Best Beaches In & Near Varna

By The Beach Guide | Last Updated: February 2, 2022

Map featuring Varna beaches. Click on pins to view beach details

1. Varna beach

Kritzolina

Travel time from Varna: approx 0.5 hrs

Among Bulgaria's many fantastic beaches, Varna Beach distinguishes itself by being located in the heart of a thriving city as well as within a stone's throw of a host of other destinations. And that's not to say this isn't a great beach; in fact if you are looking to get the most out of your Bulgarian beach-going experience and want to make sure you see a lot in… read more »
2. Golden Sands

© Mister No / CC BY

Travel time from Varna: approx 0.5 hrs

Any list of Bulgaria's top beaches wouldn't be complete without Golden Sands Beach. It is easily one of the best known beaches in the country, and has long been a popular summer spot with locals and tourists alike. If you're looking for somewhere a little more family-friendly and peaceful than the more touristic Sunny Beach, Golden Sands Beach may be perfect for you.
Golden Sands is located near Varna,… read more »
3. Fichoza Beach

Still ePsiLoN

Travel time from Varna: approx 0.5 hrs
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4. St Konstantin & Elena

Kiril Kapustin (imagesfrombulgaria.com)

Travel time from Varna: approx 0.5 hrs
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5. Kabakum Beach

© Svilen Enev / CC BY

Travel time from Varna: approx 0.5 hrs
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6. Kranevo Beach

© Dziadzik / CC BY

Travel time from Varna: approx 0.5 hrs
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7. Albena Beach

© Boby Dimitrov / CC BY

Travel time from Varna: approx 0.5 hrs

This beautiful expanse of fine golden sand stretches for 5 Km (3 miles) and is largely backed by the woodland of the Baltata National Reserve. Despite being on the Black Sea coast the water is anything but black here. Maybe the "crystal clear azure coast" would have been a more appropriate name as this beach is the proud owner of a Blue Flag award.

The Blue Flag award is not… read more »
8. Shkorpilovtsi Beach

MrDelchev

Travel time from Varna: approx 0.5 hrs

Sometimes one of the best things about traveling is finding hidden gems you'd never think to look for but, once you arrive, can't imagine how you lived without. Such is the case with Shkorpilovtsi. While it may not have the notoriety of some of Bulgaria's bigger beaches, it's nevertheless a great slice of authentic Bulgarian beach town life.
Located near Varna, Shkorpilovtsi Beach allows you to enjoy the area's famed… read more »
9. Balchik Beach

Batr41

Travel time from Varna: approx 0.5 hrs
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10. Kara Dere

Svilen Enev

Travel time from Varna: approx 1 hr

In recent decades much of Bulgaria's Black Sea Coast has been transformed by mass tourism, which is what makes Kara Dere Beach so special in how wild and untamed it remains.
The beach's name derives from the Turkish word "kara" meaning "black" and "dere" meaning "gully", and its wild status continues to make it a black sheep amongst Bulgaria's more tourist-heavy, resort-laden coast. It is one of the few areas that… read more »
11. Bolata Beach

© Dimitar Bachvarov / CC BY

Travel time from Varna: approx 1 hr

Located in a neat little enclave flanked by smooth brick-red ridges, Bolata Beach is one of Northern Bulgaria's best kept secrets. A near perfect semi-circle of sand, protected by breakwaters, this is a quite unique little cove, and one of very few beaches in the area.
While Bulgaria's beaches are beginning to become better-appreciated by the outside world, this cove has remained a local secret for citizens of the nearby seaside… read more »
12. Rusalka Beach

© Vladislav Bezrukov / CC BY

Travel time from Varna: approx 1 hr

Ruslaka Beach is set on the Black Sea between the city of Varna and the border with Romania. A small beach in an area dominated by coastal cliffs, it has crystal clear waters known to be home to dolphins. Its name comes from the Bulgarian word for mermaid. It is predominantly made up of a light coloured sand, mixed with small pebbles.
A haven since Roman times, it is surrounded… read more »
13. Sunny Beach

© Boby Dimitrov / CC BY

Travel time from Varna: approx 1 hr

There is little doubt which of Bulgaria's beaches is best known (and liveliest). Sunny Beach (Slanchev Bryag to the locals) is legendary for its golden sands and entertainment, both on and off the beach. The resort is extremely popular with Europeans and tourists from further afield looking to sun themselves in the day and dance the nights away at one of the many nightclubs nearby. It is also regarded as a… read more »
14. Kavarna Beach

© Boby Dimitrov / CC BY

Travel time from Varna: approx 1 hr
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15. Obzor Beach

Klimasp

Travel time from Varna: approx 1 hr
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16. Irakli Beach

© alex yosifov / CC BY

Travel time from Varna: approx 1 hr

Of all the distinctions between beaches in Bulgaria, whether it is a developed resort beach or a "wild" beach prubably has the biggest impact. Whilst the former are supposedly more appealing to famiies and revellers, the latter will attract more adventurous spirits. This is a generalization, of course, but one beach that stands out on the "wild" side of things is Irakli Beach.
Located about 4 km from the nearby village… read more »
17. Sveti Vlas

Pe4omux

Travel time from Varna: approx 1 hr

One of the Bulgaria's most upwardly mobile resorts, Sveti Vlas (St. Vlas) Beach is rapidly developing into an popular yachting port with a host of facilities. Located about 5 km north of the Sunny Beach, the area and sits at the foot of the Balkan Mountains. Sveti Vlas is actually a cluster of three smaller beaches which together total 1,500 km of fine golden sand.
One of the biggest sights in… read more »
18. Venid Beach

Boby Dimitrov

Travel time from Varna: approx 1 hr
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19. Nessebar Old Town Beach

karel291

Travel time from Varna: approx 1 hr
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