Stone Forest (Pobiti Kamani) near Varna: hours, €3 entry, how to get there

The Stone Forest (Pobiti Kamani) is a field of natural stone columns about 18 km west of Varna (Visit Varna), right beside the A2 motorway near the village of Slanchevo. Entry is €3 for adults; in November it is open 10:00–17:00 (closed Monday and Tuesday), in December by reservation only, and from January to April 10:00–18:00 (closed Sunday and Monday). The easiest way there is by car or taxi; most visitors spend about an hour.

What is the Stone Forest?

Pobiti Kamani (“stones beaten into the ground”) is a natural phenomenon: groups of hollow-looking stone pillars, some several metres tall, standing straight out of sandy ground. Visit Varna, the city’s official tourism site, says scientists still debate how they formed. The prevailing theory is that they are the remains of sea sediments about 50 million years old, eroded by rain and shaped by wind once the water receded; a minority view argues for an organic, fossil-forest origin. The Russian historian Victor Teplyakov described the site in 1829. The visitor area is the central group, managed by the Varna Regional History Museum.

Opening hours and tickets (as of 2026-10)

Period	Hours	Closed
May–October	10:00–19:30	Monday, Tuesday
November	10:00–17:00	Monday, Tuesday
December	by prior reservation only	–
January–April	10:00–18:00	Sunday, Monday

Tickets: adults €3, students €2, adults in groups of more than 15 €2, children under 7 free. A talk for groups of up to 50 costs €10. Entry is free on days set by order of the Ministry of Culture or Varna Municipality. Tickets are sold only at the box office, not online. The winter schedule was published by the museum in November 2024, so check museumvarna.com before a winter visit.

How do I get to the Stone Forest from Varna?

• By car: take the A2 (Hemus) motorway west towards Shumen and Sofia and leave at the Slanchevo / Banovo area; the drive takes roughly 20 minutes. There is parking at the entrance. See driving to Varna for road rules and the vignette.
• By taxi: agree on a return trip with waiting time, or ask the driver to come back; there is no taxi rank at the site.
• By bus: Visit Varna mentions line 43 to the “Razklon Banovo” stop in Slanchevo. It is not one of the regular city lines listed on Varna Traffic and we could not confirm a timetable, so do not rely on it.
• On a tour: many day tours and private guides from Varna and the resorts include Pobiti Kamani; compare what is included.

How long should I spend there?

Allow about an hour for the marked paths and photos. The ground is sandy and there is little shade, so bring water, a hat and sunscreen in summer. Light is best in the late afternoon and around sunset, which the official tourism site singles out as a highlight; in summer the site stays open until 19:30.

Can I combine it with a winery?

Yes. Visit Varna lists the boutique Prisoe Winery “near the Pobiti Kamani (Stone Forest) area”, less than a kilometre from the central group. Contact the winery in advance to ask about tastings, and if you plan to drink, let someone else drive: Bulgaria has strict drink-driving rules. For local wine and rakia tips, read Bulgarian drinks.

Planning tips

• Visit Wednesday to Saturday in winter: those are the only days open both in November and in January–April.
• In December, call or write to the museum to book before setting off.
• With a car, continue west to the Madara Rider and Shumen for a full day. More ideas: top 10 sights in Varna.