Varshets Voyage Tips and guide

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Varshets (Bulgarian: Вършец) is a town and spa resort in North Bulgaria, in the foothills of the Balkan Mountains, not far from Vratsa and Montana. After soaking in its mineral-water baths, you can enjoy the trails of the 80 hectares (200 acres) forest park and the wilder woods of the mountains. Despite being one of the first spa resorts recognized in Bulgaria, it's a quiet, quaint place, suitable for both active hikers and seekers of relaxation.

Varshets is a small town of 5,400 people (2018), the centre of a municipality within Montana Province (oblast). It's strung along the green valley of the small mountain river Botunya, which runs through town.

"Varshets" is pronounced vur-SHETS, with the first vowel pronounced similarly to the U in "turn" (and the R is always hard in Bulgarian). The spelling is an artifact of the official Bulgarian transcription rules that render two different vowels, 'А' and 'Ъ', as the same Latin letter A.

Rich in cultural history, artifacts provide evidence of a settlement around the area of Varshets dating back to 1st century during the Roman Empire under the name Medikus and connecting it to the curative, mineral springs still flowing today. It was developed as a balneological resort during the early 20th century when the first state bath was built in 1910. In 1930, a new bath building was built following the architectural style of traditional Roman baths, it is still operational today. Catering to Bulgaria's elite society of the time, stately villas from this era embrace the town's lush, green park, which also houses Bulgaria's first casino. It was opened as Bansko Casino, and renamed the Royal Casino after its popularity with Prince Kiril.

Varshets is one of the starting points for hikes to the Todorini Kukli mountain peaks ("Todora's Dolls", 1,785 m (5,856 ft) above sea level).

• 43.1933323.285541 Tourist Information Center, bul. "Republika" 90A (on reaching the large fountain in front of the Municipality building, take the pedestrian street north; the TIC is on the western side), ☏ +359 879 299 984, [email protected]. Small modern building at the end of a very short alley. (updated Mar 2025)

Varshets is easily accessed by private car from the highway connecting Vratsa and Montana. It is 2½ hours from Sofia via Vratsa, Varshets can also be reached from Sofia by tracing the scenic routes of the Iskar Gorge or along the Petrohan Pass.

Regular, daily buses travel to Varshets from Vratsa, Montana, Sofia and other regional towns.

• Sofia - Varshets

Bus departs at 08:30 from the Central Bus Station. Arrives in Varshets at 11:10 via Berkovitsa. (Monday - Friday)

Bus departs at 13:00 from the Central Bus Station. Arrives in Varshets at 15:30 via Berkovitsa.

• Sofia - Montana - Varshets

Bus departs at 15:30 from the Central Bus Station. Arrives in Varshets at 19:10 via Montanta, change bus in Montana.

• Vratsa - Varshets

Bus departs Vratsa at 08:00; 10:30; 12:00; 15:10 (approx. 50 minutes).

• Montana - Varshets

Bus departs Montana 08:00; 11:45; 18:00 - (50 minutes).

• Berkovitsa - Varshets

Bus departs Berkovitsa at: 08:30; 11:40; 14:45 - (30 minutes).

• Lom - Varshets

Bus departs Lom at: 06:00; 15:00 - (210 minutes)

• Vidin - Varshets

Bus departs Vidin at 14:00. Change buses in Montana, arrives Varshets at 18:30.

Connections can also be made by train via Lakatnik twice daily.

• From Sofia via Lakatnik Train Station (bus and train):

Train departs at 07:23 from Sofia Central Railway Station and arrives in Lakatnik at 08:42. Bus departs at 09:10 from the Lakatnik bus station arrives in Varshets at 10:10 (this bus does not travel on Sundays).

Train departs at 16:50 from Sofia Central Railway Station and arrives in Lakatnik at 18:03. Bus departs at 18:10 from the Lakatnik bus station and arrives in Varshets at 19:10. (Hurry, the bus is waiting for the train!)

Varshets is easily a walkable city. Nearby destinations can usually be reached by somewhat limited, but regular bus service and taxis are usually available along the main street leading to the center of town.

• Art Gallery (Градската художествена галерия), Republica Blvd, ☏ +359 9527 30 57. M-F 08:30 to 17:00. The City Art Gallery, on the main pedestrian boulevard near the centre of town, has 664 paintings and 27 sculptures from wood, clay and gypsum. Exhibits from local and foreign artists most often reflect the beautiful scenery of the area. free. 
• Church of St. George (Храм Св. Георги Победоносец), Republica Blvd. Construction of this cross basilica designed church was started in 1902 and was completed in 1906. In 1992 the church was beautifully restored. The church has been declared a cultural monument of local importance and many pilgrims flock to the church to make sacrifices on St. George's day. free. 
• Municipal Museum (Общински музей), Republica Blvd, ☏ +359 9527 21 41. Everyday 09:00 - 12:30 and 14:00 - 18:30. Housed in a former villa along the tree-lined main street, the building is representative of the beautiful architecture built during the early 20th century in Varshets. The Municipal Museum was founded in 1999 with exhibits created completely by donations and contributions from the local community. Hundreds of exhibits were submitted: valuable artifacts from Thracian and Roman times; documents and archival photographs illustrating the history of Varshets as a spa resort; a rich ethnographic collection of clothing and household items. The exhibition contains 4 sections: "Antique", "Archaeological finds and coin collection," Wellness" and "Ethnography". Among the exhibits one will find a unique, bronze sculpture from the 2nd century BC. The Thracian boy-god, Telesphorus, is now considered a symbol of the city of Varshets. free. 
• 43.190323.28751 Paleo-Park (Palaeontology Park) (across the bridge from the New Bath, east side of the river). Closed M-Tu; Oct-Apr: 09:00-12:30, 13:00-16:30; May-Sep: 10:00-12:30, 13:00-17:30. Open area with mock-ups of extinct animals from the Pliocene and the Pleistocene periods "in their natural habitats" (sabre-tooth cats, etc.), and a small indoor exhibit of the fossils on which those reconstructions were based, because there's a large fossil field by Varshets. Opened in 2023. Touching is strictly forbidden, and they do close the park during the lunch break. Free entry. (updated Mar 2025)

• Minkovi Bani, Obshch. Varshets, S. Spanchevtsi, M., ☏ +359 9527 30-52. 2-star hotel. 
• PreSpa, Gr. Varshets, Ul. Botinya 2, ☏ +359 9527 31-93. 3-star hotel. 
• Spa Hotel Mediks, Gr. Varshets, Ul. Republika 87, ☏ +359 9527 31-31. 4-star hotel.