Varna is the largest city and beach resort on Bulgaria’s Black Sea Coast, as well as the country’s third largest city, with a population of 335,949 and an urban area population of 417,867. Additionally, it is the Black Sea’s fourth largest city.
Varna, sometimes referred to as Bulgaria’s marine (or summer) capital, is a major tourist destination, a gateway to all resorts along the northern Bulgarian Black Sea Coast, an economic and academic hub, a seaport, and the headquarters of the Bulgarian Navy and merchant marine. Varna was named the capital of the Black Sea Euro-Region (a new regional organization different from the Black Sea Euroregion) by the Council of Europe in April 2008.
The world’s oldest gold jewelry, dating from 4200-4600 BC and belonging to the Varna culture, was discovered in the Varna Necropolis, located in the modern city of Varna; it contains jewelry dating from 4200-4600 BC.
Due to its history and economic and cultural importance, it is often referred to as Bulgaria’s Sea Capital.
Varna’s average January temperature is +1.7 °C, its average July temperature is +22.8 °C, and its average yearly temperature is +12.2 °C, making it ideal for summer sea tourism.
The town was founded in the sixth century BC as Odessos by colonists from the Asia Minor town of Milet. For a brief while, it developed into a polis and one of the Black Sea’s most significant ports and commercial hubs.
Odessos was briefly included into Alexander the Great’s Macedonian Empire, but eventually regained its independence and reconstituted itself as an economic, commercial, and cultural hub. The city was minting its own currency, a sign of its progress. Odessos was incorporated into the Roman Empire in the 15th century AD. In 1201 the Bulgarian king Kaloyan (born 1168–died 1207) annexed the town, and in 1366 it was granted to Dobrudzha ruler Dobrotitsa, who used it as his capital. Varna was taken by the Ottomans in 1398. It evolved as a cultural and economic hub during the Revival (18th–19th centuries).
Varna is now a sophisticated city with a thriving cultural scene. Two of the county’s most modern multifunctional halls are located here – the Palace of Culture and Sports and the Festival and Congress Center – which enable the organization of a variety of international film festivals, scientific forums, and sporting events, including the International Theater Festival „Varna Summer,“ the Ethnic Festival, the International Jazz Festival „Varna Summer,“ the International Folklore Festival of Varna, and the International Film Festival „Love is a…“
Varna is one of the main transport hubs in Bulgaria, with its modern port, railway link, and international airport connecting it to 35 states and more than 100 global cities.
Varna’s important location on the map of south-eastern Europe has made it one of the most populous communities on the Black Sea coast since antiquity. Numerous monuments housed at the city’s Archaeological Museum date from this era. The museum’s outstanding collection includes discoveries from the Varna chalcolythic necropolis — the world’s oldest golden treasure discovered to date, going back over 6,000 years.
Among the remaining museums, the Maritime Museum and the Ethnographic Museum are two of the most intriguing. The collection of the Maritime Museum comprises artifacts relating to Bulgarian military and commercial ships. The Ethnographic Museum exhibits the vast variety of culture and way of life in the Varna area during the second half of the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries.
Varna has developed one of the greatest and wealthiest collections of fine arts in Bulgaria as a cultural hub.
The church St. Atanasius, built in the 18th century, houses an exhibition of icons painted during the Age of Revival, and one of the town’s most interesting historical landmarks, the Roman Baths, is located nearby. The Roman Baths are the largest Roman bath on the Balkan Peninsula, covering an area of 7000 square meters. It is Europe’s fourth largest bath, after the Karakala and Diocletian baths in Rome and the Trevira baths in Trevira (Trier, Germany). It was in use until the third century.
Another tourist attraction worth mentioning is the Aquarium. It serves as a focal point for educating the public about the Black Sea’s flora and wildlife. It is the country’s first and only biological exhibition. Tourists may enjoy a unique dolphin display at the Dolphinarium, which is located in the Park by the Sea. The dolphins and their trainers offer the show in an entertaining manner. It is performed in four languages simultaneously: Bulgarian, Russian, German, and English, and features a variety of attractions including acrobatics, balance, music, singing, dancing, and audience participation games. It lasts 40 minutes.
The University Botanical Garden’s Ecological Park is located near Varna in the tourist resort of St. Konstantin and Elena. This is the country’s first ecological park to include both manmade and natural ecological systems. The park measures 360 dca in size. The plant collections include over 300 kinds of exotic trees and shrubs, as well as over 100 types of herbaceous plants. The ecological park provides fascinating experiences with a variety of plants from throughout the globe, including sea pine, tulip tree, ginkgo biloba, sterculia, parrotia persica, broussonetia papyrifera, evergreen oak, and mamont three. The Rosery cultivates about 30 different rose species.
Another must-see tourist attraction is located around 14 kilometers from Varna on the way to the resort Zlatni Pyasatsi. This is Aladzha Monastery — one of the few rock monasteries in Bulgaria with distinct structures serving distinct tasks. The rock monastery is located in the heart of Zlatni Pyasatsi Natural Park, a protected area with unique tree species. The surrounding natural beauty, along with historical and Christian sites, makes it an ideal location for cultural, religious, and ecological tourism. Since 2009, Aladzha Monastery has been hosting a one-of-a-kind audio-visual show named Legends of Aladzha Monastery. It is a new tourism destination for Varna and the Black Sea region’s residents.
Varna Day is observed on 15 August, the Feast of the Assumption of the Holy Mother.
The city’s hotel options are nearly limitless. The hotels are many and range in price and category. Additionally, surrounding resorts – Zlatni Pyasatsi, St. Konstantin and Elena, and Riviera – provide accommodation. There are a few online-connected lodging bureaus in the city. Catering and entertainment alternatives are plenty as well As seaside restaurants, pizzerias, snack bars, beer houses, catering and fast food outlets, as well as clubs and discotheques. Make the most of the town’s many eateries, which provide a broad selection of seafood.
Varna’s sea garden has an amphitheater, an astronomy complex, an observatory, a planetarium, and a tower, in addition to several entertainment platforms and a small rowing channel for children, as well as a pool for water wheels and a zoo. The summer theater serves as a focal point for a variety of events, the most notable of which are the Varna Music Days, the world-famous International Ballet Contest, and the Days of Varna Summer — triennial of the arts.
The Sea Garden’s principal sea baths and beach are located below. They were built in the early twentieth century and consist of a policlinic, a water and mud-curing complex, two quays, and a few restaurants and discotheques.
On the beach, you may participate in a variety of water activities, including beach volleyball, surfing, diving, jet-skiing, boat tours, and banana boat rides.
Varna is an excellent destination for health tourism. It effectively integrates beach relaxation with healing camps, pre- and post-hospital care, recreational activities, and a healthy way of life.
A training golf course is located in the Asparuhovo residential neighborhood of Varna. Three other big and contemporary golf facilities are also located close to the city, at Kavarna and Balchik.
Numerous opportunities for hunting and fishing tourism exist in the Varna area. The area is home to six forest and three hunting ranches. On their land, they have eight hunting houses.
Varna - Introduction
POPULATION :
335,949
FOUNDED :
(by Varna Culture) 4100-4400 BCE
TIME ZONE :
• Time zone EET (UTC+2) • Summer (DST) EEST (UTC+3)
Varna’s climate is humid subtropical (Köppen climate classification Cfa), which is affected by both the sea and the continent. Summer season runs from early May through early October. Temperatures in the summer often vary between 18 and 21 degrees Celsius at night and 25–35 degrees Celsius during the day. During the summer, the ocean temperature often ranges between 23 and 27 degrees Celsius. In the winter, temperatures hover between 0 and 5 degrees Celsius at night and between 5 and 10 degrees Celsius during the day. In December, January, and February, snow is conceivable, but only on rare occasions in March. In the winter, snow falls seldom and quickly disappears. 41.0 degrees Celsius was the highest temperature ever recorded, while -19.0 degrees Celsius was the lowest.
Demography of Varna
The oldest demographic records trace all the way back to the mid-17th century, when the town was estimated to have a population of about 4,000 people, while the first population census in 1881 recorded a population of 24,555. According to the 1883 census, it was Bulgaria’s second biggest city, after Ruse. Following that, Varna became Bulgaria’s third-largest city and maintained that position for the following 120 years, while other cities alternated in the first, second, and fourth positions.
In January 2012, the city of Varna had a population of 334,781, making it Bulgaria’s third biggest city, while the Varna Municipality, which includes legally related surrounding settlements, had a population of 343,643. The unofficial metro area (which includes the municipality of Varna and surrounding portions of the municipalities of Aksakovo, Avren, Beloslav, and Devnya, but excludes nearby portions of Dobrich Province) has an estimated population of 475,000. The „Varna-Devnya-Provadiya agglomeration“ is not synonymous with the „Varna metro region“ in this context.
Varna is one of the few cities in Bulgaria that has seen positive natural growth (6300 births compared to 3600 deaths in 2009) with the addition of new children’s day care establishments (6 expected in 2009).
Since December 2006, several sources, including Bulgarian National Television, national media, research organizations, the mayor’s office, and local police, have said that Varna has a population of over 500,000 at its current location, making it the country’s second biggest city. However, according to GRAO and NSI, official figures do not corroborate their statements. Venelin Zhechev, Deputy Mayor, estimated the real population at 650,000 in 2008. Mayor Kiril Yordanov said in December 2008 that the true number of permanent inhabitants was 970,000, or that 60% of citizens were unregistered. The Financial Times said in January 2009 that „Varna now attracts around 30,000 new inhabitants every year.“ The census, conducted in February 2011, counted 334,870 residents. When unregistered residents and commuters from neighboring municipalities are included, the city’s true population on a workday exceeds 400,000. Varna receives between 2 and 3 million visitors every year, with daily visitor numbers reaching as high as 200,000 during the busy season. Thus, the city has a population of around 600,000 people in July and August.
According to the most recent 2011 census statistics, those who indicated their ethnic identification were divided into the following categories:
Bulgarians: 284,738 (93.8%)
Turks: 10,028 (3.6%)
Romani: 3,162 (1.0%)
Others: 3,378 (1.1%)
Indefinable: 2,288 (0.8%)
Undeclared: 31,276 (10.3%)
Geography of Varna
The city is built on verdant terraces (Varna monocline of the Moesian platform) that descend from the calcareous Franga Plateau (height 356 m or 1,168 ft) to the north and the Avren Plateau to the south, along the horseshoe-shaped Varna Bay of the Black Sea, the elongated Lake Varna, and two artificial waterways connecting the bay and the lake and connected by a bridge. It is the focal point of a rapidly growing conurbation that reaches 20 kilometers (12 miles) north, 10 kilometers (6 miles) south (primarily residential and recreational sprawl), and 25 kilometers (16 miles) west along the lake (mostly transportation and industrial facilities). Since antiquity, the city has been surrounded by vineyards, orchards, and forests. Commercial shipping is being redirected inland into lakes and canals, leaving the bay as a leisure area; about the whole coastline is parkland.
The metropolitan area has more than 20 kilometers (12 miles) of sand beaches and an abundance of thermal mineral water springs (temperatures range from 35–55 °C or 95–131 °F). It has a moderate climate influenced by the sea, with long, mild autumns comparable to those found in the Mediterranean and bright, hot summers that are far milder than those seen in the Mediterranean, tempered by breezes and regular showers. Despite receiving almost two-thirds of Bulgaria’s yearly rainfall, Varna’s wooded hills remain green throughout the summer due to abundant groundwater. Although the city is shielded from north and north-east winds by the hills along the bay’s north arm, January and February may still be very cold, with blizzards. Due to decreased agricultural chemical fertilizer usage, the Black Sea water has been cleaner since 1989; it has a low salinity, no notable predators or harmful species, and an almost imperceptible tidal variation.
The city is situated 470 kilometers (292 miles) north of Sofia; the next major cities are Dobrich (45 kilometers or 28 miles north), Shumen (80 kilometers or 50 miles west), and Burgas (80 kilometers or 50 miles west) (125 km or 78 mi to the south-west). Varna is accessible by air (Varna International Airport), sea (Port of Varna Cruise Terminal), rail (Varna Central Railway Station), or automobile. Among the important routes are the European motorways E70 to Bucharest and E87 to Istanbul and Constanta in Romania; the national freeways A-2 (Hemus motorway) to Sofia and A-5 (Cherno More motorway) to Burgas. There are bus lines to several Bulgarian and foreign cities, as well as rail ferry and ro-ro services to Odessa, Ukraine, Port Kavkaz, Russia, Poti, and Batumi, Georgia, all from two bus terminals.
Economy of Varna
The economy is based on services, with commerce and tourism accounting for 61% of net revenue, manufacturing accounting for 16%, transportation and communications accounting for 14%, and construction accounting for 6%. Financial services, including banking, insurance, asset management, and real estate finance, are expanding. As of December 2008, the effects of the global financial crisis had not been severe. The city is located on Pan-European transport corridor 8, and is connected to corridors 7 and 9 through Rousse. Transportation (Navibulgar, the Port of Varna, and the Varna International Airport), distribution (Logistics Park Varna), shipbuilding (see also Oceanic-Creations), ship repair, and other nautical sectors have historically been significant firms.
Eni and Gazprom unveiled the South Stream proposal in June 2007, which plans for a 900-kilometer (559-mile) offshore natural gas pipeline from Russia’s Dzhubga to Varna, perhaps near the Galata offshore gas resource, on route to Italy and Austria.
Varna, together with the nearby towns of Beloslav and Devnya, forms the Varna-Devnya Industrial Complex, which is home to some of Bulgaria’s largest chemical, thermal power, and manufacturing facilities, including the Varna Thermal Power Plant and Sodi Devnya, which were the country’s two largest cash privatization deals in recent history. Additionally, radio navigation devices, household appliances, security systems, textiles, clothing, food and beverages, and printers are well-served. Certain manufacturing stalwarts are being phased out to make room for post-industrial developments: the former VAMO diesel engine facility is being replaced by an ECE retail mall, while the Varna Brewery is being converted into a conference center.
Tourism is important, with suburban coastal resorts like Golden Sands, Holiday Club Riviera, Sunny Day, Constantine, and Helena attracting millions of visitors each year (4.74 million in 2006, 3.99 million of which international tourists ). The resorts drew major domestic and foreign investment in the late 1990s and early 2000s, and they are environmentally sound, being located safely away from chemical and other smokestack industries. Additionally, Varna is Bulgaria’s sole international cruise port (almost 30 excursions have been scheduled for 2007), as well as a major international convention and spa facility.
Between 2003 and 2008, real estate prices reached some of the greatest levels in the nation, surpassing Sofia by fall 2007. (This is still true as of April 2009). Commercial real estate is developing major office tower constructions around the globe.
In terms of shopping, the city not only contains international chain stores that are becoming more prevalent in larger Bulgarian cities, but also local enterprises with locations around the country, such as retailer Piccadilly, café Happy, and pharmacy chain Sanita.
In 2008, three large shopping malls opened and four more were in various stages of development, transforming Varna into an attractive international shopping destination (Pfohe Mall, Central Plaza, Mall Varna, Grand Mall, Gallery Mall, Cherno More Park, and Varna Towers), in addition to a retail park under construction outside of town (Pfohe Mall, Central Plaza, Mall Varna, Grand Mall, Gallery Mall, Cherno More Park, and Varna Towers). The city is home to numerous of the country’s greatest restaurants, as well as an abundance of ethnic eateries.
Economically, Varna is one of Bulgaria’s best-performing and fastest-growing cities; unemployment, at 2.34 percent in 2007, is more than three times the national average; and median salary in 2007 was the highest in the country, on par with Sofia and Burgas. Many Bulgarians see Varna as a boom town; although some are flocking there, including those from Sofia and Plovdiv, as well as those returning from western countries, the majority are from Dobrich, Shumen, and the surrounding region.
In September 2004, FDi magazine (a subsidiary of the Financial Times Business Ltd) selected Varna the South-eastern Europe City of the Future, citing the city’s strategic location, rapidly rising economy, rich cultural heritage, and higher education. Standard & Poor’s said in April 2007 that it has increased Varna’s long-term issue credit rating to BB+ from BB, praising the city’s „stable outlook“ and „improved operational performance.“
Varna was named the „Best City in Bulgaria to Live in“ in December 2007 after a statewide poll conducted by Darik Radio, the 24 Chasa newspaper, and the information website darik.news (and again in October 2008).
How To Travel To Varna
By Plane
Varna Airport (IATA: VAR), 8 kilometers west of the city’s central business district. Easy access to the city center and resorts via bus and taxi. Between Varna Airport, Varna city center, and Burgas Airport, there is a free shuttle service.
Airlines and destinations – connections are mostly seasonal (the list is not full):
Air Via (Berlin-Schönefeld, Berlin-Tegel, Frankfurt)
Austrian Airlines operated by Tyrolean Airways (Vienna)
Balkan Holidays Air (Birmingham, Bristol, East Midlands, Gatwick, Glasgow, Luton, Manchester, Newcastle)
The central railway station is within walking distance of the city center and cruise terminal, and there are connections to the airport, bus stations, and resorts by bus and taxi. Daily departures from Sofia, Plovdiv, and Rousse.
There is usually one direct international train. The night train #059 leaves Kiev everyday and takes little under 35 hours to complete the route. This train also makes stops at Lviv (25 hours) and Bucharest on its route to Varna (8 h). Several more sites are introduced throughout the summer seasons. Which cities have direct connections vary every year, but anticipate Moscow, Saint Petersburg, and Minsk in the east, as well as Prague and Warsaw in the west, to be included.
By Bus
Varna has two bus terminals, one for local connections and another for longer journeys to Sofia, Veliko Tarnovo, Burgas, Plovdiv, Istanbul, Greece, Romania, and Central and Western Europe. They are not easily accessible, so take a cab. As you approach them from the city center, the local station is on the left and the long distance station is on the right.
By Car
Varna is accessible from Sofia by the Haemus Motorway (A2), Rousse (and Bucharest) via the E70, Constanta via the E87, and Istanbul via the Cherno More Motorway (A3)/E87
By Boat
Bulgaria’s sole cruise port is at Varna. The cruise port is conveniently positioned in the city center, near the railway station, and within walking distance of Sea Garden and the beaches. Connections by bus and taxi to the city center, bus terminals, airport, and resorts. There are ferry connections to Ukraine and Georgia (buses only).
