Is Astor Garden Hotel in Saints Constantine and Helena Worth It? Our Honest Review
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Choosing the right accommodation can completely make or break a beach holiday. For our trip to Varna, also known as the Bulgarian Black Sea coast, we decided to book a stay at the Astor Garden Hotel, a grand, 5-star property located in Bulgaria’s oldest seaside resort of Saints Constantine and Helena, just outside Varna.
Because so many of you saw our trip on social media and reached out to ask if this upscale, spa-focused retreat is actually as good as it looks online, I am breaking down the good, the bad, and the brutally honest details of our stay to help you decide if it's the right choice for your trip.
The location
When it comes to beach access, Astor Garden Hotel is sitting on prime real estate. It is located just a 60-second walk from the soft sand of the Saints Constantine and Helena beaches, tucked away in a beautiful, peaceful green park.
The vibe: Waking up, stepping onto our private balcony, and drinking morning coffee surrounded by beautiful, pristine gardens with views stretching out to the Black Sea was incredible.
The convenience: We were perfectly positioned. Max and I easily walked to local shops, seaside walking paths, and beach clubs without needing to use a vehicle or worry about chaotic traffic.
If you are deciding between renting a car, catching local taxis, or booking a transfer, we’ve already mapped out how to get around Varna with exact costs. While the resort town itself is incredibly peaceful and pedestrian-friendly, we highly recommend renting a car directly from Varna Airport if you are planning a wider coastal road trip. It gives you total freedom to enjoy the best things to do in Varna and explore the surrounding northern Bulgarian Riviera at your own pace. We actually had our transit and local travel completely pre-arranged and sorted for us on this trip, which was a massive stress-reliever!
If you do decide to drive, we always book our cars through QEEQ. They consistently find the best rates across all major suppliers, and their “worry-free” service is a total lifesaver when car rental companies try to throw sketchy hidden charges your way. You can also use our exclusive discount code QRCARMA5 at checkout to get an extra 5% off!
How to get to the hotel (if you aren't renting a car)
If you’ve decided where to stay in Varna and want to skip the car rental, getting your bags straight to the hotel lobby is incredibly straightforward. Here are your best direct options:
The stress-free pick (private transfer): From Varna Airport, we highly recommend pre-booking a private transfer through GetTransfer.com. A comfortable ride straight to the Astor Garden Hotel doors costs around €25. It’s super reasonable, cuts out any hassle with luggage, and saves you from trying to negotiate with random airport taxis.
By taxi: If you are grabbing a local ride from Varna City Centre (right by the stunning Dormition of the Mother of God Cathedral), it’s a quick 15-minute drive straight to the hotel.
The budget airport route (bus 409): If you prefer a budget public transport option, bus 409 leaves right from the front of Terminal 2. It costs around €1.50, takes about 40 minutes, and will drop you right at the Saints Constantine and Helena resort area within a short walk of the hotel.
The Varna city shuttle (bus 31a): If you are popping over to the hotel directly from Varna city centre, you can also catch the 31a bus, which travels directly to the resort at fixed 40-minute intervals.
Room & pricing
Astor Garden is a large, premium 5-star hotel featuring 230 rooms designed with an elegant, classical look. If you've been researching accommodation along the Black Sea coast, you know that finding true luxury and modern comfort without a ridiculous price tag can be a massive gamble.
During our stay (around May, shoulder season), it cost around €150 per night for a deluxe double room with a balcony and an impressive sea view.
Amenities included: Excellent, quiet air conditioning (critical for summer), a mini-fridge to keep your drinks cold, coffee and tea facilities, a spacious desk, and fast, free Wi-Fi everywhere.
The check-in surprise: Waiting for us in our room was a stunning welcome platter with fresh strawberries and macarons. It was such a beautiful, thoughtful touch that felt completely romantic and delicious, the absolute perfect way to start a coastal getaway!
The interior: The massive glass doors flood the bedroom with natural light; the beds are incredibly large and plush; and the modern bathrooms feature great water pressure with a separate bathtub and walk-in shower, perfect for washing off the salt and sand.
The stand-out hotel spaces
Aside from our room, though every single corner of this place was amazing, there were two huge stand-out areas inside the hotel that we spent a lot of time in and absolutely loved:
The lobby: The main lobby area at Astor Garden is beautiful. It is styled with massive, elegant colour palettes and artistic design details, but it still manages to feel warm and cosy. It was our favourite spot to relax with a drink or just sit back and plan our day.
The entertainment room (for all ages!): If you want a break from the sun, they have an awesome dedicated entertainment room equipped with table tennis, billiards, table football, and air hockey. We had a blast using it in the evening.
Perfect for little ones: Tucked right inside the entertainment hub, there is a dedicated playroom specifically designed for very young children. They’ve truly thought of everything; it even includes a specialised children's toilet, making it an incredibly convenient space to hang out if you are travelling with toddlers.
