Varna has a good mix of outdoor and family activities. The Fanagoria Settlement offers the best of both, with its recreated ancient village where children enjoy visiting different tents and learning about Sixth century Bulgaria. The Dolphinarium and Planetarium are also fun for families. Possible outdoor activities include scuba diving in the Black Sea, visiting the 50 million-year-old Stone Forest or relaxing at Varna Lake.

Dolphinarium
The only one of its kind in the Balkans, the Dolphinarium’s main attraction is its 40-minute dolphin show. The inquisitive mammals perform a repertoire of tricks and tasks designed to exhibit their intelligence and draw the audience into the programme. The Dolphinarium is found at the Sea Garden. 
Phone: +359 53 302 199.

Fanagoria
A fun way for children to learn about Bulgarian history, this recreated traditional village brings visitors face-to-face with Bulgarian life in the 500s and 600s. A primitive tent village captures several aspects of early life in Varna. A second phase of construction will produce a fortress with a drawbridge and a Christian place of worship, along with a museum exploring ancient ways of life. Actors wearing period costumes perform various re-enactments. 
Phone: +359 52 614 553.

Planetarium
Another fun family attraction, the planetarium is open seven days a week during the summer months. The main show presents the cosmos from different Earthbound perspectives, showing how planets, the sun and distant stars line up from different latitudes and in different seasons. The planetarium periodically holds special presentations, and visitors can call ahead for the current schedule.
Phone: +359 52 684 441; website: www.astro-varna.com/en/info.html

Scuba Diving
Black Sea diving is well catered for, and is especially impressive around the coral reefs that flank the resort areas. Instructors are on hand in Varna, offering PADI certification courses for beginners. Seasoned divers can join organised tours to deeper waters. The best time to dive is between May and October.

Stone Forest
This ancient geological feature dates back tens of millions of years. After viewing the Roman Baths, visitors may mistake the Stone Garden for Roman ruins, though a closer inspection reveals rough sandstone and fossilised features. The standing pillars were formed as stalagmites, and ancient people used this area for religious ceremonies. The park is located west of the city centre.

Varna Lake
Varna Lake is the largest and deepest lake in the region. Located a few miles outside of town, it is a nice place to enjoy the outdoors without straying far from the main tourist attractions. The necropolis is located near the lake, and there are a number of upscale hotels and apartments on its shores.

Given its long history as one of Europe’s most culturally rich regions, Varna is overflowing with cultural attractions. The Archaeological Museum is the most popular cultural institute and is best known for its collection of gold pieces recovered from the nearby Necropolis. Several other museums, as well as the ruins of the ancient Roman Baths, are also found here.

Archaeological Museum
Varna’s headlining museum houses thousands of exhibits covering artefacts that date from the Stone Age to the Middle Ages. This facility has been in operation for more than a century and its comprehensive collection is impressive. Look for artefacts leftover from the ancient Thracian culture that once lived here, along with ceramic pieces from the early Bulgarian culture. The exhibit of ancient gold pieces is especially popular. 
Phone: +359 52 632 677.

Vladislav Varnenchik Memorial
In 1444, several kingdoms in the region united in a religious war against the Ottomans. An important battle was staged in this area, and a memorial park was erected to honour those who died. A small, onsite museum offers information on the battle and its historic significance.

Ethnographic Museum
Housed in a mid-19th-century house, this museum explores the cultural trends over the past two centuries. Visitors can take in the restored home and its rooms arranged by style along with a broad variety of artefacts, including period costumes, jewellery and religious implements. Dioramas elaborate on local customs and traditional holidays. 
Phone: +359 52 630 588.

National Naval Museum
This maritime museum opened in the 1920s and later moved to its current location in the Sea Garden. The artefacts on display focus on the late 1700s and early 1800s. The most interesting exhibit is a torpedo ship that served during the first Balkan War. Also of interest is a collection of maritime weaponry and an early minesweeper used by the navy. 
Phone: +359 52 633 015.

Necropolis
Discovered in the early 1970s, the Varna necropolis is one of the world’s best-kept remnants of prehistoric society. Visitors will find it a short drive outside of the city. To this day, less than half of the burial site has been excavated, and archaeologists have already unearthed nearly 300 grave sites. Inside a wealth of ancient artefacts, including ceramics, copper pieces, beads and shells, have been found. Carbon dating suggests the graves are well over 6,000 years old. Gold pieces found in the grave have received international attention and can be viewed in the Archaeological Museum.

Palace of Culture and Sports
Although it’s intended to host forums and business conferences, the Palace of Culture and Sports is worth visiting just for its unique architecture and sheer size. Fairs and trade shows are held here periodically, and there are plenty of onsite facilities, including shopping outlets and eateries. 
Phone: +359 52 645 123; website: http://www.palaceofvarna.com/congressHall.aspx?lang=en

Roman Baths
Varna’s most ancient attraction, the Roman Baths date to the city’s Roman period, when it was called Odessos. The city was an important crossroads of the Eastern Roman Empire, and the scale of the bathhouse was impressive when it was built in the late 100s AD. The crumbled ruins that remain are a nostalgic stop that belongs on every tourist’s itinerary.

Varna boasts first-class dining facilities, with everything from upscale restaurants to local-style taverns and cafés. Sea- and lake-facing restaurants are especially popular and can be found in every price range. Bulgarian wine pairs nicely with local dishes, with dozens of establishments specialising in international cuisine, including the Indian Maharany Restaurant and the Viennise Café. Most pubs and taverns are found in the outlying suburbs.

Popular Bulgarian dishes include shkembe chorba, a mixture of pork veal and lamb seasoned with yoghurt, garlic and cayenne pepper. There are several delicious cold side dishes on local menus, including tarator (a chilled soup featuring cucumbers, garlic, dill and walnuts) and miechna (a salad served with yoghurt, walnuts, parsley and garlic).

Shopping outlets are on the rise in Varna, and avid shoppers can spend hours exploring large-scale venues like the Mall of Varna, the Pfohe Mall and Central Plaza. Several other shopping malls are slated for completion in the next few years. This part of Bulgaria hosts several important manufacturing operations, and it’s possible to find good prices on electronic devices and household appliances.

Varna also has an excellent selection of designer fashions. While prices are competitive in the city itself, tourists can expect to pay a premium for the same goods in the Black Sea resorts. The local drink of choice is Melnik wine. Available in supermarkets and wine shops around Varna, Melnik wine makes for an excellent gift or souvenir.