Is Renting a Car in Varna Worth It? (Transit Options & Costs Breakdown)
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Cars in front of Dormition of the Mother of God Cathedral in Varna
Let’s be real: figuring out how to get around a new coastal city shouldn't feel like a complex puzzle. But between navigating Cyrillic road signs, guessing local bus routes, and trying not to get overcharged by airport taxis, planning your transit in Varna can feel a bit overwhelming.
If you are planning a trip to Bulgaria’s beautiful Black Sea coast and figuring out what a Varna holiday actually costs, you are probably wondering: Do I actually need to rent a car, or can I get by on public transport and taxis?
The short answer? It completely depends on your travel style. If you want to spend your entire trip relaxing at a beachfront spa resort, you don't need one. But if you want to explore ancient cliffside monasteries, desert landscapes, and hidden coastal towns at your own pace, a car is a total game-changer.
Here is our honest breakdown of Varna’s transit options, real costs, and exactly how to choose what's right for your holiday vibe.
In a hurry? Plan your transit instantly!
We’ve gathered our top-rated recommendations for navigating around Varna hassle-free below:
Option 1: Renting a car
If you like the idea of waking up, packing a bag, and driving out to enjoy some of the best things to do in Varna, nature, or quieter northern beaches without checking a timetable, renting a car is 100% worth it.
Our go-to platform for car rentals
After renting cars all over the world, our top recommendation, and the platform we personally use, is QEEQ. Think of it like Skyscanner but specifically for car rentals. It pulls together the absolute best deals from massive global brands and highly rated local Bulgarian suppliers into one easy-to-navigate site.
Here is why it makes renting so much easier:
Transparent pricing: What you see is what you pay. There are no sudden platform markups or hidden fees magically added at checkout.
Travel “worry-free” service: If a desk agent tries to hit you with high-pressure up-sells or unauthorised extra charges when you arrive, QEEQ’s support team steps in to handle the dispute and refund you the difference.
The $1 price freeze: If you see an incredible deal but aren't totally locked into your travel dates yet, you can hold that exact price for just $1. Even better, if the price drops before your trip, they automatically refund you the difference.
The real cost breakdown
Daily rental rate: Around €20 to €70 per day (depending heavily on whether you visit in the quiet shoulder months or the peak summer July/August rush).
Fuel costs: Expect to pay around €1.20 to €1.45 per litre for standard unleaded. Since Bulgaria is highly compact, a single tank will easily cover a week of coastal exploring.
On-site resort parking: Most premium hotels (like Astor Garden Hotel in Saints Constantine and Helena) offer secure, private parking for around €7 per day.
If you aren't a highly confident driver, choose a small, compact car model. While the main highways are wide and straightforward, some of the coastal resort lanes and winding mountain tracks leading up to nature parks can get quite narrow.
Want to skip the hours of planning, bypass the tourist traps, and navigate the coast exactly like an insider? We’ve pinned our absolute favourite spots onto a custom Google Maps list for Varna, featuring over 70 curated locations, including hidden local food spots, bars, historic landmarks, thermal spas, and more.
Varna: 70+ Best Locations
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Option 2: Pre-booked private transfers
If you are skipping the car rental but still want your arrival completely sorted from the second you land, pre-booking a private vehicle transfer is the smartest move you can make.
We highly recommend using GetTransfer.com for this. It eliminates the stress of standing in long airport queues or trying to negotiate rates with random airport taxi drivers who spot arriving tourists.
The real cost breakdown
The rates are fixed, transparent, and incredibly reasonable for a private vehicle:
Varna airport to Varna city centre: around €15.
Varna Airport to Saints Constantine and Helena: around €25.
Varna Airport to Golden Sands / Riviera Holiday Club: around €30.
Option 3: Local taxis
Once you are already settled in, local taxis are great for quick, occasional point-to-point trips. Varna city centre itself is heavily walkable, so a taxi is generally only needed if you are moving between different areas with heavy bags or heading out for a nice dinner.
The real cost breakdown
Average 15-minute city trip: A quick ride from the historic Varna city centre (right by the gorgeous Dormition of the Mother of God Cathedral) out to the nearby coastal resort strips generally costs around €10 to €15.
Word of warning: Always make sure the driver turns the meter on before the car starts moving, or agree on a firm price before you hop inside!
Local taxi hailing apps: Hippo Taxi, Triumf Taxi, and Moby App.
Option 4: Buses & public transit
Varna’s public transport system is impressively organised, clean, and cheap. It is the perfect choice for solo travellers, budget backpackers, or families who don't mind structuring their afternoon around a fixed timetable.
The Ticket Varna app
Forget messing around with physical change, carrying paper tickets, or struggling with older ticket machines on the street. Download the official Ticket Varna app on your phone. You can load it up, buy your digital tickets instantly, and simply show the ticket on the app to the controller. It is incredibly beginner-friendly.
Key routes & fares
Bus No. 409 (the airport express): This is the ultimate budget hack. It picks up right outside Terminal 2 at Varna Airport and travels straight through the city centre, continues out to Saints Constantine and Helena, and ends all the way up at Golden Sands.
Bus No. 31a (the resort shuttle): Perfect for travellers staying in Saints Constantine and Helena who want to pop into the city centre for sightseeing. It runs at fixed 40-minute intervals throughout the day.
The cost: A single bus ticket costs just a couple of Bulgarian Leva (roughly €1 to €1.50), making it an unbeatable deal.
Option 5: Guided day tours
If your absolute main priority is checking into a stunning spa hotel and spending 90% of your time relaxing on a sunbed, renting a car might feel like overkill. But what if you still want to break up your pool days to see iconic spots like the mysterious Stone Forest or the cliffside Aladzha Monastery?
This is where skipping transit logistics entirely and booking a structured excursion is the perfect middle ground.
How it works: There are fantastic guided excursions available on GetYourGuide that handle everything for you, including picking you up directly from your hotel lobby, providing an expert English-speaking guide, and taking care of all your entry tickets.
Save on your booking: Because we want to help you save wherever possible, you can use our exclusive discount code CARMAADVENTURES5 at checkout to get 5% off any of your activities and tours! This code is only valid when you download and book through the free GetYourGuide app.
Want a completely stress-free, custom plan?
Trying to piece together your own daily transit routes, entry timings, and dining spots can take hours of endless research. If you want to skip the guesswork entirely, let us do the heavy lifting for you!
We offer a Custom Travel Itinerary service for just €12 per itinerary day. It is 100% bespoke and tailored entirely around your personal travel style, budget, and exact needs. Whether you are travelling as a couple looking for romance or a family needing kid-friendly spaces, we’ll help build your dream getaway!
A full day-by-day itinerary, built around you, for a fraction of the cost of a travel agent.
Skip the hours of research. Every recommendation in your itinerary comes from trips we've actually taken, not guesswork, not generic "top 10" lists. Tell us your preferences, and we'll turn it into a simple day-by-day plan: where to go, what to do, where to eat — sorted.
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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!
