Top Sofia Day Trips - page 2

Hiking in Pirin- the UNESCO World Heritage Natural Park with a visit of Bansko

11 hoursFree Cancellation

(11)

from $112

The Eyes of God natural wonder Saeva Dupka cave and Glozhene Monastery day trip from Sofia

6 to 8 hoursFree Cancellation

(15)

from $112

A UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Rila Monastery is a must-visit for many travelers to Sofia. Pair it with one of the country’s most sacred sites, the Cave of St. John of Rila, who founded the monastery, on this fascinating day trip. The entry level package includes an online, app-based guide: Upgrade for a physical audio guide or a live guide in your chosen language. All options exclude entrance fees.

Rila Monastery and St. Ivan Cave History & Nature Trip from Sofia

Rila Monastery and St. Ivan Cave History & Nature Trip from Sofia

8 hoursFree Cancellation

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.

(42)

from $24

Rila Monastery Afternoon Half Day tour

4 to 5 hoursFree Cancellation

4.5

(41)

from $58

Plovdiv Full-Day Small-Group Tour from Sofia with Pickup

Explore the ancient city of Plovdiv on a full-day small-group tour from Sofia. Discover the city's rich history and culture as you visit top attractions like the Roman Theatre, Old Town, and the iconic Nebet Tepe Hill. With a small group of travelers, enjoy an intimate and personalized experience with a local guide. Plus, enjoy free time to explore independently, browse the local markets, and enjoy Bulgarian cuisine (own expense).

Plovdiv Full-Day Small-Group Tour from Sofia with Pickup

7 to 8 hoursFree Cancellation

(9)

from $65

Venture away from the bustling city of Sofia and discover the natural landscapes of Bulgaria during this small-group tour. Visit three of the country’s most popular, and beautiful, caves and learn about how these underground locations have been used throughout the centuries. See the corridors and halls of Saeva dupka, then head to Bulgari’s most famous cave, Prohodna—also known as the ‘Eyes of God’—before concluding at Devetashka.

3 Caves tour - Saeva dupka , Eyes of God cave & Devetashka Cave

3 Caves tour - Saeva dupka , Eyes of God cave & Devetashka Cave

10 hoursFree Cancellation

(54)

from $106

Full-Day Plovdiv and Asen’s Fortress Tour from Sofia

9 hoursFree Cancellation

4.5

(37)

from $35

Learn what life was like in communist-era Bulgaria on a Sofia city walking tour. Meet your informative guide in central Sofia and check out the buildings and monuments that testify to its and Bulgaria’s 45 years on the eastern side of the Iron Curtain. See the Largo complex, former home of Bulgaria’s Communist Party; the Monument to the Soviet Army; the National Palace of Culture and more as your guide explains communist ideology and the everyday lives of Bulgarians during the controversial Cold War period.

Communist Walking Tour of Sofia

3 hoursFree Cancellation

Belogradchik Full-day Tour from Sofia

(755)

from $21

Likely to Sell Out

10 hoursFree Cancellation

4.3

(35)

from $81

Discover two of Bulgaria's UNESCO World Heritage Sites on a private day tour from Sofia. With round-trip transportation and a local guide included, you're sure to get a seamless and immersive sightseeing experience. Begin with a leisurely visit to the active Rila Monastery, featuring relics, Tsar Boris III's coffin, and a museum. Next, head to Boyana Church, renowned for its beautiful frescoes. Weather permitting, you can also visit the Cave of John of Rila.

Rila Monastery and Boiana church private tour

6 to 9 hoursFree Cancellation

(24)

from $118

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

Plovdiv Morning or Afternoon Half Day tour

6 to 7 hoursFree Cancellation

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.

(5)

from $58

Locals during the gathering of the roses

From Sofia:The Valley of the Roses&Koprivshtitsa Small Group Tour

11 hoursFree Cancellation

Full-Day Belogradchik Rocks and Belogradchik Fortress from Sofia

(13)

from $58

10 to 11 hoursFree Cancellation

(79)

from $93

IMPORTANT: Entrance in the monastery is only allowed with covered shoulders and covered knees. So please make sure you have appropriate clothes. Often called the 8th wonder of the world, the Seven Rila lakes are legendary for their beauty and awesomeness. They are one of the most visited natural sites of Bulgaria. We combine them with a visit to the Rila Monastery. The Monastery of Saint Ivan of Rila, better known as the Rila Monastery is the largest and most famous Eastern Orthodox monastery in Bulgaria. The tour starts at 08:00 and finishes around 19:00. The driver will pick you up, will take you to the Monastery and will show you around. After that he will take you to the lift to the 7 Rila Lakes, you will be able to go up to the lakes, the driver will stay down and wait for you there. When you come back, he will pick you from the lift and bring you back to Sofia.

