Tours to St. Constantine and Elena from Kyiv — Last-Minute Deals
The oldest resort on the Bulgarian coast, St. Constantine and Helena, welcomed its first holidaymakers at the start of the 20th century and takes its name from the monastery around which it grew. It lies 8 km north of Varna, between the city and Golden Sands, in a green park right by the sea. Its signature feature is its hot mineral springs, which is why many hotels here work as spa resorts. From Kyiv the most convenient way to get here is a bus tour: the journey takes about a day, and the transfer to the hotel is included.
A bus tour covers the road there and back, a hotel room, meals on your chosen plan and travel insurance, and Bulgaria requires no visa from holders of a biometric passport. Hotels and departure dates can be compared with our tour search, and a manager is there to suggest where to stay with children or where to go for spa treatments and quiet.
Getting There from Kyiv
| How | On the road | Key details |
|---|---|---|
| Bus tour | about a day | Departs from Kyiv and drops you at the hotel; the border usually takes 2–4 hours |
| Scheduled bus to Varna | 20–25 h | Several departures a day; from Varna bus station to the resort is 20–30 minutes by taxi or city bus |
| Your own car | about 1,100 km | You need a Green Card and Romanian and Bulgarian e-vignettes |
| Flight package | depends on departure | A flight to Varna (VAR) from airports in neighbouring countries; the airport is about 16 km from the resort |
Journey time depends heavily on the border queue, so it is best not to plan anything important for your arrival day. Pack water, snacks and something to sleep with for children: the bus also travels at night.
Why Choose This Resort
- Peace and a park. The hotels stand among old trees, and the promenade runs along small beaches separated by breakwaters and rocks. There are hardly any noisy clubs, so the resort is popular with families and couples.
- Mineral springs. Seven wells about two kilometres deep supply water at 40–60 °C. It feeds outdoor and indoor hotel pools and spa centres, so you can swim in warm water even on a cool day.
- The Monastery of Sts Constantine and Helena. A small church by the sea, rebuilt in the 19th century. Legend has it that it was founded where an icon from a wrecked ship was found after a storm.
- Varna nearby. The city centre is 15–20 minutes away: the Sea Garden along the coast, the Roman baths and the Archaeological Museum with the gold of the Varna Necropolis, the oldest worked gold objects in the world.
- Excursions. The rock-cut Aladzha Monastery, the Stone Forest (Pobiti Kamani), the palace and botanical garden in Balchik, and Cape Kaliakra.
Beaches and Season
The beaches here are small, with fine sand. In many places the water deepens gently, but some coves have a stony bottom, so bring water shoes. The Black Sea is comfortable for swimming from mid-June to mid-September, and it is warmest at the end of July and in August.
| Month | Sea | On the beach by day |
|---|---|---|
| June | +21 °C | +26 °C |
| July | +24 °C | +29 °C |
| August | +25 °C | +29 °C |
| September | +22 °C | +25 °C |
Typical figures around Varna.
Hotels and Prices
The resort has many spa hotels with mineral pools, including some that stay open all year, as well as family complexes with entertainment programmes and all-inclusive hotels. The price depends on transport (a bus tour usually costs less than a flight package), the hotel category, the meal plan and the dates: prices peak at the end of July and in August. Our article Bulgaria on the map shows where each coastal resort is located.
Documents and the Border
- Biometric passport. No visa is needed: in the Schengen area, which Bulgaria belongs to, the Schengen limit is 90 days in a 180-day period. The passport should not expire within three months of your return.
- EES registration. At the external Schengen border, usually when entering Romania, your passport details, fingerprints and a facial photo are entered into the system. There are no longer passport checks between Romania and Bulgaria.
- Tour documents (voucher, bus tickets and insurance) are sent by the tour operator before departure.
- Children and men of call-up age. Special exit rules apply to them under martial law, so check them before buying a tour.
St. Constantine and Elena from Kyiv: Frequently Asked Questions
What is the travel time from Kyiv to the resort?
By bus, about a day, of which 2–4 hours usually go on the border crossing. By car the distance is about 1,100 km.
Is it a good place for children?
Yes: it is quiet and green, and hotels have children's pools and entertainment. For a water park, take a trip to neighbouring Golden Sands.
Can I go there outside summer?
Yes, spa hotels with mineral pools welcome guests in spring and autumn, and some all year round. For swimming in the sea, it is better to choose the period from late June to early September.
Will I need a visa to travel to Bulgaria?
No visa: a biometric passport is sufficient for Ukrainians. At the first Schengen border, your passport and fingerprints go into the EES database.
How much does a tour to St. Constantine and Elena from Kyiv cost?
The cheapest option is a bus tour in June or September; August and top spa hotels cost the most. Current prices are shown by the search on our website.
Other resorts nearby, also with departures from Kyiv: Golden Sands with its water park and nightlife, the big seaside city of Varna and quiet Albena. All the options in the country are gathered on the tours to Bulgaria from Kyiv page.
