Day Trips from Varna: Exploring the Best of the Bulgarian Black Sea Coast

Varna is the best base on the northern Black Sea coast, but the region around it can overwhelm you. Cliffs, Roman ruins, a UNESCO old town and a rock monastery all sit within two hours of the city. Public transport to the smaller sights is thin, summer traffic on the coast road is slow, and prices have just changed. Bulgaria adopted the euro on 1 January 2026, and many shops now show both euro and lev prices. The fixed rate is 1 EUR = 1.96 BGN. This guide sorts the day trips by distance, effort and cost, so you can plan before you leave your hotel.

How to Pick the Right Day Trip from Varna

Each trip below suits a different kind of traveler. Match yours to the list before you read the details.

• Short on time (half day): Aladzha Monastery and the Stone Forest. Both are under 30 km from the centre.
• Garden and sea-view lovers: Balchik, about 45 km north. It is easy by bus.
• Landscape and photography fans: Cape Kaliakra and Kavarna, about 60 km north-east. A car works best.
• History buffs: Madara, Pliska and Shumen, about 80–100 km inland.
• Classic old-town atmosphere: Nessebar, about 100 km south.
• Beach and nature without crowds: Kamchia and Shkorpilovtsi, about 50 km south.

Most visitors pick one big trip and one small one. Pair a short trip with a lazy evening back in Varna’s Sea Garden, rather than packing three far-apart places into one day.

Getting Out of Varna in 2026

Your transport choice shapes the whole day, so decide it first.

Buses and minibuses

Intercity buses are cheap and reliable on the main routes. Balchik, Shumen and Nessebar all have regular services in summer. Check which station your bus leaves from, because Varna has more than one bus terminal and the departure point depends on the direction. Timetables thin out in winter, and some routes run only a few times a day. Always look up the last return bus before you leave. Estimated one-way fares are:

• Balchik: about 8–10 BGN (€4–5 / about $5), roughly 1 hour
• Shumen: about 12–15 BGN (€6–8 / about $7–8), roughly 1.5 hours
• Nessebar: about 18–22 BGN (€9–11 / about $10–12), roughly 2 hours

Rental cars

A car gives you the most freedom, especially for Kaliakra, Yailata and the Madara–Pliska loop. Expect roughly 80–130 BGN per day (€41–66 / about $45–72) for a small car, plus fuel. Roads along the coast are in decent shape, but the road from Kavarna to the cape is narrow in places. Villages often have little parking, so expect to walk the last stretch. Bulgaria’s full Schengen membership since 2025 has made car travel in the region easier, though you do not need to cross any border for the trips below.

Taxis and private drivers

A taxi to Aladzha or the Stone Forest and back, with waiting time, usually costs 50–80 BGN (€26–41 / about $28–45). Agree the price before you get in. A private driver for a full day to Kaliakra or Madara runs around 250–400 BGN (€128–205 / about $140–225), depending on distance and season.

Organised tours

Small-group tours leave from Varna’s centre and the Golden Sands resort strip. They are a good fit if you do not drive and want a guide for the ruins, since many sites have little signage in English.

Balchik: A Queen’s Palace on White Cliffs

Balchik is the easiest and most rewarding day trip from Varna. The small town climbs a chalk-white hillside above the sea, and on a calm morning the cliffs glow almost silver.

The main draw is the Palace of Queen Marie of Romania, known as the “Quiet Nest”. Balchik belonged to Romania in the 1920s and 1930s, and the queen built her summer retreat here with Ottoman, Orthodox and Mediterranean touches. The attached botanical garden is the highlight. It has terraces, shaded paths and hundreds of cactus species, and the whole place smells of pine, warm stone and sea salt. Entry is around 20 BGN (about €10 / $11), and you should allow two to three hours.

After the garden, walk down to the harbour. In the late morning, grilled fish and fried sprat smoke from the small restaurants along the quay, and a plate with a drink costs about 25–40 BGN (€13–20 / about $14–22). The town’s tiny old streets also hold a few quiet cafés and an unassuming art gallery.

• Distance: about 45 km, roughly 50 minutes by car
• Time needed: 5–6 hours including lunch
• Best for: couples, families, anyone who wants an easy day

Cape Kaliakra, Kavarna and Yailata

Go north of Balchik and the coast gets wilder. Kaliakra is a thin rock peninsula about 2 km long, and cliffs about 70 m high drop straight into the sea. Wind whistles across the grass, and thyme and wormwood scent the air on warm afternoons. It is a protected nature reserve, and visitors walk out along a path to the ruins of a medieval fortress. A small museum at the entrance covers the cape’s long history. According to local legend, forty Bulgarian maidens tied their hair together and jumped from these cliffs to avoid capture during the Ottoman conquest.

