If you are with children, in Varna you will appreciate the small farm right in the park, the possibility to ride on a mini boat or go to the playground or the amusement park.
Burgas is more about the promenade with lots of greenery, but it doesn’t have as many activities around it as Varna. The Sea Garden in Varna is even the largest park in landscape architecture, you definitely have to experience it.
Beaches
It all depends on which beach you come to and which part of your vacation you choose in both cities. Varna has a relaxed atmosphere on the beaches near the center with many bars, a windsurfing club, and a bistro. In the evening, it can turn into a big party here. But if you go to the beaches 5 to 10 kilometers outside the city, there won’t be a single person on the beach, not to mention the zero number of bars and hotels.
Burgas is very similar in this. The beaches are for both families and party enthusiasts, although you will probably experience the most nighttime fun at the popular Sunny Beach, which is between Burgas and Varna.
Read tips on where to find the best beaches in Bulgaria in .
Monuments
You will not be bored in Varna. Orthodox temples, the Roman thermal baths of Odessos in the center, overlooking the sea, a wonderful historical center with a pedestrian zone, an archaeological museum, a maritime museum, a museum of illusions, a retro museum, a museum of history and medicine. The list of attractions in Varna is really long…
The Armenian Church of St. awaits you in Burgas. Cross, Ethnographic and Archaeological Museum.
For me, Varna offers travelers more activities, while most of them are located right in the center, you can easily walk them in one or two days.
Prices
They are very similar in terms of price. In the high season, you will pay more for accommodation in both cities. For meals in restaurants and food in markets as well.
Food
When it comes to food choices, Varna wins. There are restaurants and bistros with local cuisine, but also world cuisines from Japanese, Mexican, very authentic Indian, American, Thai and other cuisines. Vegetarians and vegans will also eat, and coffee drinkers will also have something to choose from.
Although Burgas also offers international cuisine, the choice in Varna is clearly greater.
Transport
Both Varna and Burgas are connected to Sofia by train. There are regular buses to the surrounding towns. As for flights, both cities offer departures to European cities. However, flights to Burgas from Slovakia in the high season are usually more expensive than to Varna.
As for transportation in the city, Varna has a high-quality public transport that will take you to the beaches, monuments, and the airport. Burgas is in the same situation. It has a sophisticated transport system, you can easily get to the center and the surrounding resort areas.
Trips in the area
If you get tired of the beaches and the historic center of Varna, you can go to the breathtaking Aladža cave monastery from the 13th-14th centuries (you can get here by public transport from Varna), the so-called Pobiti Kamani stone forest or to the Oveč fortress (45 minutes by car from Varna).
From Burgas, it is close to the popular historical town of Nesebar, or the less touristy Sozopol, or the village of Emona – the place where the Balkan Mountains end.
For me personally, even at this point, Varna offers more, especially diverse outdoor attractions and monuments that you will not find in the vicinity of Burgas.
The final verdict? It will certainly be an individual choice for everyone. For me, Varna was lively, diverse, and with very relaxed and clean beaches. It can also be hectic, especially between June and the beginning of September, but so is Burgas, which did not impress me so charmingly.
Varna is simply an elegant lady with a wonderful center, parks and a youthful atmosphere where ancient history mixes.
Burgas, on the other hand, is about a holiday mood with resorts, but also quiet corners, which you have to know how to look for.
About the author
Ivana Grešlíková has been traveling since 2006. She lived in Asia for a long time, her current base is Bulgaria. He blogs at . The author of a book of travelogues, where she deals with less discussed topics of popular destinations. You can follow her travels on or .
