Varna — the city of gold and the sea
The largest city on our Black Sea coast is more than beaches and resorts. Here the world's oldest worked gold was discovered, and the Sea Garden is the oldest seaside park in the Balkans.
More than a beach
Varna is the city where every journey along the North Black Sea Coast begins. Bulgaria's sea capital blends millennia of history with a modern summer rhythm — in a single afternoon you can move from the ruins of Roman baths through the halls of the world's oldest gold and end up on the beach at sunset.
The city was founded by Greeks in the 6th century BC under the name Odessos. For centuries its port linked Thrace with the whole ancient world, and today Varna is a lively, sunny city of universities, festivals and a long beach strip. For many people, summer simply isn't summer unless they have walked at least once along the alleys of the Sea Garden.
The Sea Garden
The oldest seaside park in the Balkans, opened in 1881, is the heart of summer Varna. Eight kilometres of shady alleys run past palms, a swan lake, an aquarium, a dolphinarium and even an observatory. High above the sea, right on the edge of the shore, stands the Summer Theatre, hosting concerts and shows every summer.
The park links the city to the beach and the port. The sea baths, the old casinos and the fairground alleys keep the spirit of elegant Varna from the early last century — back then the city was the favourite summer resort of the European bohemia.
The Roman baths
In the very centre of the city rise the remains of the third-largest Roman baths in Europe — only those in Rome and Trier were bigger. The baths were built in the 2nd–3rd century, when Odessos was an important centre of the province. Today the marble floors and brick walls tell of the everyday life of the ancient inhabitants, who came here not only to wash but also to exercise, meet friends and strike deals.
A walk among the ruins is free and one of the most impressive sights in the city. From the high terrace a panorama opens over the whole area, and in the evening the baths are lit up and look completely different.
Third largest in Europe
After Rome and Trier — proof of the importance of ancient Odessos.
Centre of public life
The baths were a place for sport, meetings and trade, not just bathing.
Free access
The ruins are open for a walk without an entrance fee.
The world's oldest gold
In 1972 a chance find during construction work in Varna's industrial zone changed archaeologists' view of prehistoric Europe. More than 3,000 gold objects weighing over 6 kilograms were found in the Varna necropolis — the oldest worked gold on the planet, dated to 4600–4200 BC.
Today the finds are kept in Varna's Regional History Museum. Alongside the gold there is a rich collection of ancient pottery, icons and ethnographic items, and above the entrance doors glows the hall dedicated to ancient Odessos.
☀ The gold of Varna
The world's oldest worked gold was found near Varna and is 3,000 years older than Troy. Part of it can be seen in the museum — one of the most iconic experiences on the whole Black Sea coast.
The cathedral and the dolphinarium
Cathedral of the Dormition of the Theotokos
The city's main cathedral, built in 1886 to mark the Liberation. Its golden domes are visible from afar, and inside magnificent murals await you.
The dolphinarium
The first dolphinarium in the Balkans, opened in 1984 — Black Sea bottlenose dolphin shows several times a day in summer.
The sea station and port
The picturesque port, the ferries and the new cultural quarter around the old dock area — the place of the sunset in Varna.
Gallery
Useful information
| Airport | Varna Airport — about 9 km from the centre |
|---|---|
| Sea Garden | Free access, all year round |
| Roman baths | Free access, all year round |
| History Museum | Opening hours by season, entrance ticket |
| Dolphinarium | Summer shows — check the time in advance |
| Nearest resorts | Golden Sands (18 km), St. Constantine & Helena (10 km) |