Which place is cheaper, Olympos or Varna?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Varna or Olympos?
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 Olympos 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 Olympos?
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.
Olympos
Olympos was an ancient city in Lycia, situated in a river valley near the coast. Its ruins are located south of the modern town Cirali in the Kumluca district of Antalya Province, Turkey. An important Lycian city in the 2nd century BC, Olympos is more famous these days for being the beach resort of choice for backpackers. Staying in an Olympos 'tree house' at one of the dozen-or-so camps that line the path to the ruins and beach has long been the stuff of travel legend. The former hippy-trail hot-spot has been considerably renovated in past years and during summer can be pretty overcrowded. Olympos offers good value and an up-for-it party atmosphere in a lovely setting.
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 in Turkey, and The Best 2-Week Tours in Turkey.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayVarna $65Olympos $95
The average daily cost (per person) in Varna is $65, while the average daily cost in Olympos is $95. 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 Olympos in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personVarna $35Olympos $43
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomVarna $70Olympos $86
Compare Hotels in Varna and Olympos
Looking for a hotel in Varna or Olympos? 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 Olympos Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Varna $9.33Olympos $30
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Varna
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Varna:
- Varna to Bucharest - Private Transfer: $644
- Bucharest to Varna - Private Transfer: $451
- Private Transfer from Golden Sands to Sofia (SOF) Airport : $300
- Private Transfer from Varna (VAR) Airport to Sunny Beach: $219
- Private Transfer from Albena to Burgas (BOJ) Airport: $155
- Private Transfer from Varna (VAR) Airport to Sozopol: $155
- Varna Airport - Ravda | Airport Transfer,Taxi, Bus, Van Service | Book Now: $136
- Private Transfer from Golden Sands to Burgas (BOJ) Airport: $131
- Varna Airport - Nessebar | Airport Transfer,Taxi, Bus, Van Service | Book Now: $131
- Private Transfer from Varna to Burgas (BOJ) Airport: $128
- Private Transfer from Saints Constantine and Helena to Burgas (BOJ) Airport: $123
- Private Transfer from Varna (VAR) Airport to Pomorie: $118
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Olympos
Also for Olympos, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Antalya Airport AYT Transfers to Camyuva Hotels: $98
- Antalya Airport AYT Transfers to Kiris Hotels: $82
- Antalya Beldibi Hotels to Antalya Airport AYT Transfers: $65
- Antalya Camyuva Hotels to Antalya Airport AYT Transfers: $82
- Antalya Kiris Hotels to Antalya Airport AYT Transfers: $82
- Kemer Full Day Pirate Boat Trip with Lunch and Optional Transfer: $10
- Kemer Horse Riding Experience with Transfer: $39
- Kemer Horse Safari Experience With Free Hotel Transfer: $50
- Kemer Jeep Safari With Free Hotel Transfer & Lunch: $40
- Kemer Mega Star Boat Trip With Hotel Transfer and Lunch : $20
- Kemer Pirate Boat Tour with BBQ Lunch & Roundtrip Transfer: $47
- Kemer Pirate Boat Trip With Lunch & Free Hotel Transfer: $20
Is it cheaper to fly into Varna or Olympos?
Prices for flights to both Olympos 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 $23Olympos $30
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Olympos
For Olympos, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Olympos, Cirali, Chimera Night Tour with Dinner at Ulupinar : $33
- Kemer Olympos & Yanartas Sunset Jeep Tour with Dinner: $35
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Varna $8.55Olympos $29
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
Tours and Activities in Olympos
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Olympos.
- Spa Experience in Kemer with Pickup: $18
- Turkish Bath Experience in Kemer: $20
- Goynuk Canyon Tour with Entrance Ticket: $25
- 2-in-1 Canyoning and White Water Rafting Adventure with Lunch From Kemer: $25
- Scuba Diving Tour in Kemer Turkey with Two Dives and Lunch: $26
- Pirate Boat Tour on the Beautiful Bays of Kemer: $27
- Kemer Scuba Diving Experience: $27
- Kemer Scuba Diving Experience: Two Dives with Lunch : $30
- Antalya Full-Day City Tour From Kemer With Cable Car : $30
- Safari Adventure in the mountains from Kemer: $32
- Full-day Boat Tour from Kemer with Lunch and Foam Party: $33
- Demre Myra Tour with Kekova Sunken City Boat Trip From Kemer: $36
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayVarna $8.52Olympos $18
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 Varna and Olympos, we can see that Olympos 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 Olympos would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Olympos 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 Olympos Expensive?.
