Traces of human activity in the dating area from the third millennium BC. Greek settlers from Mesembria (today's Nessebar) formed the Bison colony in the area in the 5th century BC. Today on the Cape Chirakman, which is 3 km south of Kavarna, are the remains of a fortress wall built in the IV century AD. During antiquity and the Middle Ages the city was an important economic and cultural center. In the 14th century, Karvuna (Kavarna) and the nearby town of Kaliakra were the main cities of the Karvuna principality. After the 15th century, the medieval town of Karvuna was named Kavarna. In 1913 the city fell under Romanian occupation, and in 1940 it was returned to Bulgaria.