Varna Airport Parking (VAR)
Your complete guide to parking at Varna International Airport — official rates, off-site operators and transfer options
Varna Airport (IATA: VAR, ICAO: LBWN) is Bulgaria's third-busiest international airport, handling over a million passengers a year with a pronounced summer peak driven by Black Sea tourism. If you are driving to the airport, the parking situation is straightforward but worth understanding before you arrive: the airport authority, Fraport Bulgaria, operates two official car parks directly in front of Terminal 2, while several independent operators offer secured off-site parking a few kilometres away, typically at lower daily rates and with a free shuttle included. This guide covers both options, the current official tariff (updated June 2026), and what to know about getting from the car park to your gate.
Official Airport Car Parks — Car Park 1 and Car Park 2
Fraport Bulgaria operates two open-air car parks on the airport's own grounds, both located in front of Terminal 2. Car Park 1 has 490 spaces; Car Park 2 has 194 spaces. Both are monitored by CCTV and staffed 24 hours a day. The current price list came into effect on 8 June 2026.
Every vehicle gets a complimentary 10-minute grace period from the moment a ticket is issued — useful for quick pick-ups and drop-offs. If you validate your ticket before those 10 minutes expire (at an Automated Payment Machine or the exit booth), you gain an extra 5 minutes on top, though this option can only be used once per visit. Disabled badge holders get up to 40 minutes free. Payment is accepted at the four APMs on site, through the URBO mobile app via QR code, or at the manned exit booth. If your ticket is lost or destroyed, the charge is calculated from the verified entry time with a minimum of €15 / 29.34 BGN.
Parking subscriptions are also available for frequent travellers — application forms and general terms are published on the Fraport Bulgaria website.
Off-Site Operators — Cheaper Rates, Free Shuttle
Several independent car park operators have established facilities within a few kilometres of the airport. The main ones are East Rent Parking, V Park, iRent Airport Parking, and Top Parking. All four share the same core model: you drive to their lot (typically 3–5 km from the terminal), leave your car in a fenced and CCTV-monitored compound staffed around the clock, and they shuttle you to and from Terminal 2 at no extra charge.
East Rent and V Park both offer covered parking options — East Rent has an underground bay in a nearby apartment building 500 m from the main lot, while V Park has a canopied area protecting cars from the Bulgarian summer heat. iRent additionally offers a meet-and-greet service, where a driver collects your car at Terminal 2 departures, parks it for you, and returns it to arrivals on landing. Top Parking is five minutes from the terminal and emphasises walk-up availability.
All four operators accept online pre-booking; some require it for the meet-and-greet option. Rates vary seasonally and can be significantly lower than the official tariff for stays of more than one or two days. For a full comparison and booking links, see the Operators page.
Short-Term vs Long-Term: Which Option Makes Sense
For stays under four hours — dropping someone off, picking up a returning traveller, or a brief business call — the official car parks are the most practical choice. The short walk to the terminal and the 10-minute free period cover most quick turnarounds without any pre-booking needed.
For anything longer, particularly overnight stays or trips measured in days, the off-site operators almost always work out cheaper. The daily rates at the official car parks are structured for short-term use, so the savings from booking an off-site spot compound quickly once you are past the first day. The shuttle adds a few minutes to your journey time, but given Varna Airport's compact layout and the proximity of the off-site lots, the difference is rarely more than 10 to 15 minutes door to gate.
Some travellers also prefer the off-site option for covered or indoor parking, particularly during the peak summer months when temperatures in Varna can be high enough to cause heat damage to interiors or drain batteries in older vehicles.
Varna Airport Layout and Terminal Access
Varna Airport has two active terminals: Terminal 1, which operates year-round for scheduled and low-cost services, and Terminal 2, which handles the bulk of the summer charter traffic from June to September. The official car parks sit directly in front of Terminal 2, and the parking office is located inside Terminal 1 on the first floor, open Monday to Friday from 08:00 to 16:30.
The airport is about 10 kilometres northwest of Varna city centre. By car, the drive typically takes under 20 minutes outside peak traffic. There is no direct public transport to the terminal, which is one of the reasons private car and pre-booked parking are the most common ways to get to VAR.
For passengers with reduced mobility, accessible spaces are available in both official car parks. Help phones are installed in both the short-term and long-term parking areas; the passenger services line is +359 52 573 440.