The City of Varna: Life in the Maritime Capital

Svetlana Volodina30.09.2022

0 942 3 minutes read

Climate
Transportation
Housing
Economy. Salaries and Standard of Living
Crime
Medicine in Varna
Infrastructure in Varna
Education
Culture and attractions
Pros of Varna
Cons of Varna
Conclusions
Sea Water Temperatures in Varna by Month
Today's Weather in Varna

Is Varna a good place to live? I'll try to tell you as much as I can about this city, so you can find out whether it's a good place to live.
Varna has won the Best City to Live in Bulgaria award twice. Varna also took first place as the best city to live in for young people in Bulgaria. Varna is the third most populous city in Bulgaria, with a population of 347,000.
Location
Varna is located on Bulgaria's Black Sea coast, on the shores of Varna Bay and Lake Varna. Not far north of the city are the resorts of Golden Sands and Saints Constantine and Helena.

Photos of Varna

Climate

Varna's climate is characterized as maritime with continental influences. The warmest month in Varna is July, with an average air temperature of 22.4°C. The average sea temperature in May is 15.9°C, rising to 21.5°C in June, and the warmest sea temperature in August is 24.7°C.

Transportation

Varna can be reached by any means of transportation, including by plane. Varna has its own airport with multiple destinations. Entry to the airport costs €2, and up to 10 minutes within the airport is free.

There's rail transport. Varna has a train station. Varna is connected by bus routes. The new Varna bus station serves buses from many countries. Buy the cheapest bus tickets. You can do it here.

Varna has a well-developed public transportation system, including buses and trolleybuses. A standard city bus ticket costs 0.80 cents.

The city has relatively low taxi prices.

The city is divided into parking zones: blue and green. Parking costs 0.50 cents per hour. Payment can be made via SMS or mobile app.

Housing

Hotels in Varna on the map:

What's the housing situation in Varna? What are the prices? Prices for a one-bedroom apartment start at €100.

For 150 euros per month we found this option.

Two-bedroom apartment rental prices start at €150. It's important to note that these prices are for long-term rentals. In Bulgaria, a long-term rental is defined as a lease agreement of one year or more. If the lease is terminated early, the landlord retains the deposit. Early termination requires one month's notice.

New housing is being actively built in Varna. Apartment prices start at ~~20 thousand euros~~.

You can buy a one-room apartment like this for ~~23600~~ euro, but far from the city center.

And this two-room apartment costs 77 thousand euros in the city center.

But there are very few good options in the center. We'd like to add that, due to the war in Ukraine, supply on the real estate market has decreased, while prices have risen, albeit slightly.

Economy. Salaries and Standard of Living

According to the most recent data, the average monthly salary in Varna is 1,514 leva, excluding taxes and fees. For comparison, in Sofia it is 2290 leva, and in Burgas 1343 leva. The unemployment rate in Varna is 4.11 TP3T, in Sofia 3.31 TP3T, in Burgas 4.81 TP3T.

Crime

The number of crimes per thousand people in Varna in 2020 was 2.5, compared to 1.7 in Sofia and 2.5 in Burgas.

Medicine in Varna

According to the latest data, the ratio of people per doctor in medical institutions is 196 in Varna, 180 in Sofia, and 300 in Burgas. Most city residents report that the quality of healthcare is acceptable.

Infrastructure in Varna

Municipal expenses per person living in Varna are 1062 leva, in Sofia such expenses are 1020 leva and in Burgas 1021 leva.

Education

Varna is home to more than 10 universities, both public and private, and the city also has colleges, gymnasiums, schools and kindergartens.

Culture and attractions

Varna offers a vast array of cultural attractions, historic buildings, theaters, over 10 museums, and 30 galleries. The city's symbol and calling card is the 19th-century Cathedral of the Dormition of the Virgin Mary, located in the very center.

The most popular place for a stroll in Varna, of course, remains the Central Pedestrian Street, which begins at the city's Great Fountain on Independence Square and runs to the central entrance of the Seaside Park.

The Varna Seaside Park is the largest park in the Balkans. Declared a work of park art, it overlooks the sea and Raponga Beach. Visitors can also visit the Varna Dolphinarium and Zoo within the park. One of the park's attractions is the still-functioning Varna Opera House.

The Archaeological Museum displays 3,000 gold objects. The Roman Baths, or Roman Thermae, in Varna are the fourth largest complex in Europe.

Of course, these aren't all the attractions in Varna—that's a topic for a whole separate video. Varna boasts mineral springs and a hydrogen sulfide pool right on the seashore. Varna traditionally hosts festivals and exhibitions, which are held right on the street. For those who enjoy shopping, Varna has shopping malls.

The most popular are Grand Mall Varna, Delta Planet, and Mall Varna. Each of these shopping centers has modern cinemas.

Pros of Varna

A wonderful combination of a large seaside garden and the sea right nearby.
The city has a flat surface, except for areas far from the center, there are no sharp climbs or descents.
Good transport links.
A very large selection of housing, in any price category, at reasonable prices.
Lowest prices for taxis and groceries.
The sea and sandy beach are suitable for small children.
There are attractions and entertainment both in the city itself and in the surrounding area.
Varna is perfect for people who love cultural events, exhibitions, galleries, and festivals.
Almost all chain stores are present in the city, so prices are low.
There is 5G coverage.
In the city, most people understand and can speak Russian.

Cons of Varna

The city's beaches have not been awarded the Blue Flag, but if you live in Varna, you can visit the beaches of Golden Sands and others.
The problem of parking shortage, especially in the city center.
Many visitors to the city note that it is dirty.
In Varna, it is not customary to clean up after your pets, so you should watch your step on the sidewalks.

Conclusions

The city has a large park by the sea, a marine terminal, and a pedestrian street. The city has its own atmosphere and character. However, for those who value cleanliness and order, living in the city may not be entirely comfortable. I hope this article was helpful; please leave a comment.