Places of interest

The Archaeological Museum is accommodated in the building of the former Girls' High School (which was once the biggest on the Balkan Peninsula) and offers one of the richest collections in the world. In a special room are exhibited priceless golden jewels, objects of ancient art and the oldest in the world worked gold treasure of the neolith. There is also a rich exhibition of icons and church items.

The Museum of the Bulgarian Renaissance and the Ethnographical Museum offer exhibits of traditional Bulgarian costumes, crafts and customs.

The Museum of the Navy is located in the shady Sea Garden.

In the Museum of Medical History you can see the richest in Bulgaria paleo-anthropological collection.

The Museum of Modern History History is accommodated in the oldest preserved building in Varna, built in 1851.

For the antiquity lovers - the ruins of the Roman Baths (in the old town) are the oldest ancient building of all constructions discovered on the territory of Bulgaria.

Varna is a city of ancient culture, vivid traditions and progressive development. The Varna Opera and Ballet Theatre is the second largest in Bulgaria. Apart from it there are many other cultural stages in Varna: the Open-Air Theatre, the Palace of Sport and Culture, the Muppet Theatre, and the heart of the cultural life in Varna - the Festival Complex. In 1926 for the first was held the oldest Bulgarian festival - the Musical Festival. In 1964 the residents of Varna organized the first in the world ballet competition. International film festivals and an international biennale of graphics are also held in the city.

The Cathedral "Sv. Uspenie Bogorodichno"
The Orthodox Christian Cathedral "Sv. Uspenie Bogorodichno" was built in the centre of the city more than a century ago. This cathedral was the first monument built to immortalize and glorify the Russian soldiers and all people who died for the liberation of Bulgaria in the Russian - Turkish War (1877-1978).

Proto-Bulgarian Village Fanagoria
The historical and ethnographical complex Proto-Bulgarian Village Fanagoria is the only of its kind open-air museum in the country. It is located in the residential area Asparuhovo, Asparuhov Park and is a copy of a proto-Bulgarian war camp of VI-VIII c. and includes wooden defensive walls with battle towers, furnished yurtas (wigwam-like homes), craftsmen's workshops, restored ancient clothes, arms, household articles and furniture. There is a square with a shrine, khan's and shaman's yurtas, shooting-ground and a stand for the audience.

The Dolphinarium
It is the only of its kind in Bulgaria and offers an interesting program with the participation of six dolphins - "the stars" of a forty-minute show. The building of the Dolphinarium is located in the beginning of the city in the Sea Park. The show is presented two times a day.

The Planetarium
What do the stars bode? How is the star world arranged? The answers to the questions which interest both adults and children can be found during your visit of the Planetarium in the city where you will be offered a presentation and a breath-taking demonstration. The Varna Planetarium was built on the territory of the Naval Academy and is open only for groups of visitors.

The Sea Garden
Its area exceeds 80 hectares and it is more than 4 km long. There are more than 300 species of trees and bushes growing in it. The Dolphinarium, the Aquarium, the Open-Air Theatre, The Naval Museum, a lot of playgrounds and beaches are located here.

The Natural Phenomenon "Pobiti Kamani"
The stone forest is a unique natural phenomenon better known as "Pobiti kamani" (Upright Stones), a name fully corresponding to the reality. This is a fascinating ensemble of stone columns up to 10 m high, hollow or dense cylinders, truncated cones, different in shape and size rock blocks and numerous stones dispersed around the whole complex. The stone forests in Argentina and India are far too modest. The phenomenon is located 18 km westwards from Varna. In a radius of 3 km there are located three groups. The most imposing is the Dikilitash group where one can count over 300 differently sized columns situated in the main disclosure (a stripe of land, 850 m long and 120 m wide) and about 50 structures in a smaller spot southwards.
Scientists have argued over the origin of this natural phenomenon for a long time. Nowadays, the opinion supporting its non-organic nature is more common. The forest is exceptionally fascinating at sunset and its appearance is magical in the moonlight.

Aladzha Monastery
A rock monastery, located at 6 km from St. St. Konstantin and Elena in one of the most picturesque parts of the nature park. Aladzha means "motley, colourful" - it is possible for the name to be connected with the wall-paintings or with the fact that the monastery was dug in a vertical 40-metre rock of motley limestone. Its prime was in XII-XIV c. when it was a monastery of monks - Hesychasts. The monastery is in two levels; there are preserved parts of the cells, the chapel and the dining-hall. In clear days, the capes of Kaliakra and Emine can be seen.

The Palace Evksinograd
The summer governmental residence "Evksinograd" is situated 10 km from Varna in the north-east direction on a rocky cape over the seacoast. The building is surrounded by a park with various and rarely-met flora. The park has an area of 750 decares. The faзade is in the style of the French Renaissance Palaces of XVIII c. with figured walls and a high roof with a metal lathing and a clock tower. In 1890 the pediment of a French castle of the XVIII c. was included in the park composition. The ground-floor part in front of the palace was finished by 1912, the water area with the bronze figures and Neptune's statue were delivered from France.