For those who like it lively and cosmopolitan (for some that equates to crowded and loud) Sunny Beach, 35km north of Burgas, is well worth a visit. It is Bulgaria's biggest resort and boasts the longest (8km) and widest beach (up to 60m) - the plus side being that the sea is very shallow a long way in, making it safe for families with small children. Sunny Beach welcomed it's first foreign tourists at the end of the 1950s. It was always seen by the then communist regime as a means of getting access to hard currency. Since then it has been a cheap package holiday destination for Russians, Germans, British and more recently Irish and Scandinavian as well as Israelis and other Europeans. The property boom around 2005 dramatically increased the number of beds in the resort with many new hotels and apartment blocks being built. Many foreigners were tempted to purchase holiday apartments. The development of this region also incorporated adjacent quieter resorts such as Sveti Vlas. Much has been written about the huge strain on natural resources, insufficient water supply etc. but when all is said and done Sunny Beach has hundreds of restaurants and bars and 300 000 + beds, so if it's lively and inexpensive you want then Sunny Beach is your best bet.