There is a ferry connection to Ilichevsk (Odessa), Ukraine, as well as Poti and Batumi, Georgia.
How To Travel Around Varna
There is a pedestrian zone and a shore zone, both of which provide plenty of entertainment for visitors. You can go about on foot there. If you reside in Varna’s tourist suburbs, you can reach the city center by bus, trolleybus, leased vehicle, or taxi. Be cautious of taxis: you may end up paying ten times the correct rate, so verify the charge per kilometer – look for the little square paper plate placed in the bottom corner of the rear doors’ windows.
By Public Transport
Bus and trolleybus transportation is available all around the city through the services of the private Transtriumf (Транстриумф) and the public GT Varna (Градски Транспорт – Варна). Ticket price is 1.00 BGN.
Districts & Neighbourhoods In Varna
Vladislav Varnenchik
Vladislavovo is Varna’s newest district. Located in the city’s western section, at an elevation of 80 meters.
It is one of eastern Bulgaria’s biggest neighborhoods, with a population of about 46 000 people – over one tenth of the city’s population.
It is located close to Varna Airport. Trolleybus lines 82 and 88, as well as several bus routes, are connected to the center (14, 20, 22, 41, 118, 118a, 148 and 209).
From the area to the north, various tourist hiking paths begin, one of which goes to the city’s historic medieval stronghold.
This is one of the most contemporary vegetable markets in Varna, as well as a series of businesses known as Metro, Technomarket, Burlex, and Piccadilly. Nowadays, Vladislavovo has developed into one of the most convenient residential areas in Varna.
Kaisieva Gradina (Apricot Garden)
The region of Kaysieva gradina is included in the Vladislavovo quarter. It is surrounded by Asen Raztzvetnikov, Tzar Osvoboditel, 3-ti mart, and Kaysieva gradina Industrial Zone.
It is a relatively new neighborhood. Historically, the region was home to a large apricot orchard, thus the name Kaysieva gradina (Apricot orchard).
The area’s buildings are fully multi-story. The infrastructure is very well-maintained. There is a centralized heating system in the neighborhood.
There is a Metro hypermarket, Stoyan Mihaylovski Secondary School, kindergarten No. 10 „Prikazka“ for children aged 2-6 years, several stores, a market for fresh fruits and vegetables, beauty salons, hairdressers, and gas stations on its property.
A park, a Technomarket shop, showrooms for furniture, kindergarten No. 11 „Detski svyat“, Patriarh Evtimii Secondary School, and a medical facility are all nearby.
One of the area’s primary benefits is its isolation from the city of Varna’s congested core. There is little traffic, the streets are spacious and well-kept, and the air is pure. Numerous green spaces surround Kaysieva gradina.
Public transportation enables simple and rapid access to the city’s central business district and surrounding neighborhoods.
Troshevo
Troshevo quarter is located north of The Industrial Zone Varna West and is enclosed by Vladislav Varnenchik, Hristo Smirnenski, Yanosh Hunyadi, and Slivnitza boulevards.
To the north lies the Police Academy, while to the east is the so-called circus location. When approaching Varna via the Hemus motorway, the quarter is on the left.
Troshevo was meant to be purely residential, but after 2005, large-scale development began, and by the end of 2010, the quarter’s buildings will average six stories.
The quarter is home to the Dobri Chintulov Secondary School, the „Kolyu Ficheto“ Professional High School for Building Construction, the „Vasil Levski“ Professional High School for Construction, Architecture, and Geodesy, the Police Academy, kindergartens No. 45 „Prolet“, No. 7 „Izvorche“, and No. 3 „Detsko gradche“, as well as a day care center for children under the age of 3, a medical center, a post
Pfohe Mall, Varna’s first mall, inaugurated on December 1st, 2007. A year later, the second mall in Varna was formally opened, dubbed „Varna Mall.“
Another attraction – Varna Towers – is now under development near Technopolis Hypermarket. It is intended to be an entertainment hub.
The sector is bounded by the districts of Avtogara (Bus Station), Industrial Zone Varna West, and Mladost.
Mladost
Mladost is the city of Varna’s second biggest district. It is located in the city’s northern section. Varna was founded as we know it now in 1996, when it was divided into five administrative divisions.
The Mladost area has a population of more than 90,000 persons. The neighborhood is divided into five residential districts: Vazrajdane I, II, III, and IV, Mladost I and II, Pobeda, Troshevo, and St. Ivan Rilski. The Kochmar, Pchelina, Planova, and Salzitza neighborhoods are also included in the region.
Mladost is home to Varna’s Western industrial zone. This is where a large number of businesses have established their manufacturing and storage facilities. More and more firms are expanding their operations in this section of the city, since it offers excellent chances and prospects.
Praktiker, Mr. Bricolage, Picadilly, Kaufland, Moto Pfohe, and Peugeot are among the retailers that have opted to locate in Mladost. SHELL and OMV have also made significant investments in the region. Mladost is home to Varna’s first two malls – Pfohe Mall and the Mall of Varna. Four other locations are scheduled to open in the near future.
The biggest gated residential complex in Bulgaria – Orchid Hills-Varna – is being developed in the Vazrajdane neighborhood, with 470 units.
The city of Varna’s biggest sports and entertainment complex covers an area of about 40 decars. There are four football fields, a children’s playground, an artificial lake for rowing boats, an outdoor winter ice rink, a summer amphitheater, and a climbing wall, among other amenities. Residents and visitors to the neighborhood are welcome to use the complex’s amenities for free.
Additionally, there are two contemporary medical facilities.
There are also several schools, kindergartens, and day cares for children under the age of three.
Mladost is a favorite residential location because to its excellent transit links, extensive green spaces, and many stores.
A portion of the space is heated centrally. In one of the quarters, work on installing a gas main has begun.
Many Varna residents see the Mladost neighborhood as an ideal location for living, studying, or doing business.
Chayka (Seagull)
Chayka (Seagull) is a district in the Primorski area that is bounded by Nikola Vaptzarov street, Vasil Levski boulevard, the 8-mile Primorski polk boulevard, and Knyaz Boris I boulevard.
It has a population of approximately 35 000 people.
It is fully developed and inhabited, with easy access to Varna’s center and resorts. All major routes connecting the northern and southern Black sea coasts pass through it.
The majority of the structures are multi-story. Numerous new, contemporary residential and governmental buildings have been developed in the neighborhood during the last decade. „Orchid Gardens“ is one of Varna’s first gated communities.
The quarter is home to the High School of Foreign Languages, the High School of Mathematics, two secondary schools, a private high school, a private secondary school, a private kindergarten, the High School of Sports, four kindergartens, and one day-care center for children under the age of three. It is also home to the National Revenue Service, Chayka Municipality, Kamenar Municipality, Chayka Diagnostic-Consultative Center, Burlex Supermarket, pharmacies, shops, cafes, and
The beaches around Chaika are among of the most popular in the city. Beach volleyball competitions are often held there.
Two stadiums, two sports halls, and a swimming facility are located immediately next to the quarter.
Vasil Levski quarter is bounded by the Zavod Drujba region, the Palace of Sports and Culture area, the Briz quarter, and the Sea Garden.
Downtown the city of Varna
The city of Varna’s downtown is situated in the city’s southern section. To the south of Hristo Botev Boulevard and its extension, Maria Louisa Boulevard, lies the historical core. Numerous significant roadways, pedestrian-only streets, and boulevards traverse it. The most popular car-free street is Knyaz Boris the First Boulevard. This is where some of the city’s most upscale shops are situated. According to real estate agents, this is Bulgaria’s second most expensive boulevard, behind Sofia’s Vitosha Boulevard.
According to historians, the „Greek Neighbourhood“ is the city’s oldest neighborhood. It is positioned just above the Sea Garden, close to the sea. You will be captivated by the peaceful grassy streets and the many eateries serving a variety of cuisines.
Slivnitza, Knyaz Boris the First, Tzar Osvoboditel, and Primorski boulevards connect to the Sea Garden. On the seaside lane, just under the Sea Garden and only a few minutes from the administrative center, you can pick from a range of Varna’s beaches, as well as from a variety of romantic restaurants and food bars with a sea view, serving a wide variety of fish and other seafood delicacies.
The majority of the city of Varna’s government and municipal institutions are situated downtown, as are both of Eastern Bulgaria’s principal cultural venues – the Festival and Congress Center and the Palace of Culture and Sports. Three of the five universities are located in the neighborhood, as are other schools, medical clinics, museums, galleries, cultural and information centers.
Residents and visitors alike are drawn to the city gardens, which include calm pathways and whispering fountains, as well as modest cafés and restaurants.
Asparuhovo
Located in the city region’s southeastern sector „Asparuhovo is bounded by the Black Sea to the breakwater, the port of Varna, the railway area, the north road junction on Asparuhov bridge, the northern shore of Varna lake, and to the north and east of the border hamlet Zvezditsa.
The region „Asparuhovo“ consists of two quarters and five urban forms: Asparuhovo and Galata neighborhoods, Zelenika urban form, Borovets north Rakitnika urban form, and tourism zone „Priboi“ urban form. The district administration is headquartered in the Asparuhovo quarter. 24 000 people reside in the region, which covers an area of around 2.4 square kilometers.
Two hospitals, two banks, two churches, three chapels, two community centers, a tax office, a police station, a fire department, an emergency safety office for social assistance, seven schools, four kindergartens, and two nurseries are located within the area’s boundaries.
This is one of the region’s most vital sectors. It is heavily affected by the fact that the neighborhood’s eastern boundary runs all the way to the huge seas of the Black Sea. Asparuhovo’s environs „are covered with vacation houses, vacation villas, hotels, and restaurants, and travelers have access to a large beach.
Vinitsa
Originally known as Kestrich, Vinitza is now a quarter of the city of Varna. It is 5 kilometers northeast of the city and 2 kilometers from the St. Constantine and Helen resort.
The region is mostly comprised of one- and two-story residences, but has seen an increase in recent years in the number of five- and six-story residential buildings, hotels, and complexes. Numerous pockets of vegetation, solitude, and tranquillity located within a few kilometers from the city’s central business district are the quarter’s primary features.
There is a post office, a secondary school „Panayot Volov“, a kindergarten for children aged 2-6 years No. 24 „Iglika“, an orthodox church, medical centers, a veterinary clinic, pharmacies, gas stations, a town hall, a bank branch, a horse breeding base, as well as numerous hotels and shops located in the quarter.
Nearby are the resorts of St. Constantine and Helen, Euxinograd, Golden Sands, and the city’s villa zone.
The beach at St. Constantine and Helen is the closest.
Zlatni pyasatsi (Golden Sands)
Golden Sands is the biggest resort on the Black Sea’s northern shore (more than 1800 hectares). It is located 13 kilometers north of Varna and 490 kilometers east of Sofia. Kranevo settlement is located north of the resort, while Chaika holiday village is located south. Golden Sands is absorbed by the St. St. Konstantin and Elena Resort and the Riviera Resort. The region is renowned for having the cleanest sand on the Black Sea shore. It was once known as Ouzounkoum – the long sands – in Turkish. The resort is densely forested and, with its various plants and trees, resembles a true park. The mineral water that flows from numerous large pipes onto the beach, as well as the magnificent timber that borders the Frangen Plateau, elevate Golden Sands to the status of one of Bulgaria’s Black Sea coast’s pearls.
Construction began in 1950 and continues until this day. The majority of alleyways are asphalted, while the beach is lined with little streets, pleasant quaint hotels surrounded by lovely gardens, and stairs leading to small bays on both sides of the resort. The steady temperature of about 27°C throughout the season, together with the microclimate of Golden Sands, make it an ideal location for relaxation and recreation.
The transportation between Golden Sands and Varna is well-organized. Apart from the bus lines that link the resort to the city and the airport, a variety of minibuses and private taxis are available. Due to the high level of competition, ticket costs are reasonable.
There is a casino, many pubs, a mini-golf course, horse carriages and beautiful carts, water slides, and excellent facilities and equipment for all types of water sports.
Numerous renowned events take place here, including the Strongest Man Competition, the Miss and Mister „Golden Sands“ Competition, contests for all dog breeds, the Satellite Tennis Tournament, the Old-fashioned Auto Rally, and the International Festival of Standard and Sport Dances.
The Golden Sands Resort is comprised of 61 hotels and ten luxurious villas. Some hotels provide swimming pools and exercise centers, while the majority offer currency exchange services.
Each hotel, as is customary, features a snack bar or restaurant. There are several restaurants with a variety of delicacies and entertainment in a variety of styles. Golden Sands attracts the top artists from the northern Black Sea coast. Vodenitsata (The Water Mill), Tsiganski Tabor (Gypsy Tabor), Kosharite (Sheepfolds), Zlatna Ribka (Golden Fish), Kriva Lipa (Crooked Lime-tree), and Dionisus are all worth visiting for its architecture, entertainment programs, and food. The Indian restaurant, which is run by an Indian chef, is very popular with travelers. There are several snack bars, fast-food restaurants, grill- and toast-bars, and various other establishments that cater to travelers.
Due to the worldwide fame of Golden Sands, the beach resort is quite crowded from May until late September.
Hristo Botev
Hristo Botev is a quarter in Varna’s southern side. It is enclosed by the streets Han Presian, Grigoriy Tzamblak, Krakra, and Todfor Vlaykov, and is separated from Troshevo quarter by the canal Franga Dere.
The residential neighborhood is located around 15-20 minutes on foot from downtown Varna.
It is mostly comprised of single-family homes and brand-new 4-5-story residential structures. The quarter is very green and well-organized in terms of infrastructure.
In the Hristo Botev quarter, there is a Diagnostic-Consultative Center, a Dispensary For Pneumo-Phtysiatric Diseases, Elin Pelin Secondary School, kindergarten No. 8 „Hristo Botev“, kindergarten No. 6 „Palechko“, Hristo Botev Community Center, and Peyo Yavorov Community Center, as well as a post office, numerous pharmacies, shops and cafes, and beauty beauty salons.
Galata
Galata is Varna’s smallest quarter, with a population of 2030 inhabitants (according to census of 2005).
It is placed at the city’s highest point, overlooking the same-named cape. At its foot lies the Varna bay’s natural extension. Due to the weather conditions near the cape, ships often remain on highways before approaching the port.
Galata is one of Varna’s most affluent districts, despite its distance from the city center. It is located in the municipality of Varna’s Asparuhovo district.
It is reached by the Asparuhov Bridge and the scenic road that circles the Varna bay. The area makes advantage of the whole city’s infrastructure and benefits from spectacular vistas and a temperate temperature.
Galata is surrounded by pristine, virgin rocky beaches – Pasha dere and Fichoza – that are ideal for camping, tourism, and small hotels and cottages. The southern resort area of Varna, Borovets, is nearby.
The majority of residential structures in the region are 1-2 story dwellings. Numerous multi-story residential structures, complexes, and hotels have been developed in recent years.
Vasil Levski Primary School, Nayden Gerov Secondary School, a stadium, an orthodox church, a polyclinic, a post office, hotels, gas stations, pharmacies, parking lots, as well as several green spaces and stores are located in the vicinity.
Asparuhovo area, Fichosa beach, and Pasha Dere beach are all nearby.
Vazrazhdane (Revival)
Vazrazhdane is a residential complex located between 90 and 150 meters above sea level on the southern slopes of the Frangensko plateau in the western part of Varna. It was constructed between 1980 and 1993 and consists of four microregions.
Secondary and elementary schools, kindergartens, service stations, petrol stations, cafés, Kaufland hypermarkets, and several supermarkets are all located in this area.
There is high-rise housing, including 16-story apartment towers. Trolley bus lines 83, 88, and buses 14 and 148 connect the complex to the city’s core business district. In the first microregion, luxurious gated residential complexes will be constructed.
Vazrazhdane is bordered by Vladislavovo quarter and separated from Mladost area by boulevard Tsar Osvoboditel.
Overlooking the area lies Teke Karaach, one of the greatest monastery complexes in the Balkans. It was discovered at the turn of the twentieth century by Karel Shkorpil, the father of Bulgarian archaeology.
Comprehensive surveys and excavations started only around 1995 and lasted until 2007, with intermittent breaks.
The complex is unique in terms of its layout and scale, having no parallels in either the Bulgarian or Byzantine architectural traditions.
It was allegedly erected by St. Tsar Boris in the late IX and early X centuries.
Until present, just roughly 5 decares have been cleared and partly examined, or less than half of the land on which the monastery stood.
Population: 40 000.
Pobeda
Pobeda quarter is one of the smallest in Varna. It is bounded by the streets Acad. Andrey Saharov, Todor Radev Penev, and Tzar Osvoboditel.
The quarter is devoid of new residential structures. The majority of the structures are 4-5 stories tall and were constructed in the 1970s. There are also new industrial buildings, such as car washes and service stations, as well as brand new administrative offices.
Regular transportation to the city’s central business district and resorts is provided.
The area’s distinctive feature is the large space between the buildings. There is plenty of green space, playgrounds, and well-kept infrastructure. The neighborhood is tranquil and serene.
There is a kindergarten, a community center, a market for fresh fruits and vegetables, a CBA supermarket, several parking lots, gas stations, pharmacies, stores, cafés, and a bar on the quarter’s area.
There are professional high schools for mechanical engineering and transportation, electrotechnology, a technical high school, a high school for forestry and woodworking, a kindergarten, and a sports complex with a training hall and a stadium located nearby.
The quarter is bounded on the north by a villa zone, a Tehnikumite (Technical High-Schools) zone, and an Industrial Zone.
Zapadna promishlena zona (West Industrial Zone)
The Industrial Zone Varna West (IZVW) is enclosed by the streets Devnya, Vladislav Varnenchik, and Acad. Igor Kurchatov and extends all the way to the Varna Airport.
The region is bounded on the south by a railway and Varna lake, on the west by Varna Airport, on the north by Troshevo sector, and on the east by Varna’s Fruit and Vegetable Grand Market.
Numerous commercial and public, as well as international, firms have representative offices, corporate shops, manufacturing and storage facilities at IZVW.
