Varna is the largest city in the Bulgarian Riviera, also known as the Bulgarian Black Sea Coast. The city is also one of the largest cities in
Bulgaria and has had a very stable economic, cultural, and social balance for almost three millenniums now. Varna features a vital business, education, tourism, business, and healthcare hub of Bulgaria, as the central port city on Bulgaria's Black Sea.
Varna is famous because of its gold treasure, referred to as the "Gold of Varna" which was discovered within the Varna Necropolis between 4200 and 4600 BC. The treasure has been preserved away in the Archaeological Museum, alongside other antique pieces and unique art and craft pieces of Greek, Ottoman, and Roman origins.
A visit to Varna is not complete without a tour through the famous Varna History Museum, where so much about the history and development of Varna can be learned. Some of the other stunning attractions in Varna include the neon-lit Asparuh Bridge, the intricately designed Varna Bachvarov Dramatic Theatre, the majestic grandeur of the Dormition of the Mother of God Cathedral, and the stunning neon-lit Palace of Culture and Sports, plus a visit to learn a thing or two about the famous Drazki Boat.
Varna experiences an oceanic climate, which is classified as Cfb under the Köppen climatic classification. Slight influences of the Mediterranean climate and Continental climate are also typical of this climate. The weather is generally characteristic of warm to hot, humid, and moderately wet summers and cold, moderately sunny, and mildly snowy winters.
November is the wettest month of the year.
Winter begins in
December and lasts through mid-
March. The days remain cold at highs of 6.1°C (43°F) to 8.1°C (46.6°F) and lows of -1.7°C (28.9°F) to 0.5°C (32.9°F). Occasionally, the temperature may drop lower than -3°C (26.6°F), making the nights extremely chilly. In December, Varna experiences light snowfall that barely accumulates on the ground - it quickly melts away in the three and a half hour warm sunshine received on most days.
Rainfall during winter is minimal, with the highest recording of 42mm (1.7") in December, received from approximately eleven rainfall days.
January is the coldest month of the year when the temperature can drop to as low as -8°C (17.6°F) or even lower, and it only has two hours of sunshine per day on average.
Summer ranges from
May to
September, and it is warm and pleasant as most days record highs of 21.2°C (70.2°F) to 27.5°C (81.5°F) and lows of 11.3°C (52.3°F) to 17.6°C (63.7°F). Extremely hot temperature readings are rare in Varna, and the temperature rarely rises past 35°C (95°F) even on the hottest ever recorded days. The rainfall in summer is mildly low and is received mainly in the afternoons. The rainiest month barely registers 60mm (2.4") on precipitation and has no more than six rainfall days on average.
The travel season to Varna usually reaches its peak during summer, from May to September. The season features warm and pleasant days with moderately low rainfall - an excellent time to tour the city and indulge in numerous outdoor activities. During this period most festivals and events are celebrated.
Common events include the Summer International Festival from
June to September, the famous
July Morning Vigil between June and 1st July, and the vibrant World Animated Film Festival in September.