Entry is about 6–10 BGN (€3–5 / about $3.50–5.50). The cape can be exposed and sunny, so bring water and a hat. Kaliakra is also on the Via Pontica, one of Europe’s main bird migration routes. In autumn you may see pelicans, storks and birds of prey passing overhead. Dolphin-watching boat trips run from nearby ports in summer, though quality varies, so ask for recent reviews.

Stop in Kavarna for coffee or lunch. It is a quiet town with a good seafront and wind turbines on the hills behind it. Then continue to Yailata, an archaeological reserve about 15 minutes from Kaliakra. It has cave dwellings carved into a coastal cliff, used by people from ancient times through the Middle Ages. Yailata is much emptier than Kaliakra, and you may have the cliff path to yourself.

• Distance: about 60–70 km, roughly 1 hour 15 minutes by car
• Time needed: a full day
• Best for: photographers, hikers, nature lovers. Without a car it is hard, so consider a taxi or tour from Kavarna.

Aladzha Monastery and the Stone Forest

These two sights are close to Varna and are often skipped in favour of the bigger trips. That is a mistake, because both fit into a morning.

Aladzha Monastery

About 14–17 km north of the centre, in the Golden Sands Nature Park, a medieval rock monastery sits in a limestone cliff. Monks carved small cells and chapels into the stone around the 13th and 14th centuries. Inside, the air is cool and smells of damp earth, even when the forest outside is hot. Entry is about 10 BGN (€5 / about $5.50). A city bus to Golden Sands gets you close, and then you walk through the forest for around 1.5 km. A taxi costs roughly 20–25 BGN one way (€10–13 / about $11–14). The forest path is pleasant, with birdsong and filtered light, but wear shoes with grip because stone steps can be slippery.

The Stone Forest (Pobiti Kamani)

About 18 km west of Varna, near the village of Beloslav and Devnya, tall sandy-coloured stone columns stand in the semi-desert landscape. They look like a petrified forest, but scientists think they formed from sea minerals millions of years ago. The best time to visit is early morning or late afternoon, when the low light makes the columns glow orange. Entry is a few leva (about 5–8 BGN, €3–4 / about $3–4.50). You can reach it by a bus towards Devnya, then a short walk, or by taxi. Count on 45–60 minutes on site.

Pair Aladzha in the morning and the Stone Forest in late afternoon, with a long lunch in Varna in between. The whole day costs far less than any other trip in this guide.

Madara, Pliska and Shumen: The First Bulgarian Empire

If you want to understand how Bulgaria began, head inland. In 681 AD, the First Bulgarian Empire was founded near here, and its early capitals and monuments are in the hills west of Varna.

The Madara Rider is a UNESCO-listed rock relief carved high on a cliff around 1,300 years ago. It shows a horseman spearing a lion while a dog runs behind him. You climb a few hundred steps up a forested trail to reach the base of the cliff, and the carving is weathered but clearly visible. Entry is about 10 BGN (€5 / about $5.50).

Near Shumen, Pliska was the first capital of the empire. Not much remains aboveground apart from the foundations of the Great Basilica and the palace complex. The open fields, ancient stones and silence make it atmospheric, and a small museum helps you picture the layout. Entry is about 6–10 BGN (€3–5 / about $3.50–5.50).

In Shumen itself, the Tombul Mosque is the largest Ottoman mosque in Bulgaria. High above the town is a Soviet-era monument to 1,300 years of Bulgarian statehood, reached by a long stairway. The views over the plains are worth the effort, and the town is a good place for a late lunch.

• Distance: Madara about 80 km, Pliska about 100 km from Varna
• Time needed: 9–10 hours for all three by car. By bus, choose one or two.
• Best for: history lovers and anyone who has already seen the coast

Nessebar and the Southern Coast

Nessebar is about 100 km south of Varna and is the most famous old town on the Bulgarian coast. The old part sits on a narrow peninsula connected to the mainland by a thin strip of land, and it has been listed by UNESCO since 1983. Cobbled lanes wind past wooden houses with overhanging upper floors, and gulls call over the harbour. Between the souvenir stalls you will find some of the best-preserved Byzantine churches in the country, including the Church of Christ Pantocrator and the Church of St Stephen. Most churches charge a small fee, around 6–10 BGN each (€3–5 / about $3.50–5.50).

The old town is busiest from late morning to mid-afternoon in July and August. Arrive before 10 a.m. or stay until sunset, when the crowds thin and the stone glows pink.

If you drive, stop at Obzor or Cape Emine on the way. Emine is where the Balkan mountains meet the sea, and it has a lonely lighthouse and long views. Skip Sunny Beach next door unless you want big resort energy.