IZVW is home to a variety of firms, including Varnensko Pivo JSC, Dobrudjanski Hlyab JSC, Watersupply and Sewerage Company PLC, Stroitelna Mechanizatziya Ltd, Melnichen Complex, Glavbolgarstroy, Avtotransport Ltd, VAMO JSC, ROVER, Megachim Color Ltd., and Cherno More JSC.
Parking lots, gas stations, Technopolis hypermarket, Selamore, car-stations, and banks are all located within the neighborhood.
The majority of the structures are industrial in nature – warehouses, manufacturing complexes, business shops, and exhibition halls. Additionally, there are administrative buildings.
The region is well-maintained and quite green.
Nearby are two Piccadilly stores, a Praktiker hypermarket, pharmacies, a Grand Market of Fruit and Vegetables, a Business Park (an administrative complex that houses the offices of numerous Bulgarian and foreign companies and representatives), a medical center, a post office, shops, and petrol stations.
Tourism in Varna
Bulgaria’s third biggest city, after Sofia and Plovdiv, is Varna. Varna, frequently referred to as Bulgaria’s marine (or summer) capital, is a major tourist attraction, commercial and academic hub, seaport, and home to the Bulgarian Navy and merchant marine.
The Varna Archaeological Museum houses the Varna Gold, the Roman Baths, the Battle of Varna Park Museum, the Naval Museum in the Italianate Villa Assareto houses the museum ship Drazki torpedo boat, and the Museum of Ethnography is housed in an Ottoman-period compound and depicts the lives of local urban dwellers, fisherfolk, and peasants in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries.
The ‘Sea Garden’ is the town’s oldest and possibly largest park, with an open-air theatre (which hosts the International Ballet Competition, opera performances, and concerts), the Varna Aquarium (opened in 1932), the Festa Dolphinarium (opened in 1984), the Nicolaus Copernicus Observatory and Planetarium, the Museum of Natural History, a terrarium, a zoo, an alpineum, and a children’s amusement park with a pond The Garden is a national symbol for landscape architecture and the Balkans’ largest groomed park.
Numerous beach clubs line the riverside promenade, providing a vibrant nightlife scene with rock, hip-hop, Bulgarian and American-style pop, techno, and chalga. In October 2006, The Independent dubbed Varna „Europe’s new funky town, Bulgaria’s nightlife capital.“ The city is well-known across the country for its rock, hip-hop, and world music performers, clubs, and related events, including July Morning and international rock and hip-hop (including graffiti) venues.
The city beaches, also known as sea baths (морски ани, morski bani), are dotted with hot sulfuric mineral water sources (used in spas, swimming pools, and public showers) and punctuated by small protected marinas. Additionally, the 2.05 km (1.27 mi) long, 52 m (171 ft) high Asparuhov most bridge is a popular place for bungee jumping. The palace, garden, and vineyard of Euxinograd are situated outside the city, as are the University of Sofia Botanical Garden (Ecopark Varna), the Pobiti Kamani rock formation, and the medieval cave monastery of Aladzha.
The boutique rows along Prince Boris Blvd (with retail rents equal to Vitosha Blvd in Sofia) and surrounding pedestrian streets are popular tourist shopping locations, as is the massive mall and big-box cluster in the Mladost area, which is accessible by vehicle. Piccadilly Park and Central Plaza, two other shopping complexes, are well located to accommodate guests who drive or use public transit to the resorts north of the city center. There are numerous ATMs and 24-hour petrol stations with convenience stores.
Among the food markets are Piccadilly and Burleks supermarkets. Retailers and restaurants often take credit cards. There are many farmers markets selling fresh local produce; the largest, Kolkhozen Pazar, also has a fresh fish market but is located in a congested area that is practically inaccessible by car.
Varna, like other cities in the region, has its share of stray dogs, the majority of them are calm and friendly and have orange clips on their ears showing they have been castrated and vaccinated. On the other side, the ubiquitous seagulls dominate urban fauna, while brown squirrels occupy the Sea Garden. In January and February, migrating swans spend the winter on protected beaches.
Places to see in Varna
Varna is an important center for theatrical and architectural art in the Bulgaria. Additionally, this is one of the most prominent Bulgarian resorts, which has historically attracted visitors from all over the globe.
The Square of Independence denotes the city’s core. There is a sizable pedestrian zone here. There is no public transportation here, and thus nothing disturbs the place’s calm and measured atmosphere. The area is home to two significant cultural institutions – the Varna Dramatic Theatre and the Opera Theatre. Between them is a small market that will undoubtedly be of interest to visitors to this wonderful city. You’ll discover a variety of items here, including handcrafted jewelry, amazing paintings, souvenirs, and wooden items.
Cyril and Methodius are commemorated in the adjacent plaza. Additionally, the Cathedral of the Dormition is situated here. The cathedral was completed around the end of the nineteenth century. Each Sunday, liturgies are held here, with the participation of Bulgaria’s most famous male choir. Without a doubt, the remains of Roman baths are a significant historical site. If you’re looking for solitude, Seaside Park is the place to go. This 80-hectare park is home to the Culture and Sport Palace, the Planetarium, and a zoo that hosts dolphin shows.
Each day, travelers are encouraged to join trips to Varna Lake, where the old basilica’s remains still remain on its beaches. Architectural excavations continue in this area, and visitors to the Archeological Museum of Varna may see the region’s distinctive antiquities, which include a collection of gold and silver products, sculptures, and gravestones.
In Varna, there is an intriguing aquarium that opened in 1912. Today, it resides in a lovely ancient structure whose exterior is nearly entirely covered with ivy throughout the summer season. This aquarium features characteristic creatures of the Black Sea, as well as lakes and rivers found on Bulgarian territory. The trip promises to be both fascinating and educational for both youngsters and adults.
In close proximity to Varna is a unique natural feature known as the Stone forest. As implied by the title, the area’s primary feature is its variety of stone columns. When seeing this magnificent stone landscape, it’s impossible to believe it was built entirely by natural causes. It’s worth noting that the researchers were unable to establish the source of the stones’ emergence. According to some experts, they are petrified trunks of ancient trees, while others say the stones are unique stalagmites over 50 million years old.
Among the noteworthy historical landmarks is the Aladzha Monastery, which is also situated in the vicinity of Varna. The actual date of the monastery’s founding is uncertain. However, the oldest written record of it goes all the way back to the tenth century. The monastery’s primary feature is regarded to be its extraordinarily intricate construction. It is simply impossible to wander over its land, since one is extremely likely to get disoriented in the labyrinth of passageways and hallways. The historic convent is the subject of intriguing stories. According to one of them, the monastery’s walls contain the spirit of a monk who died here. She assists lost passengers in navigating the labyrinth of passageways.
Travelers who like natural attractions should not miss a tour through the Longosa nature reserve. This reserve is located on the Kamchiya River’s banks. During the warm season, tourists may choose from a variety of fascinating boat trips, as well as ride a jeep or stroll along the river’s banks. Guests may see uncommon waterfowl species and observe unusual aquatic flora throughout the excursion. There is a campground inside the reserve, allowing visitors to spend a few days in these gorgeous locations.
Beaches in Varna
On the territory of Varna are some of the most magnificent beaches in Bulgaria – huge golden sand stripes, lush vegetation, pristine water, a range of resorts and attractive regions, as well as leisure zones. Anyone would find their own Paradise here — families with children, youthful thrill seekers, and nature lovers seeking a tranquil and quiet vacation.
It is critical to understand that wild camping, building fires, and erecting tents on beaches are prohibited by Bulgarian legislation and are punishable.
The Varna Black Sea coast offers a diverse selection of vacation options — the 32-kilometer-long shoreline has more than 22 beaches. Several of them have been awarded the „Blue Flag“ — a sign of a pristine and ecological environment.
The Golden Sands and St. Constantine and Helena resorts are two of the most renowned beaches with a calm and warm temperature along the Varna seashore.
For almost a century, the first Bulgarian beach resort „Sts. Constantine and Helena“ has been renowned for its gorgeous sea views and natural beauty. It is the ideal location for year-round seaside enjoyment, a setting for wonderful memories and an amazing vacation. Nowadays, the resort draws visitors with its scenic shoreline, pleasant beaches, and clean air, and endows them with health and beauty via the resort’s sea power and natural mineral springs.
Golden Sands is located 16 kilometers north of the coastal capital Varna, amid the cool freshness of the Golden Sands National Park woodland in close proximity to the beach. The resort’s name, Golden Sands, speaks for itself. According to folklore, Black Sea pirates hid a vast gold treasure on the beach where today’s resort is located. However, the sea exacted vengeance on the criminals by transforming the jewelry and riches into beautiful golden sand.
Are you interested in seeing a romantic sunrise or sunset on the beach? Do you want to go fishing or do you want to go as near to the beach as possible by car? Whether it’s relaxing, swimming, strolling, kite flying, or sand castle building, Varna’s most stunning beaches provide something for everyone.
Family holidays in Varna
Aquapolis is one of the city’s most popular amusement destinations. It encompasses a huge area and provides guests with an unmatched selection of activities. There are enormous swimming pools with intricately colored slides and pools designed specifically for children. The water park is exquisitely furnished, with several intriguing creative designs and buildings that complement the activities. The water park’s primary décor are live plants and large trees. On a hot day, finding the perfect area to unwind will be tough.
The city also includes a lovely Dolphinarium, which the whole family will enjoy visiting. Each day, fascinating presentations include trained dolphins that expertly leap over hoops and play with colorful balls. At certain seasons of the year, visitors to the facility may swim with dolphins in the pool, and those who are unable to swim are provided a trip on an inflatable boat. Young visitors are promised a plethora of impressions during their visit to the Dolphinarium.
The Zoo Varna is equally fascinating. Here, visitors may see creatures from all across the globe. There are bears, tigers, amusing monkeys, and several unique birds among them. Visitors are invited to pet and feed some of the animals. Children will undoubtedly like little kangaroos and goats who are completely unafraid of humans and eagerly accept food from their hands. This zoo is situated inside the Primorski Garden, which continues to be a popular destination for visitors with children.
The seashore garden is very lovely. It is concealed behind an abundance of foliage, which conceals several intriguing locations. There are several lovely fountains and sculptures in this area. Summer cafés and kid-friendly entertainment are always put up in the park throughout the warm season. Additionally, there are playgrounds that guests may use for free. In the summer, children will be able to ride inflatable boats around the park’s lake and feed the birds. While the expansive garden will be a perfect location for winter entertainment in the winter.
There is another location on the University of Varna’s campus that is certain to appeal to nature enthusiasts. This area is known as the Ecopark. This is an exquisite botanical garden that is well worth a visit with children. The opulent park was turned into a family leisure facility years ago. One may stroll leisurely through the exotic plants and flowers, or hire one of the specially furnished places and organize an outdoor pleasure day complete with BBQ. Excursions are offered in the botanical garden to educate tourists about the unusual flora and insects that have made the vast park their home. The park has classic children’s playgrounds as well as many sports fields.
If you want to visit Varna during the summer, it’s worth checking out the Barite Complex entertainment area. It has a strong resemblance to the original open-air ethnographic museum. Summer brings an abundance of attractive holidays and activities for guests. Children will get the opportunity to play on well-maintained grounds, attend informative seminars, and participate in team activities. This unique entertainment facility hosts programs for children of all ages as well as adults.
When is the Best Time to Visit Varna?
Varna is one of the most popular tourist sites in Bulgaria. While the city has a population of little over 335,000, its gorgeous Black Sea beaches attract over a million visitors throughout the summer, lured by the sunny weather and lively nightlife.
Spent a great day strolling around the streets, seeing the Roman Baths, strolling through the sprawling central park, and just relaxing on the beach. At night, the bars and restaurants are packed with tourists and residents enjoying their summer vacations.
While it is not an off-the-beaten-path place, it is enjoyable and well worth a brief visit. If you only have time to visit one Bulgarian coastal town, make it Varna.
Sights & Landmarks In Varna
Varna offers a diverse selection of one-of-a-kind historical landmarks. A significant portion of the city’s attractions date all the way back to ancient times. The Roman baths, situated in the city’s southeast section, are a notable example. This is the country’s largest ancient structure. The baths cover an area of about 7 square kilometers. Ancient columns, arches, and stairway facilities, as well as expert mosaics and gigantic stone blocks, are among the remnants of the large-scale architecture that have survived to the present day. It should be emphasized that scientists are still unsure about the purpose and function of some premises.
Additionally, some magnificent attractions are located around Independence Square. The remaining portion of the fortification wall that encompassed the city during the rule of the Roman Empire is found here. Nearby are the Round Tower and the beautiful Opera House. The tower was constructed in the early Middle Ages and was a critical component of the city’s defences. A person on duty in the tower was the first to alert city residents to the approach of a hazard. Round Tower has persisted in its original shape until the present day.
The Bridge of Wishes is an evocative and intriguing sight. This establishment is very popular among couples. While walking over the bridge, you should consider your most treasured desire; it will almost probably come true. The Cathedral of the Assumption of the Virgin is a magnificent religious structure. The cathedral’s construction began in 1880 and lasted six years. Notable fact: the cathedral was constructed by inmates from the nearby penitentiary. Thousands of pilgrims visit the church each year to venerate the church’s valuable holy relics. St. Anastasia Church, erected in the nineteenth century, is a later-period ecclesiastical structure. The church is distinguished by its unusual construction and opulent interior decorating. The church’s halls are adorned with stunning paintings, icons, and mosaics, but the altar set here is a piece of art in its own right.
Varna Archaeological Museum is unquestionably one of the city’s cultural institutions worth seeing. The museum’s display space is comprised of 32 halls. You’ll be able to see precious historical relics as well as discoveries from the Middle Ages and Renaissance periods. The museum’s most precious item is a collection of antique jewelry. The collection was discovered during excavations on the city’s outskirts. Visitors are taken aback by the splendour of gold jewelry and cutlery.
In the neighborhood of Varna, there is a really pleasant location that happens to be a genuine hamlet (Antique Village). It provides an excellent chance for visitors to get familiar with the way of life of ancient natives. Here, you may fire a bow, ride a horse, or a chariot, and, of course, see how the ancient inhabitants lived. Additionally, there is a museum on the property, which has sculptures, works of art, and interactive displays. Along with the historic town, there is a Stone Age habitation here (Neolithic settlement). This kind of entertainment is especially appealing to the younger tourists — they enjoy their time here tremendously.
Bulgaria is renowned for its „mysticism,“ and several stories surround Varna, the country’s biggest city. One of them is connected to a location known as Pobiti Kamani (Stone Forest). It is believed that the location has a very strong energy, which attracted mystic lovers – it is believed that if a person touches the stone, their dreams will surely come true, and as a result, hundreds of tourists visit the site to participate in the ritual – and then, hopefully, their dreams will come true. The location is a cluster of stone columns ranging in height from 5-7 meters that formed for unexplained causes. The explanation for this is thought to be the buildup of corals and algae, yet the stones remained when the sea dried up.
There are also some intriguing attractions in Varna among the religious structures. For instance, Aladja’s „Holy Trinity“ monastery fascinates visitors with its distinctive ambiance. Here, you can smell the gentle air of history as it sweeps over your whole body. In front of the monastery is a lovely park, which adds to the acquisition of tranquility. The religious monument is multi-leveled. Additionally, strong energy radiates from the location — or so it is said. Nature has blessed Varna with beauty, as shown by the existence of a location named Wonderful Rock. The point is, the rocks here are absolutely unique in form. Additionally, this location provides great views of the river and the surrounding region of the city.
In „Primorski Park,“ a stunning sculpture may be seen. It is about the composition of the „Pantheon.“ The monument, designed by architects Lyubomir Dapchev and Peter Kutsarov in 1595, is dedicated to those who perished in world wars. Additionally, the park has monuments to notable individuals – Yuri Gagarin, for example – as well as memorials to those lost during World War II. Along with the sculptural compositions, the park has a playground, cafés, an oceanarium, museums, a zoo, an art gallery, and stores – as you can see, you could easily spend a whole day in the park and never tire of it. This location is really global.
City landmarks
Among the city’s landmarks are the Varna Archaeological Museum, which houses the Varna Gold, the Roman Baths, the Battle of Varna Park Museum, the Naval Museum in the Italianate Villa Assareto, which houses the museum ship Drazki torpedo boat, and the Museum of Ethnography, which is housed in an Ottoman-period compound and depicts the lives of local urban dwellers, fisherfolk, and peasants in the
You may visit the city’s highlights with the Varna City Card — it unites all key cultural attractions, offers several discounts to visitors in restaurants and pubs, and saves money in general.
The ‘Sea Garden’ is the town’s oldest and possibly largest park, featuring an open-air theatre (which hosts the International Ballet Competition, opera performances, and concerts), the Varna Aquarium (opened in 1932), the Festa Dolphinarium (opened in 1984), the Nicolaus Copernicus Observatory and Planetarium, the Museum of Natural History, a terrarium, a zoo, an alpineum, and a children’s amusement park with a pond The National Revival Alley has bronze statues to notable Bulgarians, while the Cosmonauts’ Alley features trees planted by Yuri Gagarin and other Soviet and Bulgarian cosmonauts. The Garden has been designated a national monument of landscape architecture and is claimed to be the Balkans’ biggest manicured park.
A number of beach clubs surround the waterfront promenade, providing a bustling scene of rock, hip-hop, Bulgarian and American-style pop, techno, and chalga. Varna was branded „Europe’s new funky town, the Bulgarian capital of good times“ by The Independent in October 2006. The city is well-known across the country for its rock, hip-hop, world music, and other musicians, clubs, and associated events, including July Morning and worldwide rock and hip-hop (including graffiti) venues.
The city beaches, also known as sea baths (морски ани, morski bani), are punctuated by tiny protected marinas and sprinkled with hot (up to 55°C/131°F) sulfuric mineral water sources (used for spas, swimming pools, and public showers). Additionally, bungee jumping is popular at the 2.05 km (1.27 mi) long, 52 m (171 ft) high Asparuhov most bridge. The Euxinograd mansion, park, and vineyard are located outside the city, as is the University of Sofia Botanical Garden (Ecopark Varna), the Pobiti Kamani rock formation, and the medieval cave monastery of Aladzha.
