Varna, Bulgaria

Varna is the largest city on the Bulgarian Black Sea Coast, third-largest in Bulgaria after Sofia and Plovdiv. The modern city is both a shipyard and port for commercial freighters and the navy, and a riviera town visited by tourists of every nationality. It's a cosmopolitan place and a nice one to stroll through: Baroque, turn-of-the-century and contemporary architecture pleasantly blended with shady promenades.

Social life revolves around the Ploshtad Nezavisimost, where the opera house and theatre provide a backdrop for an ensemble of restaurants and cafés. The square is the starting point of Varna's evening promenade, which flows eastward from here along Bul Knyaz Boris I towards Bul Slivnitsa and the seaside gardens.

Things to See & Do

* Sea Park
* Waterfront promenade
* City beaches
* Euxinograd palace
* Ploshtad Nezavisimost

General Information

Cruise Season - Feb to Dec
Currency - Lev (BGN)
Language - Bulgarian
Land Area - 205 km²
Population - 350,000 approx.
Electricity - 2 round pins European style
Time - GMT/UTC plus two hours
International Country Telephone Code - +359

Port Location - Cruise terminal is located near city centre, close to train station, walking distance to Sea Garden and beaches.

Travel Links - Varna is located 8 km west of the city centre. Easy bus and taxi connection to city centre and resorts are available.

The central train station is located within walking distance from city centre and cruise terminal, there is bus and taxi connection to airport, bus stations, and resorts. Regular connections to/from Sofia, Plovdiv, and Ruse. International trains to/from Prague (Czech Republic), Krakow (Poland), Moscow, and Saratov (Russia).

There are two bus stations in Varna, one serving the local area and one for longer connections to Sofia, Veliko Tarnovo, Burgas, Plovdiv, Istanbul, Greece, Romania, Central and Western Europe. They aren't that easy to find, so take a taxi. As you approach them from the city centre, the station to the left is the local one, to the right is the long distance one.

There are ferry lines (buses only) to Ukraine and Georgia.