Roman Thermae Varna

The Roman Thermae of Varna

Tucked between the streets of the modern city, the ruins of the Roman Thermae of Varna form the largest Roman bath complex in Bulgaria and one of the largest in the Balkans. Built in Odessos, the old Greek town that became an important Roman center, the baths testify to the refinement of urban life nearly two thousand years ago.

What you will see

You walk among massive stone-and-brick walls that survive to an impressive height, following the classic sequence of a Roman bath: the frigidarium (cold room), tepidarium (warm room) and caldarium (hot room), along with the palaestra for exercise. You can still make out the hypocaust system that channeled hot air beneath the floors and through the walls, as well as the pipes and service rooms. Information panels help you reconstruct how this true social hub of the ancient city worked, where the people of Odessos came not only to bathe but to talk, do business and socialize.

Practical

The thermae stand in Varna's old center, an easy walk from the pedestrian zone and the cathedral. A visit usually takes under an hour and suits any season, though dry weather makes exploring more pleasant, as the site is open-air and slightly uneven — comfortable shoes are recommended. Nearby it is well worth seeing the Varna Archaeological Museum, home to the famous Varna Gold treasure, considered the oldest worked gold in the world, as well as the Sea Garden and the city cathedral.