Tourist shopping destinations include the boutique rows along Prince Boris Blvd (with retail rents comparable to those on Sofia’s Vitosha Blvd) and nearby pedestrian streets, as well as the enormous mall and big-box cluster in the Mladost neighborhood, which is accessible by car. Two more retail malls, Piccadilly Park and Central Plaza, are perfectly positioned to accommodate visitors staying in resorts north of the city centre, both by car and public transportation. There are several ATMs and 24-hour fueling stations with convenience shops.
Among the food markets are the supermarket companies Billa, Kaufland, and Metro. Credit cards are often accepted in retailers and restaurants. There are many farmers markets selling fresh local products; the biggest, the Kolkhozen Pazar, also features a fresh fish market but is situated in a densely populated region that is nearly unreachable by automobile.
As with other cities in the area, Varna has its share of stray dogs that are calm and friendly and have flashing orange clips on their ears indicating they have been castrated and vaccinated. However, seagulls dominate urban wildlife, while brown squirrels occupy the Sea Garden. Cats are also prevalent across the city. Migrating swans winter on protected beaches in January and February.
Churches in Varna
Notable old Bulgarian Orthodox temples include the metropolitan Dormition of the Theotokos Cathedral (of the diocese of Varna and Veliki Preslav); the early-17th-century Theotokos Panagia (built on the site of an earlier church where Ladislaus III may have been buried); the St. Athanasius (former Greek metropolitan cathedral) on the site of a demolished tenth-century church; the 15th-century St. Petka
The ruins of a magnificent 4th–5th-century fortress basilica in Dzhanavara Park, just south of town, are attracting tourists due to the presence of some superb mosaics. Another enormous 9th-century basilica close to Boris I’s Theotokos Panagia monastery is being unearthed and protected. A fourth- to fifth-century episcopal basilica is currently being renovated north of the Thermae. Additionally, there are a number of newer Orthodox temples; two are now under construction, one devoted to apostle Andrew and the other to local martyr St. Procopius of Varna. Numerous minor Orthodox chapels have sprung up around the region. Vasil Danev, the chairman of the ethnic Organization of the United Roma Communities (FORO), said in early 2009 that local Roma will also build an Orthodox chapel.
There is an Armenian Apostolic church; two Roman Catholic churches; a flourishing Evangelical Methodist episcopal church presenting organ concerts; and busy Pentecostal, Seventh-day Adventist, and two Baptist churches.
Two historic mosques (one of which is accessible) have remained from Ottoman times, as have two previously magnificent but now decaying synagogues, one Sephardic and one Ashkenazic, the latter in Gothic style (it is undergoing restoration). In the southern Asparuhovo area, a new mosque was been erected to serve the surrounding Muslim Roma neighborhood.
Additionally, there is a Buddhist center.
On a related note, spiritual teacher Peter Deunov began teaching his Esoteric Christianity theory in Varna in the late 1890s, and the annual Synarchic Chain meetings, afterwards known as the Universal White Brotherhood, were held there between 1899 and 1908.
Architecture in Varna
By 1878, Varna had developed into an Ottoman city of primarily wooden homes in the Black Sea coast style, closely packed along narrow, twisting streets. It was encircled by a stone wall renovated in the 1830s, which included a citadel, a moat, ornamental iron gates flanked by towers, and a vaulted stone bridge over the River Varna. The area was densely forested with pre-Ottoman remains, and old ruins were often utilised as stone quarries.
Today, little of this heritage exists; the city center was rebuilt in the late nineteenth and early twentieth century by the burgeoning Bulgarian middle class in Western style, including local interpretations of Neo-Renaissance, Neo-Baroque, Neoclassicism, Art Nouveau, and Art Deco (many of those buildings, whose ownership was restored after 1989, underwent renovations).
The cathedral, two top high schools, and new boulevards were all built using stone masonry from the city walls. The middle class constructed functional townhouses and cooperative structures. On major boulevards and in the vineyards north of town, elegant houses were constructed. A few industrial working-class suburbs formed (comprised of one-family dwellings with modest green yards). Refugees from the wars of the 1910s also lived in similar impoverished but active areas on the outskirts of the city.
During the 1960s and early 1980s, when the city population quadrupled, big apartment complexes expanded across ground formerly occupied by tiny private vineyards or agricultural cooperatives. Beach resorts were mostly created in a sleek contemporary style, which has been partially lost in their more opulent makeovers in recent years. Among the 1960s’ modern marvels is the 1968-built Palace of Culture and Sports.
Since 1989, when the nation reverted to capitalism, elegant apartment complexes have sprung uptown and on terraces overlooking the sea and lake. Varna’s vineyards (лo, lozya), which date all the way back to antiquity and stretch for miles in all directions, began to transform from mostly rural grounds dotted with summer houses or villas into affluent suburbs dotted with opulent villas and family hotels, epitomized by the Villa Aqua’s researched postmodernist kitsch.
Due to the fact that suburban development has outpaced infrastructural expansion, old landslides have been reactivated, causing temporary closures of important routes. Varna has developed a reputation for traffic bottlenecks as the number of cars doubled since 1989; parking in the lush but narrow streets of the old town often takes up the sidewalks. Simultaneously, because to the complexity of local politics, areas of shanty towns more akin to Rio de Janeiro continue to exist in Romani communities on the western outskirts of town.
The beach resorts were renovated and enlarged, thankfully without becoming as overdeveloped as other tourist spots on Bulgaria’s Black Sea Coast, and its vegetation was mostly protected. New contemporary office buildings began changing the city’s historic core and environs.
Things To Do In Varna
Varna is an ideal location for active relaxation. Seaside Park, which is situated along the shore, is a popular spot for both residents and visitors to enjoy a lovely activity. Long tree-lined pathways, gardens with warm gazebos and seats, fragrant flower beds and exotic plants — here is a veritable haven of tranquillity and harmony. Additionally, the park is home to various museums, a dolphinarium, and a zoo.
Nature lovers should not miss a visit to the neighborhood terrarium, which has species from all around the globe. The terrarium opened quite recently, in 1998. Each year, it attracts an increasing number of travelers. Aquarium is housed in a stunning early twentieth-century historic structure. This is an excellent method to meet the locals of the Black Sea. The aquarium maintains a pleasant environment that mimics that of a natural ecosystem. This adds another dimension of fascination to a stroll around the aquarium’s hallways.
Families with children will undoubtedly appreciate their visit to the neighborhood dolphinarium. Every day, fantastic exhibitions featuring the most intriguing and friendliest creatures take place here. Along with dolphins, tourists may see killer whales and sea lions, both of which never fail to astound visitors with their abilities.
Kayaking is another popular sport among visitors and locals alike. To test it out, feel free to contact Bulteam Adventures. Parasailing (represented by Infinity Wake Park and Wake Park Varna) and black sea cruises (represented by Fantasy Boat Trip and Princess Boat) are equally popular water sports. To get a taste of scuba diving in Varna, check out Baracuda Dive Center and Black Sea Scuba. Of course, we cannot forget about sunbathing and swimming in the Black Sea, which attracts travelers to Bulgaria’s vacation city.
Parachuting is an option for individuals who enjoy more „serious“ outdoor sports that seem to offer an adrenaline rush to every area of the body. The city has established Club Adrenalin for this reason. Another location where you may get an adequate dosage of excessive hormone (perhaps even an overdose!) is the Varna Karting Track. Another way to get the adrenaline pumping is via escape missions, and there is no need to lament their absence. The greatest facilities of this kind are regarded to be Escape House, Logic Room, ExitGames, and The Escape. And jumping onboard a pirate ship – doesn’t that seem exciting? And to make your fantasy a reality, the city is home to the Pinta Varna Ship, where you can snap a photo with Captain Jack Sparrow.
The simplest way to view the sights and admire attractive areas is to hire a mode of transport, particularly when it is not only convenient but also beneficial to one’s health. The most common mode of travel in Varna is a bicycle, which you can hire at Plateau Cycling. Safaris are also popular, and trips such as Jeep Safari are popular with both visitors and locals.
If you like swimming during your vacations, the city has facilities such as the „Mladost Center“ and the „Pluven Primorski Center“ – all of which are excellent locations to fulfill your desire. There is some good news for those who like to go ice skating: they may do so at the „Mladost“ Ice-Skating Center. Sports fans will find enough to do in Varna – just visit the local stadiums – „Varna“, „Spartak“, and „Mladost“.
Varna offers a wealth of children’s amusement. This may include a visit to Varna Aquarium, which has an impressive variety of fish, painting courses at Arte Class Varna, exploring Festa Delphinarium, which is home to a large number of beautiful creatures, or seeing tigers and monkeys at Varna Zoo. Additionally, large families will enjoy Horse Club Kichevo, which allows all members to ride gorgeous horses. Children find great delight at Lego City Center, a location where they can spend their days building their favorite construction toys. Children of a younger age, between the ages of two and six, will undoubtedly like facilities such as Capella Play, Kids Play Children’s Center, and Kids Play.
Those who seek to receive their thrills from enigmatic and magical settings may feel quite at home in Varna. The Stone Forest is one of these locations. Locals think that this is a site of power, and that if you reach the forest’s edge, you will have good fortune for the rest of your life. The magical location’s origins are hidden in several stories that make the blood run cold. Although people never cease to inform them, experts are still unsure if this structure is natural or man-made.
There are several excellent museums in Varna that are well worth seeing for culture and art aficionados. Near the Bulgarian resort is a magnificent ancient site called Ancient Village, which is situated in Neofit Rilski. Additionally, Phanagoria Ethnographical Village is located in Asparuhov Park. These villages, like the Archaeological Museum, the Retro Museum, the Naval Museum, and the Ethnographic Museum, are a must-see for visitors. Individuals seeking to see outstanding examples of modern art may do so at galleries such as Le Papillon, INHOM, and Graffit.
Food & Restaurants In Varna
Varna can undoubtedly boast the city’s largest selection of culinary establishments, restaurants, and cafés. Simply said, any gourmet will easily find a restaurant here that will satisfy his or her palate. Godzila is without a doubt one of the city’s top eateries. The restaurant’s cuisine is built on inventive salads and delicate pizzas. During the warmer months, the restaurant’s tables are arranged on the lovely terrace, while in the winter, guests may relax within a snug hall with an equally intriguing design.
Mr Baba restaurant is an out-of-the-ordinary institution. It is conveniently placed near South Beach. The restaurant is housed inside a magnificent ship. As you may assume, Mr Baba specializes on fish cuisine. Visitors are invited to relax in the ship’s luxurious staterooms, and the ship’s deck is an ideal location for festivities. Fans of Indian food restaurants should not miss Tandori, which stands out not only for its excellent menu, but also for its superior service. A portion of the restaurant’s seating is located in a lovely summer garden. Indian Tandori has every right to be named Varna’s most romantic eating establishment.
The elegant Le Baron restaurant opened towards the end of 2008. The restaurant has since earned the hearts of thousands of gourmets. The restaurant’s menu is based on Italian cuisine. Additionally, guests will be pleased by a vast selection of several distinctive culinary creations. The restaurant’s menu has over forty distinct salads. Pizza and spaghetti served here according to a specific recipe are unquestionably deserving of the greatest acclaim. When it comes to interior design, we simply cannot overlook the importance of a unique and really unique approach. The hall is furnished in a contemporary manner. Its pleasant ambience makes it the ideal spot to unwind.
London Pub Taifun is an excellent spot to unwind with a large group. The pub’s design is evocative of a historic British institution that is well-known and revered among beer enthusiasts. Along with an extensive selection of beverages and creative cocktails, the pub’s menu features a variety of nibbles and delicacies. You may have baked fish, fried potatoes, and a variety of salads here. Guests are often smitten with the pub’s distinctive food. Visitors at London Pub Taifun are invited to sit on the open veranda throughout the summer. Additionally, the expansive hall of this great pub is available to accommodate a big group of people.
Beer enthusiasts cannot afford to miss a visit to Viking, a beer restaurant. Several hundred kinds of beer, the finest vintage wines, as well as an extensive menu of delights and meat specialities – the restaurant offers everything you need for a restful night’s sleep after a hectic day of touring. Regardless of the restaurant’s specifications, Viking is an excellent option for travelers with families. Small restaurant patrons will almost certainly be served a different menu. Additionally, the restaurant has a separate children’s area.
Varna’s regional cuisine is mainly influenced by seasonal vegetables. Dairy products, on the other hand, are quite popular in the area. Without a doubt, regional cuisine restaurants are always prepared to provide their visitors delectable and substantial meat meals. Numerous national meals are customarily consumed in Varna at certain times of the year. Tarator and Snezhanka, for example, are classic summer delicacies. These are both popular chilled soups and salads made with the same primary ingredient — natural yogurt. Additionally, Tarator and Snezhanka may include a variety of seasonal vegetables and greens. By the way, each restaurant in the city often serves these classic meals according to its unique recipe.
Bob chorba is a well-known cold-weather meal. This is a hearty bean soup that has some resemblance to typical Vienna goulash. Bob chorba may include a variety of various varieties of beans. The finished dish’s flavor might vary substantially depending on the selection. Meat is a necessary component of this soup. Local cafés and restaurants may customize the famous soup with a variety of meats. Typically, meatballs and handmade sausage are the most popular variations. There are more inventive varieties of Bob chorba available, including bacon and smoked pork.
Restaurants in Varna that specialize in regional cuisine provide a wide variety of fascinating snacks and appetizers made mostly with seasonal vegetables and other items. Consider Sarma, an intriguing snack made out of grape leaves filled with a variety of ingredients. Sarma is a highly versatile cuisine that may be light or filling, vegetarian or meat-based. Several restaurants substitute young cabbage leaves for grape leaves.
Meat lovers will not be disappointed at Varna’s restaurants. Local restaurants provide a variety of unique oven-cooked meat meals. Meat is often roasted in a unique clay pot. Slow cooking meat in the oven is a traditional method of preparing meat in the area. Guvec is a traditional Varna meat dish. It is a stew made with beef, potatoes, tomatoes, sweet peppers, and other vegetables. Guvec is often made using lamb meat. To ensure the meat is as tender and juicy as possible, it is slow roasted for many hours in the oven. Pattycakes constructed with flaky pastry are one of the region’s most popular treats. They may be sweet or sour.
Shopping In Varna
Varna residents have access to three outstanding retail malls, the best of which is Mall Varna, which is suitable for a family visit. It is home to hundreds of men’s and women’s apparel boutiques, specialty shops selling children’s items, brand cosmetics, and perfumeries. You may not only shop but also have fun. A contemporary theater, a casino, an ice rink, an exceptional bowling facility, and a children’s club are all available. There are about 10 eateries and cafés inside the center’s borders.
Many tourists are directed to the Grand Mall commercial complex in quest of new garments, which is renowned for its outstanding sports stores and unique pavilions filled with cosmetics. Women may get high-quality soap, handcrafted cream, and upscale cosmetics at this location. On the bottom level, the city’s biggest Carrefour supermarket is situated.
Mall Varna Towers has long been a popular tourist destination. It is housed in two towers next to one another and contains the world’s most popular brands. There are several pavilions devoted to youngsters and unique designer boutiques. There is one of the city’s most romantic restaurants situated there. It has a revolving hall and is positioned on one of the skyscraper’s last levels.
Numerous unique stores may be located on Varna’s downtown streets. Ladies will appreciate a visit to the Triumph shop, which specializes in the sale of superior underwear. Customers may always choose from a selection of corsets, unique modeling undergarments, and stylish leisure clothing. This well-known establishment will delight guests with its high-quality merchandise and inexpensive costs.
Experienced travellers seek for boutiques that sell Bulgarian-made clothing and footwear. Drin street is home to an exceptional REAL footwear shop, where customers may acquire high-quality shoes at cheap costs. The business often announces discounts, which adds to the enjoyment of shopping. Almost all of the footwear exhibited is made of real leather, and they also provide superb orthopedic footwear.
The New Yorker, situated on Independence Square, is a popular hangout spot for young people. Everyone can discover attractive clothing and accessories in this four-story boutique. They conduct major sales many times a year.
Ladies in Varna will be interested in visiting one of the Rose of Bulgaria brand boutiques. These boutiques serve exquisite Bulgarian cosmetics and fragrances. Brand shops may be found in all major shopping areas and even on the city’s main streets. A substantial portion of the cosmetics featured are based on Bulgarian rose oil. Cosmetics are quite popular and are reasonably priced.
The city is home to a slew of odd specialized stores. Averi Beers is a popular shop for those who want a frothy beverage. It offers popular beers imported from throughout the globe. Even seasoned professionals might get disoriented by the breadth of its offerings. The proprietors are always willing to assist their consumers. They’ll educate you on a variety of beverages and assist you in selecting the ideal one. Additionally, a variety of fantastic accessories and souvenirs are available there.
Festivals & Events In Varna
National events
Golden Rose Bulgarian Feature Film Festival (biennial)
Got Flow National Hip-Hop Dance Festival (annual)
May Arts Saloon at Radio Varna
Bulgaria for All National Ethnic Festival (annual, minority authentic folklore)
Dinyo Marinov National Children’s Authentic Folklore Music Festival
Dormition of the Theotokos festival, cathedral patron, Varna Day (August 15)
Beer Fest
Saint Nicholas Day (December 6)
Christmas festival
New Year’s Eve concert and fireworks (Independence Square)
Operosa Opera Festival
Nightlife in Varna
Nightlife enthusiasts will have an excellent chance to appreciate the virtues of different clubs and discos. EXIT is Varna’s most renowned nightclub. The facility has developed a reputation for hosting entertaining music programs, performances by prominent disc jockeys, and a variety of other events. The club is situated outside of the city core and is constructed directly on a stunning beach. The club’s cultural program also includes some very „naughty“ theme events, ensuring that the club will appeal to a varied audience.
Ultra Club is renowned for its carefully curated music program, elegant interior design, and extensive beverage choices at the club’s bar. Music enthusiasts will enjoy modern music in a variety of progressive genres, connoisseurs of exotic drinks will have a fantastic time at the bar, and those seeking a hidden and calm environment will appreciate the lovely and cozy hall with soft furnishings. Fans of techno-style dancing and music will undoubtedly like club Comics. The music here continues till the early hours of the morning. Visitors will find a large colorful dance floor and a comfortable bar where they can unwind from the music and eat delectable specialty appetizers.
