Travel & Stay

Travel Note

Entry Information

Passport: Bulgaria follows the Schengen area rules —validity of at least 3 months beyond departure from the Schengen area; minimum 1 blank page. Visa/Authorization: USA: Visa-free for short stays (up to 90 days) The Entry/Exit System (EES) has been recently implemented by 29 European countries, incl. Bulgaria. Passport control officers will take a photo of your face and/or scan your fingerprints if you hold a non-EU passport. Passports will no longer be stamped. If you travel through Cyprus or Ireland, your passport will still be stamped. For more information visit: https://travel-europe.europa.eu/ees The new European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS) is scheduled to be introduced in Q4 2026. ETIAS will NOT affect travel to the wedding. EU/Schengen travelers: No visa; serve with ID. COVID-19: No current travel restrictions requiring vaccines or health documents unless new guidance emerges.

Flight

Flying into Varna (VAR)

The closest and easiest arrival point, just 15–20 minutes from the city center. Flights are usually more expensive as it is a smaller airport and the main summer toursit destination in Bulgaria. However, the ease with flying in is in our opinion far worth the extra cost.

Flight

USA to Varna

There are no non-stop flights from the U.S. to Bulgaria. You'll typically connect through cities like Istanbul, Vienna, Frankfurt. Once you're in Europe, getting to Varna is easy. We recommend, if time allows, to spend some time in Europe or in Varna before or after the wedding to make the trip extra special :)

Flight

Europe to Varna

Some European airports with nonstop flights to Varna: London – Luton and Gatwick on Wizz Air Vienna – Austrian Airlines, Wizz Air Berlin – Eurowings, easyJet, Wizz Air Frankfurt/Munich – Lufthansa, Bulgaria Air Düsseldorf/Cologne – Eurowings Warsaw – LOT Polish Airlines Prague – Smartwings Brussels (Charleroi) – Ryanair, Wizz Air Milan/Rome – Ryanair, Wizz Air (seasonal) Zurich – Edelweiss Air Istanbul – Turkish Airlines Tel Aviv – not exactly in Europe but multiple carriers with frequent services

Flight

Flying into Sofia (SOF)

If flights into Sofia (SOF) work better for you, there are a few easy ways to make the trip to Varna from Sofia: 1. Quick Flight (Recommended) Duration: ~50 minutes Daily flights via Bulgaria Air (Terminal 2) 2. Train: Duration: 7–8.5 hours Comfortable, scenic option with both day and night trains. Our experience: Night sleeper train is a fun experience and the cabins are nice and air conditioned with outlets. Each cabin has up to 3 beds. It is quite affordable to rent the whole cabin and not share. Tickets are usually sold only 30 days in advance. Day train is fun because you get to see a beautiful part of the country along the way but you spend your whole day on the train. 3. Coach Bus: Duration: 6–7 hours The most frequent option, with mulitple departures daily from Sofia Central Bus Station. Our experience: Crowded but air conditioned. Be street smart at train and bus stations.

Travel Note

Money

Bulgaria uses the Euro. Card payments are accepted by many businesses but not everywhere. Best to ask in advance if cards are accepted. Sometimes you may be asked "cash or card" before you are presented with the check.

Travel Note

Airport Bus to City Center

Bus No. 409, run by Gradski Transport EAD, departs every ~30 minutes, from ~06:00 to ~22:00. Costs ~€1.50, takes about 20 minutes to the city center (Cathedral)

Travel Note

Airport Shuttles

Companies like AirportTaxis.com or Transfeero offer fixed-rate, meet-and-greet service from around €15–€25, with no surprises and an English-speaking driver. Travel companies (e.g., Holiday Extras) advertise shared shuttles from £2.36–4+, depending on group size and drop-off location

Travel Note

Taxi

From the airport to city center, expect €7–€9 for the ~6–7 km ride. Despite no Lyft or Uber in Bulgaria, taxis are ubiquitous and convenient for some journeys. Stay tuned for detailed advice on good taxi services in Varna.

Travel Note

Rental Cars

Parking in central Varna is a challenge so we don't recommend this option unless you plan to do a road trip out of the city! With that said, major international brands (e.g., Hertz, Europcar, Sixt) operate in Bulgaria if you are so inclined. Required for non-EU nationals (e.g., US citizens): You must present both your valid national driver’s license and an International Driving Permit (IDP). Minimum age: Generally 22 years old; under 25 often incurs a "young driver" surcharge. Documents required for Car Rental: 1. Passport (mandatory for non-EU travelers) 2. National license 3. IDP - The International Driving Permit is the only valid translation of your home license and is required in Bulgaria. Apply before departure (e.g., via AAA in the U.S., usually ~$20 + photos). Driving conditions: Roads are generally in good condition, but rural areas may vary. Be cautious of variable infrastructure.

Travel Note

Where To Stay

We will be staying at Hotel Cherno More and have a code for a group discount. Use the link below to book with Bonus code Jaggie for a discount. Prices will vary but a double room is currently €92 per night. Rooms are first come first serve and we recommend paying in full so there are no issues. We have included some other hotels in the area. Airbnb and Booking.com are also widely available in the area. We recommend accommodation within no more than 30-minute walk from the Varna Sea Garden Central Entrance. Feel free to text us with any questions about locations!

Hotel

Hotel “Cherno More”

Hotel

Graffit Gallery Design Hotel

Hotel

Grand Hotel London

Hotel

Modus Hotel

Hotel

Hotel Panorama

Hotel

Hotel Boutique Splendid