Balchik is a 2600 years old settlement, small but very romantic Bulgarian seaside town with its population numbering 13,766 people and a harbour used for medium-sized passenger and commercial vessels. Balchik is attractive to tourists with its ancient atmosphere that has been preserved for centuries now. It is situated 31km north of Varna in a beautiful inlet.
     The beach strip reaches up to 30 kilometers in length which is an important premise for the development of the region in the sphere of tourism and recreation. This area is extremely rich in mineral springs and underground waters which are the main sources for the modem water-supply system with a capacity of 1000 liters per second.
     The place was first inhabited by lonians in the 5th century BC. Later on it was called Dionisopolis after the name of Dionisius, the Greek god of wine and feasts. According to one of the most popular explanations, the town received this name after a statute of Dionisius was dragged there by the sea. The god's image appeared also on the coins minted there. Noteworthy, the town was a rather important centre on the northern Black Sea coast till the beginning of the new era and it was second in significance only to Varna (named Odessos at that time). Later on the town was included in the territory of Bulgaria. Around the 13th - 14th century AC it was moved to a natural fortification, called Dzhina Bair. Following this rule by the Boyar Balik, it received its present-day name of Balchik. The town flourished and grew into a big corn-trading centre after the Crimean War (1853-1856). Yet after the Balkan War which ended 1913, it was annexed to the territory of Romania. Struck by the natural beauty of the place, The Romanian Queen Maria built a summer palace and a botanical garden there. The royal complex also included a chapel and a villa for Romanian aristocrats. The town turned into a luxurious resort at the time. After 1940 Balchik was again included in Bulgarian territory.
     One of the most interesting places in the town is the Palace built in 1924-1931 by the request of the Romanian queen Maria. The place is famous with its exotic botanical garden - the biggest and most diverse in the Balkans. Flowers and trees from the Mediterranean islands, the Pacific Ocean, the Black Sea, South Asia, and America delight the visitor. The garden is a "residence" of about 3 000 spices (over 250 of which are cactuses), set up between waterfalls, streams and ornamental canals. The whole complex was called Tenha Yuva (Quiet Nest). Besides the palace and the botanic garden, the Art Gallery of the town, which houses also the town's museum, is also an interesting place to visit. There is also a small ethnographic museum and a beautiful old church called St. Nicola Church. The coastal alley, which is about 4km long, is also a nice place to stroll, the same way as the harbour and the small streets of the town are.
     Outside the city, the area of Touzlata is located 4 km east of the town. It is well known for its curative mud, which was the main reason to build a balneological centre there beside two lakes, formed by old landslides. A large recreational complex, a lot of villas, bungalows and a camping site can be also found there. There is a mineral spring with water temperature of above 30 C degrees. Fifteen kilometers away from the town in south-west direction is the village of Obrochishte with a well-preserved fortress dating back to the early Ottoman rule, which travellers of that time used to compare it with the beauty of Baghdad.
     The most popular hotels in the town are Dionisopolis Hotel, Balchik Hotel and Elite Hotel. One can reserve rooms at the palace as well. There are bungalows near the shore in the Tihiya Kut Resort (The Quiet Corner) and many private lodgings offered in the town with their prices depending on the comfort and the distance to the beach or the centre. Not far from the town is the Bisser Camping offering bungalows and space for caravans to park and tents to put up. Apart from several big restaurants in the palace, in the hotels and downtown, there are a number of small private restaurants and coastal stalls offering seafood, pizzas, spaghetti and other kinds of European cuisine.
     There is regular bus transport to the nearby town of Dobrich, Varna and the Albena resort. Apart from buses, there are numerous route taxis and private minibuses, taxis and water transport to Varna and Albena.