Stay Safe & Healthy In Varna
Varna is a relatively secure city in general, yet care should be used while dealing with the mafia. Numerous examples of visitors being beaten by the mafia for inappropriate conduct have been documented, including the horrific beating of an Icelandic adolescent girl in the summer of 2007. Avoid giving anybody who may be driving a black sports vehicle and wearing a suit and spectacles a poor impression. Common sense, decency, and respect are always the best course of action.
Avoid anybody giving money change on the street; they are all con artists. They are often placed in the vicinity of the Cathedral (kozirkata), which is also a frequent target for pickpockets, so exercise caution.
If you are driving a car, be cautious where you stop because if you breach parking limits, the authorities may take your vehicle and you will be required to pay a penalty cost, in addition to losing valuable time.
Varna
Varna
Varna is the largest city and beach resort on Bulgaria’s Black Sea Coast, as well as the country’s third largest city, with a population of 335,949 and an urban area population of 417,867. Additionally, it is the Black Sea’s fourth largest city.
Varna, sometimes referred to as Bulgaria’s marine (or summer) capital, is a major tourist destination, a gateway to all resorts along the northern Bulgarian Black Sea Coast, an economic and academic hub, a seaport, and the headquarters of the Bulgarian Navy and merchant marine. Varna was named the capital of the Black Sea Euro-Region (a new regional organization different from the Black Sea Euroregion) by the Council of Europe in April 2008.
The world’s oldest gold jewelry, dating from 4200-4600 BC and belonging to the Varna culture, was discovered in the Varna Necropolis, located in the modern city of Varna; it contains jewelry dating from 4200-4600 BC.
Due to its history and economic and cultural importance, it is often referred to as Bulgaria’s Sea Capital.
Varna’s average January temperature is +1.7 °C, its average July temperature is +22.8 °C, and its average yearly temperature is +12.2 °C, making it ideal for summer sea tourism.
The town was founded in the sixth century BC as Odessos by colonists from the Asia Minor town of Milet. For a brief while, it developed into a polis and one of the Black Sea’s most significant ports and commercial hubs.
Odessos was briefly included into Alexander the Great’s Macedonian Empire, but eventually regained its independence and reconstituted itself as an economic, commercial, and cultural hub. The city was minting its own currency, a sign of its progress. Odessos was incorporated into the Roman Empire in the 15th century AD. In 1201 the Bulgarian king Kaloyan (born 1168–died 1207) annexed the town, and in 1366 it was granted to Dobrudzha ruler Dobrotitsa, who used it as his capital. Varna was taken by the Ottomans in 1398. It evolved as a cultural and economic hub during the Revival (18th–19th centuries).
Varna is now a sophisticated city with a thriving cultural scene. Two of the county’s most modern multifunctional halls are located here – the Palace of Culture and Sports and the Festival and Congress Center – which enable the organization of a variety of international film festivals, scientific forums, and sporting events, including the International Theater Festival „Varna Summer,“ the Ethnic Festival, the International Jazz Festival „Varna Summer,“ the International Folklore Festival of Varna, and the International Film Festival „Love is a…“
Varna is one of the main transport hubs in Bulgaria, with its modern port, railway link, and international airport connecting it to 35 states and more than 100 global cities.
Varna’s important location on the map of south-eastern Europe has made it one of the most populous communities on the Black Sea coast since antiquity. Numerous monuments housed at the city’s Archaeological Museum date from this era. The museum’s outstanding collection includes discoveries from the Varna chalcolythic necropolis — the world’s oldest golden treasure discovered to date, going back over 6,000 years.
Among the remaining museums, the Maritime Museum and the Ethnographic Museum are two of the most intriguing. The collection of the Maritime Museum comprises artifacts relating to Bulgarian military and commercial ships. The Ethnographic Museum exhibits the vast variety of culture and way of life in the Varna area during the second half of the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries.
Varna has developed one of the greatest and wealthiest collections of fine arts in Bulgaria as a cultural hub.
The church St. Atanasius, built in the 18th century, houses an exhibition of icons painted during the Age of Revival, and one of the town’s most interesting historical landmarks, the Roman Baths, is located nearby. The Roman Baths are the largest Roman bath on the Balkan Peninsula, covering an area of 7000 square meters. It is Europe’s fourth largest bath, after the Karakala and Diocletian baths in Rome and the Trevira baths in Trevira (Trier, Germany). It was in use until the third century.
Another tourist attraction worth mentioning is the Aquarium. It serves as a focal point for educating the public about the Black Sea’s flora and wildlife. It is the country’s first and only biological exhibition. Tourists may enjoy a unique dolphin display at the Dolphinarium, which is located in the Park by the Sea. The dolphins and their trainers offer the show in an entertaining manner. It is performed in four languages simultaneously: Bulgarian, Russian, German, and English, and features a variety of attractions including acrobatics, balance, music, singing, dancing, and audience participation games. It lasts 40 minutes.
The University Botanical Garden’s Ecological Park is located near Varna in the tourist resort of St. Konstantin and Elena. This is the country’s first ecological park to include both manmade and natural ecological systems. The park measures 360 dca in size. The plant collections include over 300 kinds of exotic trees and shrubs, as well as over 100 types of herbaceous plants. The ecological park provides fascinating experiences with a variety of plants from throughout the globe, including sea pine, tulip tree, ginkgo biloba, sterculia, parrotia persica, broussonetia papyrifera, evergreen oak, and mamont three. The Rosery cultivates about 30 different rose species.
Another must-see tourist attraction is located around 14 kilometers from Varna on the way to the resort Zlatni Pyasatsi. This is Aladzha Monastery — one of the few rock monasteries in Bulgaria with distinct structures serving distinct tasks. The rock monastery is located in the heart of Zlatni Pyasatsi Natural Park, a protected area with unique tree species. The surrounding natural beauty, along with historical and Christian sites, makes it an ideal location for cultural, religious, and ecological tourism. Since 2009, Aladzha Monastery has been hosting a one-of-a-kind audio-visual show named Legends of Aladzha Monastery. It is a new tourism destination for Varna and the Black Sea region’s residents.
Varna Day is observed on 15 August, the Feast of the Assumption of the Holy Mother.
The city’s hotel options are nearly limitless. The hotels are many and range in price and category. Additionally, surrounding resorts – Zlatni Pyasatsi, St. Konstantin and Elena, and Riviera – provide accommodation. There are a few online-connected lodging bureaus in the city. Catering and entertainment alternatives are plenty as well As seaside restaurants, pizzerias, snack bars, beer houses, catering and fast food outlets, as well as clubs and discotheques. Make the most of the town’s many eateries, which provide a broad selection of seafood.
Varna’s sea garden has an amphitheater, an astronomy complex, an observatory, a planetarium, and a tower, in addition to several entertainment platforms and a small rowing channel for children, as well as a pool for water wheels and a zoo. The summer theater serves as a focal point for a variety of events, the most notable of which are the Varna Music Days, the world-famous International Ballet Contest, and the Days of Varna Summer — triennial of the arts.
The Sea Garden’s principal sea baths and beach are located below. They were built in the early twentieth century and consist of a policlinic, a water and mud-curing complex, two quays, and a few restaurants and discotheques.
On the beach, you may participate in a variety of water activities, including beach volleyball, surfing, diving, jet-skiing, boat tours, and banana boat rides.
Varna is an excellent destination for health tourism. It effectively integrates beach relaxation with healing camps, pre- and post-hospital care, recreational activities, and a healthy way of life.
A training golf course is located in the Asparuhovo residential neighborhood of Varna. Three other big and contemporary golf facilities are also located close to the city, at Kavarna and Balchik.
Numerous opportunities for hunting and fishing tourism exist in the Varna area. The area is home to six forest and three hunting ranches. On their land, they have eight hunting houses.
Varna - Introduction
• Summer (DST) EEST (UTC+3)
• Female: 51.40%
Turks: 10,028 (3.6%)
Gypsies: 3,162 (1.0%)
Others: 3,378 (1.1%)
Indefinable: 2,288 (0.8%)
Undeclared: 31,276 (10.3%)
Climate of Varna
Varna’s climate is humid subtropical (Köppen climate classification Cfa), which is affected by both the sea and the continent. Summer season runs from early May through early October. Temperatures in the summer often vary between 18 and 21 degrees Celsius at night and 25–35 degrees Celsius during the day. During the summer, the ocean temperature often ranges between 23 and 27 degrees Celsius. In the winter, temperatures hover between 0 and 5 degrees Celsius at night and between 5 and 10 degrees Celsius during the day. In December, January, and February, snow is conceivable, but only on rare occasions in March. In the winter, snow falls seldom and quickly disappears. 41.0 degrees Celsius was the highest temperature ever recorded, while -19.0 degrees Celsius was the lowest.
Demography of Varna
The oldest demographic records trace all the way back to the mid-17th century, when the town was estimated to have a population of about 4,000 people, while the first population census in 1881 recorded a population of 24,555. According to the 1883 census, it was Bulgaria’s second biggest city, after Ruse. Following that, Varna became Bulgaria’s third-largest city and maintained that position for the following 120 years, while other cities alternated in the first, second, and fourth positions.
In January 2012, the city of Varna had a population of 334,781, making it Bulgaria’s third biggest city, while the Varna Municipality, which includes legally related surrounding settlements, had a population of 343,643. The unofficial metro area (which includes the municipality of Varna and surrounding portions of the municipalities of Aksakovo, Avren, Beloslav, and Devnya, but excludes nearby portions of Dobrich Province) has an estimated population of 475,000. The „Varna-Devnya-Provadiya agglomeration“ is not synonymous with the „Varna metro region“ in this context.
Varna is one of the few cities in Bulgaria that has seen positive natural growth (6300 births compared to 3600 deaths in 2009) with the addition of new children’s day care establishments (6 expected in 2009).
Since December 2006, several sources, including Bulgarian National Television, national media, research organizations, the mayor’s office, and local police, have said that Varna has a population of over 500,000 at its current location, making it the country’s second biggest city. However, according to GRAO and NSI, official figures do not corroborate their statements. Venelin Zhechev, Deputy Mayor, estimated the real population at 650,000 in 2008. Mayor Kiril Yordanov said in December 2008 that the true number of permanent inhabitants was 970,000, or that 60% of citizens were unregistered. The Financial Times said in January 2009 that „Varna now attracts around 30,000 new inhabitants every year.“ The census, conducted in February 2011, counted 334,870 residents. When unregistered residents and commuters from neighboring municipalities are included, the city’s true population on a workday exceeds 400,000. Varna receives between 2 and 3 million visitors every year, with daily visitor numbers reaching as high as 200,000 during the busy season. Thus, the city has a population of around 600,000 people in July and August.
According to the most recent 2011 census statistics, those who indicated their ethnic identification were divided into the following categories:
Geography of Varna
The city is built on verdant terraces (Varna monocline of the Moesian platform) that descend from the calcareous Franga Plateau (height 356 m or 1,168 ft) to the north and the Avren Plateau to the south, along the horseshoe-shaped Varna Bay of the Black Sea, the elongated Lake Varna, and two artificial waterways connecting the bay and the lake and connected by a bridge. It is the focal point of a rapidly growing conurbation that reaches 20 kilometers (12 miles) north, 10 kilometers (6 miles) south (primarily residential and recreational sprawl), and 25 kilometers (16 miles) west along the lake (mostly transportation and industrial facilities). Since antiquity, the city has been surrounded by vineyards, orchards, and forests. Commercial shipping is being redirected inland into lakes and canals, leaving the bay as a leisure area; about the whole coastline is parkland.
The metropolitan area has more than 20 kilometers (12 miles) of sand beaches and an abundance of thermal mineral water springs (temperatures range from 35–55 °C or 95–131 °F). It has a moderate climate influenced by the sea, with long, mild autumns comparable to those found in the Mediterranean and bright, hot summers that are far milder than those seen in the Mediterranean, tempered by breezes and regular showers. Despite receiving almost two-thirds of Bulgaria’s yearly rainfall, Varna’s wooded hills remain green throughout the summer due to abundant groundwater. Although the city is shielded from north and north-east winds by the hills along the bay’s north arm, January and February may still be very cold, with blizzards. Due to decreased agricultural chemical fertilizer usage, the Black Sea water has been cleaner since 1989; it has a low salinity, no notable predators or harmful species, and an almost imperceptible tidal variation.
The city is situated 470 kilometers (292 miles) north of Sofia; the next major cities are Dobrich (45 kilometers or 28 miles north), Shumen (80 kilometers or 50 miles west), and Burgas (80 kilometers or 50 miles west) (125 km or 78 mi to the south-west). Varna is accessible by air (Varna International Airport), sea (Port of Varna Cruise Terminal), rail (Varna Central Railway Station), or automobile. Among the important routes are the European motorways E70 to Bucharest and E87 to Istanbul and Constanta in Romania; the national freeways A-2 (Hemus motorway) to Sofia and A-5 (Cherno More motorway) to Burgas. There are bus lines to several Bulgarian and foreign cities, as well as rail ferry and ro-ro services to Odessa, Ukraine, Port Kavkaz, Russia, Poti, and Batumi, Georgia, all from two bus terminals.
Economy of Varna
The economy is based on services, with commerce and tourism accounting for 61% of net revenue, manufacturing accounting for 16%, transportation and communications accounting for 14%, and construction accounting for 6%. Financial services, including banking, insurance, asset management, and real estate finance, are expanding. As of December 2008, the effects of the global financial crisis had not been severe. The city is located on Pan-European transport corridor 8, and is connected to corridors 7 and 9 through Rousse. Transportation (Navibulgar, the Port of Varna, and the Varna International Airport), distribution (Logistics Park Varna), shipbuilding (see also Oceanic-Creations), ship repair, and other nautical sectors have historically been significant firms.
Eni and Gazprom unveiled the South Stream proposal in June 2007, which plans for a 900-kilometer (559-mile) offshore natural gas pipeline from Russia’s Dzhubga to Varna, perhaps near the Galata offshore gas resource, on route to Italy and Austria.
Varna, together with the nearby towns of Beloslav and Devnya, forms the Varna-Devnya Industrial Complex, which is home to some of Bulgaria’s largest chemical, thermal power, and manufacturing facilities, including the Varna Thermal Power Plant and Sodi Devnya, which were the country’s two largest cash privatization deals in recent history. Additionally, radio navigation devices, household appliances, security systems, textiles, clothing, food and beverages, and printers are well-served. Certain manufacturing stalwarts are being phased out to make room for post-industrial developments: the former VAMO diesel engine facility is being replaced by an ECE retail mall, while the Varna Brewery is being converted into a conference center.
Tourism is important, with suburban coastal resorts like Golden Sands, Holiday Club Riviera, Sunny Day, Constantine, and Helena attracting millions of visitors each year (4.74 million in 2006, 3.99 million of which international tourists ). The resorts drew major domestic and foreign investment in the late 1990s and early 2000s, and they are environmentally sound, being located safely away from chemical and other smokestack industries. Additionally, Varna is Bulgaria’s sole international cruise port (almost 30 excursions have been scheduled for 2007), as well as a major international convention and spa facility.
Between 2003 and 2008, real estate prices reached some of the greatest levels in the nation, surpassing Sofia by fall 2007. (This is still true as of April 2009). Commercial real estate is developing major office tower constructions around the globe.
In terms of shopping, the city not only contains international chain stores that are becoming more prevalent in larger Bulgarian cities, but also local enterprises with locations around the country, such as retailer Piccadilly, café Happy, and pharmacy chain Sanita.
In 2008, three large shopping malls opened and four more were in various stages of development, transforming Varna into an attractive international shopping destination (Pfohe Mall, Central Plaza, Mall Varna, Grand Mall, Gallery Mall, Cherno More Park, and Varna Towers), in addition to a retail park under construction outside of town (Pfohe Mall, Central Plaza, Mall Varna, Grand Mall, Gallery Mall, Cherno More Park, and Varna Towers). The city is home to numerous of the country’s greatest restaurants, as well as an abundance of ethnic eateries.
Economically, Varna is one of Bulgaria’s best-performing and fastest-growing cities; unemployment, at 2.34 percent in 2007, is more than three times the national average; and median salary in 2007 was the highest in the country, on par with Sofia and Burgas. Many Bulgarians see Varna as a boom town; although some are flocking there, including those from Sofia and Plovdiv, as well as those returning from western countries, the majority are from Dobrich, Shumen, and the surrounding region.
In September 2004, FDi magazine (a subsidiary of the Financial Times Business Ltd) selected Varna the South-eastern Europe City of the Future, citing the city’s strategic location, rapidly rising economy, rich cultural heritage, and higher education. Standard & Poor’s said in April 2007 that it has increased Varna’s long-term issue credit rating to BB+ from BB, praising the city’s „stable outlook“ and „improved operational performance.“
Varna was named the „Best City in Bulgaria to Live in“ in December 2007 after a statewide poll conducted by Darik Radio, the 24 Chasa newspaper, and the information website darik.news (and again in October 2008).
How To Travel To Varna
By Plane
Airlines and destinations – connections are mostly seasonal (the list is not full):
By Train
The central railway station is within walking distance of the city center and cruise terminal, and there are connections to the airport, bus stations, and resorts by bus and taxi. Daily departures from Sofia, Plovdiv, and Rousse.
There is usually one direct international train. The night train #059 leaves Kiev everyday and takes little under 35 hours to complete the route. This train also makes stops at Lviv (25 hours) and Bucharest on its route to Varna (8 h). Several more sites are introduced throughout the summer seasons. Which cities have direct connections vary every year, but anticipate Moscow, Saint Petersburg, and Minsk in the east, as well as Prague and Warsaw in the west, to be included.
By Bus
Varna has two bus terminals, one for local connections and another for longer journeys to Sofia, Veliko Tarnovo, Burgas, Plovdiv, Istanbul, Greece, Romania, and Central and Western Europe. They are not easily accessible, so take a cab. As you approach them from the city center, the local station is on the left and the long distance station is on the right.
By Car
Varna is accessible from Sofia by the Haemus Motorway (A2), Rousse (and Bucharest) via the E70, Constanta via the E87, and Istanbul via the Cherno More Motorway (A3)/E87
By Boat
Bulgaria’s sole cruise port is at Varna. The cruise port is conveniently positioned in the city center, near the railway station, and within walking distance of Sea Garden and the beaches. Connections by bus and taxi to the city center, bus terminals, airport, and resorts. There are ferry connections to Ukraine and Georgia (buses only).
