Briz, Varna: Renting Near the Sea

Published October 5, 2026

Briz is where many expats land when they picture life in Varna: a modern flat, a balcony, and the beach a short walk away. It sits on the eastern side of the city, between the Chayka estate, the Sea Garden and the coast heading north towards Euxinograd. The sea is close — and so are the cranes.

Where it is and what it's like

Briz (part of it is also called "Pochivka", after the beach of the same name) stretches north-east from Chayka to the shoreline. Locals informally split it in two:

Briz-South (Briz-yug) — closer to the Sea Garden, Primorski Park and Chayka. Older, more settled streets, more shops, and a shorter trip into the centre.
Briz-North (Briz-sever) — towards Euxinograd Palace and former villa plots. Most of the new apartment complexes are here, but so are many unfinished streets without proper pavements.

The area has been built up rapidly since the 2000s, so modern buildings with underground garages stand next to old villas, empty lots and active construction sites.

The sea and beaches

This is the main reason people choose Briz. From most streets you can walk to the shore in anything from a few minutes to about 15–20 minutes. Pochivka beach and the stretch around "Fourth Buna" are nearby, and you can follow the coastal path south into the Sea Garden. Euxinograd lies to the north. Many upper-floor flats have sea views, and landlords price that in.

Getting around

Several bus lines run through Briz to the city centre, Chayka and the northern resorts (Golden Sands, St. Constantine and Helena). A bus ride to the centre takes roughly 20–30 minutes depending on traffic. The weak spot is rush hour: there are only a few main roads in and out, and they jam, especially in summer. If you drive to an office in the centre, build in extra time. Ride-hailing and taxis are widely used and reasonably priced by Western standards.

Shops, schools, parks and healthcare

Shops — Kaufland and Parkmart supermarkets, plenty of corner shops, pharmacies, cafés and restaurants. The Piccadilly Park shopping centre is also in the area.
Schools — Briz is home to the Fourth Language High School and a vocational high school. There are several kindergartens, but municipal kindergarten places are in short supply, especially in the newer parts. Most international families also look at private schools elsewhere in the city.
Parks — the Sea Garden, Primorski Park and the park between Chayka and Briz, plus gyms and outdoor sports grounds.
Healthcare — there is no major hospital inside Briz itself; the nearest hospitals are in neighbouring Chayka and Levski, a few minutes away by car.

Housing stock

Most rentals are in buildings put up after 2000: brick construction, lifts, often an underground car park and a gated complex with a concierge or security. There are hardly any Soviet-era panel blocks. Typical offers are one- and two-bedroom flats (listed in Bulgarian as "двустаен" and "тристаен"), usually furnished. Heating is almost always by air-conditioning units, so ask the landlord for last winter's electricity bills.

Parking and noise

If the flat comes with a parking space or garage, life is easy. If not, street parking in the evening is hard to find, particularly in the denser southern part. Check whether parking is included in the rent and who pays the monthly maintenance fee in a gated complex.

Noise mostly comes from construction. The empty plot opposite can become a building site within months. Walk around the block before signing, and ask the landlord about planned projects nearby. In summer, holiday lets in the same buildings bring tourists and a faster turnover of neighbours.

Who rents here

Young families, remote workers and IT professionals, foreigners of many nationalities, and retirees who want the sea on their doorstep. Rents are among the higher ones in Varna — above Levski or Trakiya, especially for sea views and a parking spot. The live price block below the article shows current figures.

Pros and cons

Pros:

beach and Sea Garden within walking distance;
modern buildings with lifts and parking;
quiet, green streets in most of the district.

Cons:

ongoing construction, dust and noise;
traffic bottlenecks at rush hour;
roads, sewerage and kindergartens lag behind the pace of building;
higher rents plus maintenance fees in complexes.

Who it suits and who it doesn't

Good for families who value the beach and parks, people working from home, and anyone with a car and a parking space who prefers quiet evenings to central nightlife.

Not ideal for those who want to walk everywhere in the centre, people on a tight budget, or anyone who can't tolerate building work nearby. If you rely on buses and work on the western side of the city, Levski or Trakiya will be more practical.