Which place is cheaper, Varna or Heraklion?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Heraklion or Varna?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Heraklion and Varna can help. It includes a travel cost comparison in addition to other factors. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.
Where Should I go: Heraklion or Varna?
Heraklion
The largest city on the island of Crete, Heraklion on first glance is almost completely modern - a frenzy of traffic, concrete, and dust. Do not expect pristine beaches and glittering waves (those can be found on other parts of Crete). Heraklion is first and foremost a city. Once you get past its grittiness, you will find that there are some attractive features beneath first impressions. The antiquity of the place lies embedded in the modern and is presented in one of the best museums in Greece, the food is excellent, and the people are friendly and welcoming. And though the sea is not great for swimming, its presence along the Venetian port will take you to another time if you need a break from Heraklion's bustling center.
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 The Best 10-Day Tours in Greece, The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Greece, 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 dayHeraklion €158Varna €61
The average daily cost (per person) in Heraklion is €158, while the average daily cost in Varna is €61. 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 Heraklion and Varna in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personHeraklion €81Varna €33
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomHeraklion €162Varna €66
Compare Hotels in Heraklion and Varna
Looking for a hotel in Heraklion 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: Heraklion Hotel Prices and Varna Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Heraklion €31Varna €8.77
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Heraklion
Also for Heraklion, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Acqua Plus Water Park Admission with Optional Transfer: $32
- Crete Private Taxi Transfer from Heraklion Airport to Bali: $95
- Crete Private Taxi and Transfer from Heraklion Airport to Malia: $81
- Crete Private Taxi and Transfer from Heraklion Airport to Panormo: $103
- Crete Private Taxi and Transfer from Heraklion to Agios Nikolaos: $122
- Crete Private Transfer from Heraklion to Hersonissos: $51
- Day Cruise from Heraklion with Catamaran & Transfer service: $123
- From Airport to Elounda Private Transfer: $107
- From Private Helicopter Transfer to Greek Islands: $4,021
- Heraklion Airport (HER): Private Transfer to Heraklion Port: $105
- Heraklion Cruise Port: Private Transfer to Heraklion city: $137
- Heraklion Int Airport (HER): Transfer to Heraklion hotels: $137
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 Heraklion or Varna?
Prices for flights to both Varna and Heraklion 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 dayHeraklion €52Varna €22
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Heraklion
For Heraklion, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Troy Dinner-Show: $33
- Spectacular Dinner-Show: $44
- From Village Cretan Night, Live Dancers & dinner: $48
- Cretan Night with Dinner & Live Show: $49
- Crete: Olive Oil Festival, Farm Dinner, Live Show & Pickup: $59
- Cretan Farm with scenic view: Olive Mill Festival & dinner: $64
- Amazing Sunset Safari Route with Dinner: $84
- Cook with Locals | Cretan cooking Class at Archanes (transfer - lunch included): $86
- Crete: Land Rover Safari with Sunset Viewing, Dinner, & Wine: $90
- Full-Day Jeep Safari Tour with Cooking Lesson: $97
- Food tour tasting walking tour: $123
- E-bike Food Tour Tasting in Heraklion : $125
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Heraklion €38Varna €8.04
Tours and Activities in Heraklion
For Heraklion, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Heraklion Area: CRETAquarium Admission Ticket: $8.56
- CRETAquarium Entrance Ticket in Crete: $8.73
- Mobile Self-Guided Audio Sightseeing Tour: $11
- Self-Guided Audio Tour: $11
- Crete: Palace of Knossos E-Ticket and Optional Audio Guide: $11
- Herakleion: City Self-Guided Game & Tour: $12
- Heraklion Market & CretAquarium *Skip the line: $16
- Heraklion City Tour - Aquarium: $17
- Knossos Palace: E-ticket with Audio and Heraklion City Tour: $18
- Party Bike 1 hour Experience in Malia : $19
- Knossos Self-Guided Treasure Hunt & Tour KIDS: $21
- Minoan Day Experience: $22
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 dayHeraklion €26Varna €8.00
Sample the Local Flavors in Heraklion
Also in Heraklion, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Wine Tasting E-Bike Tour: $95
- Ecobike Wine Tasting Tour in Heraklion: $115
- Ecobike Tour with Wine Tasting: $118
- Luxury Private Wine Tasting Experience in Haralabakis Winery: $119
- Half Day Small Group Wine Tour with wine Tastings: $125
- Half Day Semi Private Wine Tour with Tastings: $134
- Semi Private Heraklion Valley Wine Tour with Lunch: $159
- The Gourmet Wine Tour of Heraklion area: $180
- Private SUV Wine Tour with Lunch: $183
- Full Day Private Crete Wine Tour Experience from Heraklion : $190
- Full day Knossos Palace, Local Distillery, Lunch @ Archanes: $192
- Knossos, Olive Mill, Winery - Distillery with Tastings & Lunch : $196
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 Heraklion and Varna, we can see that Heraklion 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 Heraklion would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Heraklion 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 Heraklion Expensive? and Is Varna Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Heraklion or Varna?
