Varna
Travel Guide
Welcome to our Varna travel guide, exploring the third largest city in Bulgaria and the largest city on the Bulgarian Black Sea. The city has lots to offer to those who are looking for long beaches, relaxing parks and a cosmopolitan yet compact city centre with good nightlife.
The main attraction and pull of Varna city is the combination of having a city, with plenty of nightlife, restaurants and things to do, alongside a long sandy beach and clear waters. With this in mind, it’s a convenient city to spend a few days and relax, knowing that everything you will want and need is reasonably close, not to mention, very reasonably priced. Attractions such as the Sea Gardens, Roman Baths and Archaeological Museum provide plenty to do for those looking for more, alongside a handful of day trips from the city.
Varna Travel Guide Contents
Varna Travel Guide
How to get to Varna
Varna Airport (VAR) is located 7km from Varna city and has one main terminal, terminal 2, which opened in 2013. The airport caters to both domestic and international flights, with the number of international flights significantly increasing in the peak tourist season. Alongside a selection of duty-free shops, there are cafes and food outlets in the airport. The main ways of getting to and from the airport are:
Taxi – Taxis are available from outside arrivals. A one-way journey into the city centre will cost approx 20-25BGN ($12-$15) and take 15-20min. Ensure that you get a taxi through either the desk in the terminal or through the company outside, to avoid being scammed and overpaying.
Bus – The no.409 bus leaves outside the arrivals area every 15min and takes 20min to get to Varna Cathedral in the city centre. Tickets cost 1BGN ($0.60) each and can be bought directly from the diver on board. This is a convenient and affordable option for most travellers, depending on where you are staying
Private Transfer – Book online or through your accommodation, private transfers should cost no more than 25BGN ($15) and will take 15min to the city centre. This is a good option for a group or anyone wanting to avoid the hassle of getting a taxi or the bus
Areas to stay in Varna
Despite being the largest city on the coast of Bulgaria, Varna’s central city area is very compact and you can walk between most of it in less than 30min. The city itself is much larger, but is mainly residential areas, and not ideal for visitors to the city. As a result, we would advise any visitors to the city to stay in the city centre area, which is close to the beach, Sea Gardens and the pedestrianised area which is full of shops, restaurants and bars.
Accommodation in Varna
There are a variety of accommodation options in Varna including hostels, apartments and hotels. Most of the hotels are located in the city centre and include a wide range of choices from budget to luxury, all for very reasonable prices. Across the city, there is a large choice of apartments available which cater well to families. There is also a small selection of hostels which are conveniently located within the city centre area. To help you plan your visit to Varna, here are our top picks of where to stay in Varna:
Budget Option | Nomado Hostel – A solid option for budget travellers, Nomado Hostel is located near Varna Cathedral and offers guests simple, clean accommodation in the form of private rooms with shared bathrooms or dorms. A shared kitchen and luggage storage are available for guest use
Mid-range Option | Hugo Hotel – Hugo hotel is in an excellent location, in the centre of Varna and just a short walk from the sea gardens and beach. Rooms are well-equipped, modern and spacious and breakfast can also be included
Apartment Option | Tevi Apartments – Just a 10-minute walk from Varna beach, Tevi Apartments are a great option for families and those wanting some more space and amenities. All studios have a seating area, balcony, washing machine and kitchenette
High-end Option | mOdus Hotel – mOdus Hotel is the perfect place to stay in Varna for a touch of luxury. Rooms are spacious, contemporary and well-equipped which alongside the superb breakfast that comes included and a good on-site restaurant, gives guests everything they need for a quality stay in Varna
How to get around Varna
The central area of Varna city is well laid out, pedestrianised and offers visitors the ability to move around on foot very comfortably. However, the city itself is much larger than this, and there are several attractions and nearby towns that are often visited by tourists, which require some form of transport to get to. If you do need to use local transport while you’re in Varna, here are the most popular ways to get around Varna:
Taxi – There are lots of taxis available all over the city, however, there have been many reports of scams from taxis in Varna and Bulgaria in general, charging higher prices for journeys. The taxis are generally quite reasonably priced so we advise asking for an approximate price when you get in the taxi and asking them to use the meter if they aren’t already. Otherwise, use a ride-hailing app to avoid issues
Ride-Hailing Apps – Yellow! taxi is the most popular ride-hailing app in Bulgaria and is very easy to use, we would advise using this over standard taxi’s to ensure you are not ripped off, plus it’s probably more convenient in most cases
Bus & Trolleybus – A good bus and trolleybus network is operates in Varna, covering the extent of the city. Tickets for 60min cost 1BGN ($0.60), 1.50BGN ($0.90) for 90min or a day ticket for 4BGN ($2.40), tickets can be bought from the driver. The Varna Traffic site offers information on bus routes throughout the city. The central bus station, located near the shopping centre, is where bus services to other parts of Bulgaria, and other countries arrive and depart
Things to do in Varna