There is a ferry connection to Ilichevsk (Odessa), Ukraine, as well as Poti and Batumi, Georgia.
How To Travel Around Varna
There is a pedestrian zone and a shore zone, both of which provide plenty of entertainment for visitors. You can go about on foot there. If you reside in Varna’s tourist suburbs, you can reach the city center by bus, trolleybus, leased vehicle, or taxi. Be cautious of taxis: you may end up paying ten times the correct rate, so verify the charge per kilometer – look for the little square paper plate placed in the bottom corner of the rear doors’ windows.
By Public Transport
Bus and trolleybus transportation is available all around the city through the services of the private Transtriumf (Транстриумф) and the public GT Varna (Градски Транспорт – Варна). Ticket price is 1.00 BGN.
Districts & Neighbourhoods In Varna
Vladislav Varnenchik
Vladislavovo is Varna’s newest district. Located in the city’s western section, at an elevation of 80 meters.
It is one of eastern Bulgaria’s biggest neighborhoods, with a population of about 46 000 people – over one tenth of the city’s population.
It is located close to Varna Airport. Trolleybus lines 82 and 88, as well as several bus routes, are connected to the center (14, 20, 22, 41, 118, 118a, 148 and 209).
From the area to the north, various tourist hiking paths begin, one of which goes to the city’s historic medieval stronghold.
This is one of the most contemporary vegetable markets in Varna, as well as a series of businesses known as Metro, Technomarket, Burlex, and Piccadilly. Nowadays, Vladislavovo has developed into one of the most convenient residential areas in Varna.
Kaisieva Gradina (Apricot Garden)
The region of Kaysieva gradina is included in the Vladislavovo quarter. It is surrounded by Asen Raztzvetnikov, Tzar Osvoboditel, 3-ti mart, and Kaysieva gradina Industrial Zone.
It is a relatively new neighborhood. Historically, the region was home to a large apricot orchard, thus the name Kaysieva gradina (Apricot orchard).
The area’s buildings are fully multi-story. The infrastructure is very well-maintained. There is a centralized heating system in the neighborhood.
There is a Metro hypermarket, Stoyan Mihaylovski Secondary School, kindergarten No. 10 „Prikazka“ for children aged 2-6 years, several stores, a market for fresh fruits and vegetables, beauty salons, hairdressers, and gas stations on its property.
A park, a Technomarket shop, showrooms for furniture, kindergarten No. 11 „Detski svyat“, Patriarh Evtimii Secondary School, and a medical facility are all nearby.
One of the area’s primary benefits is its isolation from the city of Varna’s congested core. There is little traffic, the streets are spacious and well-kept, and the air is pure. Numerous green spaces surround Kaysieva gradina.
Public transportation enables simple and rapid access to the city’s central business district and surrounding neighborhoods.
Troshevo
Troshevo quarter is located north of The Industrial Zone Varna West and is enclosed by Vladislav Varnenchik, Hristo Smirnenski, Yanosh Hunyadi, and Slivnitza boulevards.
To the north lies the Police Academy, while to the east is the so-called circus location. When approaching Varna via the Hemus motorway, the quarter is on the left.
Troshevo was meant to be purely residential, but after 2005, large-scale development began, and by the end of 2010, the quarter’s buildings will average six stories.
The quarter is home to the Dobri Chintulov Secondary School, the „Kolyu Ficheto“ Professional High School for Building Construction, the „Vasil Levski“ Professional High School for Construction, Architecture, and Geodesy, the Police Academy, kindergartens No. 45 „Prolet“, No. 7 „Izvorche“, and No. 3 „Detsko gradche“, as well as a day care center for children under the age of 3, a medical center, a post
Pfohe Mall, Varna’s first mall, inaugurated on December 1st, 2007. A year later, the second mall in Varna was formally opened, dubbed „Varna Mall.“
Another attraction – Varna Towers – is now under development near Technopolis Hypermarket. It is intended to be an entertainment hub.
The sector is bounded by the districts of Avtogara (Bus Station), Industrial Zone Varna West, and Mladost.
Mladost
Mladost is the city of Varna’s second biggest district. It is located in the city’s northern section. Varna was founded as we know it now in 1996, when it was divided into five administrative divisions.
The Mladost area has a population of more than 90,000 persons. The neighborhood is divided into five residential districts: Vazrajdane I, II, III, and IV, Mladost I and II, Pobeda, Troshevo, and St. Ivan Rilski. The Kochmar, Pchelina, Planova, and Salzitza neighborhoods are also included in the region.
Mladost is home to Varna’s Western industrial zone. This is where a large number of businesses have established their manufacturing and storage facilities. More and more firms are expanding their operations in this section of the city, since it offers excellent chances and prospects.
Praktiker, Mr. Bricolage, Picadilly, Kaufland, Moto Pfohe, and Peugeot are among the retailers that have opted to locate in Mladost. SHELL and OMV have also made significant investments in the region. Mladost is home to Varna’s first two malls – Pfohe Mall and the Mall of Varna. Four other locations are scheduled to open in the near future.
The biggest gated residential complex in Bulgaria – Orchid Hills-Varna – is being developed in the Vazrajdane neighborhood, with 470 units.
The city of Varna’s biggest sports and entertainment complex covers an area of about 40 decars. There are four football fields, a children’s playground, an artificial lake for rowing boats, an outdoor winter ice rink, a summer amphitheater, and a climbing wall, among other amenities. Residents and visitors to the neighborhood are welcome to use the complex’s amenities for free.
Additionally, there are two contemporary medical facilities.
There are also several schools, kindergartens, and day cares for children under the age of three.
Mladost is a favorite residential location because to its excellent transit links, extensive green spaces, and many stores.
A portion of the space is heated centrally. In one of the quarters, work on installing a gas main has begun.
Many Varna residents see the Mladost neighborhood as an ideal location for living, studying, or doing business.
Chayka (Seagull)
Chayka (Seagull) is a district in the Primorski area that is bounded by Nikola Vaptzarov street, Vasil Levski boulevard, the 8-mile Primorski polk boulevard, and Knyaz Boris I boulevard.
It has a population of approximately 35 000 people.
It is fully developed and inhabited, with easy access to Varna’s center and resorts. All major routes connecting the northern and southern Black sea coasts pass through it.
The majority of the structures are multi-story. Numerous new, contemporary residential and governmental buildings have been developed in the neighborhood during the last decade. „Orchid Gardens“ is one of Varna’s first gated communities.
The quarter is home to the High School of Foreign Languages, the High School of Mathematics, two secondary schools, a private high school, a private secondary school, a private kindergarten, the High School of Sports, four kindergartens, and one day-care center for children under the age of three. It is also home to the National Revenue Service, Chayka Municipality, Kamenar Municipality, Chayka Diagnostic-Consultative Center, Burlex Supermarket, pharmacies, shops, cafes, and
The beaches around Chaika are among of the most popular in the city. Beach volleyball competitions are often held there.
Two stadiums, two sports halls, and a swimming facility are located immediately next to the quarter.
Vasil Levski quarter is bounded by the Zavod Drujba region, the Palace of Sports and Culture area, the Briz quarter, and the Sea Garden.
Downtown the city of Varna
The city of Varna’s downtown is situated in the city’s southern section. To the south of Hristo Botev Boulevard and its extension, Maria Louisa Boulevard, lies the historical core. Numerous significant roadways, pedestrian-only streets, and boulevards traverse it. The most popular car-free street is Knyaz Boris the First Boulevard. This is where some of the city’s most upscale shops are situated. According to real estate agents, this is Bulgaria’s second most expensive boulevard, behind Sofia’s Vitosha Boulevard.
According to historians, the „Greek Neighbourhood“ is the city’s oldest neighborhood. It is positioned just above the Sea Garden, close to the sea. You will be captivated by the peaceful grassy streets and the many eateries serving a variety of cuisines.
Slivnitza, Knyaz Boris the First, Tzar Osvoboditel, and Primorski boulevards connect to the Sea Garden. On the seaside lane, just under the Sea Garden and only a few minutes from the administrative center, you can pick from a range of Varna’s beaches, as well as from a variety of romantic restaurants and food bars with a sea view, serving a wide variety of fish and other seafood delicacies.
The majority of the city of Varna’s government and municipal institutions are situated downtown, as are both of Eastern Bulgaria’s principal cultural venues – the Festival and Congress Center and the Palace of Culture and Sports. Three of the five universities are located in the neighborhood, as are other schools, medical clinics, museums, galleries, cultural and information centers.
Residents and visitors alike are drawn to the city gardens, which include calm pathways and whispering fountains, as well as modest cafés and restaurants.
Asparuhovo
Located in the city region’s southeastern sector „Asparuhovo is bounded by the Black Sea to the breakwater, the port of Varna, the railway area, the north road junction on Asparuhov bridge, the northern shore of Varna lake, and to the north and east of the border hamlet Zvezditsa.
The region „Asparuhovo“ consists of two quarters and five urban forms: Asparuhovo and Galata neighborhoods, Zelenika urban form, Borovets north Rakitnika urban form, and tourism zone „Priboi“ urban form. The district administration is headquartered in the Asparuhovo quarter. 24 000 people reside in the region, which covers an area of around 2.4 square kilometers.
Two hospitals, two banks, two churches, three chapels, two community centers, a tax office, a police station, a fire department, an emergency safety office for social assistance, seven schools, four kindergartens, and two nurseries are located within the area’s boundaries.
This is one of the region’s most vital sectors. It is heavily affected by the fact that the neighborhood’s eastern boundary runs all the way to the huge seas of the Black Sea. Asparuhovo’s environs „are covered with vacation houses, vacation villas, hotels, and restaurants, and travelers have access to a large beach.
Vinitsa
Originally known as Kestrich, Vinitza is now a quarter of the city of Varna. It is 5 kilometers northeast of the city and 2 kilometers from the St. Constantine and Helen resort.
The region is mostly comprised of one- and two-story residences, but has seen an increase in recent years in the number of five- and six-story residential buildings, hotels, and complexes. Numerous pockets of vegetation, solitude, and tranquillity located within a few kilometers from the city’s central business district are the quarter’s primary features.
There is a post office, a secondary school „Panayot Volov“, a kindergarten for children aged 2-6 years No. 24 „Iglika“, an orthodox church, medical centers, a veterinary clinic, pharmacies, gas stations, a town hall, a bank branch, a horse breeding base, as well as numerous hotels and shops located in the quarter.
Nearby are the resorts of St. Constantine and Helen, Euxinograd, Golden Sands, and the city’s villa zone.
The beach at St. Constantine and Helen is the closest.
Zlatni pyasatsi (Golden Sands)
Golden Sands is the biggest resort on the Black Sea’s northern shore (more than 1800 hectares). It is located 13 kilometers north of Varna and 490 kilometers east of Sofia. Kranevo settlement is located north of the resort, while Chaika holiday village is located south. Golden Sands is absorbed by the St. St. Konstantin and Elena Resort and the Riviera Resort. The region is renowned for having the cleanest sand on the Black Sea shore. It was once known as Ouzounkoum – the long sands – in Turkish. The resort is densely forested and, with its various plants and trees, resembles a true park. The mineral water that flows from numerous large pipes onto the beach, as well as the magnificent timber that borders the Frangen Plateau, elevate Golden Sands to the status of one of Bulgaria’s Black Sea coast’s pearls.
Construction began in 1950 and continues until this day. The majority of alleyways are asphalted, while the beach is lined with little streets, pleasant quaint hotels surrounded by lovely gardens, and stairs leading to small bays on both sides of the resort. The steady temperature of about 27°C throughout the season, together with the microclimate of Golden Sands, make it an ideal location for relaxation and recreation.
The transportation between Golden Sands and Varna is well-organized. Apart from the bus lines that link the resort to the city and the airport, a variety of minibuses and private taxis are available. Due to the high level of competition, ticket costs are reasonable.
There is a casino, many pubs, a mini-golf course, horse carriages and beautiful carts, water slides, and excellent facilities and equipment for all types of water sports.
Numerous renowned events take place here, including the Strongest Man Competition, the Miss and Mister „Golden Sands“ Competition, contests for all dog breeds, the Satellite Tennis Tournament, the Old-fashioned Auto Rally, and the International Festival of Standard and Sport Dances.
The Golden Sands Resort is comprised of 61 hotels and ten luxurious villas. Some hotels provide swimming pools and exercise centers, while the majority offer currency exchange services.
Each hotel, as is customary, features a snack bar or restaurant. There are several restaurants with a variety of delicacies and entertainment in a variety of styles. Golden Sands attracts the top artists from the northern Black Sea coast. Vodenitsata (The Water Mill), Tsiganski Tabor (Gypsy Tabor), Kosharite (Sheepfolds), Zlatna Ribka (Golden Fish), Kriva Lipa (Crooked Lime-tree), and Dionisus are all worth visiting for its architecture, entertainment programs, and food. The Indian restaurant, which is run by an Indian chef, is very popular with travelers. There are several snack bars, fast-food restaurants, grill- and toast-bars, and various other establishments that cater to travelers.
Due to the worldwide fame of Golden Sands, the beach resort is quite crowded from May until late September.
Hristo Botev
Hristo Botev is a quarter in Varna’s southern side. It is enclosed by the streets Han Presian, Grigoriy Tzamblak, Krakra, and Todfor Vlaykov, and is separated from Troshevo quarter by the canal Franga Dere.
The residential neighborhood is located around 15-20 minutes on foot from downtown Varna.
It is mostly comprised of single-family homes and brand-new 4-5-story residential structures. The quarter is very green and well-organized in terms of infrastructure.
In the Hristo Botev quarter, there is a Diagnostic-Consultative Center, a Dispensary For Pneumo-Phtysiatric Diseases, Elin Pelin Secondary School, kindergarten No. 8 „Hristo Botev“, kindergarten No. 6 „Palechko“, Hristo Botev Community Center, and Peyo Yavorov Community Center, as well as a post office, numerous pharmacies, shops and cafes, and beauty beauty salons.
Galata
Galata is Varna’s smallest quarter, with a population of 2030 inhabitants (according to census of 2005).
It is placed at the city’s highest point, overlooking the same-named cape. At its foot lies the Varna bay’s natural extension. Due to the weather conditions near the cape, ships often remain on highways before approaching the port.
Galata is one of Varna’s most affluent districts, despite its distance from the city center. It is located in the municipality of Varna’s Asparuhovo district.
It is reached by the Asparuhov Bridge and the scenic road that circles the Varna bay. The area makes advantage of the whole city’s infrastructure and benefits from spectacular vistas and a temperate temperature.
Galata is surrounded by pristine, virgin rocky beaches – Pasha dere and Fichoza – that are ideal for camping, tourism, and small hotels and cottages. The southern resort area of Varna, Borovets, is nearby.
The majority of residential structures in the region are 1-2 story dwellings. Numerous multi-story residential structures, complexes, and hotels have been developed in recent years.
Vasil Levski Primary School, Nayden Gerov Secondary School, a stadium, an orthodox church, a polyclinic, a post office, hotels, gas stations, pharmacies, parking lots, as well as several green spaces and stores are located in the vicinity.
Asparuhovo area, Fichosa beach, and Pasha Dere beach are all nearby.
Vazrazhdane (Revival)
Vazrazhdane is a residential complex located between 90 and 150 meters above sea level on the southern slopes of the Frangensko plateau in the western part of Varna. It was constructed between 1980 and 1993 and consists of four microregions.
Secondary and elementary schools, kindergartens, service stations, petrol stations, cafés, Kaufland hypermarkets, and several supermarkets are all located in this area.
There is high-rise housing, including 16-story apartment towers. Trolley bus lines 83, 88, and buses 14 and 148 connect the complex to the city’s core business district. In the first microregion, luxurious gated residential complexes will be constructed.
Vazrazhdane is bordered by Vladislavovo quarter and separated from Mladost area by boulevard Tsar Osvoboditel.
Overlooking the area lies Teke Karaach, one of the greatest monastery complexes in the Balkans. It was discovered at the turn of the twentieth century by Karel Shkorpil, the father of Bulgarian archaeology.
Comprehensive surveys and excavations started only around 1995 and lasted until 2007, with intermittent breaks.
The complex is unique in terms of its layout and scale, having no parallels in either the Bulgarian or Byzantine architectural traditions.
It was allegedly erected by St. Tsar Boris in the late IX and early X centuries.
Until present, just roughly 5 decares have been cleared and partly examined, or less than half of the land on which the monastery stood.
Population: 40 000.
Pobeda
Pobeda quarter is one of the smallest in Varna. It is bounded by the streets Acad. Andrey Saharov, Todor Radev Penev, and Tzar Osvoboditel.
The quarter is devoid of new residential structures. The majority of the structures are 4-5 stories tall and were constructed in the 1970s. There are also new industrial buildings, such as car washes and service stations, as well as brand new administrative offices.
Regular transportation to the city’s central business district and resorts is provided.
The area’s distinctive feature is the large space between the buildings. There is plenty of green space, playgrounds, and well-kept infrastructure. The neighborhood is tranquil and serene.
There is a kindergarten, a community center, a market for fresh fruits and vegetables, a CBA supermarket, several parking lots, gas stations, pharmacies, stores, cafés, and a bar on the quarter’s area.
There are professional high schools for mechanical engineering and transportation, electrotechnology, a technical high school, a high school for forestry and woodworking, a kindergarten, and a sports complex with a training hall and a stadium located nearby.
The quarter is bounded on the north by a villa zone, a Tehnikumite (Technical High-Schools) zone, and an Industrial Zone.
Zapadna promishlena zona (West Industrial Zone)
The Industrial Zone Varna West (IZVW) is enclosed by the streets Devnya, Vladislav Varnenchik, and Acad. Igor Kurchatov and extends all the way to the Varna Airport.
The region is bounded on the south by a railway and Varna lake, on the west by Varna Airport, on the north by Troshevo sector, and on the east by Varna’s Fruit and Vegetable Grand Market.
Numerous commercial and public, as well as international, firms have representative offices, corporate shops, manufacturing and storage facilities at IZVW.
IZVW is home to a variety of firms, including Varnensko Pivo JSC, Dobrudjanski Hlyab JSC, Watersupply and Sewerage Company PLC, Stroitelna Mechanizatziya Ltd, Melnichen Complex, Glavbolgarstroy, Avtotransport Ltd, VAMO JSC, ROVER, Megachim Color Ltd., and Cherno More JSC.
