Top Bulgaria Day Trips - page 4

Immerse yourself in Bulgaria’s millennia of history—and enjoy tastes of some of the country’s best beers, too—on this two-in-one, full-day tour. In the morning, depart from Sofia and head to the ancient city of Plovdiv: upon arrival, you’ll discover its Old Town, see its Roman–era ruins, and more. Following lunch (own expense) and beer and some free time to explore, continue to Bulgaria’s oldest brewery for an in-depth tour and tasting.

Feel like a Sofia local on this 3-hour afternoon city and food walking tour. Check out historical highlights such as the National Theater and King’s Palace, and see the Rotunda St. George, Banya Bashi Mosque, Synagogue, and St. Nedelya Church. Stop on route to taste ‘shopska’ salad and an ‘ayryan’ yogurt drink; shop for culinary goodies at the Central Hali Market; and finish with tastings of Bulgarian wine and cold meats at a traditional restaurant.

Discover the architecture, culture, and history of Koprivshititsa on a private full-day tour from Sofia. Forget uncomfortable public buses and relax in your very own end-to-end private transportation. En route, you’re free to pause the scenic ride at any point to stretch your legs or photograph the surrounding wildlife. Upon arrival, explore the charming Bulgarian town with your guide and learn about the dramatic history of the April Uprising.

Get an in-depth exploration of the Bulgarian capital on this full-day tour of Sofia. Set out from your hotel and travel in an air-conditioned minivan. Accompanied by a guide, visit Boyana Church, the National Historical Museum, Pancharevo Lake, and more. Take a walking tour through the city center and learn about Bulgarian history from your guide.

Save time but preserve the benefits of independence on this private tour that checks off not one but two UNESCO World Heritage sites in just one day. Traveling with your private driver/guide, see the 10th-century Boyana Church with its medieval frescoes, followed by the Rila Monastery with its 14th-century tower. Tour includes door-to-door transport but excludes entrance fees.

Admire the sights of Sofia by night before dinner and a folklore show on this evening tour. Take a panoramic drive around Bulgaria’s capital to see its illuminated highlights, including the floodlit Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, National Palace of Culture, and more. Then, savor a 3-course Bulgarian dinner complemented with a live folklore show of traditional local music and dance. Dinner, show, air-conditioned transport, and central hotel pickup and drop-off included.

Take a break from the city on a full-day off-road adventure with cultural activities. After pickup, immerse yourself in Bulgarian wildlife by Jeep. This action-packed excursion also includes a picnic with traditional food and alcoholic and nonalcoholic beverages. See the wonders of the northern Black Sea, traverse lush landscapes, and enjoy a bespoke wine tasting near Varna (must be pre-arranged).

Travel with a small group to Rila Monastery and Boyana Church, two UNESCO World Heritage sites. An informative guide points out 19th-century paintings depicting the Bulgarian Renaissance at the country’s largest monastery, set against the beauty of the Rila mountains. In the afternoon, visit Boyana Church to view its medieval frescoes. You’ll travel round-trip by air-conditioned minivan from Sofia’s Alexander Nevski Square.

Forget planning routes, researching sites, and boning up on history. See all Sofia’s key attractions and learn the stories behind them too on this great-value small-group walking tour: perfect for history buffs. Sights include the ruins of the Roman-era east gate, the 4th-century Rotunda of St. George, the Byzantine St. Sofia Basilica, the Ivan Vazov National Theater, and the Cathedral Saint Alexander Nevsky.

This private tour of World Heritage–listed Rila Monastery includes a tasting at Medi Valley, a classic winery with locally produced wines. Travel in the comfort of your private vehicle to the country’s largest monastery, where your own personal guide points out 19th-century paintings depicting the Bulgarian Renaissance. Admire the beauty of the Rila mountains en route to the winery, where you’ll sample five different wines and learn more about the region.

Tour two of northern Bulgaria’s top attractions on this private 10-hour tour from Sofia. Visit the traditional village of Arbanasi, famous for its rich past and fresco-coated Church of the Nativity. Then, continue to Veliko Tarnovo, Bulgaria’s former medieval capital and home to the Tsarevets palace-fortress. Tour the hilltop ruins, including the main church and execution rock, where traitors were pushed to the deaths, and discover the town’s history. Private transport and entrance fees included.

Journey through Bulgaria’s history from Roman times to modern day on this full-day tour of Plovdiv and Perushtitsa from Sofia. Marvel at the ancient ruins of Plovdiv, including the Roman Stadium, Roman Forum, and Amphitheater, admire the magnificent Red Church and the Three Generations Monument in Perushtitsa; then enjoy wine tasting at a local winery. Hotel pickup and drop-off is included.

Explore Bulgaria’s spectacular Black Sea coast and countryside on a full-day trip to Cape Kaliakra and Balchik from Varna. Travel by comfortable, air-conditioned vehicle to craggy Kaliakra, a peninsula nature reserve renowned for its wild beauty. Take a stroll to witness the steep cliffs and wave-lashed coast, and explore the remnants of the cape’s ancient fortress. Then, after lunch and time at a snail farm, explore the beautiful botanical gardens at Balchik, pausing to enjoy a delicious wine tasting. Finally, stop at a fascinating medieval monastery before returning to Varna.

