantine churches, and a lively atmosphere makes it a captivating destination for history enthusiasts and casual vacationers.

Saint Anastasia Island, the only inhabited island in Bulgaria’s Black Sea, lies 6 kilometres from Burgas and is steeped in history and legend. Once a monastery and later a prison, it now features a lighthouse, a couple of small museums, and the 15th-century Church of the Assumption with its 1802 wooden iconostasis. You can explore the island’s rocky shores, enjoy sea cuisine at the restaurant, or try herbal potions at the monastery. Regular catamaran services from Burgas make it an accessible and intriguing day trip.

The full name of this church is a mouthful — the Church of the Third Order of Our Lady of Monte do Carmo. It is the most popular of Faro's churches, not so much for its fantastically elaborate, gold-leaf laden, Baroque interior, but for its bone chapel, entirely decorated with monks' skeletons.