A Brief History: From Monastery to Prison

The island takes its name from Saint Anastasia Pharmacolithia - the Healer - a 2nd-century Christian martyr venerated by both Catholic and Orthodox traditions. Legend holds she was crucified and burned for her faith, and that her body remained unmarked by the fire. The earliest traces of activity on the island date to the 4th-6th centuries, though the monastery dedicated to her is generally placed in the 15th century.

The best-known story on the island involves pirates. According to local legend, raiders sailed for the monastery to plunder it; the monks locked themselves inside and prayed to Saint Anastasia for protection. A storm rose without warning and sank the pirate ship, and the wreck is said to have turned to stone. Visitors can still see the rock formation from the terrace behind the church - whatever its geological origin, it lines up convincingly with the tale.

The monastic period ended in 1923, when the site was converted into a prison holding political prisoners, including Bolshevik-linked activists. By the late 20th century it had shifted again, becoming an informal retreat for painters and poets from the mainland. The restored buildings you walk through today carry all three layers - religious, punitive and bohemian - in the same small footprint.

How to Get to St. Anastasia Island from Burgas

Boats leave from the Magazia 1 sea terminal at the Port of Burgas, a five-minute walk from the port entrance and close to the Sea Garden Burgas. The crossing takes about 30 minutes each way in normal conditions, and the municipality runs the route with two catamarans, Burgus and Anastasia, both with indoor and open-deck seating for up to roughly 100 passengers.

On the 2026 summer schedule, boats depart Magazia 1 at 10:00, 13:30 and 17:00, with roughly two hours on the island before the return sailing. Arrive at least 10-15 minutes early, since the boat won't wait for stragglers, and expect occasional delays if the coast guard closes the channel for passing naval traffic.

Private yachts can also dock at the island's small pier for a 3 BGN mooring fee, though space is limited and you should confirm the harbor master's rules first. Walking from the Burgas Pier to Magazia 1 takes about ten minutes along a flat waterfront path. Book ahead in July and August, when the 10:00 and 13:30 departures sell out on weekends.

• Municipal Catamaran Options
  • Vessel Name: Anastasia or Burgus
  • Capacity: Up to 100 passengers
  • Amenities: Indoor and outdoor seating
  • Duration: 30 minutes one way
• Private Boat Arrival
  • Mooring Fee: 3 BGN per boat
  • Location: Small island pier
  • Notice: Check harbor master rules
  • Access: Limited by pier space

Top Things to Do: Museum, Church, and Lighthouse

The island museum sits inside the old monastery building and uses interactive, multimedia exhibits to walk you through the site's monastic, prison and bohemian eras. It operates in connection with the Regional History Museum Burgas, and separate rooms are dedicated to different periods, including a hall built around the pirate-ship legend and its supposed treasure.

The Church of the Assumption is small but carries real weight - restored frescoes, a wooden iconostasis dating to 1802, and a hushed atmosphere that contrasts with the open sea views outside. Its feast day falls on 15 August rather than Saint Anastasia's own December 22 commemoration, simply because the island is barely reachable by boat in winter. Many visitors light a candle here before continuing toward the cliffs.

Two natural landmarks round out the walk: the stone remains behind the church that locals point to as the petrified pirate ship from the island's founding legend, and the rock formation known as the Gates of the Sun near the harbor, named for catching the first light each morning. The lighthouse itself guards the approach to Burgas Bay; its tower isn't generally open to climb, but the base and the surrounding path give some of the best panoramic views on the island.

Practical Details: Boat Schedules, Prices, and Accessibility

Boats run at 10:00, 13:30 and 17:00 daily on the 2026 summer schedule, published by the Official GoToBurgas Portal. A standard round-trip ticket costs 9.50 EUR (18.58 BGN); students and seniors pay 8 EUR, children aged 3 to under 7 pay 4 EUR, and a 1.50 EUR pier fee is added per passenger. Bulgaria's 2026 switch to the euro means prices are quoted in EUR with BGN equivalents shown alongside on the ticket counter.

Museum entry is a separate ticket: 3 EUR for adults, 2.50 EUR for students and seniors, 1.50 EUR for children 3 to under 7, free for children under 3 and for visitors with disabilities. Guided tours in Bulgarian or English run 30 EUR (58.67 BGN), and a self-paced audio guide costs 5 EUR (9.78 BGN). Summer hours are 10:00-20:00 daily; outside the main season the boat timetable thins out, so check the portal first.

The free museum entry for visitors with disabilities is a genuine courtesy, but the island itself is a harder proposition for limited mobility. There's no paved route from the pier: paths are loose stone, the church and lighthouse sit up a short uneven incline, and boarding can involve a step down depending on the tide. Wheelchair users should call the port operator ahead about boarding assistance rather than assume level access ashore. Everyone else just needs closed-toe shoes and sun protection for the open deck.

Dining at the 100 Years Back Restaurant

The 100 Years Back restaurant sits near the old monastery building and serves straightforward regional cooking - fresh Black Sea fish, a well-regarded fish soup, and herbal teas made from plants grown on the island. It's the only real food option on St. Anastasia, so most day-trippers eat here rather than pack a lunch.

Outdoor tables face the water, and the lunch rush lines up with the midday boat arrivals, so reserve ahead on summer weekends. Service moves quickly given the tight turnaround between boats - expect a straightforward menu rather than a long tasting experience.

Budget enough time before the last boat back; missing the 17:00 departure means waiting for island staff to arrange alternate transport, which isn't guaranteed.

Best Time to Visit and Nearby Black Sea Islands

July and August bring the most reliable weather but also the biggest crowds on the 10:00 and 13:30 boats; the 17:00 departure is usually calmer. Early June and September offer similar Black Sea weather with noticeably thinner crowds, which matters on an island with only one restaurant and little shade. High winds are the main operational risk - the municipality cancels crossings with little notice when the bay gets rough, so treat the schedule as a plan rather than a guarantee.

St. Anastasia isn't the only island monastery site in Bulgarian waters - the Sozopol islands of St. Ivan, St. Kirik and Julita, and St. Thomas all had monastic communities at one point. None survived intact; today they're uninhabited ruins with no regular boat service. St. Anastasia is the only one of the group with a preserved complex you can actually walk through, which is a large part of why it draws day-trippers rather than just historians.