Discover the rugged nature of Bulgaria when you book this Jeep safari from Obzor. Alongside a private guide, discover small villages to see how the locals live, make several stops for photos, and stop at a small beach to relax. There is also the opportunity to make a stop at Dvoinitsa River for a short boat ride (at an additional expense).

Discover three of Bulgaria's most spectacular (and often-overlooked) natural wonders on a small-group tour from Sofia. This immersive excursion is perfect for nature lovers, hikers, and history buffs alike. Begin at Devetashka Cave and discover its rock bridge, prehistoric history, and bat population. Then explore the otherworldly beauty of Prohodna Cave, also known as God's Eyes Cave. Finally, take in the majesty and rumored healing powers of the Krushuna Waterfalls.

Most travelers in Bulgaria have to decide between sightseeing and relaxation. On this unique, full-day combo tour, experience the best of both worlds as you take in striking Rila Monstery—a UNESCO World Heritage Site—followed by a restorative soak to a traditional mineral bath at a local spa complex. Air-conditioned transfers from central Sofia are included or a hassle-free experience.

Bulgaria is home to two fascinating valleys - the Valley of the Thracian Kings, strewn with millenia-old tombs, and the Rose Valley, home to spacious rose fields. See ancient tombs, among which is the UNESCO protected Kazanlak tomb, known for its remarkable ceiling frescoes. Visit the beautiful Damascena Ethnographic Complex, where you'll learn all about the oil-giving rose and the centuries-old traditions surrounding its cultivation.

Visit Saeva dupka and Ledenika — two of Bulgaria’s fascinating cave systems — on this 1-day tour from Sofia. Travel across the Balkan Range to Brestnica with a guide and explore Saeva dupka — a subterranean cave system of five halls and echoing corridors inhabited since the Roman era. Then, travel onward to Ledenika — widely considered to be Bulgaria’s most impressive underground cave. During your tour, admire mighty stalactites and stalagmites throughout the 10 halls, dip your hand in the Lake of Wishes and enjoy an amazing 3D laser show inside the cave.

See a different side of Bulgaria on the back of a horse on this day tour from Sofia. Travel out of the city in an air-conditioned minivan. Meet the horses and, after a brief instruction, mount the saddled horse and head out on the path in the company of a guide. Stop at Glozhen Monastery and explore the interior.

Travel through the notorious Valley of Roses to discover 4 of the most impressive monuments of Bulgaria from 3 historic periods. All of them are located on top of or at the foot of the longest mountain range in Bulgaria - The Balkan Range. Buzludzha is the most impressive monument of communist Bulgaria (from 1944 to 1989). Shipka Monument of Freedom and Shipka Memorial Church were built after and in memory of the Russian Turkish War of Liberation from 1877-1878. Golyama Kosmatka Thracian Tomb/temple was erected around 5-4 century BC by the ancient Thracian civilization inhabiting in huge numbers the Balkans at that time.

Bulgaria’s unique attractions span thousands of years, but visitors without their own transportation risk missing out on some of the country’s most interesting sites. Visit a hand-picked selection of three destinations during this full-day private tour from Sofia. Get a chance to photograph the Communist-era monument of Buzludzha, learn about the Balkan Peninsula’s ancient history at the Tomb of Seuthes III, and explore the historic town of Koprivshtitsa on foot.

It’s a 4-hour bus ride to Belogradchik, the little mountain town that houses perhaps Bulgaria’s most spectacular rock formations. Get there and back in just one day on this convenient door-to-door tour capped at only five travelers. Exploring with your driver/guide, see the Belogradchik Rocks, an extraordinary series of pinnacles reminiscent of Utah or Arizona, and the Belogradchik Fortress, with a heritage dating back to Roman times.

Plovdiv was originally a Thracian city before later becoming a Greek city, and then a major Roman city. In the Middle Ages, it retained its strategic regional importance, changing hands between the Byzantine and Bulgarian Empires. Plovdiv’s history spans 8,000 years, it’s the second biggest city in Bulgaria, it has traces of a Neolithic settlement dating to roughly 6000 BC. Approximate schedule, it can be plus/minus 30 minutes at those stops depending on the day and the traffic: 12:00 Meet and leave Sofia 13:30 We arrive in Plovdiv and have some time to walk around 14:00 Joining the Free Plovdiv Tour (this is a donation based tour, and the tip for the guide is not included in the price of the tour) 16:00 Time to walk around Plovdiv and optionally grab some food 17:00 We leave Plovdiv 18:30 We arrive back in Sofia

Book a tour to Veliko Tarnovo and discover the city and surrounding region with a friendly guide. Veliko Tarnovo is one of the oldest cities in the country, and its history dates back more than 5 millennia. The Byzantine Citadel, first built in the 5th century, has become one of Bulgaria's most famous monuments. Tarnovo boasts many other archaeological wonders in the process of being unearthed and restored; see an excavation of a royal residence in progress at Trapezitsa Hill. Walk to the top of the hill Tsarevets, where the royal citadel is placed and see the reconstructed palace and Patriarchate. The meanders of Yantra river are enjoyment for every one especially for photographers.