Varna Attractions
Varna Dolphinarium is the only dolphinarium on the Balkan Peninsula and its daily shows are a star attraction, particularly with younger visitors. Its aluminium and glass construction allows visitors to wonder at the intelligence and playfulness of these graceful, serene sea mammals.
The Sea Garden is a 19th century park that separates the city of Varna from the beach and features playgrounds and a boating lake. The Sea Garden is also home to the Astronomical Observatory and Planetarium, dedicated to the Polish scholar Nicolaus Copernicus. A monument to Copernicus stands at the planetarium entrance. In the summer regular shows and concerts take place in the open air theatre in the Sea Garden.
The city of Varna was part of the Roman Empire and the Romans made use of nearby geothermal springs for Roman baths. Indeed there is every indication that the Roman baths in Varna were once one of the largest and most imposing buildings in the eastern part of the empire. Visitors today can marvel at the ingenuity of Roman engineering and gain an insight into what life was like at the baths in those ancient times.
Elsewhere the Cathedral of the Assumption of the Virgin in the heart of the city is the second largest cathedral in Bulgaria and dates from the 19th century. The cathedral features golden domes, fine carvings, murals and stained glass. Weddings ceremonies are performed in the cathedral on Sundays.
Nezavisimost Square also in the hub of the city is a popular tourist destination and is dominated by a Viennese style opera house. Tickets for the opera are available fairly cheaply.
For local residents Varna does not really come alive until the sun goes down. Nightlife is quite vibrant with many beer houses and clubs playing a wide variety of music until the early hours of the morning. A wide variety of beers and other beverages is also on offer at reasonable prices.
Some 11 miles to the west of Varna, in the direction of Sofia, lies the Petrified or Stone Forest. This is a unique natural phenomenon where the limestone columns are actually prehistoric trees, petrified or fossilized in their natural, upright positions. At first glance the remains look rather like the ruins of an ancient city.
Holiday Accommodation in Varna
Whatever the size of your party or your budget, you will find holiday rental accommodation to suit, both in and around the city of Varna. One or two bedroom apartments, sleeping between three and six people, can be found in modern apartment buildings in the city centre or literally within feet of sandy beaches. Larger holiday accommodation, such as four bedroom cottages or five bedroom villas, can similarly be found in quieter rural locations yet still in close proximity to the city and to the sea.
