Your browser is not supported
The browser you are using - Internet Explorer or old version of Edge – is not supported by our website. Not to face issues while using our website please use the latest version of Edge or any other modern browser like Chrome, Safari or Firefox.
Your holiday in Varna
Beautiful beaches, cultural treasures and seaside fun by the Black Sea
Visit Bulgaria to explore its stunning 378-kilometre coastline bordered by the Black Sea! Fans of water sports can enjoy the very best sporting conditions here, and holidaymakers can revel in the party atmosphere that descends on the streets of its pleasant seaside resorts every evening. Browse the many stalls selling souvenirs and local delicacies or enjoy a drink on one of the welcoming café terraces. You’ll also find plenty of balneotherapy and thalassotherapy centres offering all types of treatments using local mineral water springs, which are famous for their healing powers.
Varna
Varna, the Pearl of the Black Sea, owes its distinctive nickname to its many seaside attractions. Its long, beautiful beach of golden sand is bordered by a large park full of shady paths that offer a magnificent view of the bay. The seafront promenade, lined with shops, bars, restaurants and terraces, enjoys the same lively atmosphere as the pedestrian streets of the city. Meanwhile, the esplanade by the harbour is the perfect place to sample a local speciality or enjoy the friendly, lively atmosphere of the bars and clubs. Varna also boasts a vibrant cultural life, with many music festivals, ballet performances and internationally renowned plays to choose from. Historically-speaking, Varna has always enjoyed a strategic location and is consequently home to an astonishing cultural heritage. The oldest gold objects in the world were discovered just a few kilometres from Varna. These treasures, dating from between 4400 and 4200 BC, are now on display in the city's archaeological museum..
Hotel areas
43.2140504, 27.9147333
Albena
The seaside resort of Albena is located on the north coast of the Black Sea, about 35 kilometres north of Varna and 12 kilometres from Baltchik, where the coast is lined by the dense forests of the Baltata nature reserve. Lush greenery and fine sandy beaches with shallow water will be the backdrop to your holiday, and this alone guarantees a magical stay. The area boasts many cafés and shops, three wellness centres and an attractive range of recreational and sports activities, including twenty tennis courts, where you can take tennis lessons, seven football pitches, several multi-sports pitches, a riding club and a variety of water sports. Distance from the airport: 40 km.
Golden Sands
The Golden Sands Resort is famous for its long golden sandy beach stretching over 4 kilometres and its 4 thermal springs bubbling nearby. Outside the hotel zone, walkers and nature lovers can enjoy the vast nature park where 1,300 hectares of marked trails will lead you through the heart of lush vegetation. At Golden Sands, you can enjoy a wide range of recreational and sporting activities, including water sports, and for those more interested in culture, Varna, with its welcoming atmosphere and impressive historical heritage, is still close by. Distance to the airport: 25 km.
Obzor
Located about 60 minutes' drive from Varna, this small town has a strategic location and enjoys a particularly pleasant microclimate combining the mild sun, trade winds and fresh air from the mountains. The town also boasts an 8 kilometre-long sandy beach, which is one of the longest in Bulgaria. The resort is currently in the process of expansion and offers fewer recreational facilities than Golden Sands, but it still has an enormous potential. Distance from the airport: 68 km
Saints Constantine and Helena
Located 8 kilometres from the centre of Varna and about 10 kilometres south of the Golden Sands, the small seaside town of Saints Constantine and Helena is framed by deciduous forests and boasts a beautiful 3.5 kilometre long sandy beach. It is appreciated for its quietness and features high quality hotels and a good selection of trendy restaurants and bars. Saints Constantine and Helena is also famous for its 7 thermal springs, some of which used to supply the wellness areas of some hotels, as well as the Aquahouse thermal area, which is open to the public. Distance from the airport: 19 km.
Sunny Day Resort
Sunny Day Resort is located very close to Saints Constantine and Helena, in the heart of one of the quietest bays on the north coast, just off the Black Sea. A vast forest landscape home to very rare species of trees stretches out across the hinterland, offering a peaceful and relaxing backdrop to your stay. This is where the thermal spring that feeds the hotels’ thermal water pools is located. This proximity of beach and forest is truly unique on the Black Sea coast. Distance to the airport: 20 km.
Must-do & Must-see - our suggestions
Must-do
- The seaside resort of Les Sables d'Or is famous for the healing waters from its mineral springs. The area’s balneotherapy centres still offer affordably-priced restorative treatments using the healing powers of Black Sea salts, algae and clay.
- Take a stroll through the Stone Forest to discover the imposing stone columns that at first glance look like temple ruins. They are, in fact, 50-million-year-old tree trunks, which probably took on this shape when the region was still below sea level. This unique phenomenon must be seen to be believed!
