MARATON VARNA – GALATA
The Galata International Traditional Swimming Maraton – Varna is held every year on the first Sunday of August. The event is open to all citizens and guests of Varna, who are over 12 years old, from all over the world.
The swimming maraton route draws the sea line from Cape Galata and ends at the second Buna on the Varna’s beach. The straight line distance is 4400 m. As it is impossible to swim in the open water with no outlined corridors, you will practically swim around 5000 m to the final. You need bravery and courage!
RECORDS
The 2017 maraton is the record of participating in the maraton history. Then 321 swimmers stood at the start of Cape Galata!
The time record to swim the distance with the final of the second Buna is since 2009. Then the winner was the 18-year-old Mihail Georgiev from Plovdiv with a time of 47.03 minutes.
The time record with the final of the first Buna is 46.39 minutes and belongs to Petar Stoychev (1995).
HISTORY
The Galata Maraton – Varna is a tradition with modern dimensions.
It has been held every year since 1939 onwards, and only in 1944 it hasn’t been held.
On August 14, 1914, Eng. Georgi Barnev, Eng. Vasil Kardzhiev and the lawyer Demirdzhiev were the first who swam the distance from Galata to Varna.
Over the years, the maraton’s final has been at the first Buna, and in the last decade the swimmers have finished at the second Buna. The number of people willing to test their strengths increases every year!
REGULATION
MARATHON REGULATIONS 2025
GENERAL TERMS AND CONDITIONS AND REGULATIONS FOR THE 85TH INTERNATIONAL TRADITIONAL SWIMMING MARATHON GALATA – VARNA
JULY 27, 2025
Organizers:
BLACK SEA SWIMMING SPORTS CLUB – VARNA
NAVY FORCES OF THE REPUBLIC OF BULGARIA
VARNA MUNICIPALITY
I. CONDITIONS FOR PARTICIPATION
Citizens and guests of Varna from the country and abroad, born in 2013 and older, can participate in the 85th traditional international swimming marathon Cape Galata – Bunite beach (Varna).
Those wishing to participate must:
Have passed a mandatory pre-competition medical examination, carried out up to three days before the event;
To sign a declaration that they are able to independently swim the distance from Cape Galata to Bunite beach, and for persons under 18 years of age, the declaration must also be signed by a parent.
To sign a declaration for the processing of personal data.
Both declarations are published on the marathon website on the Registration page.
II. TIME AND PLACE OF HELD
The traditional Cape Galata – Varna swim for 2025 will be held on July 27 (Sunday) with the start in the Karantinata area of Cape Galata. All those wishing to take part in the marathon must report on July 27 at 06:30 at the meeting point – the Karantinata Fishing Port in the Asparuhovo district. Participants must bring suitable bags, sacks, and bags for storing personal belongings.
Important!
At 8:30 a.m. Registration of participants who have failed to do so online will be permanently terminated, and competitors who arrive later will not be allowed to participate!
The distance in a straight line from Cape Galata to Officers’ Beach – East is about 4500 meters.
III. CONDITIONS FOR CONDUCTING
Participation is individual.
The distance from Cape Galata to Varna can be swum with a freely chosen style. The use of improvised means, fins, outside help, etc. is not allowed.
The start of the swim will be given at 9:00 a.m., and competitors must line up in one line on the shore in the Karantina area.
The finish of the marathon is on the north side of Buna 102 (Second Buna) on the beach and will be marked with an arch erected on the shore.
Competitors swim to the finish line independently. The boat judges correct the participants in case of major deviations from the route.
All those who arrive at the finish line within 100 minutes after the winner are considered to have swum the distance. All other competitors must stop swimming and, without protest, board the accompanying boats and cutters to head to the shore.
During the swim, it is not allowed to receive any food, drink, medication, etc. from outsiders.
Competitors who need medical or other assistance or wish to stop swimming must signal with a repeated movement of their outstretched arm to the left and right.
In case of unsuitable weather conditions, the organizers reserve the right to postpone the event.
IV. RANKING AND AWARDS
The winners of the 85th edition of the Galata-Varna International Swimming Marathon will share a prize fund of 9,100 BGN.
The winners – male and female, receive cash prizes of: 1st place – 1,200 BGN; 2nd place – 900 BGN; 3rd place – 700 BGN; 4th place – 600 BGN; 5th place – 500 BGN; 6th place – 400 BGN.
The best performing Varna residents, male and female, will also be awarded with prizes.
A prize of 250 BGN is provided for a swimmer with disabilities. The sum of 250 BGN will also be received by the swimmer who has registered the most successful participations in the marathon.
All participants who have swum the distance from Cape Galata to Bunite Beach in the specified time will receive: breakfast and a drink, a certificate for a successful swim and a medal for completion.
V. DOCUMENTS FOR PARTICIPATION
On the day of the marathon, each registered participant must bring the following documents to the meeting point: an identity card, a declaration in the form signed personally by the participant, and for persons under 18 years of age also signed by a parent, and a certificate of pre-competition medical examination. Declaration for processing personal data.
VI. REGISTRATION AND FEES
Registration starts on 15.06.2025.
Participation fee for those registered online (deadline until July 21) – 50 leva (25 euros).
Participation fee for those not registered on the marathon website – 70 leva (35 euros).
The fee includes:
snack and water at the finish;
participation in the award ceremony;
certificate of successful swim and medal for completion;
medical assistance at the start/finish;
use of toilets at the start/finish;
possibility to leave luggage (without valuables) at the start/finish.
VI. PAYMENT
Each participant can pay only 1 fee during registration.
Payment is in favor of Topola Sky Management Ltd., the organizer’s partner in collecting fees, according to the contract. In your statement you will see a description of the payment “MARATON GALATA VARNA”
