Boat trips from Varna: bay cruises, Balchik and the Kamchia river

A Varna boat trip almost always starts at the Sea Station (Morska Gara), the passenger terminal of the port, beside the city beach. From here operators run bay and sunset cruises, themed party cruises and yacht charters; one published example, the 1.5-hour sunset cruise of Varna Party Boats, costs €16 for adults and €12 for children aged 2–12 (operator site, as of 2 November 2026). Further afield you can cruise along the resort coast, take a small boat on the Kamchia river or join an organised trip to Balchik and Cape Kaliakra.

Where do boats leave from?

• Sea Station (Morska Gara), Varna. The Port of Varna runs it as its passenger terminal, serving passenger and cruise ships and yachts. Several operators listed by the municipal portal Visit Varna, Varna Party Boats among them, have their office here. It is a short walk from the Sea Garden and the city beach. There is paid parking at the terminal with the first 15 minutes free; the operator’s FAQ gives the car entrance from bul. Primorski (“Port Varna”), near Varna railway station.
• St Constantine and Helena. The ship Mladena runs coastal cruises from this resort just north of the city (Visit Varna). See Golden Sands and St Constantine for the resort coast.
• Kamchia river mouth. The river reaches the sea 25 km south of Varna (Wikipedia), in Avren Municipality.

What kinds of boat trips are there?

Bay and sunset cruises. The classic option: one to a few hours on a sailing ship or motor boat in Varna Bay. Varna Party Boats sails the caravel Pinta Varna, the schooner Arabela and the ship Sveti Toma. Its sunset cruise includes a glass of wine or sparkling wine, soft drinks and snacks, plus a treasure hunt for children.

Themed and party cruises. The same operator lists morning cruises with barbecued fish, afternoon pizza cruises, pirate cruises with a “sea battle” and private parties. The daytime sea-battle cruises involve water cannons; if you would rather stay dry, ask for the upper deck, where spraying is not allowed.

Yacht and catamaran charter. Companies at the Sea Station, such as Bulgaria Yachting, rent out motor yachts, sailing yachts and catamarans for private trips with swimming stops, and Varna Party Boats hires out its ships and yachts too. A panoramic yacht trip listed by Visit Varna also heads into Varna Lake, from one hour to a full day (Visit Varna).

Kamchia river. Before reaching the sea, the Kamchia winds through the protected Kamchia reserve and its frequently flooded longoz forest. Bulgarian Wikipedia notes that its drowned mouth is ideal for boats and small vessels and good for fishing (Wikipedia). Combine it with a beach day at Kamchia. Boat trips there follow the rules of the protected area; see Kamchia river and reserve.

Balchik and Cape Kaliakra. Balchik, the “White City”, lies 42 km northeast of Varna (Wikipedia). Organised trips to Balchik and Kaliakra that include a boat ride are sold in Varna and the resorts; read the itinerary to see where the boat part starts and how long it lasts, as some combine a road transfer with a shorter cruise. Read about the sights in Balchik Palace and Botanical Garden and Kaliakra, Tyulenovo and Durankulak.

Is there a ferry from Varna to Istanbul or Nessebar?

No regular passenger line. The Port of Varna FAQ says it maintains no regular passenger lines to other Black Sea countries; the line to Odesa was suspended in 2022. The car ferries from the Varna ferry complex, on the west shore of Beloslav Lake about 30 km from the city, go to Chornomorsk (Ukraine), Poti (Georgia) and Port Kavkaz (Russia) and are booked with the ferry companies, not the port. We found no scheduled passenger boat from Varna to Nessebar; the bus is the practical way, see Varna to Nessebar and Sunny Beach.

What to check before you board

• Who runs the boat. Use an operator with an office or listing you can check, such as those on Visit Varna. In May 2026 the transport minister ordered stricter checks: the Maritime Administration carries out regular and unannounced inspections of water attractions throughout the summer season (BTA).
• Life jackets and a safety briefing. Varna Party Boats, for instance, says all passengers get a safety briefing at the start and that life-saving equipment for everyone is kept in visible, easy-to-reach places. If no one shows you where the life jackets are, ask.
• The weather. Trips may be cancelled in bad weather; the same operator then offers another date or time, or returns the deposit. Bring a jacket for evening cruises, as the sea breeze gets cool.
• What is included. Check the length of the trip, food and drinks, swimming stops and whether children pay less.
• Arrive early. The operator asks passengers to be at the Sea Station 15 minutes before departure.

When to go

Boat trips are a warm-weather activity, and most of the listed cruises are built around swimming, sunbathing and evening sunsets. Operators do not publish a fixed season, so outside summer phone ahead before going to the port. Contacts are on each operator’s Visit Varna listing.

How to book

Book direct with the operator by phone, email or at its Sea Station office, or compare organised boat trips from Varna on GetYourGuide through the link on this page; we do not sell tickets ourselves.