Varna neighbourhoods: Centre, Chayka, Levski, Vinitsa, Asparuhovo, Galata
Varna's main neighbourhoods: the walkable Centre, green Chayka and Levski by the Sea Garden, growing Vinitsa, and Asparuhovo and Galata in the south.
Varna is a compact city, and most visitors stay in the Centre, close to the cathedral, the pedestrian streets and the Sea Garden. Residents often prefer the green housing districts of Chayka and Levski in the east, the fast-growing Vinitsa in the north-east, or Asparuhovo and Galata on the quieter southern side of the bay.
Centre
The historic centre runs from the Cathedral of the Dormition down to the port and the Sea Garden. Here you find the Roman Thermae, the Archaeological Museum, theatres, the Festival and Congress Centre and the main pedestrian streets. It is the most walkable base for a short trip.
Chayka
Chayka (“Seagull”) is a residential district of about 20,000 people built in the 1970s and 1980s on a former villa zone north of the Sea Garden. It is known for its greenery, upkeep and easy access to the city’s busiest beaches. The Ticha stadium, home of PFC Cherno More, stands here, and buses and trolleybuses link it to the centre and the resorts.
Levski
Levski is one of the city’s largest and liveliest residential quarters, in the eastern part of Varna, bordering Chayka and Briz. It is popular with families thanks to its schools, shops and good bus connections.
Vinitsa
Vinitsa, once a separate village, lies on the north-eastern edge of the city, about 10 km from the centre (Wikipedia), on the way towards the resorts. New housing has made it one of Varna’s fastest-growing areas.
Asparuhovo
South of the Asparuhov Bridge (2,050 m, opened 1976; Wikipedia) lies Asparuhovo, a district of about 27,000 people. It has a long, quiet beach, a marina and fish restaurants, and is home to the Institute of Oceanology of the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences.
Galata
Galata, with around 2,000 residents, sits on Cape Galata, the highest seaside point of the city. A panoramic road leads there from the bridge. Its rocky beaches, such as Fichoza and Pasha Dere, attract campers and anyone seeking quiet.
North of the city: the resorts
For St Constantine and Helena and Golden Sands, see our separate guide.
What is close to each neighbourhood?
Chayka and Levski border the Sea Garden, and most of the top 10 sights in Varna are within walking distance of the Centre. For the city beaches from the centre to Asparuhovo, see the Varna beaches guide on our sister site Varna Daily.
Sources
Frequently asked questions
What is the best area to stay in Varna for a first visit?
The Centre, between the cathedral, the pedestrian streets and the Sea Garden, puts the main sights, beaches and restaurants within walking distance.
Which Varna neighbourhoods are near the beach?
Chayka sits beside the Sea Garden and the central beaches; Asparuhovo has its own long beach; Galata has rocky coves; Vinitsa lies near the northern coast.
How do you get from the centre to Asparuhovo?
Across the 2 km Asparuhov Bridge over the canal between Lake Varna and the sea, by car or city bus.
