The Best Hotels in Varna, Bulgaria

A stay in one of Graffit’s creative, modern rooms channels the hotel’s origin as a contemporary art space. There’s still a gallery onsite, and you’re only a block away from Varna City Art Gallery. Plus, you can get your own inspiration by changing scenery, with the option of sleeping in a different room every night — each floor has its own unique design.

Craving clean lines and modern touches? Hotel mOdus is a small boutique spot that pays attention to the details, down to the complimentary green apple that matches the hotel’s accent colours. To ride around town, hire one of the free bikes. Don’t miss out on dining at the glass-roofed garden bistro and sampling the grilled sea bass with Bulgarian wine.

Just outside of Varna, settle into an apartment of your own at Cabacum Plaza, perched on a leafy hill overlooking the Black Sea. Floor-to-ceiling gold and purple curtains frame the seaside view, and even the studio rooms have a tiny kitchen, perfect for a longer stay, where you can feel like you’re living on the beach. Downstairs, enjoy the outdoor pool right on the water’s edge.

Step back to the era of Art Nouveau architecture and bellhops in cherry red uniforms at Hotel Capitol. Pass through the lobby, with its hand-painted skylight, as you leave for the opera, or sink into a plush white couch for a nightcap, and you’ll feel the timeless glamour that permeates the hotel. Make sure you spend at least one evening at the hotel’s fine dining restaurant, which has an excellent wine list.

Unwind in St Constantine and Helena, the oldest Black Sea resort in Bulgaria, just outside of Varna. Astor Garden is the kind of hotel that has lush greenery climbing up white grecian columns near a pool, where you can relax in a sun lounger under an ivory umbrella at the beach bar. Book a restorative massage at the onsite spa, or make use of your complimentary pass to the nearby Aquahouse Thermal and Beach, with its fourteen pools filled with thermal mineral water.

Find calm in one of Primorski Hotel’s classy neutral rooms and crisp white linens. The balcony view looks out onto trees, but you’re only a few minutes away from the beach. The hotel is part of the broader Primorski Center, so you can step outside to the tiny town centre (complete with clock tower) for shopping and dining. Opt for the Small City Cafe for your morning cappuccino, which you can take back to your private balcony.