- A boat trip along the Bulgarian coast offers captivating views of trendy marinas, beautiful natural landscapes and unspoiled bays.
Must-see
- Amid the hustle and bustle of city life of Varna, the Sea Garden park is an 80-hectare oasis of tranquillity and relaxation, full of museums, a dolphinarium and a long beach.
- The well-preserved remnants of the 2nd-century Roman baths are one of the city’s top attractions, but the absolute must-see place is the archaeological museum, where remarkable gold objects dating from the 4th millennium BC are on display.
- The rocky, reddish cliffs of Cape Kaliakra in the northern Dobruja region are almost 70 metres high, and are home to a cave which has been converted into an archaeological museum.
Excursions
Excursions will allow you to discover your destination from all perspectives. LuxairTours offers a range of selected tours that will allow you to discover unmissable places, paradisiacal beaches, typical dishes... LuxairTours organises a range of quality excursions for you.
-
Day trip to the Nessebar peninsula by coach. This picturesque town is home to a number of buildings of historic interest in a small area (850m x 300m) and has been classed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1983.
As you stroll through the narrow streets, beautifully paved with flagstones that have been smoothed by the steps of thousands of passers-by over the centuries, you will come across numerous churches. These churches date from the 6th century (the finest example being the Old Metropolitan Church) and the 13th-14th centuries, of which Christ Pantocrator is the most emblematic. You will also see the Christ Alitourguéthos church, whose elegant silhouette overlooks the port. The typical houses with stone ground floors and wooden upper storeys are another, more romantic architectural feature of the town's historic quarter...
Every nook and cranny has its own picture-postcard view.
You will also have free time to explore the artisanal shops where you can pick up some local crafts or textiles as a souvenir. There are also plenty of café and restaurant terraces and uninterrupted sea views that inspire relaxation and contemplation. -
This highly authentic full-day excursion will help you to get to know the country and its people.
During this beautiful outing in the countryside, your first stop will be the astonishing natural phenomenon of the Petrified Forest. You will also visit the famous bas-relief of Madara's Horseman, a site under UNESCO protection.
This is followed by lunch in a bucolic setting a local winegrower’s estate with panoramic views over the vineyards and rolling countryside.
After lunch, there will be a final stop at their winery. You will be given a presentation of the winemaking methods and will taste 3 types of wines, accompanied by a small snack. As the owners are big horse lovers, they will also be delighted to show you around their small stud farm, and you will even have the opportunity to take a ride on horseback if you wish. Children can also have a wagon ride. -
This Jeep tour is a fun adventure for everyone! In a robust 4x4 vehicle, you'll drive off the beaten track into the Golden Sands hinterland (with several photo stops planned).
Visit a brandy distillery to discover local traditions and taste this alcohol made from pears, grapes or plums. Your trip continues through the region, passing through small, bucolic villages. There will be a short stop to explore the old blockhouses, where the more experienced can practise their rifle marksmanship.
After this, you will visit a grandmother's home to try some of her home-made doughnuts.
Lunch in a traditional inn, with unlimited drinks included. -
This wonderful half-day trip along the beautiful north coast will give you the chance to discover several tourist sites close to Golden Sands.
The beautiful little town of Balchik is a popular destination for travellers, who are attracted by the mysterious allure of the summer residence of Queen Marie of Romania. The visit to this magnificent house (entrance fee included) and botanical garden takes around an hour. The walk will take you along shady paths and small signposted walkways into the heart of a park full of roses in all different colours, magnolias, stately trees and towering cypresses. The residence’s captivating silhouette faces the sea and is an insight into the aesthetic and spiritual tastes of the last queen of Romania.
To complete the excursion, you can visit Cape Kaliakra, a 2.5 kilometre-long promontory of reddish rock that towers 70 metres above the sea. For centuries, this was used as a fortified site, but today it is an archaeological and nature reserve. -
This trip will help you discover the many facets of the beautiful city of Varna – which has been named Bulgaria's summer capital – by bus, on foot and from the sea.
The trip begins with a visit to the remains of the Aladzha cave monastery, nestled in a verdant setting near Golden Sands. This will be followed by a panoramic tour of the city of Varna to reach the magnificent Dormition of the Mother of God Cathedral (guided tour). After this, you can then enjoy a stroll through the pedestrian zone of the city centre, followed by free time in the city to have a coffee or a refreshing cocktail on one of the many terraces, visit the beautiful maritime park or go shopping.
And to round off the day in style, you can take a 45-minute boat trip to admire the town, its harbour, lighthouses and its beautiful sandy beach.
For more information and bookings, please contact your LuxairTours guide on site.
