Top Bulgaria Culture

From Roman remains and ancient churches to Turkish baths and royal palaces, Sofia has a world of history to offer. Go beyond the guidebooks and spend the time looking at the sights, not down at your phone, when you join this engaging small-group or private tour. As you hit the city’s highlights, learn who invented the Cyrillic alphabet and why, what happened to the last Bulgarian royal family, and more.

Appreciating the diversity of Balkan culture can be difficult, especially with limited time in the region. Explore Macedonian culture on a day tour to Skopje from Sofia, and tick off another Balkan capital in just one day. Travel the distance with ease in a small group, and discover landmarks including the Skopje Fortress, Memorial House of Mother Teresa, and Old Bazaar, with insights provided by your guide.

Visit one of Buglaria's must-see UNESCO World Heritage Sites, without planning a thing, on this hassle-free tour to Boyana Church. After an easy ride to the outskirts of Sofia, you can pay your entry fee and enter this stunning medieval religious space. See the church's three distinct parts—built in the 11th, 13th, and 19th centuries—and admire the renowned frescoes dating back over 1,000 years.

The guide will meet you near the National Theater Ivan Vazov. You will visit more than 20 attractions and cultural monuments of Sofia. For convenience and good audibility of the excursion, you will be given audio guides and headphones. You will move comfortably, enter the temples, take photographs, and all this will allow you not to stand next to the guide. The tour will end at the Presidency, where you will be able to video and film the changing of the presidential guard. With us you will see the sights of Sofia freely, in your own language, and at your own pace!

The Rila Monastery and Boyana Church are two of Bulgaria's most important UNESCO World Heritage sites. Experience them both in a single day on this convenient transfer service from central Sofia, with a driver/guide. First, check out the frescoes in the Boyana Church; next head to the Rila Monastery for a short guided tour followed by free time. Please note: entrance fees are at your own expense.

Leave the crowds of Sofia behind for the day and take a small group tour to Rila Monastery and Boyana Church. Relax as comfortable transportation takes you from the city and into the scenic Bulgarian countryside. Discover 10th-century medieval history at Rila Monastery, then see some of the best preserved Orthodox frescoes in Europe at the Boyana Church. Enjoy immersive guided visits at both UNESCO sites, along with free admission.

See two of Bulgaria's top attractions in one day on this self-guided tour that allows you to combine the convenience of a tour with flexibility of independent travel. By taking a shared shuttle, you can visit the UNESCO-listed Rila Monastery, in Rila National Park, in the morning and then in the afternoon explore the charming and historic city of Plovdiv, which is considered the cultural capital of Bulgaria.

Combine two UNESCO World Heritage Sites into a spectacular day of exploring on a full-day tour from Sofia to Rila Monastery and Boyana Church. Round-trip transport by climate-controlled vehicle ensures a comfortable day on the road, as onboard Wi-Fi keeps you connected. Free time to check out Rila Monastery and Boyana Church give you the flexibility to explore on your own pace, without the fixed itinerary of a guided tour.

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

Take advantage of your limited vacation time in Plovdiv on a small-group walking tour of the historic center. Listen to intriguing stories about the city's past as you wander the picturesque cobbled streets, pass stunning architecture, explore the key landmarks, and soak up the lively atmosphere. This comprehensive and quick tour is perfect for travelers who want to orient themselves to the city for future exploring.

Escape the tourist trail and discover Bulgaria’s Rhodope Mountains on this private guided day tour. Explore the 13th-century castle, Asen’s Fortress, and the 11th-century Bachkovo Monastery with its murals and frescoes, then admire the naturally carved bridges known the Wonderful Bridges. Tour includes door-to-door round-trip transportation and a private guide but excludes the affordable entrance fees.

Enjoy a day away from the bustling capital on a small-group day tour to Niš in Serbia. Explore top attractions including Mediana, the Skull Tower, and Niš Fortress with your professional guide for intimate insight into the region’s history and culture, and benefit from round-trip transfer from your accommodation to travel the distance with ease.

