Varna at a glance: everything you need to know

Varna is Bulgaria’s third-largest city and the biggest city on the Bulgarian Black Sea coast. Around 311,000 people lived in the city at the 2021 census, and it is home to the country’s largest port. Since 1 January 2026 Bulgaria uses the euro, so prices in Varna are in euros.

Where is Varna?

Varna lies in north-eastern Bulgaria, on a wide bay where Lake Varna meets the Black Sea (43°13′N 27°55′E). The beach resorts of St Constantine and Helena and Golden Sands lie just north of the city, and Sofia lies on the far western side of the country (how to get there).

Key facts for visitors

Population	310,664 (city, 2021 census); 319,613 (municipality)
Language	Bulgarian, written in Cyrillic; English is common in tourism
Currency	Euro (€); old lev notes can still be exchanged free at the Bulgarian National Bank
Time zone	Eastern European Time, UTC+2; UTC+3 in summer
Country calling code	+359 (Varna area code 52)
Emergency	112

What is the climate like?

Varna has warm summers and cool winters. According to the climate table on Wikipedia, July averages a daytime high of about 29 °C and January about 7 °C. The sea warms to around 24–25 °C in July, which makes June to September the main beach season.

Why is Varna called the “sea capital”?

Varna is nicknamed Bulgaria’s “marine capital” and “summer capital”. It combines a working port, naval and maritime schools, the long seaside park called the Sea Garden and miles of beaches within city limits. It was European Youth Capital in 2017.

Where can I get help on arrival?

The municipal Tourist Information Center is on St Cyril and Methodius Square in the centre, near the cathedral. In summer (May–September) it is open daily from 09:00 to 18:00; from October to April it opens on weekdays.

Where next?

Read our guides to Varna’s history, the top 10 sights and how to get here.