Which place is cheaper, Varna or Antalya?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Antalya or Varna?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Antalya or Varna? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.
Where Should I go: Antalya or Varna?
Antalya
Antalya is the largest city along Turkey's Mediterranean coast and the eighth largest city in the country with over one million people in the metropolitan area. The city dates back to about 200 BC when it was settled by the Attalid Dynasty of Pergamon and soon conquered by the Romans. The city was ruled by several different groups and most recently was transferred to Italian suzerainty following World War I. It became part of Turkey following the War of Independence. The city has seen an influx of development in recent years and it has grown into a tourism mecca with more than 12 million visitors in 2014.
Varna
Varna is a coastal city on the Black Sea. It's the third largest city in Bulgaria and many people consider it the summer capital of the country. It's a major tourist destination and it can make for a relaxing escape at the beach if you're in Bulgaria during the summer. It is the only city in Bulgaria that cruises visit, and as such, it's tourist infrastructure has grown. In addition to being a tourist destination, Varna is also a business and university center, seaport, and the headquarters of the Bulgarian Navy and merchant marine.
For some great organized tour ideas, see Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Turkey, The Best Anzac Day Tours in Turkey, The Best 10-Day Tours in Bulgaria, and Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Bulgaria.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayAntalya $147Varna $65
The average daily cost (per person) in Antalya is $147, while the average daily cost in Varna is $65. These costs include accommodation (assuming double occupancy, so the traveler is sharing the room), food, transportation, and entertainment. While every person is different, these costs are an average of past travelers in each destination. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for Antalya and Varna in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personAntalya $55Varna $35
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomAntalya $110Varna $70
Compare Hotels in Antalya and Varna
Looking for a hotel in Antalya or Varna? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options and compare which is best for your budget and travel style.
Kayak helps you find the best prices for hotels, flights, and rental cars for destinations around the world. Compare prices for multiple destinations when planning your next trip.
Our Analysis
We've analyzed the average and typical hotel prices based on guest reviews, star ratings, and hotel amenities here: Antalya Hotel Prices and Varna Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Antalya $110Varna $9.33
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Antalya
Also for Antalya, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Antalya Airport (AYT) to Turkler Transfer - Economy: $88
- Antalya Airport (AYT) to Turkler Transfer - TOP VIP Minibus: $132
- Antalya Airport (AYT) to Turkler Transfer - VIP Minibus: $117
- Antalya Airport (AYT) to Turkler Transfer - VIP Minivan: $103
- Private Transfer From Antalya Airport To Denizyaka / Gündoğdu / Çolaklı: $76
- Private Transfer From Antalya Airport To Titreyengöl / Sorgun: $91
- AYT - Konyaaltı | Private Transfer Between Antalya Airport: $37
- Adana Airport Transfers to Adana city Hotels: $55
- Adana Airport Transfers to Tarsus city Hotels: $82
- Airport Private Transfer from Antalya to Side/Belek/Kundu: $65
- Alanya City Tour, Boat Trip & Cable Car with Transfer from Side: $63
- Alanya/Mahmutlar: Private Transfer to/from Antalya Airport: $42
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Varna
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Varna:
- Varna to Bucharest - Private Transfer: $644
- Varna Airport - Ravda | Airport Transfer,Taxi, Bus, Van Service | Book Now: $136
- Varna Airport - Nessebar | Airport Transfer,Taxi, Bus, Van Service | Book Now: $131
- Private Transfer from Varna to Burgas (BOJ) Airport: $128
- Private Transfer from Varna Airport (VAR) to Burgas Cruise Port: $65
- Private Transfer from Varna (VAR) Airport to Varna City: $22
- Private Transfer from Varna (VAR) Airport to Sveti Vlas: $109
- Private Transfer from Varna (VAR) Airport to Sunny Beach: $219
- Private Transfer from Varna (VAR) Airport to Sozopol: $155
- Private Transfer from Varna (VAR) Airport to Saints Constantine and Helena: $25
- Private Transfer from Varna (VAR) Airport to Pomorie: $118
- Private Transfer from Varna (VAR) Airport to Obzor: $71
Is it cheaper to fly into Antalya or Varna?
