The Surf Window

Varna Beach

Varna, Bulgaria

Beach breakBeginner

On Bulgaria's Black Sea coast, Varna Beach is the country's largest city beach where Black Sea swells, generated by northerly storms, deliver surprisingly rideable waves to a beach that is otherwise packed with summer tourists.

Typical Conditions

The Surf Window

Swell Window

N
OptimalW (270°)
WindowSSW–NNW (210°–330°)
Size–N 1–2m (wind swell)

Wind

SW

Light to W under 15 knots

Tide

None (Black Sea)

LowMidHigh

No tidal movement

Season

Oct–Mar

JFMAMJJASOND

The Wave

Type

Beach break

Bottom

Sand

Shape

Wind swell peaks along the urban beach

Length

30–60m

Skill Level

  • •Who it's for: Beginner to intermediate
  • •Why: Black Sea wind swells are short period and manageable

Hazards

  • •Very busy with tourists June–August, impossible to surf
  • •Jellyfish in summer months
  • •Black Sea has negligible tides but strong coastal currents in storms

Local Tips

  • •Surf only in the shoulder and off seasons, summer crowds make it unworkable
  • •Varna's Roman baths and archaeological museum are extraordinary, one of Europe's best collections
  • •The Cathedral of the Assumption is beautiful, Bulgaria's Orthodox architecture is remarkable

Location

Map showing the location of Varna Beach in Varna, Bulgaria

43.2044, 27.9107