7 Rila Lakes and Rila Monastery Tour

10 to 11 hoursFree Cancellation

4.4

(183)

from $70

Balkan Horse Riding - Glozhene Monastery Ride

5 to 7 hoursFree Cancellation

4.6

(24)

from $135

Market Food Tour

3 hoursFree Cancellation

(22)

from $54

Bulgaria has been making wine for around 5,000 years and boasts a wealth of delicious varietals—many of them found nowhere else in the world and hardly ever exported. Savor the unique flavors of five Bulgarian grapes—misket, Melnik, mavrud, gamza, and rubin—on a tasting led by a local expert in one of Sofia's best boutique wine merchants. Pair their fine flavors with local cheese and artisan breads.

Wine Tasting in Heart of Sofia

1 hourFree Cancellation

Enjoy a lighter side of Sofia when you prebook your ticket to the Museum of Illusions Sofia online, guaranteeing you entry even at busy weekends during the school vacation. You'll gain access to 4,300 square feet (400 square meters) of educational entertainment, packed with riveting illusions, fascinating feats of physics, mysterious artworks, and scientific inventions, many with interactive elements too.

(571)

from $36

Admission Ticket to the Museum of Illusions in Sofia

Admission Ticket to the Museum of Illusions in Sofia

1 to 2 hoursFree Cancellation

Private Day Trip to Boyana Church and Rila Monastery

(693)

from $20

8 hoursFree Cancellation

(108)

from $236

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.

Likely to Sell Out

Rila Monastery and Boyana Church Shuttle Tour

Rila Monastery and Boyana Church Shuttle Tour

8 hours 30 minutesFree Cancellation

4.5

(70)

from $41

Buzludzha Monument and The Rose Valley Day Tour From Sofia 13 hrs

Perched atop the mountains like a flying saucer, the Buzludzha Monument is Bulgaria’s best-known Communist-era structure, but at more than a 6-hour round trip, self-driving is not for the faint hearted. Streamline transportation and enjoy stops at a rose oil distillery (own expense) and a church on this convenient tour. Explore using an online audio guide (internet access required), or upgrade for the interaction of a real live human guide.

Buzludzha Monument and The Rose Valley Day Tour From Sofia 13 hrs

12 hoursFree Cancellation

4.4

(18)

from $58

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.

Small Group Tour to Rila Monastery and Boyana Church

7 hoursFree Cancellation

(26)

from $106

Sofia Pub Crawl Tour of The Hidden Unique Bars

4 to 5 hoursFree Cancellation

4.7

(296)

from $26

Koprivshtitsa is one of Bulgaria’s most beautiful historic sights, with spectacular houses that played home to some of the nation’s most influential thinkers and revolutionaries. But it’s tricky to reach from Sofia on public transit. Save time and gain the expertise of a private guide on this door-to-door tour that pairs Koprivshtitsa with Bulgaria’s photogenic second city, Plovdiv. Please note that entrance fees are at your own expense.

One Day Tour from Sofia to Koprivshtitsa and Plovdiv

10 to 11 hoursFree Cancellation

(7)

from $206

Must-See Plovdiv Day Tour from Sofia

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Top Attractions in Sofia

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Attractions

What are people saying about Sofia

Andrew_C, Jul 2026

Lovely day trip to Plodiv

We met up with tour bus at 08:15 for the on time departure at 08:30. There were around 40-50 people in the fully packed bus. After around 2 hours we arrived in Plodiv and were divided into English, Spanish and Italian groups for the tour. Do note that there will be limited toilet stops during the 2-hour tour so please use the restrooms in the mid-stop before Plodiv and at any restaurants or bars you see along the way. It was a very hot day so do prepare hat, umbrella and sunscreen as there is limited cover during the walking tour. We were then given 2.5 hours free time to wander around the old town of Plodiv before the 2 hours 15 minutes drive back to Bucharest. Toilet stop is on request during this trip. We were back on time at 5:30pm. Everything was very smooth for our trip.

Rila Monastery and Boyana Church Full-Day Tour

Richard_M, Jul 2026

First rate - worth every euro!

Our guide Pavel (Pablo) was excellent: I learned so much from him. He was thoroughly well prepared and he shared a deep and passionate knowledge and understanding of the history and culture not only of the sites we visited but of Bulgaria as a whole. The monastery at Rila is astounding and Pavel explained it all from the unique and colourful frescoes to the origin and the development of the whole institution. If you don't go on any other tours you should certainly go on this one.