When is the best time to visit Varna or Olympos?
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 Olympos in the Summer?
Both Olympos and Varna during the summer are popular places to visit.
In the summer, Varna is cooler than Olympos. Typically, the summer temperatures in Varna in July average around 23°C (73°F), and Olympos averages at about 27°C (80°F).
In Olympos, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Varna. In the summer, Varna often gets less sunshine than Olympos. Varna gets 268 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Olympos receives 385 hours of full sun.
Varna usually gets more rain in July than Olympos. Varna gets 37 mm (1.5 in) of rain, while Olympos receives 9 mm (0.4 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyVarna 23°C (73°F)Olympos 27°C (80°F)
Should I visit Varna or Olympos in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Varna and Olympos.
In October, Varna is generally cooler than Olympos. Daily temperatures in Varna average around 14°C (57°F), and Olympos fluctuates around 20°C (68°F).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Olympos this time of the year. Varna usually receives less sunshine than Olympos during autumn. Varna gets 161 hours of sunny skies, while Olympos receives 249 hours of full sun in the autumn.
In October, Varna usually receives more rain than Olympos. Varna gets 36 mm (1.4 in) of rain, while Olympos receives 9 mm (0.4 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberVarna 14°C (57°F)Olympos 20°C (68°F)
Should I visit Varna or Olympos in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Varna as well as Olympos.
Varna can be very cold during winter. Varna is much colder than Olympos in the winter. The daily temperature in Varna averages around 3°C (37°F) in January, and Olympos fluctuates around 11°C (52°F).
In the winter, Varna often gets less sunshine than Olympos. Varna gets 83 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Olympos receives 147 hours of full sun.
Varna usually gets more rain in January than Olympos. Varna gets 38 mm (1.5 in) of rain, while Olympos receives 9 mm (0.4 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryVarna 3°C (37°F)Olympos 11°C (52°F)
Should I visit Varna or Olympos in the Spring?
Both Olympos and Varna are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities.
In the spring, Varna is cooler than Olympos. Typically, the spring temperatures in Varna in April average around 11°C (52°F), and Olympos averages at about 16°C (61°F).
It's quite sunny in Olympos. Varna usually receives less sunshine than Olympos during spring. Varna gets 156 hours of sunny skies, while Olympos receives 250 hours of full sun in the spring.
In April, Varna usually receives more rain than Olympos. Varna gets 44 mm (1.7 in) of rain, while Olympos receives 9 mm (0.4 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilVarna 11°C (52°F)Olympos 16°C (61°F)
Typical Weather for Olympos and Varna
| Varna | Olympos | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 3°C (37°F) | 38 mm (1.5 in) | 11°C (52°F) | 9 mm (0.4 in) |
| Feb | 3°C (37°F) | 41 mm (1.6 in) | 11°C (53°F) | 9 mm (0.4 in) |
| Mar | 6°C (43°F) | 34 mm (1.3 in) | 13°C (56°F) | 9 mm (0.4 in) |
| Apr | 11°C (52°F) | 44 mm (1.7 in) | 16°C (61°F) | 9 mm (0.4 in) |
| May | 16°C (61°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) | 20°C (68°F) | 9 mm (0.4 in) |
| Jun | 21°C (70°F) | 46 mm (1.8 in) | 24°C (75°F) | 9 mm (0.4 in) |
| Jul | 23°C (73°F) | 37 mm (1.5 in) | 27°C (80°F) | 9 mm (0.4 in) |
| Aug | 23°C (73°F) | 32 mm (1.3 in) | 27°C (80°F) | 9 mm (0.4 in) |
| Sep | 19°C (66°F) | 31 mm (1.2 in) | 24°C (75°F) | 9 mm (0.4 in) |
| Oct | 14°C (57°F) | 36 mm (1.4 in) | 20°C (68°F) | 9 mm (0.4 in) |
| Nov | 9°C (48°F) | 50 mm (2 in) | 16°C (61°F) | 9 mm (0.4 in) |
| Dec | 5°C (41°F) | 42 mm (1.7 in) | 13°C (55°F) | 9 mm (0.4 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.