🗺️ Where to go from Varna by rental car: prices, parking, gas stations

Varna sits on the Black Sea and works well as a base for trips. Buses here run strictly on schedule and rarely go to the more remote beaches. A car solves that problem: you decide where to stop and when to come back.

Renting a car in Varna makes sense for a group of 2-4 people: the costs are split among everyone.

Below we'll cover where to pick up a car in Varna, what documents and fees to expect, how city parking works, and where it's worth going for a day trip. The five destinations around the city are chosen so that you can see the most in just a couple of days behind the wheel.

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Where to rent a car in Varna

💡 In short:

Rental company counters are concentrated in the Varna airport terminal.
In the city center, offices are located a couple of blocks from the main boulevards, with another cluster in Asparuhovo.
Check the vignette before you set off: without it, you'll get a fine on toll roads.
Confirm the deposit and insurance in advance; some local companies offer options with no hold on your card.
Vignette prices: 09/2026, verified on BGTOLL rates

Car pickup locations in Varna are concentrated at the airport (VAR) and within 1-2 blocks of the city's main thoroughfares. Counters in the terminal are also operated by local companies, such as TopRentaCar. If your flight lands late, pick up the car right at the airport and don't waste the evening looking for an office.

The second cluster of addresses runs along the boulevards "8th Primorski Polk", "Tsar Osvoboditel", "Vladislav Varnenchik", and "Knyaz Boris I". The third cluster of offices is in the Asparuhovo suburb, in the area of Saints Cyril and Methodius Street: cars are cheaper there, but you'll cross a bridge to get to the center. It's easier to compare conditions and rates in advance: find a car for your trip on DiscoverCars.

At the counter, they'll ask for your driver's license, passport, and a card for the deposit. Ask about international driving permits and the minimum age in advance, as conditions vary by company. Choose the car class based on your route: a compact is fine for the city, but for the dirt roads near Shkorpilovtsi you'll need a crossover with higher ground clearance.

Road conditions around Varna

The international E87 Odesa-Antalya highway crosses the city from north to south. Buses from Varna and Burgas to the seaside resorts travel along this route, so traffic is heavy in summer. The road here is wide, but you should pass vans with caution. To the northwest, toward Dobrich, a two-lane regional road runs through quiet coniferous forests.

To the west of Varna, the A2 motorway heads toward Sofia. It's a convenient highway with two lanes in each direction, wide shoulders, and a median barrier. The asphalt on the main routes is smooth, with almost no potholes. In the city, traffic is controlled by traffic lights; outside it, only by road markings and signs.

A vignette is required for all toll sections of the road network. 2026 prices: 8 lv for a weekend, 15 lv for a week, 30 lv for a month, and 95 lv for a year (as of 09/2026, BGTOLL price list). The vignette is electronic, linked to the car's license plate, so there's no sticker to put on the windshield. You can buy it online, in the mobile app, or at partner sales points.

Multi-lane highway through rolling hills

AIIllustrative image: AI-generated

Fill up before a long route, because there are almost no gas stations near nature reserves and on back roads. The price difference between chains can reach several cents, and on a full tank that's a noticeable amount.

Parking in Varna

The blue zone in central Varna costs €0.51 per hour (as of 01/2026, city media on Varna parking). Payment is made by SMS or at a machine. The city also has a green zone, where you also need to pay for parking, but spaces are usually easier to find.

Free parking is available near shopping centers, the opera house, some museums, banks, and government buildings. You can actually find a spot in residential courtyards. Paid blue zone spaces are marked in blue and with a sign indicating the payment method.

AIIllustrative image: AI-generated

There are especially many paid zones near the waterfront, so leave yourself extra time when parking there. Parking at the airport is paid, with an hourly rate. If parking isn't paid, attendants put a wheel clamp on the car or tow it away, and getting it back from the impound lot will cost more than the parking itself.

What to see in Varna and nearby

The city itself has plenty of museums, parks, and monuments, but you can cover most of them on foot in a couple of days. A car is for something else: lagoons, cliffs, nature reserves, and beaches within an hour's drive. We put together five destinations that are realistic for a short trip.

Varna Lake and the roads along the lagoon

Varna Lake, the largest lagoon in Bulgaria, receives water from five rivers. Depending on the season, not only the temperature but also the salinity of the water changes. You can drive around the lake on regional roads that follow the shoreline in a ring around the lagoon.

Overgrown shoreline with flowers overlooking a lake

Parking areas and spots for grilling and barbecue are set up near hotels on the shore of Varna Lake. Staying overnight here is convenient because in the morning you head straight to the water, skipping city traffic. For a short stop, take a spot at the viewpoints on the north shore and don't leave your car on the shoulder.

Botanical garden and eco-park

The botanical garden was established in the late 1970s by faculty and students from Sofia University. In the early 2000s it was renovated and turned into an eco-park that combines natural and artificial ecosystems. Hundreds of plant species grow on the grounds, and a significant part of the collection belongs to the iris family.

Visitors can use an equestrian center, soccer and volleyball courts, barbecue clearings, and shops selling seeds. You can easily spend half a day walking here, so bring water and don't plan on a quick visit.

