For 55 consecutive years, Bulgaria’s premier swimming club, PСК “Cherno More,” has organized the iconic Galata – Varna open water marathon. The 2025 edition marks the 55th time the club has hosted this prestigious event, the most attractive sea competition along the Northern Black Sea coast.
Prior to that, the marathon was organized by the District Council of the Bulgarian Union for Physical Culture and Sport (BSFS). Since its inception in 1939, the Galata – Varna marathon has been held annually, with only one exception — the year 1944.
The tradition dates back even further: on August 14, 1914, the first people to swim the distance from Cape Galata to Varna were engineer GeorgiBŭrnev, engineer Vasil Kŭrdzhiev, and lawyer Demirdzhiev.
“Since 1970 — its 30th anniversary — the Galata – Varna marathon has been organized by ‘Cherno More’ with the active support of the Bulgarian Maritime Fleet (BMF). I am proud that for 55 years now, the 85th marathon has been held flawlessly by PСК ‘Cherno More,’” said NadezhdaParusheva, under whose leadership the event has welcomed participants from Bulgaria and abroad.
The marathon’s long history is full of memorable moments and records. The year with the highest number of swimmers was 2017, with 321 athletes at the starting line. The fastest finish (from Galata to the second breakwater) was in 2009 by 18-year-old Mihail Georgiev from Plovdiv, with a time of 47:03 minutes. The record for finishing at the first breakwater is 46:39 minutes, set by the legendary Bulgarian swimmer PetarStoychev in 1995.
The 85th edition of the Galata – Varna International Swimming Marathon will take place on Sunday, July 27, 2025, starting from the area known as “Karantinata” at Cape Galata. Citizens and guests of Varna, born in 2013 or earlier, are welcome to participate.
Participants must arrive at the collection point — the Karantinata fishing port in Asparuhovo — at 7:00 AM on July 27. All participants should bring suitable bags or backpacks to store their belongings.
Online registration (valid only with card payment) is available until July 21 at varnamaraton.info. The entry fee is 50 BGN (25 EUR) for online registration and 70 BGN (35 EUR) for on-site registration.
The entry fee includes:
- Breakfast and water at the finish line
- Participation in the awards ceremony
- Certificate of completion and commemorative medal
- Medical support at start and finish
- Access to toilets at start and finish
- Baggage storage (excluding valuables)
To participate, swimmers must:
- Undergo a mandatory medical check-up within three days before the event
- Sign a declaration confirming their ability to swim the course unassisted
- Minors must have the declaration signed by a parent or guardian
- Sign a consent form for personal data processing
Registration closes strictly at 8:30 AM on the day of the marathon. Latecomers will not be admitted.
The swimming distance from Cape Galata to Bunite Beach is approximately 4500 meters in a straight line. The style is freestyle, and the use of swim aids, fins, or outside assistance is prohibited.
The start will be at 9:00 AM. Swimmers must line up on the beach at Karantinata.
The finish is located on the northern side of Breakwater 102 (Second Breakwater), marked by an arch on the beach.
Swimmers will be considered successful finishers if they complete the course within 100 minutes of the winner. Those who fail to do so must board the support boats without protest.
The prize fund for the 85th Galata – Varna Marathon is 9,100 BGN.
The top male and female finishers will receive:
- 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
Special prizes will be awarded to the best-performing local swimmers (one man and one woman), a swimmer with a disability (250 BGN), and the participant with the most marathon completions (250 BGN).