• Distance: about 100 km, roughly 1 hour 20 minutes by car or 2 hours by bus
• Time needed: a full day, as the return trip is long
• Best for: first-time visitors, architecture fans, church lovers

Kamchia and Shkorpilovtsi: Empty Beaches and a Liana Forest

When the beaches near Varna fill up, head south to one of the longest stretches of sand on the Bulgarian coast. Shkorpilovtsi has a beach several kilometres long with dunes and almost no high-rise buildings. Even in July you can find a quiet patch of sand. It is a good place for swimming, with fine sand and a gentle slope.

Just north, the Kamchia River meets the sea. The Longoza forest along the river is a rare liana forest, with oaks, ash and wild vines hanging between the trees. It feels almost tropical, damp and green, with the sound of frogs and birds. You can walk along marked paths, and some are boardwalks. Wear mosquito repellent in summer.

• Distance: about 50 km, roughly 50 minutes by car. Seasonal buses and minibuses run in summer, but frequency varies.
• Time needed: 4–6 hours, or a full day if you want beach time
• Best for: families, swimmers, anyone seeking calm

Services at Shkorpilovtsi are basic. Bring snacks and water, and expect simple beach bars with sandwiches and cold drinks.

Day Trip Budget Reality in 2026

These figures are per person for one day, including transport, entry fees and lunch. They are estimates based on 2025–2026 prices, shown in lev with euro and dollar equivalents (1 EUR = 1.96 BGN).

• Budget: about 40–70 BGN (€20–36 / about $22–39). Intercity bus or city bus, one or two entry fees, a bakery lunch with banitsa and a drink. Works well for Balchik, Aladzha or Shumen.
• Mid-range: about 120–200 BGN (€61–102 / about $67–112). A shared rental car or taxi for part of the route, a sit-down lunch, and all entry fees. Suits Kaliakra, Madara, or a double stop.
• Comfortable: about 350–550 BGN (€179–281 / about $195–310). A private driver or small-group guided tour, a seafood lunch with wine, and entry fees. A good option for Nessebar or the full Madara–Pliska–Shumen loop.

Watch for the euro switchover. Some small places may still round prices when converting, so check your change. Cards are accepted in most larger sites, but cash is still useful at village cafés, small museums and parking.

Timing and Seasons

The right month changes what each trip feels like.

• May–June: Warm, green and quiet. This is ideal for Kaliakra, Balchik gardens and Madara. The sea is still cool, around 18–20°C, but sightseeing is excellent.
• July–August: Beach weather, with sea temperatures around 24–26°C. Nessebar, Balchik and Kaliakra get crowded and hot, with land temperatures of 30–35°C. Go early. This is also the best season for Shkorpilovtsi.
• September–October: A great time for almost everything. Crowds fall, the light is soft, and bird migration peaks at Kaliakra. Evenings turn cool.
• November–March: Many seasonal restaurants and some museums close or cut hours. Madara, Pliska and Shumen still work well, and winter fog over the plains can be dramatic. Check opening times in advance.

Whichever month you choose, leave the city before 9 a.m. Summer weekends bring heavier traffic on the Varna–Balchik road, so leave early or go midweek.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best day trip from Varna for first-time visitors?

Balchik is the easiest choice. It is about 45 km away, reachable by regular bus, and combines a palace, botanical gardens and a seaside lunch in one relaxed day. If you have a car and want more variety, add Cape Kaliakra to make a longer northern loop.

Can I do day trips from Varna without a car?

Yes, for several destinations. Buses serve Balchik, Shumen and Nessebar, and city buses reach Golden Sands near Aladzha Monastery. Kaliakra, Yailata and Pliska are harder without a car, so use a taxi, private driver or small-group tour for those places.

How far is Nessebar from Varna, and is it worth a day trip?

Nessebar is about 100 km south, roughly 1 hour 20 minutes by car and 2 hours by bus. It is worth it for the UNESCO old town and Byzantine churches. Arrive early in summer, because the narrow streets get very crowded by midday.

Is it safe to rent a car and drive along the Black Sea coast?

Yes, driving is generally safe, and main roads are in decent condition. Watch for fast overtaking, slow farm vehicles and heavy summer traffic. Smaller roads near Kaliakra and Yailata can be narrow, so drive carefully, and carry your licence, insurance papers and a phone with offline maps.

Do I need euros or lev for day trips from Varna in 2026?

Bulgaria switched to the euro on 1 January 2026, so euros are now the main currency, and prices are shown in both euro and lev during the transition. Cards work at most major sites and restaurants, but carry some small cash for village cafés, parking and minor entry fees.

📷 Featured image by Diana Mutafova on Unsplash.