Prices for flights to both Varna and Antalya change regularly based on dates and travel demand. We suggest you find the best prices for your next trip on Kayak, because you can compare the cost of flights across multiple airlines for your prefered dates.
Food
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Food Meals for one dayAntalya $25Varna $23
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Antalya
For Antalya, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Pamukkalea and Salda Lake Tour with Breakfast-Lunch-Dinner: $40
- Traditional Turkish Tastes at Antalya Food Tour: $47
- Giza Pyramids Sound and Light Show with Dinner: $73
- Full day trip to Pamukkale from Side with dinner: $104
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Antalya $46Varna $8.55
Tours and Activities in Antalya
For Antalya, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- First Discovery Walk and Reading Walking Tour: $3.21
- Antalya Highlights Self-Guided Scavenger Hunt and Tour: $3.21
- Bazaar Self-Guided Smartphone App Tour: $6.00
- Antalya Scavenger Hunt and Sights Self-Guided Tour: $7.65
- Antalya Scavenger Hunt And Sights Self-Guided Tour: $7.84
- Antalya Self-Guided Audio Tour: $9.00
- Self-Guided Audio City Tour on Your Phone: $11
- Self-Guided Audio Tour: $11
- Antalya Sand Sculpture Museum Admission Ticket: $11
- Sulu Island and Adrasan Bay: Boat Tour with Lunch: $13
- Full-Day Private Rafting Adventure in Karabük Türkiye: $13
- Spa and Skin Care Experience with Massage and Drink: $14
Tours and Activities in Varna
Here are a few actual costs in Varna for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Action Aqua Park Entrance Ticket: $25
- Audio Guide for All Varna Sights, Attractions or Experiences: $15
- Bulgaria Day Bike & E-bike Tours - country & sea: $63
- E-Motorcycle Tour in Old Rock Monastery and Old Roman Fortress : $114
- From Hiking and Climbing Day Tour: $74
- From Rock Sanctuaries Hiking Tour: $74
- Full-Day Private Sightseeing Tour to the North of Varna: $206
- Full-Day Private Sightseeing Tour to the South of Varna: $206
- Full-Day Small-Group Tour of Bulgaria by Minivan with Lunch: $87
- GPS & Video guided Tour to The North Coast Of The Black Sea: $183
- Guided Nessebar Sightseeing Tour with Pick Up: $108
- Half Day Private Bicycle Tour in Varna: $29
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayAntalya $20Varna $8.52
Sample the Local Flavors in Varna
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Varna:
- Private Exploration: French Influence in Varna + Walking + Wine tasting tour: $53
- Bulgarian Wine Tasting & Art Gallery Experience in Varna: $53
- Varna Exquisite Wine Tasting: $64
- Private Varna Gourmet Tour with Superb Wine Tasting: $64
- The Ultimate Private Varna Walking, Culture & Wine Tasting Tour: $75
- E-bike & Wine Tour to the Bulgarian Coast: $104
- Varna Gourmet Tour including Wine Tasting: $127
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Antalya and Varna, we can see that Antalya is more expensive. And not only is Varna much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Varna would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Varna and be able to afford a more luxurious travel style by staying in nicer hotels, eating at more expensive restaurants, taking tours, and experiencing more activities. The same level of travel in Antalya would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Antalya than you might in Varna.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Antalya Expensive? and Is Varna Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Antalya or Varna?
Antalya has a larger population, and is about 2 times larger than the population of Varna. When comparing the sizes of Antalya and Varna, keep in mind that a larger population does not always imply the destination has more attractions or better activities. So, always research the type of place that you want to visit along with the activities and attractions that interest you.
When is the best time to visit Antalya or Varna?
Both places have a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. As both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.
Should I visit Antalya or Varna in the Summer?
Both Varna and Antalya during the summer are popular places to visit. Many visitors come to Antalya in the summer for the beaches, snorkeling, the hiking, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences.
Antalya is a little warmer than Varna in the summer. The daily temperature in Antalya averages around 28°C (83°F) in July, and Varna fluctuates around 23°C (73°F).
In Varna, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Antalya. In the summer, Antalya often gets more sunshine than Varna. Antalya gets 376 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Varna receives 268 hours of full sun.
