Originally an enclosed fresh water lake, some 8,000 years ago rising sea levels allowed salt water from the Mediterranean to infiltrate and salinate the Black Sea. Beginning in the 7th century BC, Greek colonists established trading centers along the coast on the site of pre-existing Thracian settlements. Later, under the successive rule of Romans, Byzantines, Proto-Bulgarians and Ottomans, these colonies took on strategic importance as fortified military outposts guarding lucrative shipping routes to Asia and Western Europe. They rose and fell in importance according to the fortunes of war and diplomacy.

Today, the coast is best known for the modern beach resorts of Golden Sands, Albena and Sunny Beach, and the historic settlements of Sozopol and Nessebar. The resorts annually attract hundreds of thousands of visitors, mainly package tourists from Western Europe and the former Soviet Union.

But the 380-kilometer-long coast offers much more than just resort hotels and sandy beaches. The topography is surprisingly diverse. The north is distinguished by pink limestone and sandstone cliffs, while inland the flat Dobrudzha plain constitutes one of the country's major agricultural areas. The middle coast is mountainous and densely forested, as the eastern end of the Balkan range extrudes here. The southern coast is similarly hilly and forested, the shoreline full of shallow inlets, small bays and protected coves. Two large rivers, the Kamchia and the Ropotamo, are designated nature reserves, their lush jungle-like environs supporting a wealth of flora and fauna.

Distinguished by a mild continental climate with Mediterranean influences, moderating coastal breezes keep the coast cooler than most inland areas. Summer daytime air temperatures average 28 degrees celsius; the water averages 23-25 degrees. Rainfall is infrequent in summer, while humidity is moderate (70-75%).