Popular Cities Varna
The idyllic port city of Varna lies on the Black Sea and invites you to enjoy a wonderful holiday in Bulgaria. Relax on the beautiful sandy beach or explore the city in the footsteps of the past. In Varna, too, you will discover many remnants of the Romans. A visit to the Roman baths is definitely a must! This place is perfect for a family holiday or a solo trip full of new adventures.
Landmark in the city center: Cathedral “Dormition of the Holy Mother”
History you can touch: The Archaeological Museum
Mysterious place: The Aladzha Monastery
Roman cultural heritage: Roman Baths
Coastal walk: The Sea Garden
Sunset panorama: Galata – a wonderful viewpoint
Sights in the City
Varna offers you a wide range of highlights worth seeing. You definitely won’t be bored in this city! Explore the city’s history and visit the Archaeological Museum or the Roman Baths. The Petrified Forest should also be on your list—a true natural phenomenon.
Cathedral “Dormition of the Holy Mother”
This cathedral is one of Varna’s landmarks and is located in the city center of Varna, more precisely on the square “HI. Kyrill and Method”. The cathedral was built in 1886 by the Russians as a result of Bulgaria’s liberation from the Ottomans. To this day, the cathedral is home to the Diocese of Varna and Preslav.
The cathedral is known as the largest church in Varna and is considered the third-largest church in all of Bulgaria. It is especially popular with tourists as a photo motif or as an image on the city’s many postcards. The cathedral impresses with its size and its gleaming copper domes, which fascinate travelers. But the cathedral is not only a true gem from the outside—inside, beautiful wall paintings and impressive woodwork adorn the building.
The Archaeological Museum
The impressive Archaeological Museum in Varna was founded in 1887 by the brothers Karel and Hermann Skorpil and is located in a former girls’ high school (1892–1898). Today, the museum presents a considerable collection of objects from the passage of time. Discover exhibits from prehistoric, Thracian, ancient Greek, and ancient Roman times, as well as remnants from the medieval Bulgarian and Byzantine Empires. Also worth seeing are items from the period of Ottoman rule and the Bulgarian National Revival—all of which relate to your travel destination.
In addition, the museum includes a repository, a substantial library, and an interesting school museum for children. In this school museum, children can discover representations of homes from different historical contexts. You can also find various tools from past eras. Particularly interesting: all tool exhibits are replicas of the originals and can therefore be touched by children as well. But what is the museum’s outstanding highlight? Without a doubt, the oldest gold treasure in the world, whose origin could be dated back to 4600–4200 BC.
The Aladzha Monastery
Another fascinating place in the city is the Aladzha Monastery, considered the best-known medieval rock monastery in Bulgaria and sure to catch your eye. To this day, little is known about this cave monastery. It is therefore not surprising that, due to its mysterious past, the monastery is perceived as a very enigmatic place. Adding to the mystique are numerous legends that speak of ghostly figures. The monastery’s name also raises questions, as “Aladzha” comes from Persian and roughly means “colorful” or “mixed up”. This still not fully solved mystery is definitely worth a visit!
Roman Baths
The Roman thermal baths are considered a cultural monument of the city of Varna and were public baths in Roman times in the historic center. To this day, you can see remnants of these thermal baths and almost imagine how vibrant life once was in the former city of Odessos. In Roman times, thermal baths were a symbol of rich social and cultural life.
But what makes these Roman baths so special? We can tell you! The public bath complex of Odessos is among the best-preserved architectural monuments from the Roman era in Bulgaria. This allows you to truly immerse yourself in that time. In total, the various sections of the bath complex in Varna cover 7,000 m2, making it the largest bath complex in Bulgaria and the fourth-largest Roman bath complex in Europe. In addition to the large bath complex in the center of Varna, you can discover further remnants of baths in the southeast of Varna.
The Sea Garden
Would you like to visit more museums in the city, but don’t know which ones are especially worth seeing? Then you should orient yourself around the Sea Garden. The Sea Garden consists of colorful flowerbeds with a wide variety of plants, starts at the port of Varna, and stretches for several kilometers along the beautiful Black Sea coast. But walking along the Sea Garden is not only a wonderful experience in itself—this is also where Varna’s interesting museums are located. Visit museums such as the Natural History Museum, the Naval Museum, the Varna Planetarium, the zoo, or the terrarium.
