Varna, Bulgaria

The city of Varna is the third largest city in Bulgaria with its population of 314,539 people. It is widely called the seaside capital of Bulgaria as it is the biggest city at the Bulgarian coast. The city lies in the Bay of Varna, nestled in a deep valley between the Frengen Plateau and the Avren Plateau. Varna is over 11 km long, while its width, including newly erected residential quarters, is nearly 9km. The city’s structure resembles an amphitheatre as it follows the curves of the Bay of Varna. It is surrounded by gardens, vineyards and groves. 

Varna is a district town, located on Varna Bay on the Black Sea, nearly 490 km north-east of the capital city of Sofia; and above all Varna is a seaside resort and is often referred to as the seaside capital of Bulgaria. With a population of over 350 000, Varna is the third largest city after Sofia and Plovdiv.

The pearl of the Bulgarian Black Sea is located at the end of the big Varna Bay, with a convenient and well preserved water area. Traces of ancient, medieval, renaissance and modern cultures can be seen throughout the city, which explains its peculiar charm. During high season, July and August, the sunshine allows 10-11 hours of sunbathing and there is nothing of the cold Baltic wind of some European resorts or the summer Riviera heat. The Black sea is very calm and free of dangerous tides. Varna is not just a beach resort but a famous cultural center offering numerous sports, cultural events and attractions year-round as well as many museums and art galleries.

Varna will be your starting point if you want to explore some of the quieter scenic spots along the coast, including the royal palace of Balchik, the nature reserve of Kamchiya, and the hillside Aladzha monastery.

Apart from being a summer resort, Varna is an ‘around-the-year’ holiday destination mainly because of its numerous balneotherapy facilities making the city one of the best spa destinations in Bulgaria. There is a great number of spa facilities in Varna such as resort policlinics, spa centers, many swimming pools, as well as spas in the hotels. The mineral waters in and near Varna are with low mineralization, high debit and various temperatures. In addition to being rich in thermal waters, Varna is also a center for mud treatment. The physical and chemical composition of the mud from Varna firth lake, is similar to that in Tuzlata and Pomorie. Varna is suitable for medical and prophylactic treatments to a number of different diseases due to the fact there are many natural factors – sea baths, solar treatment, mud, sand and spa treatment.

The summer season is in its beginning and you still have time to book Varna holiday or a beautiful summer vacation in any of the nearby Black sea coast resorts. You will find plenty of vacation accommodation with self catering villas and apartments for rent in Varna.

Places of Interest:

Seaside Park – it is the biggest marine garden not only in Bulgaria but on the entire Balkan peninsula.  It is situated by the beach and occupies 850 decares of land. Its construction began in 1878. On the territory of the park you can find the Thermal Baths, the Navy Museum, the Museum of Natural History, the Aquarium (with its unique exposition of water organisms – Black Sea, freshwater, tropical fishes), the Astronomical Observatory and the Planetarium, Dolphinarium with an amusing show, etc.

The Dormition of the Theotokos Cathedral- it is the largest and most famous orthodox cathedral in Varna and second in scale after St. Alexander Nevsky Cathedral in Sofia. Constructed in 1884-1886 by the master builder Gencho Kunev, it was built in honour of the Liberation from Ottoman yoke. The cathedral has modern Byzantine architecture with spacious interior, stained glass, woodcarved iconostasis by masters belonging to Debur art school, etc.  The cathedral has been declared a monument of culture.

Evksinograd  - it is a small royal palace not far from Varna. Initially built for a summer residence of Knyaz Alexander of Battenberg, later it was used by tzars Ferdinand and Boris III.  The construction began in 1886 and was he accomplished with the help of the Viennese architect Rumpelmeyer, the Swiss architect H. Meyer and the Bulgarian architect N. Lazarov. The architectural design is similar to that of the French 18th-century palaces. The building is situated near the sea amidst a beautiful park with rare exotic plants.

Varna halocline necropolis – In 1972 on the northern bank of Varna lake was discovered the Varna halocline necropolis, dated from the second part of the fifth millennium BC. The discovery proved the existence of a developed civilization in south Eastern Europe which is much ancient than any known European civilization . Masks with golden applications, various ceramic tools, copper decorations and etc were excavated from over 200 burial mounts. Over 3000 golden tools with total weight of 6, 5 kg were found in the mounts and this gold is believed to be the oldest cultivated gold in the world.