Varna has a larger population, and is about 2 times larger than the population of Heraklion. When comparing the sizes of Heraklion 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 Heraklion 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 Heraklion or Varna in the Summer?
Both Varna and Heraklion during the summer are popular places to visit. The summer months attract visitors to Heraklion because of the beaches, the city activities, and the family-friendly experiences.
In the summer, Heraklion is around the same temperature as Varna. Typically, the summer temperatures in Heraklion in July average around 25°C (78°F), and Varna averages at about 23°C (73°F).
In Varna, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Heraklion. In the summer, Heraklion often gets more sunshine than Varna. Heraklion gets 366 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Varna receives 268 hours of full sun.
Heraklion usually gets less rain in July than Varna. Heraklion gets 1 mm (0 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 JulyHeraklion 25°C (78°F)Varna 23°C (73°F)
Should I visit Heraklion or Varna in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Heraklion and Varna. The city's sights and attractions and the shopping scene are the main draw to Heraklion this time of year.
In October, Heraklion is generally a little warmer than Varna. Daily temperatures in Heraklion average around 20°C (68°F), and Varna fluctuates around 14°C (57°F).
Heraklion usually receives more sunshine than Varna during autumn. Heraklion gets 199 hours of sunny skies, while Varna receives 161 hours of full sun in the autumn.
In October, Heraklion usually receives more rain than Varna. Heraklion gets 69 mm (2.7 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 OctoberHeraklion 20°C (68°F)Varna 14°C (57°F)
Should I visit Heraklion or Varna in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Heraklion as well as Varna. Many travelers come to Heraklion for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.
Varna can get quite cold in the winter. Heraklion is much warmer than Varna in the winter. The daily temperature in Heraklion averages around 12°C (54°F) in January, and Varna fluctuates around 3°C (37°F).
In the winter, Heraklion often gets more sunshine than Varna. Heraklion gets 121 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Varna receives 83 hours of full sun.
Heraklion usually gets more rain in January than Varna. Heraklion gets 92 mm (3.6 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 JanuaryHeraklion 12°C (54°F)Varna 3°C (37°F)
Should I visit Heraklion or Varna in the Spring?
Both Varna and Heraklion are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. Many visitors come to Heraklion in the spring for the beaches and the activities around the city.
In the spring, Heraklion is a little warmer than Varna. Typically, the spring temperatures in Heraklion in April average around 16°C (61°F), and Varna averages at about 11°C (52°F).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Heraklion. Heraklion usually receives more sunshine than Varna during spring. Heraklion gets 224 hours of sunny skies, while Varna receives 156 hours of full sun in the spring.
In April, Heraklion usually receives less rain than Varna. Heraklion gets 30 mm (1.2 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 AprilHeraklion 16°C (61°F)Varna 11°C (52°F)
Typical Weather for Varna and Heraklion
| Heraklion | Varna | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 12°C (54°F) | 92 mm (3.6 in) | 3°C (37°F) | 38 mm (1.5 in) |
| Feb | 12°C (54°F) | 77 mm (3 in) | 3°C (37°F) | 41 mm (1.6 in) |
| Mar | 14°C (56°F) | 57 mm (2.2 in) | 6°C (43°F) | 34 mm (1.3 in) |
| Apr | 16°C (61°F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) | 11°C (52°F) | 44 mm (1.7 in) |
| May | 19°C (67°F) | 15 mm (0.6 in) | 16°C (61°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) |
| Jun | 23°C (74°F) | 3 mm (0.1 in) | 21°C (70°F) | 46 mm (1.8 in) |
| Jul | 25°C (78°F) | 1 mm (0 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 37 mm (1.5 in) |
| Aug | 25°C (77°F) | 1 mm (0 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 32 mm (1.3 in) |
| Sep | 23°C (73°F) | 20 mm (0.8 in) | 19°C (66°F) | 31 mm (1.2 in) |
| Oct | 20°C (68°F) | 69 mm (2.7 in) | 14°C (57°F) | 36 mm (1.4 in) |
| Nov | 17°C (63°F) | 59 mm (2.3 in) | 9°C (48°F) | 50 mm (2 in) |
| Dec | 14°C (58°F) | 77 mm (3 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.