If you’d like to take a break after a pleasant walk and between visiting different museums, the various cafés and restaurants along the Sea Garden are perfect for a little time out.
Galata: A Wonderful Viewpoint
If you’d like to get an overview of the size of the city or watch the building lights sparkle at sunset, this viewing platform offers a wonderful opportunity. You can easily reach the platform using various bus lines (17, 17A, 46, 60). The stop for the viewpoint is called “Ivanova Tscheschma”. If you’re traveling to Varna as a couple, be sure to remember this spot to enjoy a beautiful romantic sunset.
Varna: A Port City with Flair
The port is considered the centerpiece of the city and offers you a wonderful opportunity for a bit of relaxation and entertainment. The promenade was completely renovated in 2016 and invites you to stroll with a wide selection of restaurants and cafés. Many cultural and sporting events also take place at the port and are always very popular. In addition, there is an amusement park at the port that promises fun for young and old alike.
Besides the port, you should of course also take a detour to the city’s beach and swim in the clear waters of the Black Sea.
Sights Nearby
Would you like to go on a little discovery tour and not only explore the city of Varna? Then we have selected two highlights for you that are not far from the city and are perfect for a day trip.
Petrified Forest
Don’t miss this special natural phenomenon! The Petrified Forest—also called “Pobiti Kamani” or “Dikilitash”—is located only about 20 km from Varna and became known for its unique rock formations. It consists of a group of stone pillars up to 10 m high, which vary in shape and size, as well as a multitude of individual stones and boulders scattered across the area.
The Petrified Forest was once a sacred place in ancient times. The first documentation dates back to 1829, but nature has been shaping the stones for over a millennium. This transforms the former rock into unique sculptures that may remind the viewer of people, animals, monsters, or mythical beings. Sculptures that clearly resemble certain figures have already been given names such as “The Stone Guardian”, “The Camel”, or “The Stone Forest”.
Particularly popular is the formation known as the “Dikilitash Group”, which is easy to reach from Varna via the E70 road. This group contains more than 300 stone pillars spread across a long, narrow strip (850 m x 120 m), creating an impressive image.
The “Euxinograd” Residence
The “Euxinograd” residence is located 8 km from Varna and is definitely worth a visit. Once built as a summer residence for monarchs, it is now a popular excursion destination for visitors to Varna. But it’s not only the residence that impresses—so does the associated 80-hectare residence park. This park is divided into various areas, all worth seeing: the central area with the residence, Greek garden, English garden, river area, beach area, and utility area. Let yourself be enchanted by the charm of the different sections, and don’t forget to explore the remains of the late antique fortress “Kastritsi” in the northeast of the residence park. To make sure you don’t miss any highlights of the residence and the park, it’s recommended to book a guided tour. After that, you’ll still have enough time to explore the residence and its beautiful gardens on your own. Want to stay longer than a day? No problem at all—the entire complex also offers overnight accommodation.
Party Strip at Golden Sands
Would you like to get to know a bit of Bulgaria’s nightlife in addition to your city trip? Then you should take the opportunity to visit Bulgaria’s famous Golden Sands, which became known for its party strip. Here you can enjoy a party night relatively inexpensively, and in peak season (June to August) you’ll meet many young people. You’ll also find many restaurants and souvenir shops on site.
Best Time to Travel
Depending on why you want to travel to Varna, the ideal travel periods for this city also vary. If you’d like to spend a summer holiday in this beautiful port city, including plenty of swimming in the sea, then the period from June to September is ideal. However, if you also want to explore the party strip and perhaps combine your trip to Varna with several days at Golden Sands, then you should travel to Varna between June and August. Please note, however, that there are more tourists, especially in July and August.
Regardless of a summer holiday, you can also visit the city wonderfully in the months of April, May, and October. This way, you can avoid many tourists and explore the city at your own pace.
The Europamaut Team Wishes You a Pleasant Trip!
We wish you a pleasant trip to Bulgaria and lots of enjoyment as you explore this diverse country. You can find more information about tolls in Bulgaria in our guide. Feel free to use our route planner to plan your trip optimally and have suitable toll products displayed. If you have any questions, you can contact us anytime by email. Simply order your vignette for Bulgaria online from us so you can use the motorways in this country without a worry.
