How Expensive is Varna? What to Expect for Your Trip
This post contains affiliate links or ads, meaning we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Our recommendations are purely our honest opinion and never influenced by companies or incentives. Read our full policy.
Max and I in front of Varna sign at the Sea Garden
Planning a trip to the Bulgarian Black Sea coast but not sure how much cash to set aside? We recently spent an incredible 5-day getaway in Varna and the nearby Saints Constantine and Helena area. We came away completely blown away by the incredible value it offers, especially when compared to the skyrocketing costs of traditional European beach hubs like Spain, Greece, or Italy.
When you're trying to figure out a travel budget, you want real-world information, not just abstract guesses. While we were on the ground, we paid close attention to menu averages, hotel price ranges, local transit fees, attraction entries, and day-to-day operational costs.
In this guide, we’re breaking down what things actually cost in Varna right now, where to spend, where to save, and how to plan a brilliant coastal escape without a single financial surprise.
Why choose Varna for a coastal break?
Often referred to as the “Marine Capital of Bulgaria”, Varna blends a lively, historic port city with beautiful beach resort neighbourhoods that stretch out along the coast.
What does “resort” mean here? When people hear the word resort, they usually think of one single, closed-off hotel building. In Varna, a resort area is actually more like a mini-town or a dedicated coastal district filled with different hotels, restaurants, shops, and parks that you can freely walk around.
Location of main resorts in Varna
Just 10 minutes up the road sits Saints Constantine and Helena, the exact resort area where we stayed. It is a quiet, beautiful getaway famous for its thick, green gardens and healing natural hot springs. We absolutely loved basing ourselves here, but the right spot for you will vary depending on your budget and the exact type of holiday you want.
What accommodation actually costs in Varna
To give you an idea of what to budget per night, here is a realistic look at Varna's accommodation brackets (based on average rates):
Budget hostels & guesthouses (€15 - €35 per night): Perfect for solo travellers and backpackers. Highly-rated central spots like Nomado Hostel or Hostel Musala let you stay right in the heart of the historic centre for accessible prices.
Mid-range hotels & apartments (€50 - €90 per night): This bracket gives you incredible value. You can easily bag a modern private apartment near the Sea Garden or a comfortable 3-star beachside hotel like Albizia Hotel.
Affordable 5-Star luxury (€95 - €160+ per night): This is where Varna shines. In Spain or Greece, a top-tier premium wellness resort will easily empty your wallet. In Varna's coastal resort areas, world-class thermal spa hotels are accessible even on a modest budget.
Varna stays we recommend in Saints Constantine and Helena
If you want to experience that high-end spa luxury for a fraction of the usual price, these are our top three favourite properties from the area we stayed in:
Ultimate boutique luxury: Villa Chinka by Astor Garden Hotel (Adults Only) — Striking, design-forward beach chalets right on the waves.
Premium wellness resort: Astor Garden Hotel (where we stayed; you can read the full review before you book) — Beautifully modern luxury with top-tier mineral pools.
World-class thermal spa: Ensana Aquahouse — A massive wellness paradise fed directly by natural thermal springs.
Hotel prices fluctuate based on seasonality. The peak summer rush (July and August) brings the highest rates, but visiting during the shoulder months (late May, June, or September) unlocks premium luxury rooms at incredible discounts. To map out prices across all platforms instantly, we highly recommend checking rates using Vio to snag hidden deals.
The real cost breakdown: Getting around
Between decoding Cyrillic road signs, guessing local bus routes, and trying to avoid overcharged airport taxis, planning your transit in Varna can get overwhelming quickly.
Depending on your travel style, you have a few excellent options:
Renting a car: Expect to pay €20 to €70 per day for the rental (highly dependent on the season), plus around €1.45 per litre for fuel. It's the ultimate choice for total freedom along the coast. We always use QEEQ to compare local rates and lock in transparent pricing.
Private airport transfers: If you want a fixed-price ride straight to your resort lobby without taxi stand lines or language barriers, pre-book a driver via GetTransfer.com, and you can expect to pay €15 - €30.
Local public buses: Shockingly reliable and cheap! Tickets cost just €1 to €1.30. Avoid carrying loose cash and coins by downloading the official Ticket Varna app to buy tickets directly on your phone.
Don't forget the parking costs: If you do decide to rent a car, you need to budget for parking in the city centre. Varna uses a paid “blue zone” system. Parking costs 1 BGN (around €0.50) per hour, up to a maximum of 3 hours. You can pay via the official Mpark mobile app or by sending an SMS from a local Bulgarian SIM. If you leave the city centre for resort areas like Golden Sands or Saints Constantine and Helena, expect to pay for private resort parking lots around €5 to €20 per day.
You can read in more detail about renting a car and your transport options in Varna.
Let us build your perfect, stress-free itinerary
If you're tired of spending hours researching, reading through generic "top 10" blogs, or trying to piece together a realistic daily route, let us handle it. We turn your unique preferences into a simple, seamless day-by-day plan for just £12 per day.
