A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Bucharest vs. Varna for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

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Should you visit Bucharest or Varna?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Bucharest and Varna. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.

Bucharest

Bucharest is the capital and largest city in the country of Romania. With about 2 million residents living in the city and about 2.4 million in the surrounding urban area, it is also one of the largest cities in Southeastern Europe. As such, it is the economic, industrial and commercial center for the country. As a visitor, you will likely enter Romania by arriving in Bucharest. The city continues to grow and change, and there are ongoing infrastructure projects that continue to modernize the city. It is not uncommon to find historic churches on the same block as modern office buildings and Communist style apartment buildings. There are also many sights around town and the city continues to grow as a trendy and fascinating city.

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.

Which city is cheaper, Varna or Bucharest?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.

The average daily cost (per person) in Bucharest is $109, while the average daily cost in Varna is $51. 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 city. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for Bucharest and Varna in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Bucharest $50
    Varna $28
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Bucharest $100
    Varna $56

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Bucharest $21
    Varna $7.38

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Bucharest

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Bucharest:

  • Airport Private Transfer - to or from any Bucharest hotel: $36
  • Airport Transfers in Bucharest City: $74
  • Airport transfer to Bucharest: $27
  • Arrival Private Transfer from Bucharest Airport OTP to Brasov in Business Car: $142
  • Arrival Private Transfer from Bucharest Airport OTP to Brasov in Luxury Van: $165
  • Arrival Private Transfers from Bucharest Airport OTP to Bucharest City: $41
  • Arrival Private Transfers from Bucharest Airport OTP to Bucharest City: $55
  • Arrival Private Transfers: Bucharest Airport OTP to Bran Castle of Dracula: $236
  • Best transfer from Bucharest Airport to City Center: $3.72
  • Bran Castle of Dracula Yourself : Private Transfer from Bucharest Airport OTP: $236
  • Bucharest (OTP) airport transfer to Predeal - fixed price for up to 7 seats: $299
  • Bucharest - Private Airport Transfer: $15

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Varna

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Varna:

  • Private Arrival Transfer: Varna Airport to Sunny Beach: $57
  • Private Minibus Transfer from Varna to Golden Sands: $50
  • Private One-way Transfer Varna Airport to Hotel or vice versa: $42
  • Private Round-Trip Transfer: Varna Airport to Sunny Beach: $114
  • Private Transfer from Golden Sands to Burgas (BOJ) Airport: $149
  • Private Transfer from Golden Sands to Sofia (SOF) Airport: $342
  • Private Transfer from Golden Sands to Varna (VAR) Airport: $40
  • Private Transfer from Varna (VAR) Airport to Albena: $47
  • Private Transfer from Varna (VAR) Airport to Balchik: $66
  • Private Transfer from Varna (VAR) Airport to Bucharest: $373
  • Private Transfer from Varna (VAR) Airport to Burgas: $128
  • Private Transfer from Varna (VAR) Airport to Byala: $72

Is it cheaper to fly into Bucharest or Varna?

Prices for flights to both Varna and Bucharest 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
  • Food Meals for one day
    Bucharest $46
    Varna $19

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Bucharest

Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Bucharest.

  • Bucharest Evening Tour and Traditional Dinner - 3 hours: $80
  • Cooking Class in Transylvania - Day Tour from Bucharest: $199
  • Walking Food Tour in the Old Town of Bucharest: $199
  • Bucharest City Tour & Traditional Home-made Cooking Experience: $223
  • Private Dracula Castle Tour by night and Romanian traditional dinner: $331

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Bucharest $12
    Varna $6.76

Tours and Activities in Bucharest

Here are a few actual costs in Bucharest for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:

  • Bellu Outdoor Museum Exploration Game & Tour: $5.67
  • Old Town Hidden Gems Exploration Game and Tour: $7.95
  • Museum of Senses Bucharest Entrance Ticket: $11
  • One Hour Epic Escape Room Adventure Mystery in Bucharest: $14
  • Escape Room Experience: $17
  • Half-day tour to the Mogoșoaia Palace by train from Bucharest: $20
  • Skip the line: Bucharest Parliament Palace Ticket: $23
  • Self-Guided Ruse from Bucharest Tour: $24
  • Skip the Line: Palace of the Parliament - Bucharest: $25
  • Guided Ceausescu Villa Tour: $25
  • Jewish Tour of Bucharest: $28
  • Dracula's Transylvania Virtual Private 2-Hour Live Guided Tour: $31

Tours and Activities in Varna

Here are a few actual costs in Varna for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:

  • Self-guided Retro Museum Varna Tour: $8.96
  • Self-guided tour in Varna Archaeological Museum + ticket: $9.70
  • Audio Guide for All Varna Sights, Attractions or Experiences: $17
  • Pokémon GO Varna Private Tour: $19
  • Private Virtual Tour in Varna with a Local Guide: $24
  • The Ultimate Private Communist Tour of Varna: $61
  • 3-Hour Black Sea Cruise With Lunch and Drinks: $66
  • Kamchia River Kayaking Day Tour: $73
  • Bulgaria Day Bike Tours - countryside & seaside: $82
  • Unique Boat Trip Experience from Varna: $86
  • Varna - Aladza Monastery - Balchik - Kaliakra Cape Tour: $187
  • Full-Day Private Sightseeing Tour to the North of Varna: $223

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Bucharest $7.30
    Varna $6.73

Sample the Local Flavors in Bucharest

Also in Bucharest, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:

  • Pub Crawl in the Old Town: $23
  • Wine Tasting Tour of Bucharest Old Town: $61
  • Wine Tasting Tour at First Wine Bar: $61
  • Private Wine Tasting at Bucharest's First Wine Bar: $65
  • Bucharest City Tour and Wine Tasting – 2.5 hours: $88
  • Traditions in Village Museum & Wine Tasting: $93
  • Bike & Wine tour in Dealu Mare wineland: $96
  • Wine tasting at the mansion, Dracula's grave from Snagov & Mogosoaia Palace: $100
  • Traditions in Village Museum and Wine Tasting Tour: $100
  • Romanian Wine Tasting: $106
  • Romanian Wine Tasting Experience: $113
  • Lacerta Crama Wine Tasting: $113

Sample the Local Flavors in Varna

Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Varna:

  • Vineyards tour & wine tasting near Varna: $5.31
  • Varna Exquisite Wine Tasting: $40
  • Private Exploration: French Influence in Varna + Walking + Wine tasting tour: $49
  • The Ultimate Private Varna Walking, Culture & Wine Tasting Tour: $61
  • Private Varna Gourmet Tour with Superb Wine Tasting: $61

About these numbers

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Bucharest and Varna, we can see that Bucharest 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 Bucharest would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Bucharest than you might in Varna.

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Bucharest vs. Varna Travel Comparison

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