What to See in Varna, Bulgaria: Free Audio Guide

When looking for things to do in Varna, you will find a vibrant Black Sea destination that combines ancient history, cultural institutions, and striking coastal architecture. As Bulgaria’s maritime capital, the city offers everything from Roman ruins and world-class museums to the expansive green spaces of the Sea Garden. Whether you are planning a Varna self-guided walking tour or simply want to know what to see in Varna during your travels, the city delivers an engaging mix of heritage and modern seaside life. Neywo offers a free audio guide for Varna covering 36 narrated places to help you explore.

What to See in Varna: Key Landmarks and Museums

Varna’s history stretches back millennia, and its top attractions reflect centuries of shifting empires, trade, and culture.

• Roman Thermae: Located near the harbor in the southeastern part of the city, these ruins are the largest preserved Roman baths in the Balkans and rank as the fourth-largest in Europe. Built in the late 2nd century AD during the province of Moesia, the complex covered about 7,000 square meters and utilized an ingenious heating system connected to Varna’s hot mineral springs.
• Varna Archaeological Museum: Home to the world’s oldest gold treasure, this museum houses the celebrated Gold of Varna, excavated in 1972 and dating between 4600 and 4200 BCE. Housed in a Neo-Renaissance building designed by architect Petko Momchilov, the museum was founded in 1887 by Czech brothers Karel and Herman Škorpil.
• Dormition of the Mother of God Cathedral: Serving as the seat of the bishopric of Varna and Preslav, this three-nave, five-domed basilica is the largest church in the city and the third largest cathedral in Bulgaria. Opened in 1886 as a monument to the liberation of Varna from Ottoman rule, it reaches nearly 48 meters in height.
• Varna Aquarium: Situated in the Sea Garden along the Black Sea coast, Bulgaria’s largest public aquarium was initiated by Prince Ferdinand I in 1906. Designed by architect Dabko Dabkov with a facade decorated with bas-reliefs of marine species, the building was completed in 1911 and opened to the public in 1932.
• Stoyan Bachvarov Dramatic Theatre: Founded in 1921 as the Municipal Professional Theatre, this state theatre is a key symbol of Varna’s cultural life. The building was designed by architect Nikola Lazarov and completed in 1932 by architects Dabko Dabkov and Zhelyazko Bogdanov.
• Aladzha Monastery: Tucked into a 25-meter-high vertical karst cliff on the Franga Plateau north of Varna, this medieval Orthodox Christian cave monastery dates back to the 13th century. Monks carved their living spaces and places of worship directly into the rock across multiple levels.
• Euxinograd Palace: Located about eight kilometers north of downtown Varna, this former royal summer palace was built between 1881 and 1885 for Prince Alexander I of Battenberg. Inspired by French design, the complex includes a sprawling landscape park and vineyards along the Black Sea coast.
• Varna Mausoleum of Władysław III: Situated in a park museum established in 1924, this symbolic cenotaph honors the fallen soldiers of the 1444 Battle of Varna, where King Władysław III led a crusade against the Ottoman forces. The memorial was built around two 4th-century BC Thracian burial mounds.
• Boris Georgiev City Art Gallery: Established in 1944, Varna’s municipal art gallery occupies a Gothic Revival building originally opened in 1885 as the Varna Men’s High School.
• Nikola Vaptsarov Naval Academy: As the oldest technical educational institution in Bulgaria, this academy traces its roots back to maritime education established in Ruse in 1881 before developing into the cornerstone of modern Bulgarian naval training.
• Bulgarian-Soviet Friendship Monument: Standing 23 meters tall and 48 meters wide on Turna Tepe hill, this massive monument was unveiled in 1978 following construction efforts supported by thousands of local volunteers.
• St. Petka Church: Consecrated in 1906, this Orthodox church features interior frescoes painted in 1973 by Alexander Sorokin, Dimitar Bakalski, and Sergei Rostovtsev, and notably survived the decades intact.
• Museum of the History of Medicine: This unique institution is the only museum of its kind in Bulgaria, tracing the evolution of healing practices and medical development across the Balkans.
• Museum of National Revival: Offering insight into the cultural and spiritual awakening that shaped modern Bulgaria, this museum is located near the historic Saint Sarkis Armenian Apostolic Church.

Explore Varna with Neywo

To experience Varna at your own pace without schedules or tour groups, download the Neywo app for a free audio guide that narrates the city’s history as you reach each location. The app includes 2 walking tours, 1 bus route, and 1 bike route to guide your journey:

• Odessos by the Sea: Roman Baths, a Torpedo Boat and the Black Sea Coast – A walking tour covering 2.17 km across 109 minutes with 10 stops.
• Gold, Cathedral and Theatre: Varna’s Heart – A walking tour covering 2.98 km across 112 minutes with 9 stops.
• Bus 17A Through Varna’s Roman and Naval Quarter – A bus route covering 2.9 km across 12 minutes with 4 stops.
• Cycling the Sea Garden: Aquarium to the Naval Academy – A bike route covering 3 km across 15 minutes with 4 stops.

As you plan your wider trip through the region, you can also explore nearby destinations such as Nessebar, Veliko Tarnovo, Plovdiv, Sofia, Koprivshtitsa, and Banya, all part of our broader coverage across Bulgaria.