Aladzha Monastery opening hours, tickets and how to get there (2026)
Aladzha Monastery: €5 adults, €3 students; open 10:00–17:00 in November (closed Mon/Tue), shut 1 Dec–28 Feb. 17 km north of Varna near Golden Sands.
Day trips from Varna: coast, monasteries, resorts
Day trips from Varna along the coast and inland: Aladzha Monastery, the Stone Forest, Balchik, Kaliakra, Madara, Nessebar and the beach resorts.
Sources: Visit Varna · Varna Bus Station · Regional Museum of History Varna · UNESCO World Heritage
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Varna to Albena by bus: beach, Aquamania and who the resort suits
Albena is a family beach resort 30 km north of Varna. Kranevo buses leave Varna every 2 hours; only one daily bus stops in Albena itself.
Balchik Palace and Botanical Garden: Queen Marie's seaside retreat
Balchik Palace, Queen Marie of Romania's 1920s–30s seaside retreat, is about 50 km from Varna. Tickets: €10 palace plus €10 garden (Oct 2026).
Golden Sands or Sunny Beach (or Albena)? Which resort suits you
Golden Sands for nightlife near Varna, Sunny Beach for the biggest party, Albena for families and calm. Distances, buses and Blue Flags (Oct 2026).
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Madara Rider from Varna: a UNESCO and Shumen day trip
The Madara Rider and Shumen are an easy day trip from Varna by train, bus or car: a UNESCO rock relief, Bulgaria's largest mosque and a hilltop fortress.
Cape Kaliakra and the north coast: Tyulenovo, Shabla, Krapets, Durankulak
Cape Kaliakra's 70 m cliffs, the Tyulenovo rock arch, Shabla lighthouse and the wild beaches of Krapets and Durankulak, from Varna to Vama Veche.
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Stone Forest (Pobiti Kamani) near Varna: hours, €3 entry, how to get there
The Stone Forest (Pobiti Kamani) is 18 km west of Varna: entry €3, in November 10:00–17:00 (closed Mon–Tue), in December by reservation only.
Spa hotel Varna: thermal spas in Golden Sands and St Constantine (winter)
Varna's spas sit in St Constantine and Golden Sands on 40–60 °C mineral water. Easiest day visit: Aquahouse, 14 pools, €31 a day. Winter picks, Oct 2026.
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Varna to Nessebar and Sunny Beach: buses, times and day-trip tips
No boat runs from Varna to Nessebar: take the bus, about 1h45 to Sunny Beach and 2h to Nessebar, from about €9.50. Times, prices and Old Town sights.
Golden Sands and St Constantine and Helena: Varna's resort coast
Just north of Varna lie St Constantine and Helena, Bulgaria's oldest resort with warm mineral springs, and Golden Sands, set in a protected forest.