Prickly pear cacti and agaves in the Varna Botanical Garden

The eco-park is on the northern edge of Varna, near the intersection of the E87 highway and a city thoroughfare. There is free parking on the grounds, so you can leave your car at the entrance and stroll along the paths.

Cape Kaliakra and the fortress

Cape Kaliakra juts out into the sea, with fortress walls standing right above the cliff. In 1791, Admiral Ushakov's squadron defeated the Turkish fleet off these shores, and a monument to the naval commander was erected on the cape in memory of that event. The reserve charges an admission fee, and guides are available during the season from May to October (according to the Bulgarian Ministry of Tourism).

An adult ticket costs about €1.5 (as of 09/2026, Bulgaria travel guide). Hours are seasonal: entry is available in the morning and after the lunch break, with exact times depending on the month. Around the cape you'll see cormorants, and dolphins sometimes appear from the cliff. Don't go near the edge of the rock: the wind is strong here all year round.

How to get there: from Varna, head north on the E87 to Kavarna, then turn toward the reserve, and in the village of Balgarevo follow the sign for "Cape Kaliakra" onto a dirt road. The last stretch is about 6 km (according to the map). There is a small free parking lot near the reserve office and the Ushakov monument; from there you continue on foot.

If you'd rather not drive on a dirt road, check out ready-made options: Cape Kaliakra tours on GetYourGuide.

Longoza nature reserve

About 27 km south of Varna (according to the map) is the Longoza nature reserve. Here the waters of the Kamchia River are surrounded by marshes, and the scenery resembles a jungle. The reserve is home to many birds, and rare plants grow in the wetlands.

You can explore the Kamchia River by boat and ride along the banks in jeeps. Near the reserve there are several campsites where guests can find places to sleep and parking for cars. To get there, turn off the E87 onto a small paved road at the sign for "Kamchia."

Kamchia River mouth with sandy shore and forest

By car, stay on the asphalt: after rain the shoulders get washed out, and turning around on a narrow road is difficult. Fill up in advance on the E87 highway; there are almost no gas stations near the reserve itself.

Shkorpilovtsi beach

The longest beach in the Varna area lies 42 km from the city, next to the village of the same name (see map). The sand and water here are clean, and mineral water springs bubble up nearby. A forest begins right behind the beach, which is why the spot is popular with fans of wild camping and tent stays.

Shkorpilovtsi sand beach, waves, swimmers

A dirt road leads to the beach from the village of Staro Oryahovo on the E87 highway; the turnoff is near the OMI gas station. A crossover or station wagon will handle it without trouble, but a low sports car risks getting left on the rocks. Parking by the forest is informal: don't drive into the dunes and don't wash your car in the sea.

If you want to drive every day, compare car rental rates on DiscoverCars.

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⁉️🤔 Frequently asked questions

Do I need a vignette for a rental car in Bulgaria?

Yes, an electronic vignette is mandatory on toll roads, and it is tied to the vehicle's registration number. Rental companies usually provide cars with a vignette already paid for, but check this in the contract before you drive off. A weekend vignette costs 8 BGN, which is about 4 EUR (as of 09/2026, electronic vignette rates).

Can I rent a car in Varna without a deposit?

Some local companies offer rentals without a hold on funds, with payment by debit card or cash. International brands block a deposit on a credit card; the amount depends on the car class. Ask what the insurance covers and what deductible remains your responsibility. Choose a no-deposit option only where the terms are spelled out in the contract.

How much does parking cost in central Varna?

The blue zone costs 0.51 EUR per hour (as of 01/2026, parking rate news). You can pay by SMS or at a machine; spaces are marked in blue with a sign. Free parking is available near shopping centers, the opera house, museums, and in residential courtyards.

Where can I go from Varna by car for a day?

Head north to Cape Kaliakra and the fortress, about 60 km one way (see map). To the south, the Longoza reserve with the Kamchia River and Shkorpilovtsi beach await. Varna Lake fits into the city itself; a ring road runs around the lagoon. Allow a full day for each route.

How much does gasoline cost in Bulgaria?

The average price of A95 is 1.57 EUR per liter, and diesel costs 1.81 EUR (as of 14.09.2026, fuel prices in Bulgaria). There are plenty of gas stations on the way out of Varna, but near reserves and on back roads they are almost nonexistent. Fill up before a long route, otherwise you'll be hunting for a gas station in the woods.

In short: what to book

A car in Varna pays off if you want to see lagoons, cliffs, and beaches rather than bus schedules. If your trip is just a couple of days, take a compact with a vignette included in the package. If you're going for a week, a weekly vignette works out cheaper than a weekend one. If you're traveling as a family with suitcases, you need a station wagon or crossover; it will handle the dirt road at Shkorpilovtsi without trouble.

What to arrange in advance: find a car for your route on DiscoverCars and check out tours along the Bulgarian coast on GetYourGuide. Verify the deposit and insurance before paying, so there are no surprises at the counter.

Car rental in Varna: deposit, vignette and five one-day routes