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TravelTips24 : Europe : Eastern Europe : Bulgaria : Varna

Varna

Varna (Bulgarian: Варна) is a city in Bulgaria.

Culture and History

Varna is the northern one of two major Bulgarian cities on the coast of Black Sea (the other one is Burgas).

Travel to Varna & Visa Requirements

Flights and airtickets to Varna

  • Varna Airport (IATA: VAR) (ICAO: LBWN), 8 km west of the city centre, [1]. Easy bus and taxi connection to city centre and resorts.

Airlines and destinations

  • Air Via (Berlin-Schönefeld, Berlin-Tegel, Frankfurt)
  • Arkia Israel Airlines (Tel Aviv)
  • Austrian Airlines (Vienna)
  • Balkan Holidays (Aberdeen, Belfast, Bristol, Brimingham, Cardiff, Doncaster, Edinburgh, East Midlands, Glasgow, Humberside, Leeds Bradford, London Gatwick, Manchester, Newcastle, Prestwick, Southampton)
  • British Airways (London-Gatwick)
  • Bulgaria Air (Amsterdam, Berlin-Schönefeld, Berlin-Tegel, Cologne/Bonn, Dublin, London-Gatwick, Madrid, Milan-Malpensa, Vienna)
  • Bulgarian Air Charter (Berlin-Schönefeld, Berlin-Tegel, Cologne/Bonn, Frankfurt)
  • Condor Airlines (Stuttgart)
  • Germanwings (Berlin-Schönefeld, Cologne/Bonn)
  • Fischer Air Polska (Warsaw)
  • First Choice Airways (London Gatwick, Manchester)
  • Hemus Air (Burgas, Sofia)
  • LTU International (Berlin-Schönefeld, Cologne/Bonn, Düsseldorf, Frankfurt, Hamburg, Munich, Stuttgart)
  • JetairflyBrussels
  • Malév Hungarian Airlines (Budapest)
  • Thomsonfly (East Midlands, London-Gatwick, Manchester)
  • Thomas Cook Airlines (Birmingham, London Gatwick)
  • Norwegian Air Shuttle (Oslo)
  • Ural Airlines (Yekatirenburg)
  • Wizz Air (Budapest) [starts June 10, 2007]
  • Vim Airlines (Moscow, Ufa)

By train

  • Central train station is located within walking distance from city centre and cruise terminal, there is bus and taxi connection to airport, bus stations, and resorts. Regular connections to/from Sofia, Plovdiv, and Ruse.

International trains to/from Prague (Czech Republic), Krakow (Poland), Moscow, and Saratov (Russia).

By car

Varna can be reached by Haemus Motorway (A2) from Sofia, E70 from Rousse (and Bucharest), E87 from Constanta, Romania, and Cherno More Motorway (A3)/E87 from Istanbul, Turkey.

Buses to Varna

There are two bus stations in Varna, one serving the local area and one for longer connections to Sofia, Veliko Tarnovo, Burgas, Plovdiv, Istanbul, Greece, Romania, Central and Western Europe. They aren't that easy to find, so take a taxi. As you approach them from the city centre, the station to the left is the local one, to the right is the long distance one.

By boat

Varna is Bulgaria's only cruise destination. Cruise terminal is located near city centre, close to train station, walking distance to Sea Garden and beaches. Bus and taxi connection to city centre, bus stations, airport, and resorts. There are ferry lines (buses only) to Ukraine and Georgia.

Tours & Getting around Varna

There are a pedestrian area and a coast area with a lot of fun for the tourists. There you should get around by foot. If you live in the tourist suburbs of Varna, you can come to the centre by bus, by trolleybus, by a rented car or by taxi. Take careful with the taxis: You may pay 10 times the right price.

Varna attractions and sightseeing

City landmarks include the Varna Archaeological Museum, exhibiting the Gold of Varna, a cache of chalcolithic grave-goods, which constitute the oldest gold treasure in the world, the large and well preserved Roman Baths, Władysław Warneńczyk Park Museum, the Naval Museum, displaying the museum ship torpedo boat Drazki, the Museum of Ethnography.

The Sea Garden is the oldest and perhaps largest park containing the Varna Aquarium, the Varna Dolphinarium (opened 1984), the Nicolaus Copernicus Observatory and Planetarium], the Museum of Natural History, a terrarium, a zoo, and other attractions. The Garden is a national monument of landscape architecture.

The waterfront promenade underneath is lined by a string of beach clubs offering a vibrant (albeit noisy) scene of rock, hip-hop, American-style pop, house, and chalga (Bulgarian pop folk). The city beaches, also known as sea baths are dotted with hot sulphuric mineral springs and punctured by small sheltered marinas. Additionally, the 2.4 km long, 50 m high Asparuhov Most bridge is a popular spot for bungee jumping.

Notable old Bulgarian Eastern Orthodox churches include the metrpolitan Dormition of the Theotokos Cathedral; the early 17th-century Theotokos Panagia; the St. Athanasius (former Greek etropolitan cathedral); the seamen's church of St. Nicholas the Miracle Worker; the Archangel Michael's chapel; and the Sts. Constantine and Helena church of the 16th century suburban monastery of the same name.

