Varna

Bulgaria's Black Sea city, known for the Gold of Varna, Roman baths and more than 20 km of sand beaches.

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Varna is a seaside city on the Bulgarian Black Sea Coast and the country's third-largest city. It is the main resort city of the coast and is also called Bulgaria's maritime capital. The settlement began as a Thracian coastal town called Odessos and later grew into a major Black Sea seaport. Its best-known find is the Gold of Varna, from the Varna Necropolis, which is among the oldest known gold finds in the world. The treasure is shown in the Varna Archaeological Museum.

Most visitors come in summer, from early May to early October, when sea water is usually 24 to 27 °C and daytime highs are often 27 to 30 °C. The Sea Garden, the city's oldest large park, runs along the seafront and holds an aquarium, a zoo and a Museum of Natural History. The Roman Thermae of Odessos, built in the late second century AD, are the largest Roman remains in Bulgaria. The airport lies west of the city, and coaches run to Burgas in two to three hours and to Sofia in six to seven.

Varna in five

Check closing days before you plan the museumsThe Archaeological Museum is open daily May to September and closed Sundays and Mondays October to April. The Roman Thermae also close Sundays and Mondays from October to May.
Buy museum tickets at the door, not onlineThe Regional Museum of History says tickets are sold only at its ticket offices and warns of fraudulent online offers. Adults pay 10 euros for the Archaeological Museum and 4 euros for the Roman Thermae.
Start with the Varna gold at the Archaeological MuseumThe national tourism portal describes the Varna chalcolithic necropolis finds as the oldest worked gold treasure found so far, about six thousand years old. Build the museum morning around that hall.
Choose between the city and Golden SandsGolden Sands lies 17 km north of Varna on the tourism portal's figure. Stay in town for museums and evenings, or at the resort for the beach, and see the coast planner for the other stretches.Black Sea Coast
Budget Aladzha Monastery and the Stone Forest separatelyThe museum lists Aladzha Monastery at 5 euros and the Petrified Forest at 3 euros for adults. The monastery is about 14 km from town on the road to Golden Sands; confirm hours on the museum site.

Things to do in Varna

See all attractions in Varna

an aerial view of a house surrounded by trees

Aquarium · VarnaVarna Aquarium

Park · VarnaSeaside ParkPark only in marked spaces. Parking in unauthorised spots can bring a fine from the traffic police.

Museum · VarnaMuseum of Natural History

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Need to know

Airport: Varna (VAR), with international flights
Getting there: Fly in; Burgas is 130 km south and Ruse about 200 km west
Getting around: Walk the center and Sea Garden; bus or taxi to Golden Sands
Best base: Near the Sea Garden for a city break; Golden Sands for beach days
Time needed: 2 days for the city; 4 to 5 with the beach and Aladzha

Weather by month

Rainy days
Snowy days

Best
Good
Mixed
Poor

JanuaryPartly cloudy8 rainy days1 snowy dayHigh7°Low1°Cold, quiet
FebruaryPartly cloudy7 rainy days1 snowy dayHigh9°Low3°Cold, damp
MarchPartly cloudy9 rainy daysHigh11°Low5°Cool, quiet
AprilPartly cloudy9 rainy daysHigh15°Low8°Mild, spring
MayPartly cloudy11 rainy daysHigh20°Low12°Warm, easy
JunePartly cloudy11 rainy daysHigh25°Low17°Warm, sea opens
JulyClear7 rainy daysHigh29°Low20°Hot, festival season
AugustClear5 rainy daysHigh29°Low20°Hot, busy beach
SeptemberClear5 rainy daysHigh25°Low17°Warm sea
OctoberPartly cloudy7 rainy daysHigh19°Low12°Mild, quieter
NovemberPartly cloudy9 rainy daysHigh14°Low8°Cool, grey
DecemberPartly cloudy9 rainy daysHigh9°Low4°Cold, quiet

Average daily high and low in Varna, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.

Right now in Varna

Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.

Feels like: 14°
Humidity: 96%
Wind: 3 km/h
Chance of rain: 100%

Varna

10:47 PM

Monday, November 2

GMT+2

Today16°14°100%Monday: Thunderstorms. High 16°, Low 14°. Chance of rain 100%.
Tue14°12°100%Tuesday: Rain. High 14°, Low 12°. Chance of rain 100%.
Wed12°8°98%Wednesday: Rain. High 12°, Low 8°. Chance of rain 98%.
Thu9°2°17%Thursday: Cloudy. High 9°, Low 2°. Chance of rain 17%.
Fri11°2°0%Friday: Cloudy. High 11°, Low 2°. Chance of rain 0%.
Sat10°1°0%Saturday: Fog. High 10°, Low 1°. Chance of rain 0%.
Sun11°0°0%Sunday: Fog. High 11°, Low 0°. Chance of rain 0%.

Updated 10:29 PM local time · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com

Money

Mid-market rate1 USD = 0.8961 EUR

Amount

Converted to

EUR · Euro

Rates from Nov 2, 2026 · Rates By Exchange Rate API

Day trips by train

Before you go to Varna

Hotels near the Sea GardenWalk to museums and the shoreCheck availability

Aladzha and Golden Sands tourTransport and guide in one bookingCompare day trips

eSIM for VarnaMaps and ticket codes on arrivalRead the guide

Insurance for a coast tripMedical and cancellation coverRead the guide

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Rules for Varna, checked

Varna Archaeological Museum: adult 10 euros; open 10:00–17:00, daily May–September and closed Sunday and Monday October–April.Checked Oct 3, 2026 · Source
Roman Thermae: adult 4 euros; open 10:00–18:00 June–September and 10:00–17:00 October–May, closed Sunday and Monday in that period.Checked Oct 3, 2026 · Source

Plan around Varna

Black Sea Coast planner

North or south, resort or old town

Read the guide Burgas travel guide

The southern gateway, 130 km down the coast

Read the guide Ruse travel guide

The Danube city about 200 km west

Read the guide EES at the border

Landing at Varna from outside the Schengen area

Read the guide Getting around Europe

Trains and buses for the Balkans legs

Read the guide All of Bulgaria

Ruse, Sofia, the euro and entry rules

Read the guide

Varna FAQ

Is Varna worth visiting?

Yes, for the Archaeological Museum, the Roman Thermae and a seaside garden in a real working city. It is also the practical base for Golden Sands and Aladzha Monastery. It is a poor choice if you want only a quiet beach village.

How many days do you need in Varna?

Two days cover the museum, the Roman baths and the Sea Garden. Add one or two for Aladzha Monastery and a beach afternoon at Golden Sands, 17 km north.

Can you buy Varna museum tickets online?

Not from the museum. The Regional Museum of History says tickets are sold only at the ticket office when you visit and that it offers no online sales on its website or third-party platforms.

Is Golden Sands a good base from Varna?

Golden Sands is a resort strip 17 km north of Varna on the tourism portal's figure, so it suits beach days and all-inclusive stays more than museums. The coast planner compares it with Nessebar and Sunny Beach.

When is the best time to visit Varna?

June and September balance warm sea and lighter crowds, July and August are the peak beach months, and May and October suit museums and walking. The tourism portal gives a July mean of about 22.8 C.