Parking lots, gas stations, Technopolis hypermarket, Selamore, car-stations, and banks are all located within the neighborhood.
The majority of the structures are industrial in nature – warehouses, manufacturing complexes, business shops, and exhibition halls. Additionally, there are administrative buildings.
The region is well-maintained and quite green.
Nearby are two Piccadilly stores, a Praktiker hypermarket, pharmacies, a Grand Market of Fruit and Vegetables, a Business Park (an administrative complex that houses the offices of numerous Bulgarian and foreign companies and representatives), a medical center, a post office, shops, and petrol stations.
Tourism in Varna
Bulgaria’s third biggest city, after Sofia and Plovdiv, is Varna. Varna, frequently referred to as Bulgaria’s marine (or summer) capital, is a major tourist attraction, commercial and academic hub, seaport, and home to the Bulgarian Navy and merchant marine.
The Varna Archaeological Museum houses the Varna Gold, the Roman Baths, the Battle of Varna Park Museum, the Naval Museum in the Italianate Villa Assareto houses the museum ship Drazki torpedo boat, and the Museum of Ethnography is housed in an Ottoman-period compound and depicts the lives of local urban dwellers, fisherfolk, and peasants in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries.
The ‘Sea Garden’ is the town’s oldest and possibly largest park, with an open-air theatre (which hosts the International Ballet Competition, opera performances, and concerts), the Varna Aquarium (opened in 1932), the Festa Dolphinarium (opened in 1984), the Nicolaus Copernicus Observatory and Planetarium, the Museum of Natural History, a terrarium, a zoo, an alpineum, and a children’s amusement park with a pond The Garden is a national symbol for landscape architecture and the Balkans’ largest groomed park.
Numerous beach clubs line the riverside promenade, providing a vibrant nightlife scene with rock, hip-hop, Bulgarian and American-style pop, techno, and chalga. In October 2006, The Independent dubbed Varna „Europe’s new funky town, Bulgaria’s nightlife capital.“ The city is well-known across the country for its rock, hip-hop, and world music performers, clubs, and related events, including July Morning and international rock and hip-hop (including graffiti) venues.
The city beaches, also known as sea baths (морски ани, morski bani), are dotted with hot sulfuric mineral water sources (used in spas, swimming pools, and public showers) and punctuated by small protected marinas. Additionally, the 2.05 km (1.27 mi) long, 52 m (171 ft) high Asparuhov most bridge is a popular place for bungee jumping. The palace, garden, and vineyard of Euxinograd are situated outside the city, as are the University of Sofia Botanical Garden (Ecopark Varna), the Pobiti Kamani rock formation, and the medieval cave monastery of Aladzha.
The boutique rows along Prince Boris Blvd (with retail rents equal to Vitosha Blvd in Sofia) and surrounding pedestrian streets are popular tourist shopping locations, as is the massive mall and big-box cluster in the Mladost area, which is accessible by vehicle. Piccadilly Park and Central Plaza, two other shopping complexes, are well located to accommodate guests who drive or use public transit to the resorts north of the city center. There are numerous ATMs and 24-hour petrol stations with convenience stores.
Among the food markets are Piccadilly and Burleks supermarkets. Retailers and restaurants often take credit cards. There are many farmers markets selling fresh local produce; the largest, Kolkhozen Pazar, also has a fresh fish market but is located in a congested area that is practically inaccessible by car.
Varna, like other cities in the region, has its share of stray dogs, the majority of them are calm and friendly and have orange clips on their ears showing they have been castrated and vaccinated. On the other side, the ubiquitous seagulls dominate urban fauna, while brown squirrels occupy the Sea Garden. In January and February, migrating swans spend the winter on protected beaches.
Places to see in Varna
Varna is an important center for theatrical and architectural art in the Bulgaria. Additionally, this is one of the most prominent Bulgarian resorts, which has historically attracted visitors from all over the globe.
The Square of Independence denotes the city’s core. There is a sizable pedestrian zone here. There is no public transportation here, and thus nothing disturbs the place’s calm and measured atmosphere. The area is home to two significant cultural institutions – the Varna Dramatic Theatre and the Opera Theatre. Between them is a small market that will undoubtedly be of interest to visitors to this wonderful city. You’ll discover a variety of items here, including handcrafted jewelry, amazing paintings, souvenirs, and wooden items.
Cyril and Methodius are commemorated in the adjacent plaza. Additionally, the Cathedral of the Dormition is situated here. The cathedral was completed around the end of the nineteenth century. Each Sunday, liturgies are held here, with the participation of Bulgaria’s most famous male choir. Without a doubt, the remains of Roman baths are a significant historical site. If you’re looking for solitude, Seaside Park is the place to go. This 80-hectare park is home to the Culture and Sport Palace, the Planetarium, and a zoo that hosts dolphin shows.
Each day, travelers are encouraged to join trips to Varna Lake, where the old basilica’s remains still remain on its beaches. Architectural excavations continue in this area, and visitors to the Archeological Museum of Varna may see the region’s distinctive antiquities, which include a collection of gold and silver products, sculptures, and gravestones.
In Varna, there is an intriguing aquarium that opened in 1912. Today, it resides in a lovely ancient structure whose exterior is nearly entirely covered with ivy throughout the summer season. This aquarium features characteristic creatures of the Black Sea, as well as lakes and rivers found on Bulgarian territory. The trip promises to be both fascinating and educational for both youngsters and adults.
In close proximity to Varna is a unique natural feature known as the Stone forest. As implied by the title, the area’s primary feature is its variety of stone columns. When seeing this magnificent stone landscape, it’s impossible to believe it was built entirely by natural causes. It’s worth noting that the researchers were unable to establish the source of the stones’ emergence. According to some experts, they are petrified trunks of ancient trees, while others say the stones are unique stalagmites over 50 million years old.
Among the noteworthy historical landmarks is the Aladzha Monastery, which is also situated in the vicinity of Varna. The actual date of the monastery’s founding is uncertain. However, the oldest written record of it goes all the way back to the tenth century. The monastery’s primary feature is regarded to be its extraordinarily intricate construction. It is simply impossible to wander over its land, since one is extremely likely to get disoriented in the labyrinth of passageways and hallways. The historic convent is the subject of intriguing stories. According to one of them, the monastery’s walls contain the spirit of a monk who died here. She assists lost passengers in navigating the labyrinth of passageways.
Travelers who like natural attractions should not miss a tour through the Longosa nature reserve. This reserve is located on the Kamchiya River’s banks. During the warm season, tourists may choose from a variety of fascinating boat trips, as well as ride a jeep or stroll along the river’s banks. Guests may see uncommon waterfowl species and observe unusual aquatic flora throughout the excursion. There is a campground inside the reserve, allowing visitors to spend a few days in these gorgeous locations.
Beaches in Varna
On the territory of Varna are some of the most magnificent beaches in Bulgaria – huge golden sand stripes, lush vegetation, pristine water, a range of resorts and attractive regions, as well as leisure zones. Anyone would find their own Paradise here — families with children, youthful thrill seekers, and nature lovers seeking a tranquil and quiet vacation.
It is critical to understand that wild camping, building fires, and erecting tents on beaches are prohibited by Bulgarian legislation and are punishable.
The Varna Black Sea coast offers a diverse selection of vacation options — the 32-kilometer-long shoreline has more than 22 beaches. Several of them have been awarded the „Blue Flag“ — a sign of a pristine and ecological environment.
The Golden Sands and St. Constantine and Helena resorts are two of the most renowned beaches with a calm and warm temperature along the Varna seashore.
For almost a century, the first Bulgarian beach resort „Sts. Constantine and Helena“ has been renowned for its gorgeous sea views and natural beauty. It is the ideal location for year-round seaside enjoyment, a setting for wonderful memories and an amazing vacation. Nowadays, the resort draws visitors with its scenic shoreline, pleasant beaches, and clean air, and endows them with health and beauty via the resort’s sea power and natural mineral springs.
Golden Sands is located 16 kilometers north of the coastal capital Varna, amid the cool freshness of the Golden Sands National Park woodland in close proximity to the beach. The resort’s name, Golden Sands, speaks for itself. According to folklore, Black Sea pirates hid a vast gold treasure on the beach where today’s resort is located. However, the sea exacted vengeance on the criminals by transforming the jewelry and riches into beautiful golden sand.
Are you interested in seeing a romantic sunrise or sunset on the beach? Do you want to go fishing or do you want to go as near to the beach as possible by car? Whether it’s relaxing, swimming, strolling, kite flying, or sand castle building, Varna’s most stunning beaches provide something for everyone.
Family holidays in Varna
Aquapolis is one of the city’s most popular amusement destinations. It encompasses a huge area and provides guests with an unmatched selection of activities. There are enormous swimming pools with intricately colored slides and pools designed specifically for children. The water park is exquisitely furnished, with several intriguing creative designs and buildings that complement the activities. The water park’s primary décor are live plants and large trees. On a hot day, finding the perfect area to unwind will be tough.
The city also includes a lovely Dolphinarium, which the whole family will enjoy visiting. Each day, fascinating presentations include trained dolphins that expertly leap over hoops and play with colorful balls. At certain seasons of the year, visitors to the facility may swim with dolphins in the pool, and those who are unable to swim are provided a trip on an inflatable boat. Young visitors are promised a plethora of impressions during their visit to the Dolphinarium.
The Zoo Varna is equally fascinating. Here, visitors may see creatures from all across the globe. There are bears, tigers, amusing monkeys, and several unique birds among them. Visitors are invited to pet and feed some of the animals. Children will undoubtedly like little kangaroos and goats who are completely unafraid of humans and eagerly accept food from their hands. This zoo is situated inside the Primorski Garden, which continues to be a popular destination for visitors with children.
The seashore garden is very lovely. It is concealed behind an abundance of foliage, which conceals several intriguing locations. There are several lovely fountains and sculptures in this area. Summer cafés and kid-friendly entertainment are always put up in the park throughout the warm season. Additionally, there are playgrounds that guests may use for free. In the summer, children will be able to ride inflatable boats around the park’s lake and feed the birds. While the expansive garden will be a perfect location for winter entertainment in the winter.
There is another location on the University of Varna’s campus that is certain to appeal to nature enthusiasts. This area is known as the Ecopark. This is an exquisite botanical garden that is well worth a visit with children. The opulent park was turned into a family leisure facility years ago. One may stroll leisurely through the exotic plants and flowers, or hire one of the specially furnished places and organize an outdoor pleasure day complete with BBQ. Excursions are offered in the botanical garden to educate tourists about the unusual flora and insects that have made the vast park their home. The park has classic children’s playgrounds as well as many sports fields.
If you want to visit Varna during the summer, it’s worth checking out the Barite Complex entertainment area. It has a strong resemblance to the original open-air ethnographic museum. Summer brings an abundance of attractive holidays and activities for guests. Children will get the opportunity to play on well-maintained grounds, attend informative seminars, and participate in team activities. This unique entertainment facility hosts programs for children of all ages as well as adults.
When is the Best Time to Visit Varna?
Varna is one of the most popular tourist sites in Bulgaria. While the city has a population of little over 335,000, its gorgeous Black Sea beaches attract over a million visitors throughout the summer, lured by the sunny weather and lively nightlife.
Spent a great day strolling around the streets, seeing the Roman Baths, strolling through the sprawling central park, and just relaxing on the beach. At night, the bars and restaurants are packed with tourists and residents enjoying their summer vacations.
While it is not an off-the-beaten-path place, it is enjoyable and well worth a brief visit. If you only have time to visit one Bulgarian coastal town, make it Varna.
Sights & Landmarks In Varna
Varna offers a diverse selection of one-of-a-kind historical landmarks. A significant portion of the city’s attractions date all the way back to ancient times. The Roman baths, situated in the city’s southeast section, are a notable example. This is the country’s largest ancient structure. The baths cover an area of about 7 square kilometers. Ancient columns, arches, and stairway facilities, as well as expert mosaics and gigantic stone blocks, are among the remnants of the large-scale architecture that have survived to the present day. It should be emphasized that scientists are still unsure about the purpose and function of some premises.
Additionally, some magnificent attractions are located around Independence Square. The remaining portion of the fortification wall that encompassed the city during the rule of the Roman Empire is found here. Nearby are the Round Tower and the beautiful Opera House. The tower was constructed in the early Middle Ages and was a critical component of the city’s defences. A person on duty in the tower was the first to alert city residents to the approach of a hazard. Round Tower has persisted in its original shape until the present day.
The Bridge of Wishes is an evocative and intriguing sight. This establishment is very popular among couples. While walking over the bridge, you should consider your most treasured desire; it will almost probably come true. The Cathedral of the Assumption of the Virgin is a magnificent religious structure. The cathedral’s construction began in 1880 and lasted six years. Notable fact: the cathedral was constructed by inmates from the nearby penitentiary. Thousands of pilgrims visit the church each year to venerate the church’s valuable holy relics. St. Anastasia Church, erected in the nineteenth century, is a later-period ecclesiastical structure. The church is distinguished by its unusual construction and opulent interior decorating. The church’s halls are adorned with stunning paintings, icons, and mosaics, but the altar set here is a piece of art in its own right.
Varna Archaeological Museum is unquestionably one of the city’s cultural institutions worth seeing. The museum’s display space is comprised of 32 halls. You’ll be able to see precious historical relics as well as discoveries from the Middle Ages and Renaissance periods. The museum’s most precious item is a collection of antique jewelry. The collection was discovered during excavations on the city’s outskirts. Visitors are taken aback by the splendour of gold jewelry and cutlery.
In the neighborhood of Varna, there is a really pleasant location that happens to be a genuine hamlet (Antique Village). It provides an excellent chance for visitors to get familiar with the way of life of ancient natives. Here, you may fire a bow, ride a horse, or a chariot, and, of course, see how the ancient inhabitants lived. Additionally, there is a museum on the property, which has sculptures, works of art, and interactive displays. Along with the historic town, there is a Stone Age habitation here (Neolithic settlement). This kind of entertainment is especially appealing to the younger tourists — they enjoy their time here tremendously.
Bulgaria is renowned for its „mysticism,“ and several stories surround Varna, the country’s biggest city. One of them is connected to a location known as Pobiti Kamani (Stone Forest). It is believed that the location has a very strong energy, which attracted mystic lovers – it is believed that if a person touches the stone, their dreams will surely come true, and as a result, hundreds of tourists visit the site to participate in the ritual – and then, hopefully, their dreams will come true. The location is a cluster of stone columns ranging in height from 5-7 meters that formed for unexplained causes. The explanation for this is thought to be the buildup of corals and algae, yet the stones remained when the sea dried up.
There are also some intriguing attractions in Varna among the religious structures. For instance, Aladja’s „Holy Trinity“ monastery fascinates visitors with its distinctive ambiance. Here, you can smell the gentle air of history as it sweeps over your whole body. In front of the monastery is a lovely park, which adds to the acquisition of tranquility. The religious monument is multi-leveled. Additionally, strong energy radiates from the location — or so it is said. Nature has blessed Varna with beauty, as shown by the existence of a location named Wonderful Rock. The point is, the rocks here are absolutely unique in form. Additionally, this location provides great views of the river and the surrounding region of the city.
In „Primorski Park,“ a stunning sculpture may be seen. It is about the composition of the „Pantheon.“ The monument, designed by architects Lyubomir Dapchev and Peter Kutsarov in 1595, is dedicated to those who perished in world wars. Additionally, the park has monuments to notable individuals – Yuri Gagarin, for example – as well as memorials to those lost during World War II. Along with the sculptural compositions, the park has a playground, cafés, an oceanarium, museums, a zoo, an art gallery, and stores – as you can see, you could easily spend a whole day in the park and never tire of it. This location is really global.
City landmarks
Among the city’s landmarks are the Varna Archaeological Museum, which houses the Varna Gold, the Roman Baths, the Battle of Varna Park Museum, the Naval Museum in the Italianate Villa Assareto, which houses the museum ship Drazki torpedo boat, and the Museum of Ethnography, which is housed in an Ottoman-period compound and depicts the lives of local urban dwellers, fisherfolk, and peasants in the
You may visit the city’s highlights with the Varna City Card — it unites all key cultural attractions, offers several discounts to visitors in restaurants and pubs, and saves money in general.
The ‘Sea Garden’ is the town’s oldest and possibly largest park, featuring an open-air theatre (which hosts the International Ballet Competition, opera performances, and concerts), the Varna Aquarium (opened in 1932), the Festa Dolphinarium (opened in 1984), the Nicolaus Copernicus Observatory and Planetarium, the Museum of Natural History, a terrarium, a zoo, an alpineum, and a children’s amusement park with a pond The National Revival Alley has bronze statues to notable Bulgarians, while the Cosmonauts’ Alley features trees planted by Yuri Gagarin and other Soviet and Bulgarian cosmonauts. The Garden has been designated a national monument of landscape architecture and is claimed to be the Balkans’ biggest manicured park.
A number of beach clubs surround the waterfront promenade, providing a bustling scene of rock, hip-hop, Bulgarian and American-style pop, techno, and chalga. Varna was branded „Europe’s new funky town, the Bulgarian capital of good times“ by The Independent in October 2006. The city is well-known across the country for its rock, hip-hop, world music, and other musicians, clubs, and associated events, including July Morning and worldwide rock and hip-hop (including graffiti) venues.
The city beaches, also known as sea baths (морски ани, morski bani), are punctuated by tiny protected marinas and sprinkled with hot (up to 55°C/131°F) sulfuric mineral water sources (used for spas, swimming pools, and public showers). Additionally, bungee jumping is popular at the 2.05 km (1.27 mi) long, 52 m (171 ft) high Asparuhov most bridge. The Euxinograd mansion, park, and vineyard are located outside the city, as is the University of Sofia Botanical Garden (Ecopark Varna), the Pobiti Kamani rock formation, and the medieval cave monastery of Aladzha.
Tourist shopping destinations include the boutique rows along Prince Boris Blvd (with retail rents comparable to those on Sofia’s Vitosha Blvd) and nearby pedestrian streets, as well as the enormous mall and big-box cluster in the Mladost neighborhood, which is accessible by car. Two more retail malls, Piccadilly Park and Central Plaza, are perfectly positioned to accommodate visitors staying in resorts north of the city centre, both by car and public transportation. There are several ATMs and 24-hour fueling stations with convenience shops.