Antalya usually gets less rain in July than Varna. Antalya gets 3 mm (0.1 in) of rain, while Varna receives 37 mm (1.5 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyAntalya 28°C (83°F)Varna 23°C (73°F)
Should I visit Antalya or Varna in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Antalya and Varna. Most visitors come to Antalya for the hiking trails, the shopping scene, the music scene, and the natural beauty of the area during these months.
In the autumn, Antalya is a little warmer than Varna. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Antalya in October average around 21°C (69°F), and Varna averages at about 14°C (57°F).
In Antalya, it's very sunny this time of the year. Antalya usually receives more sunshine than Varna during autumn. Antalya gets 251 hours of sunny skies, while Varna receives 161 hours of full sun in the autumn.
In October, Antalya usually receives more rain than Varna. Antalya gets 70 mm (2.8 in) of rain, while Varna receives 36 mm (1.4 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberAntalya 21°C (69°F)Varna 14°C (57°F)
Should I visit Antalya or Varna in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Antalya as well as Varna. The winter months attract visitors to Antalya because of the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.
It's quite cold in Varna in the winter. In January, Antalya is generally much warmer than Varna. Daily temperatures in Antalya average around 11°C (51°F), and Varna fluctuates around 3°C (37°F).
In the winter, Antalya often gets more sunshine than Varna. Antalya gets 161 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Varna receives 83 hours of full sun.
Antalya receives a lot of rain in the winter. Antalya usually gets more rain in January than Varna. Antalya gets 239 mm (9.4 in) of rain, while Varna receives 38 mm (1.5 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryAntalya 11°C (51°F)Varna 3°C (37°F)
Should I visit Antalya or Varna in the Spring?
Both Varna and Antalya are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. The beaches and the natural beauty are the main draw to Antalya this time of year.
Antalya is a little warmer than Varna in the spring. The daily temperature in Antalya averages around 16°C (62°F) in April, and Varna fluctuates around 11°C (52°F).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Antalya. Antalya usually receives more sunshine than Varna during spring. Antalya gets 243 hours of sunny skies, while Varna receives 156 hours of full sun in the spring.
In April, Antalya usually receives around the same amount of rain as Varna. Antalya gets 46 mm (1.8 in) of rain, while Varna receives 44 mm (1.7 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilAntalya 16°C (62°F)Varna 11°C (52°F)
Typical Weather for Varna and Antalya
| Antalya | Varna | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 11°C (51°F) | 239 mm (9.4 in) | 3°C (37°F) | 38 mm (1.5 in) |
| Feb | 11°C (52°F) | 196 mm (7.7 in) | 3°C (37°F) | 41 mm (1.6 in) |
| Mar | 13°C (56°F) | 103 mm (4.1 in) | 6°C (43°F) | 34 mm (1.3 in) |
| Apr | 16°C (62°F) | 46 mm (1.8 in) | 11°C (52°F) | 44 mm (1.7 in) |
| May | 20°C (69°F) | 28 mm (1.1 in) | 16°C (61°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) |
| Jun | 25°C (77°F) | 8 mm (0.3 in) | 21°C (70°F) | 46 mm (1.8 in) |
| Jul | 28°C (83°F) | 3 mm (0.1 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 37 mm (1.5 in) |
| Aug | 28°C (83°F) | 1 mm (0 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 32 mm (1.3 in) |
| Sep | 25°C (77°F) | 11 mm (0.4 in) | 19°C (66°F) | 31 mm (1.2 in) |
| Oct | 21°C (69°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) | 14°C (57°F) | 36 mm (1.4 in) |
| Nov | 16°C (61°F) | 134 mm (5.3 in) | 9°C (48°F) | 50 mm (2 in) |
| Dec | 12°C (54°F) | 227 mm (8.9 in) | 5°C (41°F) | 42 mm (1.7 in) |
Budget Your Trip is all about finding out how much everything costs so that you can travel cheaper and longer. Created by avid travelers Laurie and Bryan, our goal is to help you plan your next trip on the right budget. With average daily travel costs that are calculated from the budgets of real travelers, plus an analysis of hotel and tour prices, you can find out how much money you need to plan your next adventure. We also have plenty of travel advice, accommodation reviews, and activity suggestions.