The ultimate thermal spa experience
The absolute crown jewel of staying at Astor Garden Hotel — and the feature that makes it worth every cent —is how it handles wellness and relaxation. The area is famous for its natural hot springs, and staying here unlocks a massive cost-saving loophole:
Free Aquahouse Thermal entry: The hotel sits just a short 3-minute stroll from the world-class Aquahouse Thermal & Beach complex. Guests get complimentary entry to these spectacular natural hot spring pools, saunas, and indoor/outdoor thermal baths. Paying for public entry here can easily add up, so having this included is a massive win.
On-site pools & sunbeds: If you don’t want to leave the hotel grounds, the property features a massive seasonal outdoor pool surrounded by areas with sand, beautiful gardens, a heated indoor pool, a sauna, a gym, and free sunbeds and umbrellas for guests.
The breakfast & dinner situation
Breakfast is included with your room rate, and unlike smaller boutique hotels, this is a massive, incredibly diverse 5-star buffet served in their main restaurant.
I was honestly blown away by the selection. There are live cooking stations for fresh eggs, traditional Bulgarian pastries (you have to try the banitsa!), local fruits, cheeses, cold cuts, and great coffee. Everything tasted incredibly fresh, high-quality, and hearty enough to fuel you well past lunchtime.
What about dinner? If you are looking at booking a half-board package (which is exactly what we did!), you get an absolutely incredible dinner buffet included every single night.
The dinner buffet verdict: The dinner spread was seriously so delicious! There were so many traditional Bulgarian dishes to try, plus massive salad stations, hot entrees, an endless dessert bar, and even a self-serve ice cream trolley that we definitely visited more than once. It makes dining so easy and relaxing after a long day at the beach or exploring.
Our strategy for lunch: Because our breakfasts and dinners were fully sorted at the hotel, we used lunchtime as our perfect excuse to get out and explore the local food scene. We split our lunches between Varna city centre and the Riviera Holiday Club resort nearby, and we found absolute gems you have to try.
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An honest warning before you book: the public beach & parking factors
To actually help you plan your trip, I believe in 100% transparency. There are three minor details you should note before locking in your holiday:
The summer music & noise: Varna is a true four-season destination, and if you visit during the shoulder season or winter, it is incredibly quiet and peaceful, ideal for soaking in the region's famous thermal spa scene. However, if you visit during the peak summer months, be aware that nearby beach clubs play loud music in the evenings. In all honesty, Varna's coastline is just very lively at night in the summer! Even with that music, Saints Constantine and Helena is still easily one of the most peaceful, quiet, and relaxing areas to stay along the coast.
The beach setup: While the hotel has a lovely dedicated beach section with sunbeds, the immediate shoreline is public property. Visitors using towels on the sand can set up directly in front of the resort loungers. It didn’t bother us at all, but if you are expecting total exclusion, it is good to know ahead of time, as it can feel a little crowded during the peak summer months.
Parking surcharges: Secure on-site parking is available at the hotel, which makes day trips seamless, but it does come with a daily surcharge (around €7 per day). It’s convenient, but make sure to factor it into your budget!
Compare live prices for your dates
Because Astor Garden Hotel is one of the top luxury resorts in Saints Constantine and Helena, it is essential to book as early as possible, especially if you are planning a trip during the peak summer months of July and August.
Why we suggest using Vio: Booking platforms love to inflate their prices with extra markups or pressure you with fake urgency. We always head over to Vio because it compares prices across more than 100 major booking sites (like Booking.com, Expedia, and Agoda) side-by-side.
Book like an insider: It often surfaces wholesale pricing and travel industry deals that regular booking platforms don’t show you, ensuring you get the absolute lowest rate without any hidden fees.
Exploring beyond the beach
From the front steps of the hotel, you are perfectly positioned to experience some of the absolute best history and coastal adventures in northern Bulgaria. If you are ready to explore, here are the top spots to check out right on your doorstep:
Saints Constantine and Helena Monastery: You don’t even need to leave the resort area for this one! Tucked right into the neighbourhood, this historic Orthodox monastery is famous for its peaceful courtyard and its unique holy spring located right behind the altar.
Varna city centre: A short 15-minute drive or cheap local bus ride brings you straight into the energetic heart of the city. It is the perfect place to explore the grand Sea Garden park, visit the ancient Roman Baths, or grab lunch along the vibrant port promenade.
Aladzha Monastery: Located just a 10-minute drive north into the protected Golden Sands Nature Park, this is an incredible medieval cave monastery completely hewn into a massive, 40-meter-high limestone cliff face. If you aren’t renting a car, don’t worry because there are tours with pickups! Walking through the ancient rock-cut cells and chapels used by hermit monks in the 13th century is completely surreal.
Make sure to pop into the tiny souvenir shop on-site. There is an incredibly talented local craftsman there who makes beautiful, completely unique handcrafted art — it’s the perfect place to pick up an authentic keepsake from your trip!
Want to see our full list of regional highlights? Check out our complete travel guide: 11 Best Things to Do in Varna this Summer 2026 to plan your ultimate itinerary!
Which Bulgarian coast hotel is right for you?
Love the idea of waking up right next to the sea, but want to compare a few more properties and resort towns before making the final decision? We have done the heavy lifting for you. Check out the best areas to stay in Varna based on travel styles.
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