Varna, Bulgaria in 2021: Prices, the Sea, the Beach, and Accommodations

Today, we'll talk about Bulgaria's maritime capital—the city of Varna.
The History of Varna
I could go on and on about the history of Varna. I'll limit myself to just a few interesting facts.
The earliest evidence of human presence in Varna dates back to the Paleolithic era, approximately 100,000 years ago, as well as to Mesolithic finds from the Pobiti Kamni area. The very first settlements on the site of Varna appeared more than 7,000 years ago. During construction work in Varna, the Varna Eneolithic Necropolis was discovered, dating to approximately 4400 BCE. It yielded the oldest gold hoard in human history, as well as other objects made of silver, copper, bronze, flint, and clay.

Lots of photos of Varna

One of Varna's ancient names is Odessos. And during the Soviet era, the city was named Stalin for nearly six years, from 1949 to 1956.  

Varna is the place where the last crusade came to an end, way back in 1444. On November 10, 1444, near Varna, the combined Polish-Hungarian crusader forces of King Władysław III Varnenski and Transylvanian Voivode János Hunyadi were defeated by the Ottomans, bringing an end to the anti-Ottoman coalition of crusaders.

This battle near Varna is known as the «Battle of the Nations,» as it was Christian Europe’s last attempt to drive the Ottoman Empire out of the Balkans. After this battle, the Balkans became part of the Ottoman Empire for nearly 500 years. Today, a mausoleum dedicated to the Christian commander stands in the maritime capital, and the area is known as the „Vladislav Varnenski“ Park-Museum.

The Climate in Varna

Varna has a humid subtropical climate with a Mediterranean influence in the summer and a distinctly continental climate in the fall and winter.

The warmest month in Varna is August, with an average air temperature of 24.7°C. Varna is generally considered to be one of the cities with the most sunny days. The months with the most hours of sunshine are July—300 hours—and August—299 hours. 

The average sea temperature in May is +15.8°C; in June, it rises to +21.5°C; and the warmest sea temperature is recorded in August at +24.8°C.  

Location

The city of Varna is located on Bulgaria's Black Sea coast, on the shores of Varna Bay. You can book a private transfer to Varna here.

Near the city are the resorts of Saints Constantine and Helena and Golden Sands. 

Transportation

You can reach Varna by any mode of transportation. By plane—Varna has an airport. By train—there’s a train station. By bus—the bus station serves buses from many countries around the world. And by sea—the seaport even accommodates cruise ships.

Buy the cheapest bus tickets You can do it here.

Varna has a well-developed public transportation system, including buses and trolleybuses. A city bus ticket costs 50 cents. Taxi fares are relatively low. If you’re visiting the city by car, you should know that the city is divided into zones. The Blue Zone requires paid parking. Parking costs 1 euro per hour. If you don’t pay for parking, your car will be towed. There’s also free parking, which I’ll talk about later in this video.

Accommodations in Varna

Varna offers, without exaggeration, an excellent selection of accommodations at prices ranging from the cheapest hostels to luxury accommodations—if you book in advance.

To be honest, despite the huge selection of accommodations, we had to work hard to find something available for immediate move-in, since 90% accommodations were booked solid through the end of summer.

We found one of the most affordable budget accommodations, a hostel Gagarin House. The hostel is located right in the heart of the city, and this is what it looks like. It consists of a sleeping space on a bunk bed. The hostel owner welcomed us warmly and showed us around the facilities and the interior. There’s free Wi-Fi, air conditioning, a shower, a toilet, a microwave, an electric kettle, and a TV. The cost per night is about 8 euros. The rating on Booking.com is very high at 8.3.

But we're moving on. Here's an option—the happy medium. A three-star Classic Hotel. To be honest, it has a great location—it’s right in Primorsky Park, surrounded by greenery, close to the sea, and not far from downtown. A double room costs 58 euros. It markets itself as a family-friendly hotel. It has an 8.9 rating on Booking.com, which is very good. 

Here's an example of premium-class accommodations. A five-star Grand Hotel London. Located right in the heart of Varna, near the Opera House. A double room costs 100 euros. And that’s the price after the Booking.com discount plus the Genius discount. This price includes breakfast only. The rating on Booking.com is 8.5.

Food and Grocery Prices in Varna

Varna has a huge selection of restaurants, cafes, and other dining establishments.

Some hotels offer meal plans, including full board or all-inclusive. 

If you prefer to cook for yourself, you can buy groceries at stores such as Kaufland, Lidl, Bill, Subway at regular prices and WITHOUT a resort surcharge. You can find out what the grocery prices are like by watching the video on our channel.

There’s a market in Varna where you can buy fruits and vegetables at prices lower than those in stores. There’s also a small clothing market right there. There’s a small fish market with this selection and these prices. 

