Varna is the third-largest city of Bulgaria and is called the 'maritime capital'. It lies on the Black Sea, has seventy kilometres of beaches around it and the largest port in the country. The old Roman baths, the Cathedral of the Assumption, the vast Sea Garden and the Archaeological Museum with the world's oldest worked gold, which comes from the Varna Necropolis and is six thousand years old, make it one of the most interesting cities on the coast. Varna is much calmer and cheaper than the resorts of Sunny Beach or Golden Sands, which are next door. The season runs from June to September, when it is around thirty degrees and the sea twenty-four. From Prague direct flights run in an hour and forty minutes and from the Czech Republic it is around thirteen hundred kilometres by car. Since January 2026 Bulgaria has been in the eurozone and you pay in euros. It is a cheap seaside holiday with culture and good food.
The places worth your time in Varna, and what to expect at each
centre
The largest city park in Bulgaria from 1878, stretching eight kilometres along the coast. There are avenues, statues, an aquarium, a dolphinarium, a zoo and a beach with a promenade. It is a favourite place for walking, running and evening sitting.
Tip: Go in the evening, when the heat is gone and the cafés by the beach are full. Entry is free; the aquarium and dolphinarium are paid separately.
Sea Garden
A museum in Varna with the world's oldest worked gold, coming from the Varna Necropolis and six thousand years old. The collection of gold objects, jewellery and grave finds is among the most valuable in Europe. Inside are also Thracian and Greek gold.
Tip: Entry costs about ten leva. The main exhibits are on the ground floor; the visit takes an hour and a half.
industrial zone
A Bronze Age burial ground, discovered in 1972, where graves with the world's oldest gold objects were found. Today it is an archaeological site and a symbol of Bulgaria. The gold from the graves is in the Varna museum.
Tip: The site is in an industrial zone and has no facilities; you see the gold in the museum. Combine the visit with the museum.
centre
The remains of Roman baths of the second century, the third largest in the Balkans, with original walls and heating. Today you find columns, pools and cellars. It is one of the best-preserved Roman monuments in the country.
Tip: Entry costs about five leva. Wear shoes with firm soles; especially in rain the paths are slippery.
centre
An Orthodox cathedral of 1886 with blue domes, the symbol of Varna. Inside are icons, mosaics and gilded decoration. It is one of the most visited places in the city.
Tip: Entry is free, but observe dress; cover shoulders and knees. Women are advised to bring a scarf.
centre
A long sandy beach below the Sea Garden with loungers, bars and water sports. The sea is shallow and suits children. In summer it is full, in September calmer.
Tip: Loungers and umbrellas cost about ten leva a day. For calm move away from the main entrance.
Golden Sands
A rock monastery of the fourteenth century in woods above the coast, carved into a limestone wall, with a chapel and crypts. It is a UNESCO-listed site. A path leads from the car park.
Tip: It is open all year; entry costs about five leva. In summer many people come, so arrive in the morning.
40 km from Varna
The summer residence of Queen Marie of Romania from the 1920s on the coast, with a botanical garden, a chapel and terraces above the sea. It is one of the most romantic places of the Bulgarian coast. The town of Balchik is forty minutes from Varna.
Tip: The garden is loveliest in spring and summer; entry costs about ten leva. A bus runs from Varna every hour.
10 km from Varna
The famous tourist resort with a long sandy beach, hotels, bars and a water park, just ten kilometres from Varna. In summer there are crowds and loud nightlife. Ground floors are hotel complexes.
Tip: Bus 409 runs from Varna in half an hour. For calm go early in the morning, for fun in the evening.
Photos: The Sea Garden — Marcin Chady (CC BY 2.0) · The Varna Necropolis — Yelkrokoyade (CC BY-SA 3.0) · Aladzha Monastery — Diego Delso (CC BY-SA 4.0) · Balchik and Queen Marie's Palace — Andrei Stroe (CC BY-SA 3.0) · Golden Sands — The original uploader was Chlempi at German Wikipedia. (CC BY-SA 2.0 de)
Areas and districts, matched to the kind of trip you are taking
Best for: monuments and shops
The area around the Sea Garden, cathedral and pedestrian zone with hotels and restaurants. It has the widest choice of services and life all year. Best for a first visit.
Best for: nature and promenade
The coastal district with the park, beach and cafés. It is calmer and close to the sea. A good choice for families.
Best for: calm and sea
Seaside districts in the north with hotels and villas, calm with views of the sea. The centre is reached by bus. Suits a longer stay.
Best for: beach resort
A resort with all-inclusive hotels and a water park. It is fun but noisy. Suits families with children and the young.