There is a good selection of things to see and do in Varna, which also includes day trips out of the city. But for most, the city is even just an opportunity for a relaxing holiday, with plenty of beaches and a good nightlife scene. However, if you are looking for more to fill your days then here is our pick of the top things to do in Varna:
Sea Garden – Stretching all along the main coastline of the city, behind the beach, Varnas Sea Garden makes for a great place to escape the city, relax and enjoy some greenery. The gardens also contain fountains, an amusement park, zoo and bars and restaurants
Archaeological Museum – Located in the city centre, this museum is a must-see for anyone interested in history or wanting to learn more about Varna and Bulgaria’s roots. The museum has different areas with original finds from the Ottomans, Greeks and Romans, amongst others. On display is also the oldest piece of worked gold in the world, at around 7000 years old! Tickets cost 10BGN ($6) per adult
Varna Beach – The long sandy beach of Varna boasts clear waters and an abundance of bars and restaurants. The beach can get very busy in the peak summer season but it is well equipped and a is a must-visit for those who love the sea and want to take some time to cool off and relax
Varna Cathedral – An iconic landmark of the city, with its copper domes and intricate architecture, Varna Cathedral began construction in the late 19th century. The interior and exterior have been gradually added to and improved over the past 100 years, partly due to war damage. Entry inside is free
Balchik Day Trip – Located approx 45min on the bus (35min by car, or taxi) from Varna, Balchik is a spacious but quaint seaside town which has lots to offer for a day trip including Balchik Palace, the Botanical Gardens, a small beach and scenic seaside area and plenty of cafes and restaurants
What to eat in Varna
Bulgarian cuisine is similar to that in much of the Balkans, however, it is more diverse. With over 250 restaurants in the city, there is plenty of choice ranging from traditional Bulgarian, Turkish, Asian and Mediterranean. If you want to try some of the local and national dishes of Bulgaria and Varna, then here are our top picks of what to eat in Varna:
Tarator – Commonly served as a side or first dish in the summer months, this cold soup is made from cucumbers, walnuts, garlic, yoghurt, herbs and vinegar
Meshana Skara – A hearty and filling meat platter commonly containing kofte, pork steak, kebapche and pork skewer. As a side, french fries, lyutenitsa and a salad is standard, but other variations are available
Sarmi – A staple of Bulgarian cuisine, this is a stuffed leaf dish. There are 2 types, one with grape leaves and the other with pickled cabbage leaves, both are delicious and commonly stuffed with a mixture containing ground meat or vegetables
Mussels (and seafood in general) – Fresh from the Black Sea, mussels are usually served with a mildly spicy tomato sauce and are commonly found, with many other seafood dishes, in restaurants in Varna and other cities on the Bulgarian Black Sea
Tikvenik – A traditional Bulgarian pastry made of thin sheets of dough, filled with grated pumpkin, ground walnuts, sugar and cinnamon
Money - Varna Travel Costs
The currency in Bulgaria is the Bulgarian Lev (лв, BGN). Credit & Debit cards are widely accepted throughout Varna and there are plenty of ATMs which accept foreign cards. A service charge is sometimes added to the bill if it is not included, and you are happy with the service then a tip of 5-10% is the norm and you can round up for taxis. Varna is a very reasonably priced destination and offers great value for money compared to many other destinations in Europe. As a result, it is suitable for both the budget and luxury travellers. Here’s a guide for what you can expect to pay in Varna (per person) for:
A local draught beer – 2BGN – 4BGN ($1.20-$2.50)
A coffee – 1.50BGN – 3.50BGN ($1-$2)
A grab and go pastry – 1.50BGN – 3BGN ($0.90-$1.80)
Budget restaurant meal – 10BGN – 20BGN ($6-$12)
Mid-range restaurant meal – 25BGN – 45BGN ($15-$27)
High-end restaurant meal – 50BGN+ ($30+)
When to go to Varna and for how long
The best time to visit Varna is either April-May or September-October, this is outside of the peak season of July-August and when the weather is cooler, crowds are less and prices are cheaper. If you are only visiting Varna, without day trips out of the city, then a trip of 2-3 days will be enough, including some beach time. If you are looking to relax a little more and do day trips to nearby places such as Balchik, then we recommend a trip of around 5 days to Varna.
Local language and phrases
We always recommend that visitors to any destination try to make an effort and speak some of the local language. It will often go a long way and show respect to locals. We’ve covered some key Bulgarian phrases that will help you in our Bulgaria travel tips section.
Varna travel tips
– Varna is generally a safe city and is safe for lone travellers, including lone females but exercise the usual caution of scams and your personal belongings
– There are a range of places to eat including those specialising in vegetarian diets
– The tap water is safe to drink in Varna and in Bulgaria in general
– If you require a Covid-19 PCR or Antigen test during or at the end of your journey in Bulgaria, then the main airports in the country all have very convenient and reasonably priced testing centres
Varna travel guide written in August 2021
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Varna Travel Articles
Varna Walking Tour Videos And Maps
Check out our Youtube Channel for more Varna walking tours, and tours for other destinations too.
Varna City Route
A walking tour video highlighting the sights in the city centre of Varna and accompanying map showing the route we walked.
Varna Sea Gardens Route
A walking tour video highlighting the sights in the Sea Gardens of Varna and accompanying map showing the route we walked.
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