Varna to Nessebar Drive | From €14/day | BG Car Rental
The drive from Varna to Nessebar is 40 km along Bulgaria’s Black Sea coast via the E87 highway — roughly 40 minutes without traffic, or up to an hour in July and August when coastal traffic backs up. Nessebar is a UNESCO-listed old town on a rocky peninsula jutting into the sea, surrounded by 3,000 years of Thracian, Greek, Roman, Byzantine, and Ottoman history. Hiring a car in Varna gives you the flexibility to stop at beach towns, nature reserves, and roadside fish restaurants the tour buses skip — and all with no hidden fees on your booking.
Route Overview: Varna to Nessebar
The E87 is the only direct route, running south from Varna along the coast through resort towns. It’s a well-maintained four-lane road (two lanes each direction) with a 90 km/h speed limit that drops to 50 km/h through built-up areas. There are no tolls between Varna and Nessebar.
During peak summer (mid-June to late August), the E87 between Varna and Sunny Beach can crawl — allow an extra 30–45 minutes. The worst bottlenecks are at Golden Sands junction, the Alen Mak turn-off, and the Sunny Beach roundabout. If you’re driving on a Saturday in July or August, leave before 9am or after 6pm to avoid the worst of it.
Key Stops Along the E87
Golden Sands Resort (18 km from Varna)
Bulgaria’s largest beach resort stretches along a 3.5 km bay. If you’re starting early, the Golden Sands Nature Park has walking trails through oak forests with sea views. The resort itself is a busy package-holiday zone — skip the main strip unless you need fuel or a quick coffee.
Albena (30 km from Varna)
Albena is a quieter, more upmarket alternative to Golden Sands — a planned resort with wide sandy beach, forest backdrop, and fewer crowds. The Baltata Wetland Reserve sits at the northern end of the beach, and it’s a good spot for birdwatching if you have 30 minutes to spare.
Balchik (48 km from Varna — 8 km detour)
Take the right turn off the E87 at Kranevo to reach Balchik. The Balchik Palace and Botanical Garden, built for Queen Marie of Romania in the 1920s, is the most unexpected attraction on this stretch of coast — a miniature Versailles with terraced gardens dropping to the sea, a minaret, and 3,000 plant species. Entry: BGN 10 (€5). Allow 1.5 hours. The town itself has a working harbour and some excellent fish restaurants on the promenade.
Cape Kaliakra (70 km from Varna — 15 km detour)
This is the best detour on the whole route. Cape Kaliakra juts 2 km into the Black Sea on sheer 70-metre cliffs — a nature reserve with a ruined medieval fortress, a lighthouse, and dolphins visible from the clifftop in calm weather. The access road is narrow but fully paved. Entry to the reserve is free. The drive from the E87 takes about 20 minutes each way.
Kavarna and the Rock Monasteries (80 km from Varna)
Kavarna is the gateway to Bulgaria’s rock-hewn churches. The Kavarna area has several cave monasteries carved into the limestone cliffs — the Aladzha Monastery (closer to Golden Sands) and the Kaliakra-area rock chapels. Kavarna itself hosts an annual rock music festival (Kavarna Rock Fest in July).
Nessebar: What to Know Before You Arrive
Park at the designated car park on the mainland side (near the causeway entrance). The old town itself is almost entirely pedestrianised — you cannot drive on the peninsula. Parking costs BGN 3/hour (€1.50) in summer, free in winter.
Walk across the short causeway to the old town. Nessebar’s peninsula packs in 40+ churches (mostly ruins from the 5th–18th century), cobblestone streets, traditional wooden houses, and seafood restaurants overlooking the harbour. The Church of Saint Sophia (5th century, bare ruins) and the Church of Christ Pantocrator (13th century, now an art gallery) are the architectural highlights.
Sunny Beach — Just Across the Bay
Sunny Beach (Slânchev Brâg) sits 2 km north of Nessebar on the mainland. It’s Bulgaria’s biggest and brashest resort — 8 km of beach, nightclubs, water parks, and affordable package tourism. If that’s your scene, great. If not, Nessebar old town is the antidote: quiet, historic, and atmospheric. The two complement each other — stay in one, eat in the other.
Driving Conditions on the E87
Road quality is good — recently resurfaced in most sections with clear lane markings and cat’s eyes. Speed cameras are common between Varna and Golden Sands (especially the section near Alen Mak). The speed limit drops suddenly from 90 to 50 km/h through villages — watch for the signs.
Fuel stations are plentiful on the E87 (Lukoil, NIS, OMV). Current Bulgarian fuel prices: petrol ~BGN 2.70/litre (€1.38), diesel ~BGN 2.85/litre (€1.46) as of April 2026. Bulgarian vignette is not required for this route — the E87 is not a toll road.
Hiring a Car in Varna for the Nessebar Drive
Pick up your car at Varna Airport (VAR) or in Varna city centre. A compact is plenty for this coastal route — the roads are paved and relatively flat. If you plan to explore inland (like the rock monasteries around Kavarna or the Bulgarian countryside), a mid-size gives more comfort on secondary roads.
One-way hire from Burgas Airport (BOJ) to Varna (or vice versa) is available from most suppliers for a €20–40 drop-off fee — useful if you’re flying into one airport and out of the other.
Quick Reference: Varna to Nessebar
| Direct (E87) | With Cape Kaliakra Detour | |
|---|---|---|
| Distance | 40 km | 70 km |
| Driving time | 40–60 min | 1h30–2h |
| Tolls | None | None |
| Road type | 4-lane coastal highway | 4-lane + 2-lane detour |
| Best time | Before 9am or after 6pm | Early morning (light) |
| Parking in Nessebar | BGN 3/hr (€1.50) | BGN 3/hr (€1.50) |
FAQ
How far is Nessebar from Varna by car?
40 km along the E87 coast road — about 40 minutes without traffic, or up to an hour in peak summer. With the Cape Kaliakra detour it’s roughly 70 km and 1.5–2 hours.
Can I park in Nessebar old town?
No. The old town peninsula is pedestrianised. Park in the mainland car park near the causeway entrance — BGN 3/hour (€1.50) in summer, free in winter.
Do I need a vignette for the Varna–Nessebar route?
No. The E87 between Varna and Nessebar is not a toll road. The Bulgarian vignette is only required on motorways (A1, A2, A4, A5). This route uses national roads only.
What’s the best stop between Varna and Nessebar?
Cape Kaliakra — 2 km of sheer 70-metre cliffs jutting into the Black Sea, a free nature reserve with a ruined fortress and lighthouse. The 15 km detour from the E87 takes about 20 minutes each way.
Are there speed cameras on the E87 between Varna and Nessebar?
Yes, especially between Varna and Golden Sands. The speed limit drops from 90 to 50 km/h through villages and the cameras are positioned at these transitions. Keep an eye on signage.
Related Destinations
Looking for more Black Sea drives? Also explore the Nessebar car hire page, the Sofia to Varna road trip, and the full Black Sea coast road trip.
Ready to book? Visit our homepage for the best hire car deals.