Varna's centre was rebuilt in late 19th and the earlier half of the 20th century by the nascent Bulgarian middle class in Western style, with local interpretations of Neo-Renaissance, Neo-Baroque, Neoclassicism, Art Nouveau and Art Deco.

Varna city tours

There is a large tourist place where you can whatever entertainment that can be bought for money. There is something for every taste . But, you can also have nice walks in Varna.

Learn

University of Economics and College of Tourism
Naval Academy
Technical University and Varna College
Medical University and Medical College
Chernorizets Hrabar Varna Free University
New Bulgarian University Local Centre
University of Shumen Teacher Centre (graduate)

Work

Varna souvenirs & shopping

In May of 2008, there were three large shopping malls (Pfohe Mall, Central Plaza, and Mall of Varna) and another five projects in various stages of development (Grand Mall, Gallery Mall, Cherno More Park, Varna Towers, and Varna Stadium) turning Varna into an attractive international shopping destination. There are also several international big-box retailers (Metro, Kaufland) on the outskirts and traditional downtown shopping streets with boutiques and gift shops. Plenty of tourist stuff in the resorts sold in small stalls.

Budget

Varna is cheap compared to Western countries, but expensive compared to Bulgarian standards. The tourist industry distorts the general price level. But, you can have a meal for 3-4 Euro.

Mid-range

Splurge

Varna nightlife, bars, clubs & pubs

The beach at night tends to have the most night life in the summer. Best night clubs in 2007: Extravaganza, A-Lounge (Varna beach alley), Agression, Bonkers, Masai, PR Club (Golden Sands), Totally Romantic (Kabakum beach).

Varna cheap and luxurious hotels, youth hostels & lodging

There are a number of hotels in the city ranging from 5 to 2 stars. North of Varna, along a continuous 20-km-long strip, are the beachfront resorts of Euxinograd, Constatine and Helena, Sunny Day, Chaika, Riviera, and Golden Sands, with a total of more than 60,000 hotel beds, plus several villa communities offering private lodgings.

Budget

  • X HOSTEL, 16th Street, number 19, Euxinograd - +359 (0) 885049084, info@xhostel.eu www.xhostel.eu [2] Free transport to Golden Sands and Varna City Centre. Pool, sea view terrace, international staff, restaurant, free breakfast, relax garden, common tv/game room. The newest hostel in the area, only 13 minutes walk to the beach and the St Konstantine thermal baths, markets, cafees. Close to Go Kart trak. The place where to meet new people and have an incredible holiday!!

  • Gregory's Backpackers, tel: +359 (0) 52 379909, e-mail: info@hostelvarna.com www.hostelvarna.com [3]. A great hostel just outside the center of Varna in the village of Zvezditsa. With an abundance of facilities including bar, dvd/satellite tv lounge with comfy couches and beanbags, well equipped guest kitchen, internet cafe with all mod cons, up-to-date travel information area, pool & table tennis tables, darts, book exchange. Run by a young outgoing well travelled British couple, they have a free pick-up service plus a daily shuttle to the beach and the city centre, or there is an hourly bus that takes about 15 mins (approx 75 stotinki / 0.40 euro cents.) Taxis are approximately 10 to 15 lv (5 to 8 euros) depending on the time of day.

Mid-range

  • Ellinis Hotel built in 2005 is on the main road connecting Varna with the sea resorts "St. Konstantin and Helena" and "Golden Sands", 12 km from the airport, 1500 m from the beach, and 5 minutes away from the city center. All rooms have balconies with sea views.
  • Alekta Hotel is in the northern part of the Sea Garden, on the outskirts of the town, 200 m from the sea and about a 20 minute walk from the town center, which can also be reached by regular bus services or by taxi.
  • Amfora Hotel is situated 8 km north of Varna in St. Konstantin, [4]. The hotel is nice and not far from the coast (about 15 min).

Splurge

  • Hotel Divesta is in the center of Varna, close to the main bus station.

Contact

Stay safe

Cope

Get out

Outside the city are the Euxinograd palace, park and winery, the Ecopark Varna Botanical Garden, the Pobiti Kamani rock phenomenon, the cave monastery Aladzha, and the Kamchiya biosphere reserve (UNESCO-protected)

  • Golden Sands Resort is 17 km from downtown Varna (north)
  • Balchik palace and botanical garden is 40 km away (north)
  • Many wild beaches south of town (Pasha Dere, Shkorpilovtsi, Karadere, Irakli)
  • Kavarna Rock Fest in Kavarna, in early July, 60 km away (north), largest rock event in the Balkans and Black Sea region
  • Kamen Bryag, Bulgaria's hippy country, 70 km away (north)

This page was last edited at 12:59, on 5 October 2008 by Wikitravel user Vidimian. Based on work by Valtteri Päivinen and David, Wikitravel user(s) Morph, Anonymous user(s) of Wikitravel and others.

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