Varna
Varna is the largest city on the Bulgarian Black Sea Coast, third-largest in Bulgaria after Sofia and Plovdiv, and 79th-largest in the European Union.
Varna, commonly referred to as the marine capital (or the summer capital) of Bulgaria, is a major tourist destination, seaport, and headquarters of the Bulgarian Navy and merchant marine. It is the centre of Varna Province and Bulgaria's North-Eastern planning region (NUTS II), comprising the provinces of Dobrich, Shumen, Silistra, and Varna.
Varna occupies an area of 205 km² on verdant terraces descending from the calcareous Frangen Plateau (height 350 m) along the horseshoe-shaped Varna Bay of the Black Sea, the elongated Lake Varna and two parallel navigable canals bridged by the Asparuhov most. Varna has in excess of 20 km of sand beaches and abounds in thermal mineral water sources. It enjoys a mild continental climate influenced by the proximity to the sea.
The city lies 470 km north-east of Sofia, and the closest major cities are Dobrich (45 km to the north), Shumen (80 km to the west), and Burgas (130 km to the south-west). Varna is accessible by air (Varna International Airport), sea (Port of Varna Cruise Terminal), railroad (Central Train Station), and automobile. Major roads include European routes E70 and E87 and national motorways A2 and A3; there are bus lines to many Bulgarian and European cities from two bus terminals.
The public transit system is extensive and reasonably priced, with dozens of local and express bus, electrical bus, and fixed-route minibus lines, and there is a large fleet of taxicabs.
Varna, commonly referred to as the marine capital (or the summer capital) of Bulgaria, is a major tourist destination, seaport, and headquarters of the Bulgarian Navy and merchant marine. It is the centre of Varna Province and Bulgaria's North-Eastern planning region (NUTS II), comprising the provinces of Dobrich, Shumen, Silistra, and Varna.
Varna occupies an area of 205 km² on verdant terraces descending from the calcareous Frangen Plateau (height 350 m) along the horseshoe-shaped Varna Bay of the Black Sea, the elongated Lake Varna and two parallel navigable canals bridged by the Asparuhov most. Varna has in excess of 20 km of sand beaches and abounds in thermal mineral water sources. It enjoys a mild continental climate influenced by the proximity to the sea.
The city lies 470 km north-east of Sofia, and the closest major cities are Dobrich (45 km to the north), Shumen (80 km to the west), and Burgas (130 km to the south-west). Varna is accessible by air (Varna International Airport), sea (Port of Varna Cruise Terminal), railroad (Central Train Station), and automobile. Major roads include European routes E70 and E87 and national motorways A2 and A3; there are bus lines to many Bulgarian and European cities from two bus terminals.
The public transit system is extensive and reasonably priced, with dozens of local and express bus, electrical bus, and fixed-route minibus lines, and there is a large fleet of taxicabs.