What you'll get:
Eating and drinking
Bulgarian cuisine is fresh, incredibly flavourful, and super affordable. Even when we ate at our favourite waterfront restaurant, we got generous portion sizes at an exceptional value.
Casual meals & beachside snacks: A hearty bowl of traditional Shopska salad (tomatoes, cucumbers, and grated white brine cheese) or a cold draft local beer typically runs between €3 and €6.
Mid-range restaurants: A wonderful sit-down dinner featuring local grilled meats, fresh Black Sea mussels, or wood-fired pizzas averages around €12 to €22 per person.
Premium fine dining: If you treat yourself to upscale seafood spots or premium multi-course menus inside luxury resorts, expect to spend around €30 to €50 per person.
The ultimate shortcut to exploring the coast
For those who prefer to explore at their own pace without the hours of planning, we’ve pinned our absolute favourite spots onto a custom Varna Google Maps list with over 70 curated locations — including hidden local food spots, bars, scenic landmarks, and thermal spas — that you can sync straight to your phone with a single click.
Varna: 70+ Best Locations
Discover the top food spots, landmarks, spas, beaches and more with our custom Google Maps list for Varna. Over 70 filtered locations for less than €3.50, literally less than the price of a coffee!
Instant delivery. Compatible with any device.
What to budget for activities and tour experiences
If you want to break up your beach or pool days to see the sights, you don't have to worry about complicated transit lines or driving logistics. Varna has many incredible things to do, but booking a structured day tour or excursion is an incredibly stress-free middle ground, and it is remarkably affordable compared to typical European holiday spots.
Here is what you can expect to pay for top experiences:
Half-day guided tours: A comprehensive trip out to iconic locations like the mysterious Stone Forest or the cliffside Aladzha Monastery usually costs around €30 to €45 per person, including your transport and an expert guide.
Boat trips & cruises: Fun thematic excursions like a sunset cruise with drinks average between €16 to €25 per person.
Full-day historic day trips: Deep-dive excursions to neighbouring highlights like Cape Kaliakra, Balchik Palace, or the ancient town of Nessebar generally run from €55 to €160 per person.
We highly recommend browsing the top-rated excursions on GetYourGuide to lock in your spots early.
Because we love helping you save wherever possible on your holiday budget, you can use our exclusive discount code CARMAADVENTURES5 at checkout to save 5% off any of your activities and tours! This code is only valid when you download and book through the free GetYourGuide app.
Going independently: Sightseeing & landmark costs
What if you prefer a purely independent trip without structured tours? Getting to know Varna's deep history on your own feet is incredibly cheap.
We actually joined the local free walking tour during our stay — a first for us — and it was easily one of the best decisions we made. Organised by the official Tourist Centre of Varna, these 2-hour walks are led by licensed local experts who really know their stuff.
If you prefer to explore on your own afterwards, entry fees are very affordable:
Dormition of the Mother of God Cathedral: Entering Varna's iconic landmark to view the stunning Orthodox frescoes is entirely FREE, though it costs around €2.50 if you want to take photos inside.
Varna Archaeological Museum: A ticket costs €10. This is an absolute must-visit to see the oldest human-processed gold treasure in the entire world, dating back over 6,000 years!
The Roman Thermae (Baths): A ticket costs just €4, giving you entry to the largest ancient Roman public bath complex in the Balkans, which dates all the way back to the late 2nd century.
Aladzha Monastery: For €5, you can visit a remarkable medieval cave monastery complex carved completely into a towering 40-meter-high limestone cliff.
The Stone Forest (Pobiti Kamani): A trip out here costs only €3, allowing you to walk among a surreal, eerie landscape of naturally formed hollow stone columns scattered out in the desert sands.
Beach costs & thermal day passes
If you aren't staying at a resort that includes private beach access, or if you just want to drop by a different stretch of sand for the day, you'll need to factor in local beach fees.
Sunbed & umbrella rentals: On public beach strips (like Varna Central Beach), renting a single sunbed or an umbrella usually costs around €3.50 to €5.00 each per day. If you are a couple wanting two beds and one umbrella, budget around €10 to €15 per day.
Thermal spa day passes: If you book a budget hostel or a standard apartment but still want to experience Varna's famous natural hot springs, you can easily buy a day pass to a premium facility. A full-day pass to a world-class thermal complex like Aquahouse Thermal & Beach runs between €25 to €35 per person, , depending on the day of the week and how long you stay.
The verdict: Is Varna expensive?
The short answer is absolutely not. Varna remains one of Europe’s best-kept secrets for travellers who love upscale wellness, rich cultural history, and relaxing beach days without a massive price tag. It allows you to access five-star comforts on a mid-range budget. By coordinating your transport early, grabbing an eSIM ahead of time, and locking in your stays on reliable platforms, you can experience an incredible Bulgarian summer getaway completely stress-free.
If you found this guide helpful and want to help us keep this blog running, you can support our work here.
We truly appreciate every bit of love! If you have additional questions about Varna, do not hesitate to drop them in the comments section below!