Explore Romania’s southern neighbor—and enjoy hassle-free logistics—on a full-day trip to Bulgaria. Departing from Bucharest with just a small group for company, cross the border into the foothills of the Balkan Mountains and visit Veliko Tarnovo, the capital of Bulgaria during medieval times. Then, learn about Bulgarian history from your guide while visiting Ruse, one of the country's most elegant cities.

Discover Sofia’s hidden streets and landmarks on foot, then hop on the metro for a quick ride across the city. Enjoy insider stories, a city transport card, and explore like a local. Small groups (up to 8–10) ensure a personal, authentic experience.

Get out of Sofia and learn about rose oil on this guided tour. Visit the Valley of the Roses, a center of rose oil production before continuing on to the Thracian tomb in Kazanlak to learn about its history from your guide. Admire the architecture at the 19th-century Memorial Temple of the Birth of Christ. It is important to note that rose blooms can only be seen from mid-May to mid-June.

"Take a photo with traditional Bulgarian costumes" is the only activity in Sofia that gives tourists the opportunity to feel the Bulgarian spirit by dressing up in unique traditional costumes. To top it off, you will take photos in traditional costumes(garbs).

From Plovdiv we head towards the Rhodope Mountains passing through the pretty town of Assenovgrad. Nearby we will see the remarkable remains of King Ivan Assen’s fortress – a wise ruler of the Second Bulgarian Kingdom. There we are to find an ancient church dating from the 13th century painted with some authentic pieces of iconography as well as the stone made inscription carved by King Ivan Assen. Next we go deeper in the Rhodope Mountains towards the picturesque Bachkovo monastery. The cloister is the second largest in Bulgaria, founded in 1083 and one of the most sacred places in the Bulgarian history. We can stop on the way if you wish. If you are the only one booked for that day, the tour is just for you. Please note that the maximum number of people who can join is 6

Take a break from the hustle and bustle of Sofia on this full-day trip to Rila Monastery and the town of Sapareva Banya—home of Kotvata Thermal Spa Complex. Explore the monastery with free online audio-guides in multiple languages, visit the charming town for a wander, and if you like, head to the spa to bathe in its mineral water pools (additional expense).

Reaching the Seven Rila Lakes by public transport typically involves two buses, a shuttle and most of your day. Take the pain out of transportation—while maintaining total independence—with this cost-effective shared transfer. Visit both these beautiful glacial lakes and the Rila Monastery, a UNESCO World Heritage site, with ample time for hiking.

Explore Veliko Tarnovo on foot during this half-day guided walking tour. Learn about the area's history and culture through guided commentary as you travel; you'll discover much more about the city than you would simply exploring on your own. Visit local landmarks on the city's three hills: Tsarevets, Trapezitsa, and Sveta Gora. Traveling on foot lets you get to know the city from the ground up and choose places you may like to return to later.

Knowing the best spots to experience Bulgaria’s rich and varied cultural heritage can be tricky for visitors on limited time in the capital. Tick off Plovdiv, Asen’s Fortress, and Bachkovo Monastery in just 1 day on a small-group tour from Sofia. Save time with seamless round-trip transfer between landmarks, and learn about their Roman, Ottoman, and modern history from your professional guide.

Sofia might be a small city but it's packed with history and culture. This small-group tour takes you around the Bulgarian capital to visit important landmarks, ruins, and museums. Learn about Bulgaria’s ancient heritage at the National Archaeology Museum and the Sofia History Museum to learn about the 20th-century monarchy period. Other highlights include the ruins of ancient Serdica, the Alexander Nevski Cathedral, and remnants from the Communist era.

Cover ground that’s unimaginable by public transport and check off three of Bulgaria’s key attractions safely on this private, fully guided day tour. Hike to—and through!—Prohodna Cave, explore beautiful Saeva Dupka cave, then tour the 13th-century Glozhene Monastery. Besides your private driver/guide, enjoy a dedicated caving guide in Saeva Dupka.