The City of Varna For those who like bargain shopping and city experience. Varna is THE place to visit! It is the third largest city in Bulgaria and main port on the Black Sea coast. To stock up on bargain CDs and other such products a visit to the Techno Market can be arranged and to the Metro Cash n' Carry for unbeatable deals on drinks and tobacco.

City History
Varna is Bulgaria's third largest city. It was an inhabited place even before the Greeks established the colony of Odessos there about 580 B.C. Later, under the Romans and their successors, the Slavs, Varna became a major port trading with Constantinople, Venice and Dubrovnik. In 1393 it was captured by the Turks, who made it an important military centre.

Nowadays it is Bulgaria's main naval and commercial shipping port. It's also becoming a magnet for tourists, being adjacent to the coastal resorts of Golden Sands, St. Constantine and Albena. A university town, it is has a cosmopolitan atmosphere that will immediately impress visitors. Boulevards lined with attractive 10th century buildings provide an attractive backdrop to the fashion shops and sophisticated cafe bars.

To read more information on the area you will be visiting click here for Varna city, and here for Balchik town.

 Dobrich
This large town of 110,000 is 37 kms inland from Varna. It has all facilities, including hospital, and varied tourist attractions. There are museums, the ruins of a middle Ages settlement and a number of ancient monuments. It is also well know as the area's best place for cheap shopping. A large central plaza has many shops retailing jewellery, clothes and a full range of goods. Away from the centre, look for sales from rows of garages, as they usually offer the lowest prices.

Albena The well known resort of Albena is 9kms along the coastal road from Balchik. The 40 some hotels are dotted along its wide fine sandy beach, which gently slopes into the sea and is ideal for swimming. Many bars and taverns, restaurants and a casino cater to the tourists. Many water sports are available and a spa centre.....More

Golden Sands Also not far from Balchik, 17 miles from Varna is Golden Sands. The name is appropriate as it boasts a massive 3.5km long and 100 metre wide beach. Over 70 hotels are supported by all the tourist facilities you would expect........More

Balchick Attractive fishing port and historical seaside town. Dating back to ancient Greek times, Balchik is quickly becoming a popular destination for tourists and holiday home seekers. It offers a long modernised promenade, with restaurants set out over the waters of the bay. Once part of Romania, it has the summer palace of Queen Marie, with its very large botanical gardens that make an ideal place to wander. Check out this link for more information.

Cape Kaliakra The coast offers interest aside from major resorts, such as Cape Kaliakra north of Balchik. It's a mythical reddish crag rearing 70m above the sea, beside ruined fortifications built as early as the 4th Century B.C. Legend has it that 40 fair maidens threw themselves off the cape on seeing the arrival of Turkish invaders. In one of the caves there, you will find a museum which commemorates Admiral Ushakov's defeat of the Ottoman fleet in 1791. Another cave has a popular restaurant.

Other Attractions
The above are just the large and well known attractions of the Black Sea Riviera. Many other interesting places wait to be discovered, such as the local small distillery where you can sample the potent fruits of their labours. The Villa Manager has a comprehensive knowledge of the locality and can advise and organise trips according to your wishes.