Essentials
- City
- Varna, Varna Province, Bulgaria
- Population
- 335,000
- Internet Speed
- Average 100-150 Mbps, Fiber widely available
- Currency & Banking
- 1 BGN ≈ 0.51 EUR, 1 USD ≈ 1.83 BGN (Lev pinned to Euro)
- Tap Water
- Drinkable, but most locals prefer bottled or filtered for taste
- Power
- 230V, 50Hz, 🔌 Type C/F sockets
- SIM Card
- A1, Yettel, Vivacom (approx. 20 BGN for 20GB)
- Banking for Expats
- DSK Bank, UniCredit Bulbank, Revolut (highly popular)
- Accommodation
- Long-term rentals via Facebook Groups or Alo.bg; short-term via Airbnb
- Cashless Friendly
- Mostly yes in the center; cash needed for small shops and markets
- Short Term Rentals
- Airbnb, Booking.com (approx. 800 - 1,200 BGN/month)
- Budget Accommodation
- Nomado Hostel (ul. Tsar Simeon I) - approx. 25 BGN/night
- Best Area to Stay for Tourists
- Greek Quarter (Gretska Mahala) and Sea Garden vicinity
- Best Area to Stay for Digital Nomads
- Chayka (modern infrastructure) or Center (proximity to cafes)
Working and Networking
- Best Coworking Space
- Campus 90 (bul. Knyaz Boris I) - 250 BGN/month
- Best Cafe for Work
- Social Cafe Bar & Kitchen (bul. Knyaz Boris I 65)
- Networking Events
- Varna Digital Nomads & Expats Meetups, IT Varna community
- Social Events for Expats
- Expats in Varna Facebook Group weekly meetups at local bars
Transportation
- Best Taxi/Ride App
- Triumf Taxi (App available, reliable and cheap)
- Bike/Scooter Rental
- Brum (Electric scooters via app), Varna City Bike
- Best Beach Nearby
- Rappongi Beach (City) or Kabakum Beach (15 mins by bus)
- Top Regional Airline
- Bulgaria Air
- Top International Airline
- Austrian Airlines, Turkish Airlines, Wizz Air
- Highway Access
- A2 Hemus Motorway (towards Sofia)
- Main Train/Transit Hub
- Varna Railway Station (Ploshtad Slaveykov)
- Public Transport Passes
- VarnaCityCard - 1.60 BGN for 60-min ticket via ticket machines
- Regional Travel
- Buses to Burgas or Sofia from Central Bus Station (Avtogara)
Health and Wellness
- Best Hospital
- UMBAL "Sveta Marina" (State), Saint Anna Hospital
- Yoga & Wellness Centers
- Yogi Varna (ul. Drin), Sea Garden Yoga sessions
- Gyms & Fitness Centers
- Fitness Line (Grand Mall), Orange Fitness (ul. Yan Palah)
- Laundry Services
- BioWash (ul. General Kolev 44)
Food and Drink
- Best Food Delivery App
- Takeaway.com, Glovo
- Best Local Dish to Try
- Banitsa and Shopska Salad
- Vegan/Vegetarian Options
- The Garden of Joy (ul. 27-mi Yuli)
- Best Dessert Spots
- Plovdiv Sweet Shop (Greek Quarter)
- Affordable Shopping Spots
- Kolhozen Pazar (Open-air market for produce)
- E-commerce/Online Store
- eMAG.bg, Fashion Days
- Grocery Delivery
- eBag.bg, Parkmart.bg
- Bar/Nightlife Area
- Sea Garden Beach Bars (Macaao, Cubo)
- Local Brewery
- Black Sea Brewery (Craft beer available at Averi Beers)
- Wine Bars
- Wine Degustation Center (ul. Konstantin Fotinov)
- Street Food Stalls
- Doner shops near Cathedral and pizza slices (approx. 4 BGN)
- Popular International Cuisine
- Staria Chinar (Bulgarian/Balkan), Villa Burov (Fine Dining)
Culture and Attractions
- Must-See Landmarks
- Dormition of the Mother of God Cathedral, Roman Baths
- Museums & Art Venues
- Varna Archaeological Museum (home of oldest processed gold)
- Historical Sites
- Roman Thermae (ul. San Stefano)
- Religious Sites
- Aladzha Monastery (Rock-cut monastery 20 mins away)
- Annual Events
- Varna Summer International Music Festival (June/July)
- Cultural Districts
- The Greek Quarter (Oldest part of the city)
- Theater Venues
- Stoyan Bachvarov Dramatic Theatre
- Local Markets
- The Central Market (Tsentralen Pazar)
- Music Scene
- Cubo (Beach live music), Varna Opera House
- Street Art
- Graffiti near the Port Area and School of Arts
- Cooking Classes
- Local workshops at Culinary Arts Institute (Varna University of Management)
- Art Galleries
- City Art Gallery (ul. Lyuben Karavelov)
- Historic Buildings
- The Euxinograd Palace (Summer royal residence)
- Local Heritage
- Martentsi (March 1st tradition of red and white threads)
Nature and Outdoor Activities
- Nearby Nature Escapes
- Sea Garden (600+ decares of parkland along the coast)
- National Parks Nearby
- Golden Sands Nature Park (Zlatni Pyasatsi)
- Cycling/Walking Paths
- Sea Garden Promenade (Length over 5km)
- Scenic Viewpoints
- Galata Viewpoint (Panoramic view of the bay)
- Birdwatching Locations
- Lake Varna and Yatata Reserve
- Bonfire-Friendly Spots
- Wild beaches at Pasha Dere (requires 20 min drive south)
Other Services and Amenities
- Parcel Delivery Service
- Econt, Speedy (Very efficient local couriers)
- Tech Repair Services
- PC Clinic Varna (ul. General Kolev)
- Table Tennis Spots
- Varna City Hall Sport Complex
- Language Classes
- Alliance Française (Bulgarian for foreigners)
- Libraries & Study Spots
- Pencho Slaveykov Public Library
- Community Centers
- The Center (Hip-hop and youth culture hub)
- Gaming Lounges
- Hacker's Zone (Gaming and E-sports center)
- Casino & Gaming Halls
- Casino International (Golden Sands)
Business
- Studio Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. €1,800 per m² (e.g., 40 m² = €72,000)
- Studio Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. €1,200 per m² (e.g., 40 m² = €48,000)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. €1,700 per m² (e.g., 60 m² = €102,000)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. €1,100 per m² (e.g., 60 m² = €66,000)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. €1,600 per m² (e.g., 80 m² = €128,000)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. €1,000 per m² (e.g., 80 m² = €80,000)
- Corporate Tax
- 10% (Flat rate)
- Dividend Withholding Tax
- 5%
- Tax System
- Worldwide income for residents, 183-day rule applies
- Highest Income Tax Bracket
- 10% (Flat tax)
- VAT
- 20% (Standard), 9% for hotels and some restaurants
- Controlled Foreign Company (CFC) Rules
- Yes, EU-aligned legislation
- Property Tax
- Yes, low local rates (approx. 0.15% - 0.25% of tax value)
- Property Transaction Tax
- Approx. 2% - 3% depending on the municipality
- Attractive Tax System for Digital Nomads
- Yes, 10% flat tax is one of the lowest in Europe