Day Tour to Nis, Serbia - Small group with pick-up and tickets

Eliana_S, Jun 2026

Great opportunity to see something different

This was a great day trip and definitely worth doing if you want to get out of Sofia and see something completely different. Our day started with a bit of unexpected circumstances when our driver had a medical emergency. Thankfully, the company handled the situation incredibly well. They made sure their driver received the help he needed and quickly arranged another driver so our trip could continue with very little delay. We really appreciated how professional and caring they were. Once we arrived, everything was exactly as described. Our guide was friendly, knowledgeable, and did a great job explaining the history and interesting facts along the way. He even gave us recommendations for places to eat, which was a nice bonus. It's a long day, but the scenery and experience make it absolutely worth it. We'd definitely recommend this tour to anyone wanting to get a taste of Serbia while in Sofia!

Communist Walking Tour of Sofia

Penny_D, May 2026

This was such an...

This was such an entertain and informative tour with engaging and knowledgeable John. It brought to life aspects on the communist era in a non confrontational intelligent factual way. Alongside this we were able to admire many of Sofia’s heritage buildings and enjoy this remarkable city. Highly recommended. A must if visiting Sofia.

Small group tour to Plovdiv, Asen's Fortress and Bachkovo Monastery

Penny_D, May 2026

This day trip proved...

This day trip proved excellent value during our week in Sofia. Our guide Nina was so competent, warm and friendly and simply a wealth of knowledge with regards The Old Town of Plovdiv and Bulgaria in general. Fascinating houses and history. The ancient architectural structures were extraordinary and filled with wonder. I certainly recommend this experience to anyone with a keen interest in their current vicinity and history in general.

From Sofia:Rila Monastery with Boyana Church or St. Ivan’s Cave

Adrienne_B, May 2026

Day trip to Rila Monastery

A day trip out to the Rila Monastry. Definitely worth a visit it is beautiful and the church is ornate. Off then to Boyne church also worth a visit. We stopped at a national memorial on the way back which celebrated children and there were bells from all over the world. Took packed lunch though you can buy pastries at the monastery. Downside was the toilets at the monastery are awful just appalling! Wait until you get to the Boyne church.

Rila Monastery & Thermae Full-Day Tour from Sofia

Marie_B, May 2026

Stefan was the perfect...

Stefan was the perfect guide. He had a wealth of knowledge about the the path to Rila Monastery and Thermae Spa. And pointing out the stork nests. The tour company were amazingly efficient providing excellent information. The meeting point was very clear. Stefan provided a description of Rila Monastery and then let us explore with several times pointing out amazing things that I would have missed. The audio guide was excellent. The Thermae Spa was wonderful. And clean. There a cool, warm and very warm pools. Fortunately with both the Monastery and the Spa it was not crowded. A perfect day.

Wine Tasting in Heart of Sofia

Bret_M, May 2026

Bulgarian wine and Viticulture

Enjoyed learning about Bulgarian viticulture, history, and wines. Kalin was very much a student and teacher of the industry. Really appreciated his insights and comparisons to other wine regions. We tasted 5 wines, 3 or which were his own production. The wines helped us explore the different white and red grapes while also sampling some very good local sheep and cow cheeses. Afterwards we were able to purchase from his store stock or those we sampled.

Full-day Nis and Serbian History Tour from Sofia

Sara_A, Apr 2026

Excellent guide, well-designed tour

This was a well-designed tour to allow for a day trip experience to Serbia. The guide, Georgi, was knowledgeable and presented instructions and information clearly and in a timely way. With the small group size, we were able to move from place to place with ease. We were allowed ample time at Mediana, the Skull Tower, and the Red Cross Concentration Camp as well as a good amount of time for lunch and further independent exploration of the city center. I learned so much on this tour and would highly recommend it to other travelers.

Sofia Walking Private City Tour

Kiril_Y, Nov 2025

First time in Sofia

Our tour guide was very friendly and knowledgeable. She spoke perfect English and showed us everything a foreign tourist would want to experience when they are in Sofia and Bulgaria in general for the first time. We were very satisfied and would recommend this tour 100% to anyone who wants to learn some of the Bulgarian history and culture when they are in the country for the first time.

Rila Monastery and 7 Rila Lakes Self-Guided Shared Trip from Sofia

Jennifer_C, Sep 2025

Super organized tour and would highly recommend to everybody!

Philip’s communication before the day and via the WhatsApp group was incredibly helpful. Phillip texted us throughout the day with reminders of timing and it made the entire experience feel extremely organized, well thought out and attentive. I also really like the fact that we were in a small bus van, and we purposely arrived an hour after the big bus companies at the monastery so this way, we could have a much more quiet and authentic experience. We were also given paper maps of the hiking trails and also of the monastery, which made for a very easy day to get around. I encountered other people on the mountain trails from the big bus companies and they were given basically no guidance and ended up asking for my help since I had a map from this company. I was very impressed and would absolutely recommend this trip and company to everybody.