All Sofia Tours & Excursions in 2026

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.

Cover 8,000 years of civilization in a single, perfectly coordinated day trip from Sofia. Traveling comfortably by air-conditioned minibus/coach, you'll explore the grand Roman ruins and cobblestone streets of Plovdiv, one of the world's oldest continuously inhabited cities. Step further back in time at the mystical Starosel Thracian Temple, before wrapping up your journey with a modern twist in Staro Zhelezare, a quirky rural village famous for its avant-garde open-air street art. - Visit Plovdiv’s Old Town and major historical landmarks - Perfectly timed for a quick, authentic local lunch and photo walk in Europe's longest pedestrian zone. - Discover the Starosel Thracian Temple, dating back to the 4th century BC - Capture unique photos in the vibrant art village of Staro Zhelezare - Sit back and relax in a modern, air-conditioned minibus or coach through the beautiful Thracian Valley.

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.

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.

The mountains are one of Bulgaria’s great joys—especially for hikers—but can be hard to reach independently. Tailor-made for lovers of both walking and history, this action-packed day features a hike around the beautiful Seven Rila Lakes and a tour of the Rila Monastery, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Opt for self-guided tour, book an audio guide, or explore with a live guide: All packages exclude entrance fees and chairlift tickets.

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.

This day tour of Plovdiv and Koprivshtitsa from Sophia saves you the headache of renting a car and navigating Bulgaria’s roads on your own. Your transportation and itinerary are taken care of, and you'll discover the highlights of both cities. Discover the influences of the Romans, Thracians, and Byzantines as you walk through Plovdiv, and see the homes of some of Koprivshtitsa's most famous residents.

Immerse yourself in one of Bulgaria’s signature sights at the Rila Monastery on this convenient day trip from Sofia. Delve into the history of the medieval landmark and its fresco-coated church, with plenty of free time to explore on your own. There's also time to include a visit to Boyana Church, with its pre-Renaissance frescoes, which is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

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.

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.

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!

Experience old-time Bulgaria on this small-group tour of Veliko Tarnovo and Arbanassi from Sofia. Travel by air-conditioned minivan to Tarnovo, a one-time medieval craft center and capital of the Second Bulgarian Empire. Stroll the cobbled streets, discover the craft shops, explore Tsarevets Fortress, once a stronghold of Bulgaria’s tsars, and visit nearby Arbanassi village, famous for its well-preserved stone houses and church frescoes. Central Sofia pickup and drop-off included, with entrance fees at own expense.

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.

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).

Hike through rugged terrain to the Seven Rila Lakes on a full-day tour from Sophia, and discover the remarkable scenery of the Rila Mountains. Take a chairlift to a high-mountain hut and continue on foot along the jeweled string of lakes. Follow your guide through alpine passes into remote valleys, then rest in the shade of hikers’ shelters; take in sweeping views of the Bulgarian landscape and enjoy the crisp, clear air of the Balkans’ highest mountain range.

Take a break from the hustle and bustle of Sofia on a day tour to Lovech, Devetàshka cave, and Krushuna Falls, and explore with a professional guide for intimate insight into the rural region’s landscape, history, and culture. Take advantage of round-trip transfer from your hotel via air-conditioned vehicle for a hassle-free experience, and benefit from the more personalized service of a small-group tour.

If you're interested in visiting the centuries-old Belogradchik Fortress from Sofia, you likely need to rent a car, pay for gas, and navigate yourself on the drive. Visit this top Bulgarian cultural sight—without the hassle and expense of renting a car—with this private tour. Along the way, enjoy a stop at the bizarre geologic formation known as the Belogradchik Rocks, spend two hours at the fortress—with entry at your own expense—and admire the landscape as you sit back, relax, and enjoy the ride from Sofia.

Pre-book tickets to Rila Monastery to explore a UNESCO World Heritage Site with more than 1,000 years of history. Booking Rila Monastery tickets online combines the convenience of advance planning with skip-the-line admission and the flexibility to arrive at any time of day—without being limited to a fixed tour schedule. Your tour also includes an e-guide to further enhance your experience.

See the highlights of western Bulgaria during this multi-day, small-group tour. Enjoy an intimate experience in a group of only 15 people, with accommodation and door-to-door transportation included. Learn about the local communities that inhabit the region, visit iconic landmarks like UNESCO-listed Rila Monastery, and enjoy panoramic views from the hilltop fortress in Veliko Tarnovo.

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.

Get an overview of Sofia’s major sites in just a few hours on this private tour. Get insights as you visit attractions such as Cathedral Saint Alexander Nevski, the National Art Gallery, and much more. Choose your preferred start time and tour option.

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.

Plenty of tours cover Rila Monastery—Bulgaria’s most famous UNESCO World Heritage Site—but how many include a rafting excursion? Combine history and adventure during this unique full-day combo tour. First, navigate the fast-flowing Struma River gorge alongside a private instructor during a rafting trip, with boat rental and gear included. Then, enjoy a self-paced audio tour of Bulgaria’s iconic mountainside monastery. Transportation from Sofia is included.