Varna city

Varna is like an amphitheater and follows the curves of Varna Bay. The city is surrounded by lots of vineyards, gardens and deciduous groves. The territory around it is occupied with holiday villas, country-houses and their small farms, hotels, restaurants and many places of interest. The city of Varna is a regional administrative centre.

The city is famous holiday destination all the year around. There are numerous balneotherapy facilities, which beyond the high season can help you relax and enjoy the many sights and sounds in peace. The holiday season starts from July until August and the sunshine will allow you 10 to 11 hours of sunbathing. The Black sea is very calm and free of dangerous tides.

Not only is the city a famous holiday resort, but it rivals the other major cities in Bulgaria: Sofia and Plovdiv by offering many cultural attractions, museums, historical places and buildings, art galleries etc.

The city provides also access to a variety of scenic spots along the coast including the hillside monastery of Aladzha, the nature reserve of Kamchiya, the royal palace of Balchik and botanical garden.

How to reach Varna

The fastest and easiest way reach to Varna is by airplane. Varna International airport welcomes passengers all through the year with destinations to all majour European cities, Asia and Middle East. The railway station could be your choice if you want to reach any town in Bulgaria on a very low price. Bulgaria has a very well developed railway network connecting every small village with the big cities. If you prefer buss transport, there are many international and Bulgarian companies with regular bus lines between major European cities and Varna. The trip is much faster and more comfortable than by train. The water transport is very well developed and regular as well.  

Places of interest:

The city of Varna is a majour cultural centre. There is an opera, theatre, four universities, radio and TV centre. The Palace of the Sport hosts different contests and competitions every year. The building of the first Bulgarian school built in 1861 in Varna houses the Museum of National Renaissance. Weapons, documents, old books and photos, illustrating the fight for national and cultural independence, are exhibited there. The Archeological Museum exhibits items dating from prehistoric times- Greek, Thracian, Roman. The unique golden treasure of Varna is dating back 6000 years ago, which is the oldest gold all over the world and is worth seeing even once.

The Naval Museum is located in the Varna Sea garden. Here the history of the Bulgarian Navy is represented from the middle Ages until now. Many different photos, weapons and ships are exhibited. The museum of Natural science exhibits special species of the flora and fauna in Bulgaria Unique in the Balkan Peninsula the Museum of Medicine exhibits medical instruments and clothes. A very interesting place to see in Varna is the roman thermal springs, located in the city centre. These are large ruins of Roman baths from the empire of Antonii Pii ( II century). In close proximity is the chirch St. Atanasi with unique mural paintings, icons and wood-carving altar.  

The Cathedral temple “The Assumption” is considered to be the symbol of Varna and one of the most magnificent buildings in the city. It rises at the very centre of the city across from the Theatre alley. The name of the temple “The Assumption of the Holy Mother” was chosen as a tribute to the Russian empress Maria Alexandrovna - aunt of the prince and Bulgarian benefactress. The Cathedral was built in 1866 and its architecture is similar to one of the churches in Saint Petersbourg. There are unique stained glass windows and icon-paintings.
Behind the Cathedral there is the Dramatic theatre - another landmark of the city, built about a century ago after the Viennese model. Just in front of the theatre is the famous fountain in Varna, which is a common meeting place for the people living in the city and the tourists. There is also a Muppet theatre where the festival "Golden dolphin” takes place every year.

There are many other festivals taking place like: choir festival, international festival for orchestras, international theatre fetes, playing classics music and others. The most famous is the international cinema festival hosted in the Varna Festival complex, situated next to the Sea garden. On the promenade there is a Dolphin hall (dolphinarium) one of the most remarkable tourist attractions of Varna. It is a favorite spot for both local people and tourists.

Another place of interest in the Sea garden is the Museum of the Black Sea and Aquarium. There are numerous exhibits displaying typical features of the flora and fauna in the Black Sea. A variety of fish species are put into an environment similar to their natural habitat, representing the variety of the sea fauna. The first facility of its kind in Bulgaria is the Astronomical Observatory and Planetarium (star hall).

The outskirts of the city are favorite places for strolls and picnics – the district of Asparuhovo and the place called Dzanavara, the district of Vinitsa with forests around it and the district of Galata with a high cape above the sea.