Is Renting a Car in Varna Worth It? (Transit Options & Costs Breakdown)

Option 1: Renting a car

If you like the idea of waking up, packing a bag, and driving out to enjoy some of the best things to do in Varna, nature, or quieter northern beaches without checking a timetable, renting a car is 100% worth it.

Our go-to platform for car rentals

After renting cars all over the world, our top recommendation, and the platform we personally use, is QEEQ. Think of it like Skyscanner but specifically for car rentals. It pulls together the absolute best deals from massive global brands and highly rated local Bulgarian suppliers into one easy-to-navigate site.

Here is why it makes renting so much easier:

1. Transparent pricing: What you see is what you pay. There are no sudden platform markups or hidden fees magically added at checkout.
2. Travel “worry-free” service: If a desk agent tries to hit you with high-pressure up-sells or unauthorised extra charges when you arrive, QEEQ’s support team steps in to handle the dispute and refund you the difference.
3. The $1 price freeze: If you see an incredible deal but aren’t totally locked into your travel dates yet, you can hold that exact price for just $1. Even better, if the price drops before your trip, they automatically refund you the difference.

The real cost breakdown

• Daily rental rate: Around €20 to €70 per day (depending heavily on whether you visit in the quiet shoulder months or the peak summer July/August rush).
• Fuel costs: Expect to pay around €1.20 to €1.45 per litre for standard unleaded. Since Bulgaria is highly compact, a single tank will easily cover a week of coastal exploring.
• On-site resort parking: Most premium hotels (like Astor Garden Hotel in Saints Constantine and Helena) offer secure, private parking for around €7 per day.

Want to skip the hours of planning, bypass the tourist traps, and navigate the coast exactly like an insider? We’ve pinned our absolute favourite spots onto a custom Google Maps list for Varna, featuring over 70 curated locations, including hidden local food spots, bars, historic landmarks, thermal spas, and more.

Option 2: Pre-booked private transfers

If you are skipping the car rental but still want your arrival completely sorted from the second you land, pre-booking a private vehicle transfer is the smartest move you can make.

We highly recommend using GetTransfer.com for this. It eliminates the stress of standing in long airport queues or trying to negotiate rates with random airport taxi drivers who spot arriving tourists.

The real cost breakdown

The rates are fixed, transparent, and incredibly reasonable for a private vehicle:

• Varna airport to Varna city centre: around €15.
• Varna Airport to Saints Constantine and Helena: around €25.
• Varna Airport to Golden Sands / Riviera Holiday Club: around €30.

Option 3: Local taxis

Once you are already settled in, local taxis are great for quick, occasional point-to-point trips. Varna city centre itself is heavily walkable, so a taxi is generally only needed if you are moving between different areas with heavy bags or heading out for a nice dinner.

The real cost breakdown

• Average 15-minute city trip: A quick ride from the historic Varna city centre (right by the gorgeous Dormition of the Mother of God Cathedral) out to the nearby coastal resort strips generally costs around €10 to €15.
• Word of warning: Always make sure the driver turns the meter on before the car starts moving, or agree on a firm price before you hop inside!
• Local taxi hailing apps: Hippo Taxi, Triumf Taxi, and Moby App.

Option 4: Buses & public transit

Varna’s public transport system is impressively organised, clean, and cheap. It is the perfect choice for solo travellers, budget backpackers, or families who don’t mind structuring their afternoon around a fixed timetable.

The Ticket Varna app

Forget messing around with physical change, carrying paper tickets, or struggling with older ticket machines on the street. Download the official Ticket Varna app on your phone. You can load it up, buy your digital tickets instantly, and simply show the ticket on the app to the controller. It is incredibly beginner-friendly.

Key routes & fares

• Bus No. 409 (the airport express): This is the ultimate budget hack. It picks up right outside Terminal 2 at Varna Airport and travels straight through the city centre, continues out to Saints Constantine and Helena, and ends all the way up at Golden Sands.
• Bus No. 31a (the resort shuttle): Perfect for travellers staying in Saints Constantine and Helena who want to pop into the city centre for sightseeing. It runs at fixed 40-minute intervals throughout the day.
• The cost: A single bus ticket costs just a couple of Bulgarian Leva (roughly €1 to €1.50), making it an unbeatable deal.

Option 5: Guided day tours

If your absolute main priority is checking into a stunning spa hotel and spending 90% of your time relaxing on a sunbed, renting a car might feel like overkill. But what if you still want to break up your pool days to see iconic spots like the mysterious Stone Forest or the cliffside Aladzha Monastery?

This is where skipping transit logistics entirely and booking a structured excursion is the perfect middle ground.

• How it works: There are fantastic guided excursions available on GetYourGuide that handle everything for you, including picking you up directly from your hotel lobby, providing an expert English-speaking guide, and taking care of all your entry tickets.
• Save on your booking: Because we want to help you save wherever possible, you can use our exclusive discount code CARMAADVENTURES5 at checkout to get 5% off any of your activities and tours! This code is only valid when you download and book through the free GetYourGuide app.

If you found this guide helpful and want to help us keep this blog running, you can support our work here.

We truly appreciate every bit of love! If you have additional questions about Varna, do not hesitate to drop them in the comments section below!