Book a Flight to Varna from €326

Sea Gardens (Primorski Park): The largest sea garden in the Balkans was created in 1878 and is a national monument of the architectural landscape. This is an impressive recreational area, with cultural routes (National Revival Road, Cosmonauts Road), museums (Natural History Museum, Nicolaus Copernicus National Observatory and Planetarium), an open-air theatre, an aquarium, a delphinarium, a zoo, ice rink and other attractions. 

Archaeological Museum: Housed in a wonderful neo-renaissance building from 1851 with a long history of its own (it was the Belgian Embassy, a hotel, a prison and Museum of the Revolution), the town’s Archaeological Museum is a repository of the culture of Northeast Bulgaria. The star of its rich collection is the famous Varna Gold, the oldest treasure of golden objects in the world, discovered by archaeologists in the Varna Necropolis and dating to 4600-4200 BC. 
Address: 41 “Maria Luisa” blvd, 9000 Varna, www.archaeo.museumvarna.com

Roman Baths: Built in the late 2nd century, the Roman Baths of Varna are considered the largest and best-preserved complex of Roman ruins in Bulgaria and the fourth-largest known Roman baths in Europe.
Address: 13 San Stefano Str., www.archaeo.museumvarna.com

Dormition of the Mother of God Cathedral: Symbol of the city since 1880, the Dormition of the Mother of God Cathedral is an impressive stone structure with wonderful wall paintings and ornate stained-glass windows. Walk up its 133 steps to the top of the belfry to enjoy a magical view over Varna. 
Address: 1 “Cyril and Methodius” Sq., www.mitropolia-varna.org

Euxinograd Residence: The magnificent Royal Palace of Euxinograd was built in the late 19th century and functioned as the summer residence of the Tsars of Bulgaria. A wonderful natural landscape surrounds the palace while its landscaped park contains fantastic French gardens, greenhouses with hundreds of rare plant species and a winery, as well as the ruins of an ancient castle. 
Address: Mestnost Euxinograd, 9006 Varna, www.euxinograde.bg

Pobiti Kamani: Known as the Stone Forest or Stone Desert, Pobiti Kamani is a rare geological phenomenon in the southwest hinterland of Varna, just 10 miles outside of the city. Its appearance has stimulated the imaginations of scientists, historians, archaeologists and geologists since the 19th century, giving rise to many theories and hypotheses regarding its origins. This protected natural monument consists of clusters of stone columns 5-7 metres high, which look as though they have grown from the sand. 
Address: www.nature.museumvarna.com

Aladzha Monastery: The most famous medieval cave monastery on the Bulgarian coastline dates to the 11-12th centuries and is a national monument of cultural heritage. This is a striking architectural complex, carved whole into the limestone rock, and containing amazing frescoes. If you visit from May to September, make sure to catch the audio-visual show in the evening, featuring the legends and myths of the monastery. The images projected onto the walls of the rocks and the voiceover narrative create an evocative atmosphere. 
Address: Natural park “Golden Sands”, www.archaeo.museumvarna.com

Varna has a rather interesting market at its centre. Explore the local boutiques and gift shops around the central Independence Square (Nezavisimost Square). Wander through the bustling Central Food Market (Kolhozen Pazar), between Dr. Piskyuliev, Drin and Angel Kanchev Streets, to feel the pulse of the town. Take a walk through the renovated open-air Clock Tower market, which is famous for, among other things, leather goods and authentic Bulgarian souvenirs. Buy handmade tableware, silver items, traditional costumes and wines from the Bulgarian vineyards. For western-style shopping, head for the Mall of Varna or the Grand Mall, the two largest and most popular shopping malls in the city centre, with all the best-known international brands and plenty of entertainment choices for the whole family.

Varna offers a wide range of food experiences in a variety of establishments, from traditional Bulgarian restaurants and atmospheric wine cellars, to modern cosmopolitan lounges, trendy cafes and all-day bakeries. The locals love to eat al fresco and most restaurants have beautiful gardens or are located within the town parks. Barbeques have pride of place in the local cuisine, alongside fresh seafood and fish from the Black Sea. Try the pork chops and roast lamb, delicious kebabs, chicken liver with onions, krenvishka (pork sausages), banica (a type of cheese pie made with phyllo pastry), accompanied with a local wine. 

The largest concentration of cafes, restaurants, bars and clubs can be found in Kraybrezhna Aleya, the busy promenade where the town’s nightlife pulsates in the summer months. The local beach clubs become the centre of world hip-hop, pop and house music, with famous international DJs on the decks.

• Varna Summer International Festival: One of the largest and most important cultural events in Bulgaria, Varna Summer is an umbrella festival which gathers the town’s most historic festivals together under a unified brand. Lasting from June to September, it opens with the International Theatre Festival (1-11/6), followed by the Opera in the Summer Festival (22/6-29/8), the emblematic Varna International Music Summer Festival (24/6-22/9), one of the oldest festivals of classical music and the performing arts in Europe, dating to 1926, and the Varna International Folklore Festival (30/7-3/8). 
  The programme includes leading names of the national and international scene and the events take place in every corner of the town. 
  
• International Jazz Festival: Since 1992, the favourite festival of the town’s jazz enthusiasts. Famous musicians of the genre, from Bulgaria and the world, meet each year in the forecourt of the Archaeological Museum, for four days of jamming (27-30 July) filled with shades of jazz. 
  
• Varna Day: The town’s largest festival is held on 15 August, coinciding with the religious feast of the Dormition of the Virgin. The rituals begin with the morning service in the Cathedral and the set procession, and continue throughout the day with music and dance in the Sea Gardens and other parts of town. The events culminate with the rock and pop concerts in the town’s port.

Getting to the city

Aegean Airlines lands at Varna Airport, one of the busiest airports in Bulgaria and the Black Sea. Here you will find a duty free shop, boutique stores selling local products and souvenirs, shops selling travel goods, a bank and currency exchange offices, cafes, snack bars, and a special mother and child room. Wi-Fi is available free of charge in the main passenger area of the airport (Terminal 2).

Varna Airport is located 8 km west of Varna, near the town of Aksakovo. It can be reached by bus and taxi. The easiest way to get to the city is to take bus #409, which connects the airport (Terminal 2) with the centre of Varna (Varna Cathedral) and departs every 15 minutes. The journey time is 20 minutes. Alternatively, you can order a taxi with Triumf Taxi, the official airport partner.