Which place is cheaper, Bled or Varna?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Varna or Bled?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Varna and Bled 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: Varna or Bled?
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.
Bled
Bled is an incredibly scenic place, on the east side of Lake Bled. The lake is a beautiful, rich, emerald green. There's a small island in the middle of the lake where you'll find a nice white chapel. The lake is surrounded by striking green mountains, among which you'll find the Bled Castle overlooking the scene. Bled also offers access to the nearby Triglav National Park, a popular destination for outdoor enthusiasts and adrenaline junkies. Within the national park you'll find countless waterfalls and the lovely Lake Bohinj. You can find plenty of opportunities for mountain climbing, rafting, and hiking. There's even a cable car if you're looking for an easy way to get some good views of the mountains and landscape.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 10-Day Tours in Bulgaria, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Bulgaria, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Ljubljana, and The Best 10-Day Tours from Ljubljana.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayVarna $65Bled $113
The average daily cost (per person) in Varna is $65, while the average daily cost in Bled is $113. 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 Varna and Bled in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personVarna $35Bled $60
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomVarna $70Bled $120
Compare Hotels in Varna and Bled
Looking for a hotel in Varna or Bled? 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: Varna Hotel Prices and Bled Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Varna $9.33Bled $37
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Varna
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Varna:
- Varna to Bucharest - Private Transfer: $642
- Varna Airport - Sunny Beach | Airport Transfer,Taxi, Bus, Van Service | Book Now: $130
- Varna Airport - Ravda | Airport Transfer,Taxi, Bus, Van Service | Book Now: $136
- Private Transfer from Varna to Sofia (SOF) Airport: $298
- Private Transfer from Varna to Burgas (BOJ) Airport: $127
- Private Transfer from Varna (VAR) Airport to Varna City: $22
- Private Transfer from Varna (VAR) Airport to Sunny Beach: $217
- Private Transfer from Varna (VAR) Airport to Pomorie: $117
- Private Transfer from Varna (VAR) Airport to Kavarna: $81
- Private Transfer from Varna (VAR) Airport to Byala: $63
- Private Transfer from Varna (VAR) Airport to Balchik: $57
- Private Transfer from Varna (VAR) Airport to Albena: $65
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Bled
Also for Bled, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Bled- Ljubljana Airport. Private transfer. Price per car.: $86
- Private Transfer from Bohinj to Ljubljana Airport (LJU): $164
- Private transfer from Tolmin to Ljubljana city: $205
- Private transfer from Tolmin to airport Ljubljana: $209
- Private transfer from Tržič to Ljubljana city: $136
Is it cheaper to fly into Varna or Bled?
Prices for flights to both Bled and Varna 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 dayVarna $23Bled $30
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Bled
For Bled, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Food Tour Bled - Explore Slovenia Through Its Tastes: $129
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Varna $8.55Bled $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: $23
- Audio Guide for All Dobrich & Kavarna Sights, Attractions or Experiences: $21
- 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: $73
- From Rock Sanctuaries Hiking Tour: $73
- Full-Day Private Sightseeing Tour to the North of Varna: $205
- Full-Day Private Sightseeing Tour to the South of Varna: $205
- Full-Day Small-Group Tour of Bulgaria by Minivan with Lunch: $87
- GPS & Video guided Tour to The North Coast Of The Black Sea: $182
- Guided Nessebar Sightseeing Tour with Pick Up: $107
Typical Entertainment Prices in Bled
Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for Bled's activities, tours, and tickets:
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Rafting$100
Tours and Activities in Bled
For Bled, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Lake Sava River Rafting Experience with Hotel Pickup: $48
- From Self-Guided E-Bike Tour to Vintgar Gorge: $48
- From Self-Guided E-Bike Tour to Vintgar Gorge: $53
- Motorcycle Tours in Slovenia: $54
- Bled Slovenia: 3–Hour Rafting Experience: $59
- 3-Hour Family-Friendly Rafting Adventure: $59
- Lake Bled Stand-Up Paddle Boarding Tour: $63
- From Ljubljana: Lake Bled and Bled Castle Tour: $69
- Winter Triglav National Park Adventure - Half day trip from Bled: $71
- Guided Kayaking Tour in a Transparent Kayak: $73
- Lake Bled Stand-Up Paddle Boarding Lesson and Tour: $75
- Guided Clear Kayak Tour in Bled: $75
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayVarna $8.52Bled $15
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
- Varna Gourmet Tour including Wine Tasting: $127
Typical Alcohol Prices in Bled
Some typical examples of the costs for nightlife and alcohol in Bled are as follows:
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Bottle of Champagne$19
Sample the Local Flavors in Bled
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Bled:
- Slovenian wine tasting at Hotel Triglav Bled's wine cellar: $42
- Wine Tasting Bled: $62
- 2-Hour Interactive Wine Tasting Experience in Bled: $63
- Wine Tasting Experience in Bled: $64
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Varna and Bled, we can see that Bled 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 Bled would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Bled 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 Varna Expensive? and Is Bled Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Varna or Bled?
