Should you visit Mamaia or Varna?
Should I visit Mamaia or Varna? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the data, which all comes from actual travelers.
Mamaia
The most popular beach resort in Romania, Mamaia sits on an 8-kilometer wisp of land between Lake Siutghiol and the Black Sea. With plenty of hotels, restaurants, nightclubs, and an aqua park, the resort area is a party-goer's destination with endless opportunities for fun in the sun and nighttime merriment.
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 Mamaia?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Mamaia is $56, while the average daily cost in Varna is $57. 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. Below is a breakdown of travel costs for Mamaia and Varna in more detail.
Accommodation
An average hotel room with basic furnishings costs about $44 in Mamaia For the most convenient locations and nicer amenities you can expect to pay a bit more.
The average price for accommodation for two people in Varna is $62. This is for two people sharing a typical double occupancy hotel room.
Food
Food in Mamaia costs travelers about $20 per day on average. Restaurants can vary significantly in price, so choose wisely if you're trying to save money. Fast food and street stalls are typically your cheapest options, which sit down restaurants can be significantly more expensive.
Varna food costs typically run travelers around $20 per day. Eating every meal in a nicer restaurant will drive the cost up, and grabbing fast food or casual meals will help you save money.
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Food
Meals for one day
Mamaia $20
Varna $20
Local Transportation
Public transportation tends to be much less expensive in Mamaia than paying for a taxi or private car service, as is expected. Typically, people spend $23 on transportation in Mamaia on average per day.
While taxis and private drivers typically cost much more than public transportation, people usually spend around $8.16 per day to get around in Varna.
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Varna
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Varna:
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Varna Airport/City to Sofia Airport/City Transfer:
$152
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Varna Airport - Sunny Beach | Airport Transfer,Taxi, Bus, Van Service | Book Now:
$112
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Varna Airport - Ravda | Airport Transfer,Taxi, Bus, Van Service | Book Now:
$112
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Varna Airport - Nessebar | Airport Transfer,Taxi, Bus, Van Service | Book Now:
$112
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Varna Airport - Aheloy | Airport Transfer,Taxi, Bus, Van Service | Book Now:
$118
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VARNA One-Way Private Airport Transfer:
$27
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Private Transfer to Bucharest from Varna (Bulgaria):
$261
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Private Transfer from Varna to Sofia: Hotel-to-hotel, English-speaking driver:
$168
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Private Transfer from Varna to Sofia (SOF) Airport:
$342
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Private Transfer from Varna to Nessebar, Hotel-to-hotel, English-speaking driver:
$61
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Private Transfer from Varna to Golden Sands:
$45
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Private Transfer from Varna to Burgas (BOJ) Airport:
$146
Is it cheaper to fly into Mamaia or Varna?
Prices for flights to both Varna and Mamaia 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.
Entertainment
Sightseeing expenses in Mamaia, including the cost of admission tickets for day tours, museums, and attractions, usually cost an average of $11 per day, per person.
Activities, things to do, and other forms of entertainment usually cost around $7.48 per person, per day in Varna. This cost includes the price of admission tickets to attractions and museums as well as daily tours.
Tours and Activities in Varna
Here are a few actual costs in Varna for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
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Audio Guide for All Varna Sights, Attractions or Experiences:
$17
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Bulgaria Day Bike Tours - countryside & seaside:
$82
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Full-Day Private Sightseeing Tour to the North of Varna:
$223
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Full-Day Private Sightseeing Tour to the South of Varna:
$235
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Pokémon GO Varna Private Tour:
$19
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Private Virtual Tour in Varna with a Local Guide:
$24
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Self-guided Retro Museum Varna Tour:
$8.96
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Self-guided tour in Varna Archaeological Museum + ticket:
$9.70
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The Ultimate Private Communist Tour of Varna:
$61
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Unique Boat Trip Experience from Varna:
$86
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Varna - Aladza Monastery - Balchik - Kaliakra Cape Tour:
$187
Alcohol
Typically, people visiting Mamaia spend on average $10 on alcoholic beverages per person, per day.
While the amount that someone spends on alcohol while visiting Varna may vary from person to person, on average a person spends $7.45 per day on alcoholic beverages.
Sample the Local Flavors in Varna
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Varna:
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Vineyards tour & wine tasting near Varna:
$5.31
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Varna Exquisite Wine Tasting:
$40
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Private Exploration: French Influence in Varna + Walking + Wine tasting tour:
$49
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The Ultimate Private Varna Walking, Culture & Wine Tasting Tour:
$61
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Private Varna Gourmet Tour with Superb Wine Tasting:
$61
When comparing the travel costs between Mamaia and Varna, we can see that Varna is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Since both cities are in Europe, it's no surprise that their costs are relatively close, as many destinations here have somewhat similar travel prices overall.
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