Among the food markets are the supermarket companies Billa, Kaufland, and Metro. Credit cards are often accepted in retailers and restaurants. There are many farmers markets selling fresh local products; the biggest, the Kolkhozen Pazar, also features a fresh fish market but is situated in a densely populated region that is nearly unreachable by automobile.
As with other cities in the area, Varna has its share of stray dogs that are calm and friendly and have flashing orange clips on their ears indicating they have been castrated and vaccinated. However, seagulls dominate urban wildlife, while brown squirrels occupy the Sea Garden. Cats are also prevalent across the city. Migrating swans winter on protected beaches in January and February.
Churches in Varna
Notable old Bulgarian Orthodox temples include the metropolitan Dormition of the Theotokos Cathedral (of the diocese of Varna and Veliki Preslav); the early-17th-century Theotokos Panagia (built on the site of an earlier church where Ladislaus III may have been buried); the St. Athanasius (former Greek metropolitan cathedral) on the site of a demolished tenth-century church; the 15th-century St. Petka
The ruins of a magnificent 4th–5th-century fortress basilica in Dzhanavara Park, just south of town, are attracting tourists due to the presence of some superb mosaics. Another enormous 9th-century basilica close to Boris I’s Theotokos Panagia monastery is being unearthed and protected. A fourth- to fifth-century episcopal basilica is currently being renovated north of the Thermae. Additionally, there are a number of newer Orthodox temples; two are now under construction, one devoted to apostle Andrew and the other to local martyr St. Procopius of Varna. Numerous minor Orthodox chapels have sprung up around the region. Vasil Danev, the chairman of the ethnic Organization of the United Roma Communities (FORO), said in early 2009 that local Roma will also build an Orthodox chapel.
There is an Armenian Apostolic church; two Roman Catholic churches; a flourishing Evangelical Methodist episcopal church presenting organ concerts; and busy Pentecostal, Seventh-day Adventist, and two Baptist churches.
Two historic mosques (one of which is accessible) have remained from Ottoman times, as have two previously magnificent but now decaying synagogues, one Sephardic and one Ashkenazic, the latter in Gothic style (it is undergoing restoration). In the southern Asparuhovo area, a new mosque was been erected to serve the surrounding Muslim Roma neighborhood.
Additionally, there is a Buddhist center.
On a related note, spiritual teacher Peter Deunov began teaching his Esoteric Christianity theory in Varna in the late 1890s, and the annual Synarchic Chain meetings, afterwards known as the Universal White Brotherhood, were held there between 1899 and 1908.
Architecture in Varna
By 1878, Varna had developed into an Ottoman city of primarily wooden homes in the Black Sea coast style, closely packed along narrow, twisting streets. It was encircled by a stone wall renovated in the 1830s, which included a citadel, a moat, ornamental iron gates flanked by towers, and a vaulted stone bridge over the River Varna. The area was densely forested with pre-Ottoman remains, and old ruins were often utilised as stone quarries.
Today, little of this heritage exists; the city center was rebuilt in the late nineteenth and early twentieth century by the burgeoning Bulgarian middle class in Western style, including local interpretations of Neo-Renaissance, Neo-Baroque, Neoclassicism, Art Nouveau, and Art Deco (many of those buildings, whose ownership was restored after 1989, underwent renovations).
The cathedral, two top high schools, and new boulevards were all built using stone masonry from the city walls. The middle class constructed functional townhouses and cooperative structures. On major boulevards and in the vineyards north of town, elegant houses were constructed. A few industrial working-class suburbs formed (comprised of one-family dwellings with modest green yards). Refugees from the wars of the 1910s also lived in similar impoverished but active areas on the outskirts of the city.
During the 1960s and early 1980s, when the city population quadrupled, big apartment complexes expanded across ground formerly occupied by tiny private vineyards or agricultural cooperatives. Beach resorts were mostly created in a sleek contemporary style, which has been partially lost in their more opulent makeovers in recent years. Among the 1960s’ modern marvels is the 1968-built Palace of Culture and Sports.
Since 1989, when the nation reverted to capitalism, elegant apartment complexes have sprung uptown and on terraces overlooking the sea and lake. Varna’s vineyards (лo, lozya), which date all the way back to antiquity and stretch for miles in all directions, began to transform from mostly rural grounds dotted with summer houses or villas into affluent suburbs dotted with opulent villas and family hotels, epitomized by the Villa Aqua’s researched postmodernist kitsch.
Due to the fact that suburban development has outpaced infrastructural expansion, old landslides have been reactivated, causing temporary closures of important routes. Varna has developed a reputation for traffic bottlenecks as the number of cars doubled since 1989; parking in the lush but narrow streets of the old town often takes up the sidewalks. Simultaneously, because to the complexity of local politics, areas of shanty towns more akin to Rio de Janeiro continue to exist in Romani communities on the western outskirts of town.
The beach resorts were renovated and enlarged, thankfully without becoming as overdeveloped as other tourist spots on Bulgaria’s Black Sea Coast, and its vegetation was mostly protected. New contemporary office buildings began changing the city’s historic core and environs.
Things To Do In Varna
Varna is an ideal location for active relaxation. Seaside Park, which is situated along the shore, is a popular spot for both residents and visitors to enjoy a lovely activity. Long tree-lined pathways, gardens with warm gazebos and seats, fragrant flower beds and exotic plants — here is a veritable haven of tranquillity and harmony. Additionally, the park is home to various museums, a dolphinarium, and a zoo.
Nature lovers should not miss a visit to the neighborhood terrarium, which has species from all around the globe. The terrarium opened quite recently, in 1998. Each year, it attracts an increasing number of travelers. Aquarium is housed in a stunning early twentieth-century historic structure. This is an excellent method to meet the locals of the Black Sea. The aquarium maintains a pleasant environment that mimics that of a natural ecosystem. This adds another dimension of fascination to a stroll around the aquarium’s hallways.
Families with children will undoubtedly appreciate their visit to the neighborhood dolphinarium. Every day, fantastic exhibitions featuring the most intriguing and friendliest creatures take place here. Along with dolphins, tourists may see killer whales and sea lions, both of which never fail to astound visitors with their abilities.
Kayaking is another popular sport among visitors and locals alike. To test it out, feel free to contact Bulteam Adventures. Parasailing (represented by Infinity Wake Park and Wake Park Varna) and black sea cruises (represented by Fantasy Boat Trip and Princess Boat) are equally popular water sports. To get a taste of scuba diving in Varna, check out Baracuda Dive Center and Black Sea Scuba. Of course, we cannot forget about sunbathing and swimming in the Black Sea, which attracts travelers to Bulgaria’s vacation city.
Parachuting is an option for individuals who enjoy more „serious“ outdoor sports that seem to offer an adrenaline rush to every area of the body. The city has established Club Adrenalin for this reason. Another location where you may get an adequate dosage of excessive hormone (perhaps even an overdose!) is the Varna Karting Track. Another way to get the adrenaline pumping is via escape missions, and there is no need to lament their absence. The greatest facilities of this kind are regarded to be Escape House, Logic Room, ExitGames, and The Escape. And jumping onboard a pirate ship – doesn’t that seem exciting? And to make your fantasy a reality, the city is home to the Pinta Varna Ship, where you can snap a photo with Captain Jack Sparrow.
The simplest way to view the sights and admire attractive areas is to hire a mode of transport, particularly when it is not only convenient but also beneficial to one’s health. The most common mode of travel in Varna is a bicycle, which you can hire at Plateau Cycling. Safaris are also popular, and trips such as Jeep Safari are popular with both visitors and locals.
If you like swimming during your vacations, the city has facilities such as the „Mladost Center“ and the „Pluven Primorski Center“ – all of which are excellent locations to fulfill your desire. There is some good news for those who like to go ice skating: they may do so at the „Mladost“ Ice-Skating Center. Sports fans will find enough to do in Varna – just visit the local stadiums – „Varna“, „Spartak“, and „Mladost“.
Varna offers a wealth of children’s amusement. This may include a visit to Varna Aquarium, which has an impressive variety of fish, painting courses at Arte Class Varna, exploring Festa Delphinarium, which is home to a large number of beautiful creatures, or seeing tigers and monkeys at Varna Zoo. Additionally, large families will enjoy Horse Club Kichevo, which allows all members to ride gorgeous horses. Children find great delight at Lego City Center, a location where they can spend their days building their favorite construction toys. Children of a younger age, between the ages of two and six, will undoubtedly like facilities such as Capella Play, Kids Play Children’s Center, and Kids Play.
Those who seek to receive their thrills from enigmatic and magical settings may feel quite at home in Varna. The Stone Forest is one of these locations. Locals think that this is a site of power, and that if you reach the forest’s edge, you will have good fortune for the rest of your life. The magical location’s origins are hidden in several stories that make the blood run cold. Although people never cease to inform them, experts are still unsure if this structure is natural or man-made.
There are several excellent museums in Varna that are well worth seeing for culture and art aficionados. Near the Bulgarian resort is a magnificent ancient site called Ancient Village, which is situated in Neofit Rilski. Additionally, Phanagoria Ethnographical Village is located in Asparuhov Park. These villages, like the Archaeological Museum, the Retro Museum, the Naval Museum, and the Ethnographic Museum, are a must-see for visitors. Individuals seeking to see outstanding examples of modern art may do so at galleries such as Le Papillon, INHOM, and Graffit.
Food & Restaurants In Varna
Varna can undoubtedly boast the city’s largest selection of culinary establishments, restaurants, and cafés. Simply said, any gourmet will easily find a restaurant here that will satisfy his or her palate. Godzila is without a doubt one of the city’s top eateries. The restaurant’s cuisine is built on inventive salads and delicate pizzas. During the warmer months, the restaurant’s tables are arranged on the lovely terrace, while in the winter, guests may relax within a snug hall with an equally intriguing design.
Mr Baba restaurant is an out-of-the-ordinary institution. It is conveniently placed near South Beach. The restaurant is housed inside a magnificent ship. As you may assume, Mr Baba specializes on fish cuisine. Visitors are invited to relax in the ship’s luxurious staterooms, and the ship’s deck is an ideal location for festivities. Fans of Indian food restaurants should not miss Tandori, which stands out not only for its excellent menu, but also for its superior service. A portion of the restaurant’s seating is located in a lovely summer garden. Indian Tandori has every right to be named Varna’s most romantic eating establishment.
The elegant Le Baron restaurant opened towards the end of 2008. The restaurant has since earned the hearts of thousands of gourmets. The restaurant’s menu is based on Italian cuisine. Additionally, guests will be pleased by a vast selection of several distinctive culinary creations. The restaurant’s menu has over forty distinct salads. Pizza and spaghetti served here according to a specific recipe are unquestionably deserving of the greatest acclaim. When it comes to interior design, we simply cannot overlook the importance of a unique and really unique approach. The hall is furnished in a contemporary manner. Its pleasant ambience makes it the ideal spot to unwind.
London Pub Taifun is an excellent spot to unwind with a large group. The pub’s design is evocative of a historic British institution that is well-known and revered among beer enthusiasts. Along with an extensive selection of beverages and creative cocktails, the pub’s menu features a variety of nibbles and delicacies. You may have baked fish, fried potatoes, and a variety of salads here. Guests are often smitten with the pub’s distinctive food. Visitors at London Pub Taifun are invited to sit on the open veranda throughout the summer. Additionally, the expansive hall of this great pub is available to accommodate a big group of people.
Beer enthusiasts cannot afford to miss a visit to Viking, a beer restaurant. Several hundred kinds of beer, the finest vintage wines, as well as an extensive menu of delights and meat specialities – the restaurant offers everything you need for a restful night’s sleep after a hectic day of touring. Regardless of the restaurant’s specifications, Viking is an excellent option for travelers with families. Small restaurant patrons will almost certainly be served a different menu. Additionally, the restaurant has a separate children’s area.
Varna’s regional cuisine is mainly influenced by seasonal vegetables. Dairy products, on the other hand, are quite popular in the area. Without a doubt, regional cuisine restaurants are always prepared to provide their visitors delectable and substantial meat meals. Numerous national meals are customarily consumed in Varna at certain times of the year. Tarator and Snezhanka, for example, are classic summer delicacies. These are both popular chilled soups and salads made with the same primary ingredient — natural yogurt. Additionally, Tarator and Snezhanka may include a variety of seasonal vegetables and greens. By the way, each restaurant in the city often serves these classic meals according to its unique recipe.
Bob chorba is a well-known cold-weather meal. This is a hearty bean soup that has some resemblance to typical Vienna goulash. Bob chorba may include a variety of various varieties of beans. The finished dish’s flavor might vary substantially depending on the selection. Meat is a necessary component of this soup. Local cafés and restaurants may customize the famous soup with a variety of meats. Typically, meatballs and handmade sausage are the most popular variations. There are more inventive varieties of Bob chorba available, including bacon and smoked pork.
Restaurants in Varna that specialize in regional cuisine provide a wide variety of fascinating snacks and appetizers made mostly with seasonal vegetables and other items. Consider Sarma, an intriguing snack made out of grape leaves filled with a variety of ingredients. Sarma is a highly versatile cuisine that may be light or filling, vegetarian or meat-based. Several restaurants substitute young cabbage leaves for grape leaves.
Meat lovers will not be disappointed at Varna’s restaurants. Local restaurants provide a variety of unique oven-cooked meat meals. Meat is often roasted in a unique clay pot. Slow cooking meat in the oven is a traditional method of preparing meat in the area. Guvec is a traditional Varna meat dish. It is a stew made with beef, potatoes, tomatoes, sweet peppers, and other vegetables. Guvec is often made using lamb meat. To ensure the meat is as tender and juicy as possible, it is slow roasted for many hours in the oven. Pattycakes constructed with flaky pastry are one of the region’s most popular treats. They may be sweet or sour.
Shopping In Varna
Varna residents have access to three outstanding retail malls, the best of which is Mall Varna, which is suitable for a family visit. It is home to hundreds of men’s and women’s apparel boutiques, specialty shops selling children’s items, brand cosmetics, and perfumeries. You may not only shop but also have fun. A contemporary theater, a casino, an ice rink, an exceptional bowling facility, and a children’s club are all available. There are about 10 eateries and cafés inside the center’s borders.
Many tourists are directed to the Grand Mall commercial complex in quest of new garments, which is renowned for its outstanding sports stores and unique pavilions filled with cosmetics. Women may get high-quality soap, handcrafted cream, and upscale cosmetics at this location. On the bottom level, the city’s biggest Carrefour supermarket is situated.
Mall Varna Towers has long been a popular tourist destination. It is housed in two towers next to one another and contains the world’s most popular brands. There are several pavilions devoted to youngsters and unique designer boutiques. There is one of the city’s most romantic restaurants situated there. It has a revolving hall and is positioned on one of the skyscraper’s last levels.
Numerous unique stores may be located on Varna’s downtown streets. Ladies will appreciate a visit to the Triumph shop, which specializes in the sale of superior underwear. Customers may always choose from a selection of corsets, unique modeling undergarments, and stylish leisure clothing. This well-known establishment will delight guests with its high-quality merchandise and inexpensive costs.
Experienced travellers seek for boutiques that sell Bulgarian-made clothing and footwear. Drin street is home to an exceptional REAL footwear shop, where customers may acquire high-quality shoes at cheap costs. The business often announces discounts, which adds to the enjoyment of shopping. Almost all of the footwear exhibited is made of real leather, and they also provide superb orthopedic footwear.
The New Yorker, situated on Independence Square, is a popular hangout spot for young people. Everyone can discover attractive clothing and accessories in this four-story boutique. They conduct major sales many times a year.
Ladies in Varna will be interested in visiting one of the Rose of Bulgaria brand boutiques. These boutiques serve exquisite Bulgarian cosmetics and fragrances. Brand shops may be found in all major shopping areas and even on the city’s main streets. A substantial portion of the cosmetics featured are based on Bulgarian rose oil. Cosmetics are quite popular and are reasonably priced.
The city is home to a slew of odd specialized stores. Averi Beers is a popular shop for those who want a frothy beverage. It offers popular beers imported from throughout the globe. Even seasoned professionals might get disoriented by the breadth of its offerings. The proprietors are always willing to assist their consumers. They’ll educate you on a variety of beverages and assist you in selecting the ideal one. Additionally, a variety of fantastic accessories and souvenirs are available there.
Festivals & Events In Varna
National events
Local events
Nightlife in Varna
Nightlife enthusiasts will have an excellent chance to appreciate the virtues of different clubs and discos. EXIT is Varna’s most renowned nightclub. The facility has developed a reputation for hosting entertaining music programs, performances by prominent disc jockeys, and a variety of other events. The club is situated outside of the city core and is constructed directly on a stunning beach. The club’s cultural program also includes some very „naughty“ theme events, ensuring that the club will appeal to a varied audience.
Ultra Club is renowned for its carefully curated music program, elegant interior design, and extensive beverage choices at the club’s bar. Music enthusiasts will enjoy modern music in a variety of progressive genres, connoisseurs of exotic drinks will have a fantastic time at the bar, and those seeking a hidden and calm environment will appreciate the lovely and cozy hall with soft furnishings. Fans of techno-style dancing and music will undoubtedly like club Comics. The music here continues till the early hours of the morning. Visitors will find a large colorful dance floor and a comfortable bar where they can unwind from the music and eat delectable specialty appetizers.
Stay Safe & Healthy In Varna
Varna is a relatively secure city in general, yet care should be used while dealing with the mafia. Numerous examples of visitors being beaten by the mafia for inappropriate conduct have been documented, including the horrific beating of an Icelandic adolescent girl in the summer of 2007. Avoid giving anybody who may be driving a black sports vehicle and wearing a suit and spectacles a poor impression. Common sense, decency, and respect are always the best course of action.
Avoid anybody giving money change on the street; they are all con artists. They are often placed in the vicinity of the Cathedral (kozirkata), which is also a frequent target for pickpockets, so exercise caution.
If you are driving a car, be cautious where you stop because if you breach parking limits, the authorities may take your vehicle and you will be required to pay a penalty cost, in addition to losing valuable time.
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