Roman Thermae (Varna)

The Roman Thermae in Varna are the ruins of a large Roman public bath complex on the Black Sea coast of Bulgaria, dating to the Roman period. The site is one of the most substantial Roman-era remains in Varna.

Visitors see extensive masonry foundations, remains of heated rooms and hypocaust structures, and exposed walls that outline the original bath plan over an area of several thousand square metres. Informational panels and preserved fragments convey construction techniques and the scale of the complex.

The baths were constructed during the Roman period as a public thermae complex and were used for bathing and social functions. They were gradually abandoned and later rediscovered and excavated in the 20th century, with conservation work to stabilise visible remains.

The ruins lie within the modern city of Varna on Bulgaria’s Black Sea coast, close to the city centre and accessible to visitors on foot from central Varna.

• Scale and preservation: This is the largest preserved Roman bath complex in Bulgaria and one of the largest on the western Black Sea coast, with visible masonry and heated-room structures.
• Visitor tip: Best viewed in daylight from the elevated walkways that trace the exposed foundations; the site is in central Varna within walking distance of the city centre.

What to See #

• Bath complex ruins: Main bath complex with preserved masonry walls, hypocaust remains and the central frigidarium and heated rooms that are visible today as exposed foundations and partial walls.
• Archaeological displays: On-site archaeological displays present finds such as mosaics, ceramics and building fragments recovered during excavations in the 20th century.