Varna has a larger population, and is about 60 times larger than the population of Bled. When comparing the sizes of Varna and Bled, 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 Varna or Bled?
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 Varna or Bled in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Varna as well as Bled.
In the summer, Varna is around the same temperature as Bled. Typically, the summer temperatures in Varna in July average around 23°C (73°F), and Bled averages at about 24°C (75°F).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Bled. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Varna this time of the year. In the summer, Varna often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Bled. Varna gets 268 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Bled receives 288 hours of full sun.
Varna usually gets less rain in July than Bled. Varna gets 37 mm (1.5 in) of rain, while Bled receives 71 mm (2.8 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyVarna 23°C (73°F)Bled 24°C (75°F)
Should I visit Varna or Bled in the Autumn?
Both Bled and Varna are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities.
In October, Varna is generally cooler than Bled. Daily temperatures in Varna average around 14°C (57°F), and Bled fluctuates around 16°C (60°F).
Varna usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Bled during autumn. Varna gets 161 hours of sunny skies, while Bled receives 167 hours of full sun in the autumn.
In October, Varna usually receives less rain than Bled. Varna gets 36 mm (1.4 in) of rain, while Bled receives 87 mm (3.4 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberVarna 14°C (57°F)Bled 16°C (60°F)
Should I visit Varna or Bled in the Winter?
Both Bled and Varna during the winter are popular places to visit.
Be prepared for some very cold days in Varna. Varna is much colder than Bled in the winter. The daily temperature in Varna averages around 3°C (37°F) in January, and Bled fluctuates around 5°C (41°F).
In the winter, Varna often gets less sunshine than Bled. Varna gets 83 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Bled receives 96 hours of full sun.
Varna usually gets less rain in January than Bled. Varna gets 38 mm (1.5 in) of rain, while Bled receives 71 mm (2.8 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryVarna 3°C (37°F)Bled 5°C (41°F)
Should I visit Varna or Bled in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Varna and Bled.
In the spring, Varna is cooler than Bled. Typically, the spring temperatures in Varna in April average around 11°C (52°F), and Bled averages at about 13°C (56°F).
Varna usually receives less sunshine than Bled during spring. Varna gets 156 hours of sunny skies, while Bled receives 177 hours of full sun in the spring.
In April, Varna usually receives less rain than Bled. Varna gets 44 mm (1.7 in) of rain, while Bled receives 87 mm (3.4 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilVarna 11°C (52°F)Bled 13°C (56°F)
Typical Weather for Bled and Varna
| Varna | Bled | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 3°C (37°F) | 38 mm (1.5 in) | 5°C (41°F) | 71 mm (2.8 in) |
| Feb | 3°C (37°F) | 41 mm (1.6 in) | 7°C (44°F) | 62 mm (2.4 in) |
| Mar | 6°C (43°F) | 34 mm (1.3 in) | 9°C (49°F) | 77 mm (3 in) |
| Apr | 11°C (52°F) | 44 mm (1.7 in) | 13°C (56°F) | 87 mm (3.4 in) |
| May | 16°C (61°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 81 mm (3.2 in) |
| Jun | 21°C (70°F) | 46 mm (1.8 in) | 22°C (71°F) | 102 mm (4 in) |
| Jul | 23°C (73°F) | 37 mm (1.5 in) | 24°C (75°F) | 71 mm (2.8 in) |
| Aug | 23°C (73°F) | 32 mm (1.3 in) | 24°C (74°F) | 101 mm (4 in) |
| Sep | 19°C (66°F) | 31 mm (1.2 in) | 20°C (68°F) | 102 mm (4 in) |
| Oct | 14°C (57°F) | 36 mm (1.4 in) | 16°C (60°F) | 87 mm (3.4 in) |
| Nov | 9°C (48°F) | 50 mm (2 in) | 10°C (51°F) | 114 mm (4.5 in) |
| Dec | 5°C (41°F) | 42 mm (1.7 in) | 6°C (44°F) | 92 mm (3.6 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.