Wonderful Tourist Attractions to Visit and Things to Do in Varna

October 12, 2020 Mustafa Natalwala 7446 Views

Varna is a coastal city in Bulgaria facing the Black Sea. The city is most well known for its costal area and sea side resorts. The best places to visit in Varna are the beaches without a doubt. As popular as these Varna tourist attractions are for their view, they are also known for a variety of water sports, nightlife and leisure activities. Among the most famous beaches in Varna is one sharing the city’s name.

Owing to its popularity, Varna beach is usually crowded, but you won’t find it congested as the crowd spreads over 8 km stretch. It is also one of the top Varna attractions for dining and nightlife. The Golden Sands beach is another popular beach to visit on Varna trip for nightlife and resorts. Though if you are looking for hustle and bustle during the day, you should visit Varna Constantine Beach, Sozopol Beach or Ellen Beach. At a little distance from the city lies Asparuhovo Beach which emerges from the forest. It’s less crowded compared to other beaches. This is the best place to visit in Varna for some sea side quiet time. Besides the resorts, restaurants, clubs, pubs and bars; there are several top things to do in Varna, Bulgaria at the beaches. The beaches offer several water sports and outdoor activities to enjoy during Varna city tour.

Things to see in Varna do not end with the beaches. The city has several attractions to keep you busy for a couple of days of Varna trip. Aside from the beach, one of the first place people visit for Varna sightseeing is the Sea Garden. The park is a national monument of sorts. The park is also encompasses a few other tourist attractions of Varna like Dolphinarium, Casino and city’s Zoo.

There are many historical places to visit in Varna, enough to cover a two or three day Varna city tour. The first historical place to visit in Varna is the Aladzha Monastery. The monastery is actually a network of man made caves carved in a cliff. The monastery is connected with two catacombs through a forest trail. Another major Varna tourist attraction is Formation of Theotokos Cathedral. The Cathedral was built under Russian rule after liberation of the region from Ottoman forces. If you want to go further back in time in the region’s history, you can visit the Archeological Museum. The museum tells the story of the region under Roman rule and beyond. You can also visit the Roman baths among places to visit in Varna. The baths are now in ruins, but it is a significant historical and archeological site in the city. A popular museum among things to see in Varna is the Battle of Varna Park Museum. The museum is both open air and indoor exhibiting various artifacts from 1444.

Many of Varna tourist attractions are located on the outskirts of the city, while some are located in the old parts of the city. So you will need good planning to cover as many places to see in Varna trip as possible. Plus you need time to enjoy the beaches in Varna. We have prepared a two day itinerary for Varna city tour.

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Table of Contents

Explore the Best Tourist Places in Varna in 2 Days (2 Days Travel Itinerary)

Day 1

1. Archeological Museum

The Archeological Museum is home to the oldest gold crafted under human hands. There are numerous exhibits depicting various periods of the region’s history. It is an unmissable Varna tourist attraction. You will need about 2 hours to explore this museum.

2. Boris Georgiev Art Gallery

Though the art gallery is named after Bulgarian artist Boris Georgiev, it does exhibit works by other artists as well. You will need anywhere between 1 to 2 hours to explore 8 halls of the Art Gallery.

3. Roman Thermae Baths

These are the 4th largest Roman baths in the world. The ruins looks exceptionally beautiful and have a storied history of roman culture behind it. You will need 30 minutes for this Varna attraction.

4. Varna Maritime Museum

Next spot to visit among things to see in Varna is the city’s museum of naval history. You will see variety of ships and other artifacts in the museum. You will need about 1 hour for sightseeing of Varna Maritime Museum.

5. Golden Sands Beach

After a day of Varna city tour, you must want to relax. So hit the beach and stay there until you feel all your worries washed away by the ocean waves. You can extend your stay at the beach if you want to enjoy the nightlife here. Otherwise you can move to the next place to see in Varna after spending a couple of hours.

6. Nezavisimost Square

The square is a nighttime venue for its singing fountain performance. You can keep aside 30 minutes for the show. You can then head back to the beaches in Varna for clubbing or dining. There are also several good restaurants close to the square.

Day 2

1. Aladzha Monastery

The monastery is carved in a cliff and has already been discussed in the introduction of this article. It is the most unique historical attraction you will visit on Varna trip. You will need 2 hours to explore the monastery and catacombs near it.

2. Stone Forest

The Stone Forest is a natural phenomenon of hollow stones emerging from the land. It occurs on the only patch of desert in Bulgaria. You will need 30 to 45 minutes to explore this place.

3. Varna Cathedral

Varna Cathedral was inspired by Peterhof Palace in St. Petersburg. It has one of the most beautiful interiors of any cathedral in Bulgaria. You will need about 45 minutes for this cathedral.

4. The Sea Garden

Sea Garden is a major spot in any Varna sightseeing itinerary. The garden has several top things to do in Varna to explore. You can even take a stroll and mingle with the locals here. Reserve at least 30 minutes for this park.

5. Festa Dolphinarium

It’s a marvelous show to enjoy after traveling all day on Varna trip. This tourist attraction is especially fun for kids. If you are traveling with children, then ensure 30 minutes of fun for them here.

6. Varna Beach

This the most popular beach in the city. If you are feeling adventurous you can go for water sports and other best things to do in Varna, Bulgaria. You can also go for spa treatment at beach resorts. Consider 1 or 2 hours of leisure at one of the best beaches in Varna.