Beaches in Varna

Varna's beaches stretch for more than 4 km.
A vacation in Varna is unique in that, within the same city, you can visit beaches with fine sand or pebbles. There are beaches with a gentle slope into the water, which are ideal for small children. There are beaches with steep slopes where the water reaches a person’s height after just a few meters. There are also beaches protected from the open sea by breakwaters, so there are almost no waves there.

Access to all beaches is free. The beaches have paid areas where you can rent umbrellas and lounge chairs, as well as free areas where you can set up your own beach gear. Lifeguards are on duty at almost all beaches. 

Let's take a tour of Varna's beaches from south to north. 

The South Beach is the widest. It has fine sand and a gentle slope into the water. Adjacent to the beach is a complex with swimming pools, a spa, and a fitness center. There are playgrounds next to the café.

There is a small water park located between South Beach and Central Beach. 

Central Beach extends from South Beach and is home to a large number of nightclubs, bars, and clubs. It’s lively and fun here. Central Beach has the same fine sand, and the slope into the sea is even gentler. Primorsky Park adjoins Central Beach. It’s a perfect combination: the sea, the sun, the sand, and green spaces where you can find some cool relief during the height of the midday heat.

Next is Rybatsky Beach, which isn’t very suitable for swimming since it’s mostly rocky. However, there’s a string of cafes along it offering a variety of cuisines, and you can drive right up to it. All the beaches beyond that offer parking right by the beach—and, best of all, it’s free. 

Next is Officer’s Beach—West. You can drive here; there are lifeguards, showers, and changing rooms. However, the water here isn’t very clean. Nearby is one of the local attractions—a pool with hydrogen sulfide water, located right on the seashore.

Next is Officer’s Beach-East. What makes this beach special is that, thanks to the breakwater, there are almost no waves here, so you can swim even when there’s a storm at other beaches. 

At Rapongi Beach, renting a beach umbrella with a lounge chair costs 5 euros; to comfortably use a sunbed, you’ll need to pay an additional 18 euros; and if you want a beach tent, that’s another 28 euros. There’s a small sports area and a volleyball court nearby.

On the way to “Bunite 2” Beach, I came across an exotic bar for surfers—it’s most likely open in the evenings; you can check out the photo. Right next to it is a spot called «Wake Park Varna,» where you can go wakeboarding. “Bunite 2” Beach. Prices for a beach umbrella and a lounge chair are 5 euros. 

“Pochivka” Beach has sand and large rocks; the drop-off into the sea is steep, and just a few meters from the shore, the water is deep enough to reach a person's full height. Not suitable for small children. 

Next to “Pochivka” Beach is a secluded beach known as “Skrytyi” (Hidden) or, as it’s also called, “Nudistsky” (Nudist). To get there, you’ll need to make your way past a barrier of rocks.

There is also a beach with the same name on the other shore of Lake Varna, in the Asparuhovo neighborhood. 

What's there to see in Varna?

Varna offers a vast array of cultural attractions, historic buildings, theaters, more than 10 museums, and thirty galleries.

The city's landmark is the 19th-century Cathedral of the Dormition of the Holy Mother of God, which is currently undergoing restoration. It is located in the very center of the city. 

The most popular place for a stroll in Varna is, of course, the central pedestrian street. It begins at the city’s largest fountain on Independence Square and extends to the main entrance of Primorsky Park.

Varna’s Primorsky Park is the largest park in the Balkans and has been designated a work of landscape art. The park offers views of the sea and Rapongi Beach. You can also visit the Varna Dolphinarium right here in the park.

Varna is known for hosting festivals and exhibitions; some take place right on the street, like this one in the seaside park. The exhibition features a selection of souvenirs you can bring back from your vacation.

One of the attractions is the still-operating Varna Opera House.

Did you know that a necropolis was discovered in Varna containing 3,000 gold artifacts weighing more than 6 kg? The artifacts are approximately 7,000 years old, making this one of the world’s oldest finds of worked gold. These gold artifacts are currently in Varna and can be viewed at the Archaeological Museum.

Roman baths or Roman Baths in Varna It is the fourth-largest complex in Europe.

We also recommend visiting Aladja Monastery.

For shopping enthusiasts, Varna has several shopping malls; the most popular ones are: Mall Varna, Grand Mall Varna, and Delta Planet. Each of these shopping malls has movie theaters.

The Advantages of the Varna Resort

Cons of the Varna Resort

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The resort is also a great choice for people who enjoy cultural events: exhibitions, galleries, and festivals.

Video version of the article:

Sea Water Temperatures in Varna by Month

Today's Weather in Varna

VARNA WEATHER