What do you need to know before going to Varna Bulgaria?
Before your trip to Varna, make sure to check out these helpful travel tips:
You can visit Varna throughout the year. However, local events and activities primarily take place during the summer months only. It is advisable to visit Varna from May to October.
Varna has a mild climate throughout the year, with summer reaching up to 35ºC and winter temperatures ranging from 5 to 10ºC.
It is possible to see all the best attractions in Varna in two to three days.
Varna is a safe city for solo female travellers.
Plan your visit to Varna with the following festivals and events:
“Varna Summer” International Music Festival (June-July) – Bulgaria’s oldest music festival celebrating Bulgarian and Classical music.
International Folklore Festival (August) – a 5-day festival with traditional music and dances.
Celebration Day of Varna City (August 15) – a full day of concerts, regatta competitions and performances.
How to get around Varna?
The best way to see Varna on foot. You can walk to most of Varna’s attractions.
The bus network is quite good for other sightseeing places outside the city centre and can get you to most places.
5 Things to do in Varna, Bulgaria
1. Visit the beaches and thermal springs of Varna
One of the best things to do in Varna is to visit the long stretch of beaches lining the city. The beaches of Varna have fine golden sand, and they stretch 32km long on the Bulgarian Black Sea Coast. The climate is mild and warm, and the water is crystal clear, making the optimal environment for the perfect sun holiday.
In addition to the urban beaches, there are sea baths scattered along the coastline where you can experience the advantages of thermal springs. The Hot Water, located closest to the city (you can find it on Google Maps), is an outdoor thermal spring situated to the west of Officers' Beach and Rappongi Beach. This facility is free to access, so feel free to immerse yourself in the warm sulphuric mineral water and relax.
2. See ancient ruins around the Varna city centre
Varna was initially a Thracian settlement and became part of the Roman Empire in 15AD. Many ancient ruins from the Roman Empire became important archaeological sites. And these are some of the ones that are worth seeing:
Varna Roman Baths (10am-6pm; closed Mondays and Sundays; 5 lev) – an archaeological site next to St Athanasius Orthodox Church, has over 7,000 sqm of old thermal baths from the 2nd century. It is the largest ancient building discovered in Bulgaria. See the ruin complex during regular hours or join one of the special events (like wine tasting) during the summer months.
Roman Baths of Odessos (10am-5pm; closed Mondays; 2 lev) – old mineral baths built between the 3rd and 6th centuries. You can see most of the ruins from the main street.
Early Christian Basilica of Odessos (24 hours; free) – the biggest Roman Basilica preserved in Varna. The site doesn’t have much to see, but you can see the artifacts at the Archaeological Museum.
3. Stroll around the city centre in Varna
The city centre of Varna was once full of Ottoman-inspired architecture and ancient ruins. Today, they are replaced by Western-style architecture built in the 19th and 20th centuries, which is apparent in the city centre.
The main pedestrian zone starts from the city centre near the Dormition of the Theotokos Cathedral, and a series of pedestrian-only streets will lead you to the Sea Garden and Varna Beach.
The city centre has many architectural gems like the Opera Varna, Grand Hotel London and the Archaeological Museum of Varna. And there are notable religious buildings like Saint Nicholas Church the Thaumaturge and Armenian Apostolic Church St Sargis.
Walk along Knyaz Boris I Blvd, the main pedestrian street in the Old Town and see colourful buildings lining both sides. This is where you can find many shops, cafes and restaurants.
4. Discover all the highlights in the Varna Sea Garden
The original garden started in the 19th century and has expanded to over 90,000 sqm. Today, the Varna Sea Garden is the oldest and largest park in the city. Plus, it is one of the best attractions since the park is strategically located along the Black Sea Coast and has many highlights throughout the park.
You could spend days exploring all the nooks and crannies of the waterfront park. If you are short on time, look for these attractions:
The manicure gardens and sculptural details at the Central Entrance of the Sea Garden
Varna Aquarium
The ship collection at the Naval Museum, as Varna is known as the maritime capital of Bulgaria
Many landmarks around the park, including the Pantheon and Monument of Frontier Guard
5. See the Dormition of the Theotokos Cathedral and churches around Varna
There’s one church in Varna that you can’t miss: the Dormition of the Theotokos Cathedral.
The church was built in 1880 when the city’s Eastern Orthodox residents decided they needed a place of worship. They ended up building the largest church in Varna (also the third largest in Bulgaria) with multiple gilded domes, numerous frescos and ornate stained-glass windows.
Besides visiting the most notable church in Varna, look for these important churches as well:
St Athanasius Orthodox Church – built in 1838 on the ruins of a small church next to the Roman Thermal Baths.
Armenian Apostolic Church St Sargis – see traditional cross-shaped church architecture that can only be found in Armenian and Georgian churches.
Saint Nicholas Church the Thaumaturge – see the mosaic portraits and frescoed interior while you are in the city centre.
What else you can do?
Experience the Bulgarian Black Sea culinary delights in Varna
The cuisine along the Bulgarian Black Sea Coast predominantly features seafood like Black Sea mussels, grilled and fried fish, calamari, and other delicacies sourced from the Black Sea.
Moreover, Varna boasts numerous eateries offering fresh seafood and authentic Bulgarian dishes akin to those found in Sofia. Traditional Bulgarian fare such as shopska salad and tarator are staples on their menus.
Visit one of many museums in Varna
There’s no shortage of museums in Varna, that’s for sure. So if you are only spending a few days in Varna, here are some museums you may want to check out:
Archaeological Museum of Varna (10am-5pm; 10 lev) – the 2,000+ sqm museum has the largest collection of ancient terracotta, tombstone reliefs, and vessels in Bulgaria. See artifacts from the Paleolithic Age to the Bulgarian National Revival period. And don’t miss the famous “Gold of Varna,” a 6,000-year-old Thracian jewellery that was accidentally discovered in the Varna Eneolith necropolis.
Varna Ethnographic Museum (10am-5pm Tuesday to Sunday; 5 lev) – learn about life in Varna during the second half of the 19th century to the 20th century by seeing displays of traditional costumes, farming tools and other equipment.
The Retro Museum (10am-8pm; 15 lev) – inside the 4,000 sqm museum, see interesting displays of household items, vintage cars and other random objects from 1944-1989, when Bulgarians lived under communism.
We have reached the end of this article on What to visit in Varna?. If you’re planning a visit to Bulgaria, be sure to check out our previous blogs for more tips on where to eat, drink, and explore. Continue discovering more hidden gems and captivating destinations, stay tuned for more articles on our website. Follow us @thewalkingparrot to be continuously updated on new releases and join us as we embark on new adventures. We will be back soon with a new article! Written by Marta Chamosa
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