Varna or Burgas: which city to choose?

Bulgaria has two of the largest sea resort cities - Varna and Burgas, popular among tourists and locals. Cities also attract the attention of real estate buyers because they have repeatedly received the title of "best city" in the national competition. How to choose between Varna and Burgas? Where is it better to spend a vacation, stay or buy a property?

Where to buy property in Bulgaria?

Both cities are considered the capitals of the Black Sea coast from the north and south sides. Varna and Burgas are surrounded by small resort villages, among which Sunny Beach is famous in the south and Golden Sands in the north.

Cities are also not inferior in the titles of centers and ports, with a population of 360 thousand in Varna (the third-largest city in Bulgaria) and over 220 thousand inhabitants in Burgas (fourth place). The first and second place in terms of population belongs to Sofia and Plovdiv. But if we consider the occupied area's rating, then Burgas comes in second place.

Varna attracts students and young people who want to earn money, as it offers many places for study and professional development. Unlike measured Burgas, Varna has a vibrant and noisy life. Vacationers and potential buyers of Bulgarian houses and apartments often consider options from Varna. The city is more extensive, more popular, and more developed. Burgas is known to tourists because of the resort of Sunny Beach; it is cleaner and calmer. Thanks to the city's mayor, roads are regularly improved and built, and public transport is being developed.

The choice of real estate. What is the best climate?

Both cities are in almost the same climate because their distance is about 130 km. You can swim from late spring to early autumn. The temperature of Varna and Burgas is practically the same, being around 22-23 °C in the middle of summer. The climate of Varna is relatively mild, so there are no strong winds, pressure, or temperature drops. Burgas attracts families with small children because of the shallow sea on the coast.

History of Bulgarian cities

The cities begin their history from the time of antiquity when the territory was ancient Thrace. Fans of historical heritage can go to Varna to visit the archaeological museums and the ruins of Roman baths. Burgas will delight you with many buildings from the first half of the 20th century, made in the style of constructivism and modernity. Often, tourists visit neighboring cities, which are near Burgas. It is also worth visiting the botanical garden and the palace, in Balchik, and many ancient ruins, churches, and restaurants from Nessebar.

Infrastructure: where is the best place to buy property in Bulgaria?

If you want to move to live in Bulgaria or buy property for rent recreation, it is worth evaluating each city's infrastructure. The quality of life in Varna and Burgas is at its best, because transport traffic is quite developed here, and trips in the town are not a problem. Buses and trolleybuses run regularly; there are railway stations and airports. It takes about 4-5 hours to get to the capital of Bulgaria, Sofia, from Burgas, covering a distance of 380 km, and from Burgas, it will take a little longer because it is located 65 km further.

Bulgaria is a small country, so the cities are close to the border. Burgas is more relative to Turkey; the distance is 340 km, a little less than getting to Sofia. It will be closer to getting to Romania from Varna, about 260 km from the capital.

There are enough kindergartens in Burgas and Varna, and you can find local ones and options with Russian-speaking teachers. It is more difficult in schools, so studying under another state's program is possible at the country's embassy in the capital of Bulgaria. Consider a private school option.

It is better to get higher education in Varna, where there are five universities. You can choose a technical, humanitarian, medical, and other faculty for study. A state university is represented in Burgas, allowing you to get chemistry and medical technology professionals. 

There are no problems with shops here since many tourists come to Bulgaria every year. Supermarkets and small grocery stores near the house operate here, while the prices for goods differ little from Ukrainian ones. As for shopping, it is better to carry it out in four shopping centers in Varna or two in Burgas.

There are large Ukrainian and Russian communities in Bulgaria. According to data for 2019, the number of people living in Ukraine has reached 10,000 people.

In Varna and Burgas, you can find work, while the level of wages almost does not lag payments in the capital. Highly qualified specialists are in demand here, but you can also go into the service sector and open your own business.

The cost of real estate in Bulgaria

If you are looking for real estate in Bulgaria, then it is in this area that you can notice the difference between Varna and Burgas. Around the second city, there is enough space for construction, so there are more offers and prices are much lower. Varna is considered a resort where people come to relax, and Burgas is a place of permanent residence. Romanians prefer to rest near Varna since the border is located nearby. Foreigners prefer to spend their summers in Kranevo, Golden Sands, Balchik, and Kavarna. Near Burgas, you can often meet Poles, Germans, and Israelis who have been buying property for the past few years.

When choosing real estate, you need to distinguish between buildings within the city and near its environs. You can then rent about 300 euros per month by buying an average apartment, which brings an annual profit of about 3% after taxes. Since the tourism sector has been unstable over the past few years, buying a property near the city may not bring the same income as a city apartment. Housing prices continue to rise. Over the past year, the increase in the cost of housing in Burgas was 3.5%, and real estate in Varna - was 2.4%.