Alepu Beach (Drivers' Beach)

The beach is about a mile long but most nude couples and families stay towards the northern end, away from the busier section near Gin Bar La Mer. It wasn’t immediately obvious to us that Alepu is a nude beach because everyone is so sparsely spread out along the beach. However upon seeing one people sans clothing we decided to go for it, weirdly enough everyone that came after we arrived also went nude. Maybe we’re trendsetters or it’s just more popular later in the afternoon here?! The ratio of males to females seemed about equal and it was mostly young families.

Locals mention that dolphins are frequent visitors to the beach in the summer months. Apparently in the morning is your best chance to spot them from the beach, when the ocean is calmer and less windy. We never saw dolphins when we visited but we did see lots of birds and dragonflies. Be careful to not damage the sand dunes as they are home to rare flora and fauna, some of which only exists on the Bulgarian coast. There are signs along the beach explaining the importance of the beach and pointing out what the endangered plants look like. Wild beaches like Alepu are becoming rarer and rarer, having one so close to a major city like Sozopol is a huge bonus. Most of the people on the beach were respectful and seemed to appreciate being surrounded by nature. There was no amplified music or games on the sand like you might expect elsewhere.

We could have easily spent a few days relaxing on Alepu Beach but it wasn’t to be. The wind kicked up the next day, making the beach an unpleasant windblown and sandy experience. Beware that the eastern exposure of the bay makes it heavily prone to strong ocean winds. The beach is not patrolled so you’re on your own if you get into trouble. The large rocks in the bay can also push up the swell and make the beach surf-able! Crazy!

Overall, Alepu Beach is a must visit in Sozopol and for a ‘wild beach’ it is incredibly easy to access. Just make sure you come prepared because there isn’t much here, but if you’re like us than that is part of the appeal. You’ll probably be the only tourist on the beach and surrounded by blissfully unaware Bulgarian families going about their regular weekend routine. The beach is long enough that you can almost be assured of finding the perfect spot to lay down a beach towel. Enjoy!

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