11 Best Things to Do in Varna (Fun & Unique Summer 2026!)
Sauna with views of the Black Sea in Varna
Varna is one of Bulgaria’s and Europe’s most underrated summer destinations. Sitting along the Black Sea coast, this lively seaside city blends beaches, history, culture, food, and surprisingly unique experiences all in one place. We recently spent four days in Varna, and we loved the balance between sightseeing, relaxation, and wellness throughout the trip.
In this guide, we’ve pulled together everything we really enjoyed about Varna, along with the must-do experiences you shouldn’t miss on your own summer trip.
Planning your trip to Varna?
We’ve gathered top-rated recommendations for transport, accommodation, services, and tours below:
- Best all-around: Astor Garden Hotel (9.4/10)
- Exclusive beachfront: Villa Chinka by Astor Garden Hotel - Adults Only (9.8/10)
- Boutique design: HVD Boutique Hotel Oasis (8.8/10)
1. Visit Dormition of the Mother of God Cathedral
This cathedral is right in the centre of Varna, and was built in the 19th century, shortly after Bulgaria was liberated from nearly five centuries of Ottoman rule.
This is hands down one of the most beautiful cathedrals we’ve ever seen. From the outside, the gold-plated domes immediately grab your attention, but we didn’t expect the interior to be even more stunning.
What surprised us was just how much detail there is; frescoes cover almost every surface, from the ceiling and walls to the arches and columns. We could have easily spent hours just taking it all in.
The cathedral is completely free to enter, and at the entrance, there’s a small shop if you’d like to buy a souvenir or make an offering.
2. Try traditional Bulgarian food
The best way to describe Bulgarian cuisine is a blend between Balkan, Mediterranean, Turkish and Eastern European influences, which makes it both comforting and surprisingly varied.
Two restaurants we tried and would definitely recommend are Staria Chinar (our favourite), located in the Port of Varna, where you can try fresh fish caught from the Black Sea, as well as delicious grilled meats. We’ve also written a separate post, Best Seaside Restaurant in Varna with Unique Black Sea Views, if you want to know more about Staria Chinar.
The second restaurant is La Terrasse, which is part of a boutique hotel called HVD Boutique Hotel Oasis. Even if you are not staying at the hotel, you can reserve a table and enjoy the sophisticated food and breathtaking views. The easiest way of getting there is by taxi or by car. If you’d like to see more food spots, landmarks, spas, parks, beaches and more, we’ve created a Google Maps list for Varna with over 70 locations to help make your trip smoother.
3. Varna Archaeological Museum
This museum is great for properly understanding Varna’s history. It covers thousands of years and holds the oldest processed gold in the world, making it one of its most popular exhibitions.
We spent around 1 hour 30 minutes here, and what really stood out to us was that all the artefacts are original and were discovered in Varna and the surrounding area.
Ticket prices appeared very reasonable at €10 for adults (definitely worth it!), but what we recommend, and actually what we did, is book a guided tour with Alexander (if you mention you found him through us, he’ll be very happy). There’s a lot of history and small details, which are easier to understand when a knowledgeable guide engagingly shares them.
4. Enjoying the hotel and beach
We stayed at Astor Garden Hotel, a five-star hotel in the resort of St. Constantine and Helena. The area is known for its quieter, more exclusive feel, mineral water springs, and harmonious architecture.
Without a doubt, this hotel is a 10/10, and yes, we took a lot of photos because it’s that kind of place. Every detail is thought through, and the feeling of peace and relaxation is unmatched. We booked half board and honestly felt like kings. We filled ourselves up at the breakfast and dinner buffet and barely had to think about food for the rest of the day.
One of the highlights is how close it is to the beach (just a 2-minute walk), but our favourite perk was the free access to Aquahouse Thermal & Beach, where we spent most of our time. It’s the perfect combination: wellness with breathtaking views. If you’re interested, we’ve written a separate blog which includes more details about Astor Garden Hotel, Best Hotels in Varna with a Private Beach (2026 Guide).
5. Visit the Stone Forest
Pobiti Kamani (the Stone Forest) really shocked us. It’s a desert with stone columns in the middle of nowhere. One theory suggests this entire area was once covered by an ancient sea millions of years ago, and that’s why there’s sand.
There are no direct city buses to the Stone Forest, so the easiest way to get there is by taxi or car. For the best car rental deals, we always use QEEQ since it’s easy to use and has transparent pricing with no hidden fees. Otherwise, you can book a guided tour with transport included that takes you to both Pobiti Kamani and Aladzha Monastery (more about this in point 9).
6. Explore the Roman Thermae of Varna
This is one of the most historically important places in Varna. The largest Roman baths in Bulgaria and among the fourth biggest (approximately 7,000 square metres) preserved Roman ruins in Europe.
Our favourite part was being able to freely explore the grounds at our own pace (we like to take a lot of pictures hehe). Tickets cost €4 for adults, and we spent around 1 hour exploring.
7. Walk around Varna’s city centre
Varna’s city centre is not your typical tourist-oriented city centre. It still feels very much local, and it sits above Roman ruins. If you don’t believe us, go to Starbucks and see them through the glass floor.
Roman remains underneath Starbucks in Varna
Definitely don’t miss walking by the ul. "Preslav", the Independence Square, bul. "Knyaz Boris I", the Armenian Orthodox Church and Dormition of the Mother of God (The old church). These and more places have been included in our Google Maps list for Varna, so don’t forget to check it out.
Varna: 70+ Best Locations
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8. Join a free walking tour
We’ve actually never done a free walking tour before, but in Varna, we decided to join it, and it was the best decision ever. We learned so much, and our guide, Hristina (who also does private and group tours of Varna), spoke excellent English and made the tour super engaging. They last around 2 hours, and are organised by the actual Tourist Centre of Varna, so it’s licensed and local expert guides sharing knowledgeable information.
The meeting point is at the Tourist Information Centre, and you don’t need to pre-book. You just turn up and enjoy. You can find the schedule here, towards the end of the page.
The first free walking tour of Varna in 2026
9. Visit Aladzha Monastery
Hidden within the forest near Golden Sands Resort is Aladzha Monastery, a medieval monastery carved directly into the cliffs, where monks once lived and preached.
Today, it’s an incredible place to visit, surrounded by nature and offering unique views towards the Black Sea.
There’s also a small museum and souvenir shop on site, where we picked up a handmade, painted egg featuring St. George, the protector of the monastery.
Getting there requires either a taxi or a car, although you can also book a guided tour that includes both the Aladzha Monastery and Pobiti Kamani.
10. Explore the Sea Garden
This is definitely one of our favourite places, the Sea Garden. It combines landscaped gardens, walking paths, cafés, viewpoints, and cultural venues across a huge waterfront area.
This is a park where locals genuinely come to spend time, do exercise and enjoy the good weather.
At the Sea Garden, you can also find the Naval Museum, Public Astronomical Observatory & Planetarium Nicolaus Copernicus, Morsko Casino and the Pantheon, amongst other sites.
11. Varna Port
Last but not least, Varna Port. A waterfront that offers a leisure area with restaurants, bars, open spaces, and a small amusement park.
This is also where we spotted a dolphin just two hours before our return flight, which felt like the perfect ending to the trip.
It’s a lovely place for a stroll, especially since it connects to the Sea Garden through Varna Beach, creating one long scenic walk along the coast. We also noticed plenty of locals fishing here, and it was surprisingly entertaining watching them catch fish straight from the waterfront.
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