Varna Region Holidays

The Varna region stretches over nearly 4,000 square kilometres in north-eastern Bulgaria. In terms of landscape, there’s loads of variety. You’ve got the Black Sea bracketing one side. Further inland, there are forests, lakes, thermal springs and even a desert. Many of these places are protected reserves, too, so they’re practically untouched and ripe for exploring.

The coast lines up a mix of sandy beaches, secluded coves, and steep cliffs. The largest beach that Varna has to offer sits at the mouths of the Kamchiya and Shkorpilovska rivers. It unravels for over 13 kilometres and is 300 metres wide in places, so there’s plenty of space to roll out a towel. For a rockier scene, head out to Cape Kaliakra. It’s the longest cape on the Black Sea coast, and is famous for its red cliffs. Here, you can see the remains of an 8th-century citadel. Or, hit some balls at one of the cape’s three golf courses.

Many of Varna’s historical sites are still in great condition because they’re carved into rock faces. The Aladzha monastery dates back to the 13th century – its two levels are sculpted into limestone. In the summer, you can see light shows there in the evenings. You even access the 4th-century Ovech fortress by climbing stairs etched into the rock. Although it’s a bit of a climb, you’ve got panoramic views when you reach the top.