Sarah, It really depends on what you call souveniers. Sunny Beach is rife with quite cheap designer clothing which the youngsters will love. DVD's and CD's also cheap.
May be able to help more if you can say what they're after.

Toonman

Hi Sarah,

As you are going to Albena, you will find that a trip to Dobrich or Varna will make whatever cash you decide to give to your teenagers for souvenirs go much farther than it will in the resort itself.

Baldur

Thanks Baldur/Toonman

I would say cheap designer clothes, sunglasses and shoes are pretty much the things they'll be looking for, so any idea of prices for those would be great. I will remember what you said about Varna and Dobrich, are they easily accessible by bus/on foot etc from Albena?

Sarah

I will remember what you said about Varna and Dobrich, are they easily accessible by bus/on foot etc from Albena?

Not by foot, unless they like very long walks, but there's a regular bus service to both (every 20 minutes to Dobrich/30 minutes to Varna) from Albena bus station - 5 Leva each way (at least that was the price in March).

The prices in both cities will be 'normal' Bulgarian prices, not the inflated prices for tourists that you find in the resorts.

Dobrich is 'Shoe City' - nearly every other shop seems to be a shoe shop! Tell them to look for signs saying 'обувки' (obuvki) - shoes in Bulgarian.

Baldur

Baldur wrote:

I will remember what you said about Varna and Dobrich, are they easily accessible by bus/on foot etc from Albena?

Not by foot, unless they like very long walks, but there's a regular bus service to both (every 20 minutes to Dobrich/30 minutes to Varna) from Albena bus station - 5 Leva each way (at least that was the price in March).

The prices in both cities will be 'normal' Bulgarian prices, not the inflated prices for tourists that you find in the resorts.

Dobrich is 'Shoe City' - nearly every other shop seems to be a shoe shop! Tell them to look for signs saying 'обувки' (obuvki) - shoes in Bulgarian.

Baldur

Hi Baldur, can you tell me what number of bus you get from GS to Dobrich?

There is no direct bus from GS, you need to go to Albena & change for Dobrich.

Patka

Hi DOA,

As Patka says, it's a two-leg journey from GS to Dobrich - via Albena bus station.

Alternatively, you can take the 409 bus to the Central Bus Station (Avtogara) on Valadislav Varnenchik Boulevard in Varna, walk across the road to the Mladost Private Bus Station (Dobrovoltsi Street) and take the bus to Dobrich from there (every 30 minutes, from memory) - this route goes via Aksakovo & Stozher, across the Dobrudzha plateau.

Baldur

Dobrich is where the main abattoir for northern Bulgaria is situated which is the reason for it being full of shoe shops and other leather goods.

If you go to Dobrich its worth visiting the Ethnographical museum, various old buildings and shops.

Patka

If you go to Dobrich its worth visiting the Ethnographical museum, various old buildings and shops.

Photos of the Ethnographic complex 'Старият Добрич' (Stariyat Dobrich/Old Dobrich) can be seen HERE - if you go there at lunch time, try the freshly-cooked 'gevrek' (crisp, ring-shaped, sesame-flavoured bread snack) from the bakery there.

Beware the manic proprietress of the pottery in the complex, she takes a great delight in demonstrating the toughness of her stock by hitting it with a hammer - usually when you least expect her to do so.

The 'стара къща' (Stara Kashta/Old House), located next to St. George's church, is also worth a visit.

Baldur,

Have you tried BOZA there? Not my favourite tipple.

Patka

Hi Patka,

Just so others know what we are talking about, Boza Zdravets shown below:



Not in Stariya Dobrich - I tried it from a little place that sells banitsa & other snacks near the Tomi supermarket (just off Ohrid Street).

It must be an acquired taste, much too sweet for my liking, I prefer айрян/ayrian as a thirst-quencher.

Baldur

Agreed, but I don't like the chocolate Ayrian.

I remember in a good class hotel asking at breakfast where the yogurt was only to be shown a dish that had been watered down. They were rather shamefaced when I told them that was more like Ayrian and could I have the real stuff IN BULGARIAN.

I got it, never again was it watered down for the whole of our stay.

Patka

Thanks both .....