7. Sunset Cruise / Boat Trip

The Sunset Cruise great for families and couples. It can be listed among romantic things to do in Varna. As the sun sheds orange & golden light on the ocean & the beaches, you will be cruising and admiring the city and the ocean from a distance. This experience takes about 2 hours of your time. It’s worth both the time and the money.

Thinking about to spend more than 2 days in Varna? Then Check out our below listed things to do and see in Varna, Bulgaria.

Things to do in Varna

Monuments, Museums & Historical Places to Visit in Varna

Aladzha Monastery
Varna Cathedral
Archeological Museum
Euxinograd Palace
Roman baths
Retro Museum
Monument of the Bulgarian Soviet
Varna Necropolis
Ethnographic Museum
Vladislav Varnenchick Park Museum
Cape Galata Lighthouse
Museum of Medicine History
Museum of National Revival
Pantheon of the Perished in the Fight
Varna Central Mosque
Monastery of Saints Constantine & Helena
Valentine Dragons Statue
Maritime Museum

Nature & Wildlife Tourist Spots in Varna

Priroden Park Zlatni Pyasatsi
Lake Varna
Batova River

Entertainment & Leisure Tourist Spots in Varna

Festa Dolphinarium Varna
Varna Aquarium
Varna Zoo
Aquamania Waterpark
Graffit Gallery
Black Sea Ice Arena
Boris Georgiev Art Gallery
Varna Ecopark
Balkan Folk Fest Amphtheatre
Butterfly House
Casino Black Sea
Golden Dreams Boat

Shopping in Varna

Kniaz Boris Street
Grand Mall
Mall Varna
Retail Park

Beaches in Varna

Varna Beach
Baltata Beach
Nirvana Beach
Kabakum Plaji Beach
Pasha Dere Beach
Rappongi Beach
Saint Constantine Beach
Gulf of Varna
Cape Galata
Golden Sands Central Beach
Albena Beach
Asparuhovo Beach
Chernomorets Beach
Officer’s Beach
Sozopol Beach
Trakata Beach
Sunny Beach
Galata Beach

Offbeat Places & Adventure Things to Do in Varna

Swimming
Sailing
Hiking
Surfing
Bungee Jumping
Ice Skating
Plateau Cycling Tour
Snorkeling
Water Sports
Sunset Cruise

Sightseeing in Varna

Sea Garden
Port Varna
Asparuhov Bridge
Red Square Park
Asparuhov Park
Nezavisimost Square

Food, Dining, Restaurants, & Street Food in Varna

Villa Marciana
BM Restaurants
Staria Chinar
La Casa al Mare
Aksakovska Panorama
La Pastaria
Buongiorno Pizza
Marche
Olea
Cubo & Menthol
Parmy
Godzilla
Mr Baba
Jasmin Tea House
Di Wine Restaurant
Largo
Gostilnitza Chuchura
Bodega ranchero Steakhouse
Red Canape
Black Sheep Pub
Happy Bar & Grill

Where to Stay in Varna?

Here we have listed Top Rated Luxurious, Mid-Range and Budget Hotels in Varna. You can check below listed hotels for your perfect stay in Varna.

Luxurious Hotels

Mid-Range Hotels

Budget Hotels

Custom Tours Package in Varna

How to Reach Varna?

By Air

Varna International Airport is the only airport serving the city. You can get direct flights to visit Varna from several European cities including Vienna, Berlin, Frankfurt, Amsterdam, Cologne, Dublin, London, Madrid, Milan, Brussels, Manchester, Oslo, Moscow, and Istanbul. However, some of these destinations are only connected during tourist season for Varna travel. You also get regular flights from the national capital city of Sofia. You can get a bus and taxi from the airport to reach the places to visit in Varna or your hotel.

By Road

The central station of Varna is quite close to the city center. You get daily trains to visit Varna from Sofia, Rousse, and Plovdiv. You can also make Varna trip by train from Kiev, Lviv, Bucharest, Moscow, St. Petersburg, Minsk, Prague, and Warsaw. The majority of international trains only run during tourist season. Although the bus network for Varna travel runs more consistently and is connected to far more cities in Europe.

If you are making a Varna trip by car then use Haemus motorway route A2, E70, E87, or A3. These routes will connect you to the city as well as offer a great opportunity for Varna sightseeing during the journey.

By Water

Varna is a popular cruise destination. Make of these cruise lines include one day Varna trip in their itinerary. However, one day is not enough to enjoy some of the best things to do in Varna, Bulgaria. You can also get ferries from Ukraine, Georgia, and Turkey to visit Varna. However, you should know that ferry rides are quite expensive and time-consuming. These are good as an experience but not viable as a means of travel to visit Varna.

Image Reference

Archeological Museum – Extrawurst / Wikimedia Commons
Boris Georgiev Art Gallery – visit.varna.bg
Roman Thermae Baths – Extrawurst / Wikimedia Commons
Varna Maritime Museum – Спасимир (Spasimir Pilev) / Wikimedia Commons
Golden Sands Beach – Nikolai Karaneschev / Wikimedia Commons
Nezavisimost Square – visit.varna.bg
Aladzha Monastery – Diego Delso / Wikimedia Commons
Stone Forest – damian entwistle / Flickr
Varna Cathedral – marcel601 / Flickr
The Sea Garden – visit.varna.bg
Festa Dolphinarium – PxHere
Varna Beach – Alexey Komarov / Wikimedia Commons
Sunset Cruise – mcflydk / Flickr