I only have one day in Varna, but I can already tell it is a city that I will be returning to. The vibes are young, fresh and creative here. I spent the day, getting lost in the older part of town, my preferred area. Here are 6 free things to do & see in Varna whether you have one day or a week.
Roman Baths
I did next to no research on Varna before my arrival, but one thing that I did remember reading about were the ancient Roman baths. Varna was founded by the Greeks in the 7th century BC and was taken over by the Romans in 15 AD. This city is full of Roman ruins, most of which remain safely buried beneath the current day streets.
The baths however, are exposed and are a lot larger than I had imagined. You can pay a small fee to go inside, however being short on time, I walked around the exterior admiring the site. Built in the 2nd century AD they are the fourth largest Roman baths in all of Europe.
Pedestrian Streets
I was amazed to discover that all through the heart of the city, is a group of pedestrians only streets! Lined with boutique stores, café’s, restaurants and galleries, it is a wanderer’s dream come true. I had no fear of getting lost, I just let myself mozie around.
There are fountains, statues and all sorts of public art to be found. Street buskers were out playing their beautiful accordions and violins creating a lovely carefree summer feel. The people watching is superb, the crowd fairly young and quite stylish.
Architecture
Wow, so impressed with the beauty of what I saw on my brief visit. Starting with the opera house and theatre, many of the buildings are Easter egg colours against white trim. It gives the city such a romantic energy and vibe.
What I was thrilled to see, is that many of these buildings are being preserved and rejuvenated. In Plovdiv, I had the feeling that they are being lost, but in Varna, quite the opposite.
Sea Gardens
If you are heading to the beach in Varna, you must visit the Sea Gardens. This vast green space is over 130 years old, and covers a distance of 8 kilometres! There are so many interesting statues, buildings and public art displays scattered through out the space. Beautifully planted flower gardens, large mature trees and various vendors of art and snacks make the experience vibrant and fun.
Varna Beach
There is much more than the stunning beach! I first encountered a competition pool, then a high diving platform and pool. Walking further along is a water slide park, aquarium and finally the gorgeous long white sandy beach. Wow, it is really wide, silky soft sand, turquoise waters of the Black Sea and lined with cute beach bars.
I had no idea just how large this beach is. Expecting a little city beach, I was sorely mistaken. Its beautiful here!
Street Art
Like Plovdiv, there seems to be an abundance of street art here, which I love! The creativity and colours oozing from streets adds a dimension of youth and energy to the city. I can’t tell you where I saw all of this art, being so unfamiliar with the districts, but I was able to capture many photo’s in a matter of hours.
Put Varna on your list of travel destinations folks. I will definitely be returning to the city to spend a month or more here. I can feel the positive energy and I want to be a part of it. There is so much to explore and experience, this is just the tip of a very large iceberg.