Varna Airport (VAR) is ten kilometres from the centre; direct flights from Prague run several times a week and take an hour and forty minutes. Bus 409 runs to the centre and a taxi costs about ten euros. By car from the Czech Republic it is around thirteen hundred kilometres through Hungary, Romania or Serbia. In Bulgaria a motorway vignette is needed.
Varna Airport (VAR) · 10 km
The centre of Varna can be walked. City buses and trolleybuses run all over the city and to Golden Sands. Taxis are cheap; use an app. For trips to the surroundings, such as Balchik or Aladzha, a car or organised tour is handy.
Useful apps: Google Maps, Bolt, Moovit, FreeNow
Varna has a mild climate with a hot summer and a cold winter. In July it is around thirty degrees and the sea twenty-four. The best time is June to September. In winter it is damp and snows.
Best time
June to September
What to avoid
January and February (cold and damp)
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Day | 5° | 7° | 11° | 16° | 22° | 27° | 30° | 30° | 25° | 19° | 12° | 7° |
| Night | -1° | 0° | 3° | 7° | 13° | 17° | 20° | 20° | 15° | 10° | 5° | 1° |
| Rainy days | 35 | 30 | 35 | 40 | 45 | 50 | 40 | 35 | 35 | 35 | 45 | 45 |
| Sea | 7° | 6° | 7° | 9° | 15° | 20° | 23° | 24° | 21° | 17° | 13° | 9° |
Bulgarian cooking is Mediterranean and Balkan: fresh vegetables, cheeses, grilled meats and fish. A main dish costs six to twelve euros and portions are large. With meals people drink wine, rakia and beer.
Shopska salad
A salad of tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers and onion sprinkled with white cheese. The best-known Bulgarian dish.
Tarator
A cold soup of yoghurt, cucumber, garlic and walnuts. A summer refresher.
Kebapche and kyufte
Grilled rolls and patties of minced meat. Served with chips and salad.
Banitsa
Filo pastry filled with cheese, breakfast and snack for a few euros. Found in every bakery.
Black Sea fish
Sprats, mackerel and turbot, fried or grilled. Fresh by the harbour.
Moussaka
Baked potatoes with minced meat and yoghurt topping. A family dish.
Bulgarian wine
Wine from the Black Sea region, notably Dimiat and Chardonnay. Drunk with grilled food.
Coffee
€1.5–2.5
Lunch in a restaurant
€6–12
Shopska salad
€3–5
A beer
€1.5–3
Archaeological Museum
€5
Lounger (day)
€5–10
3★ hotel (night)
€50–120
Bus from the airport
€1
Indicative prices that change over time — treat them as a guide, not a price list.
1 day
2 days
3 days
Nessebar
100 km · 1 hr 30 min by car
An ancient town on a peninsula, a UNESCO site, with Byzantine churches and wooden houses. It suits a full-day trip.
Balchik
40 km · 40 min by car
The summer palace of Queen Marie of Romania with a botanical garden and a lovely bay. It suits half a day.
Golden Sands
10 km · 20 min by bus
A tourist resort with a long beach and a water park. Bus 409 runs from Varna.
It is calmer and more cultural, with a city, history and a promenade. Sunny Beach is an entertainment resort of hotels and bars. Varna is a good choice for families and for those who want to get to know the country.
June to September, when it is warm and the sea twenty-four degrees. In July and August it is full. September has pleasant weather and fewer people.
From Prague direct flights run in an hour and forty minutes. By car it is around thirteen hundred kilometres; you need a Bulgarian vignette. For a car it is better to fly and rent one.
Since January 2026 Bulgaria has been in the eurozone, so you pay in euros. Cards are accepted almost everywhere, and cash is useful at the market.
It is cheap: lunch costs six to twelve euros, a hotel fifty to a hundred and twenty euros a night. Cheapest are street food and bakeries.
The Sea Garden, the Archaeological Museum with gold, the Roman baths and the cathedral. Add Aladzha Monastery and Golden Sands. For a trip, Nessebar or Balchik.
Yes, it has shallow beaches, a park with an aquarium and dolphinarium and a water park nearby. Prices are low and the city safe.
Yes, it is a safe city. Watch for pickpockets and taxi drivers without a meter. Use the Bolt app.
Check the latest visa requirements for entering this country. Some nationalities may need to apply for a visa or e-visa before travel.
Check visa requirementsLanguage
Bulgarian
Currency
BGN
Timezone
Europe/Sofia
Dial Code
+359
Population
6.5M
Area
110,879 km²
Voltage
230V / 50Hz
Driving Side
Right
