Val & Kar Rent A Car - Varna, Bulgaria, Airport
You may have heard Bulgarians refer to Varna as the “sea capital” of Bulgaria or even the “summer capital of the country” and if you decide to visit it you’ll understand why. According to world’s standards Varna isn’t really large – the population is only just about 300,000 people, but it makes it the third biggest city in Bulgaria. Very few people remember nowadays that back in communism Varna was actually named Stalin (after the worldwide known Russian dictator) which is perhaps why recently one of the most interesting museums of communism was opened exactly there. But we’ll talk about this a little bit later.
If you are coming to Bulgaria with the intention to visit our summer capital you probably already know that Varna has an airport and we’ll be happy to meet you there with the car of your choice. Because if you’re staying in Varna (or anywhere nearby) you definitely need to rent a car and it’s more than clear, that we are the best choice (because we really strive to be the best car rental company in Bulgaria). Keep on reading for more information on all the places your vehicle can take you (and please note, that we also offer GPS devices if you don’t want to get lost).
Places to visit when you are staying in Varna
The Euxinograd residence
Just 8 kilometers north from Varna you’ll arrive at what once used to be a Royal summer residence. Even though Wikipedia claims that the Euxinograd Residence dates back from the 19th century we know a little more about it and we’re happy to share with you that its existence was marked in lots of maps dating back to the 13th century. It is a result of the decision of Bulgarian government to allow sea access to Genoa (after first granting access to Venice). Funny enough at the time it was considered to be outside the city and today it is one of the most luxurious areas, located right next to the most northern marina in Varna, conveniently nestled in a bay and well protected from the northern winds. But enough about the history – if you are willing to test your new camera and ensure you leave Varna with some amazing shots, do not miss this location.
Aladzha Monastery
Looking for a miracle? We may have just the right thing for you! Even though today the place carries a Turkish name (aladzha = motley) it dates way before the Ottoman occupation of Bulgaria. Dating back from the 12th century and located 17km north from modern Varna, the Aladzha monastery was an active hesychast monastic community and it is believed to have survived as such until the 18th century. But hold on – we haven’t told you the most amazing part yet! The Aladzha Monastery was actually hewn into a 25-m high vertical karst cliff near the upper edge of the Franga plateau on several levels!!! And this is exactly what you will see if you visit!
The place where life began (the Varna Museum of Archeology)
Did we mention that life on Earth began where modern Varna is? Are you surprised? Because we are not kidding. Even if you are not much into museums, we think you should definitely visit this one. Just several years ago in the Varna region were discovered the earliest traces of human presence, dating back to the Early Paleolithic Age (about 100 000 B.C.). Just say this number out loud and then remind yourself it is only 2015 years A.D. Do you realize how long ago this was! We don’t want to tell you much about the exposition, but you should definitely visit it and take your time to try and picture all those years of human evolution!
The Varna Lake
If you think that all lakes look alike, type the words “Varna Lake” in Google and go to images. Whether you visit the city in winter or during summer, the Varna Lake is a must-pay-attention-to kind of place. The lake is so big that you can enjoy it from tons of locations, so we will leave the choice to you. But make sure you charge your camera’s battery before you go.
Golden Sands
Golden Sands is a Bulgarian seaside resort, located not exactly in Varna, but not really outside of it either. Just 17 km north from downtown Bulgaria’s sea capital, Golden Sands remains one of the most luxurious and fancy places on the Bulgarian seaside. Being slightly more expensive than places like Sunny Beach for example it often remains neglected by the incoming party animal style tourists, which makes it the perfect place for quality time and entertainment. Don’t get this twisted – there are tons of party places in Golden Sands as well, but unlike other resorts the focus there is on quality as opposed to quantity (and if you think we’re talking about alcohol, then you’ll be absolutely right).
The museum of communism (we told you we’ll come back to this later and kept our word)
Whether or not you know (or care) about communism, this museum is a must-visit place! Unlike most other museums this one is in bright colors and full of retro cars. Oops, I think you just became slightly more curious. If you are about to ask – no, we don’t work with them and sadly, we can’t rent you a car from the 1960s… All of our cars are quite new. But the ones in this museum are definitely worth seeing, along with some of the sweet memories Bulgarians kept from those times. There is nothing Orwell’s style in there, so you won’t feel sad. To the contrary – the energy in this museum is wonderful and you’ll leave from there with a good vibe and much better understanding of what it feels like to live under a mild form of dictatorship.
Varna’s sea garden and the aquarium
If you’re up for a nice walk surrounded by greenery, flowers and smiling people, then you should spare some time for the Varna’s Sea Garden and eventually a visit to the aquarium. Located right next to the sea shore, the garden is the “it” place during summer, gathering together people of all age groups. Beautiful monuments, fountains, bright green grass, old trees and sea breeze – is there anything more one really needs? And to make this walk even more memorable, you can either start it or finish it at the Varna’s aquarium, where the magic of the underwater world is on display for you inside a stunningly beautiful building with walls, all covered in ivy.
Kaliakra
If you’re up for a longer trip we strongly recommend you visit Kaliakra. It is located 60 km north from Varna and is one of the most symbolic places in Bulgarian history. The magical spirit of this place will tell you a legend about 40 Bulgarian women, choosing death over the possibility of being captured by the Ottoman invaders. It is believed that when they reached the end of the narrow headland in the Southern Dobruja and there was no way back, they chose to jump in the sea and die but not give their bodies to the enslaver. And if you think about it as being a sad story, Bulgarians nowadays see it as an act of incredible braveness and proudly share the story of these 40 Bulgarian girls.
Let’s wrap this up: there is so much to be said about Varna, that we could go on and on, but you should really experience it for yourself. Of course we’ll be more than happy to provide you with the perfect car to take you everywhere around Varna so you can make the most of your Bulgarian holiday.