Madara Rider, Shumen and the Stone Forest in one day

Updated: October 29, 2026

A day trip to the Madara Rider from Varna works well because three sights sit on the same road west of the city. The Stone Forest is about 20 km out, Madara about 75 km and Shumen about 90 km, roughly 1 h 15 min each way on the motorway. Allow 8 to 9 hours for all three at a relaxed pace.

Most visitors on the coast see Varna, a beach and perhaps Balchik. The country behind the coast is quieter and older. The Madara Rider, a horseman carved into a cliff more than a thousand years ago, has been on the UNESCO World Heritage List since 1979, and it is the only rock relief of its kind in Europe. Shumen, a short drive further on, has a large hilltop fortress and the monument to the founders of the Bulgarian state. On the way you pass the Stone Forest, a field of natural stone columns standing in sand.

None of these places is easy to string together by public transport in one day. With a driver you set the order, stay as long as you like at each stop and do not have to work out bus connections between villages.

Distances and drive times from Varna

Stop	From Varna	Drive from previous stop	Suggested time on site
Stone Forest (Pobiti Kamani)	about 20 km	about 25 min	45 min to 1 h
Madara Rider and reserve	about 75 km	about 50 min	1 h 30 min to 2 h
Shumen Fortress	about 90 km	about 20 min	1 h 30 min
Founders of the Bulgarian State monument, Shumen	about 90 km	about 10 min	45 min
Back to Varna		about 1 h 15 min

Times are approximate and assume good weather and normal traffic on the A2 Hemus motorway between Varna and Shumen. Summer Saturdays around the coast can add time.

A sample day

Time	Plan
09:00	Pick-up from your hotel in Varna or Golden Sands
09:30	Stone Forest: short walk among the columns
11:00	Madara: the stairs up to the Rider, the museum, the cave monastery remains
13:00	Lunch in Madara village or in Shumen
14:30	Shumen Fortress
16:15	Founders monument, views over the plain
17:00	Drive back
18:15	Back in Varna

What to expect at each stop

The Stone Forest

Pobiti Kamani is a group of natural stone columns up to several metres high, spread over sandy ground near Beloslav Lake. The best known group, Centre-South, lies about 18 km west of Varna according to the Varna Regional Museum of History, which runs the site. It is flat and easy, so it works for children and older travellers. There is little shade, which matters in July and August.

The museum lists seasonal hours for the Stone Forest, and on some days of the week it is closed. In summer (May to October) it opens 10:00 to 19:30 but closes on Mondays and Tuesdays; in December it opens only by prior request. Check the museum website before you fix your date.

Madara Rider

The relief is cut about 23 metres up a sheer cliff, so you view it from a platform at its foot. Getting there means a walk and a set of stone steps from the car park. The Madara National Historical-Archaeological Reserve also includes a small museum, the remains of a Roman-era villa and a medieval cave monastery in the cliffs. Visits are paid and the site is open all year; it is not accessible for wheelchair users.

Shumen

Shumen Fortress sits on the plateau above the town, with walls and foundations from Thracian, Roman and medieval times. The Founders of the Bulgarian State monument is a huge concrete complex built in 1981 for the 1,300th anniversary of the state, with wide views over the plain. Both sites are a short drive apart on the plateau road.

Ways to change the route

• Swap the Stone Forest for Pliska, the first capital of the medieval Bulgarian state, about 25 km from Madara.
• Start with Aladzha Monastery just north of Varna if you are staying in Golden Sands; see our guide to getting to Aladzha Monastery.
• If you would rather see a medieval capital on a hill, compare this day with Veliko Tarnovo from Varna, which is a longer drive.
• For a coastal day instead, look at Balchik and Cape Kaliakra.

Practical notes

• Wear shoes with grip: the steps at Madara and the fortress paths are uneven.
• Bring some cash in euro for entrance fees and small cafés; card payment is not guaranteed at every ticket desk.
• Carry water and a hat between June and September. The plain inland is warmer than the coast.
• Opening hours change by season. Check each site before you travel, or ask your hotel to phone ahead.

To book, use the form above: enter Varna as the start, Shumen as the destination, your date and the number of passengers, and mention the stops you want in the notes.