Full Day Trip to Bulgaria from Bucharest
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Bucharest, Romania
- 12 hours (approx.)
- Pickup offered
- Mobile ticket
- Offered in: English
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Overview
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.
- Cross the border into Bulgaria on a full-day tour from Bucharest
- Explore the medieval city of Veliko Tarnovo, nestled in the foothills of the Balkan Mountains
- Learn about Bulgaria's medieval history from a knowledgeable guide
- Pick-up and drop-off at central meeting point is included
What's Included
- Pick-up from central meeting point location
- Services of a professional tour escort, offering commentary and assistance
- Round-trip transportation in a comfortable vehicle
- Entrance tickets
- Optional Gratuities
Meeting and Pickup
Pickup point
- University Square - Gray Line Meeting PointBulevardul Regina Elisabeta 9-5, 030167 București, Romania
Operating hours.7:30 am
Itinerary
Bucharest (Pass By)
Piaka Unirii (Pass By)
Palace of Parliament (Pass By)
University's Square (Pass By)
1
Tsarevets
2 hours • Admission Ticket Not Included
2
Ruse
30 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
Freedom Square (Pass By)
Bucharest (Pass By)
Additional Info
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Not wheelchair accessible
- Near public transportation
- Travelers should have a moderate physical fitness level
- This activity requires a minimum of 4 participants. If this minimum is not reached, we will contact you to offer alternative dates or trips.
- Please make sure you have all the necessary documents and permissions to cross the border.
- Entrance fees are not included (approx. EUR 15). We recommend bringing euros in cash, as card payments may not be accepted at all locations.
- Please be advised that the Giurgiu–Ruse border crossing may take longer than usual due to repair work on the bridge over the Danube. Single-lane, alternating traffic can cause delays and queues.
- Children under 4 years old cannot join shared tours. Please contact us for a private tour offer.
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 18 travelers
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Cancellation Policy
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
Traveler Photos
Reviews
4.5
based on 362 reviews
Helen_P, May 2026
The trip and what we saw was fine and we liked it but I can only give a three star rating because 1) we had a driver but no guide. The driver had to serve in both jobs which is not fair to the driver. 2) The driver , Luciano, got too political in his comments. He said that life was better during communism ( then why the uprising?) He said that North Korean and Iran were better. He should not give his personal opinions. 3) He drive without the vehicle registration and we got stopped by Bulgarian border control for a long time - more than 39 minutes. We were lucky to pass without a fine. Either he or the company is at fault for not having vehicle registration in the vehicle. I’m sorry to write these problems for a trip that should have been lovely.
ANTONIO_L, May 2026
Long nice day through Bulgaria. Good guy and good guide this Narcis .
Excursion ok pero no vimos las capillas y en piedra.
Jesse_S, Apr 2026
This trip to Bulgaria was the highlight of our trip. Our guide (bald man like my father) was simply the best, very friendly and professional! Lunch was great and recommended to eat it before the castle. We had a great time in Veliko Tarnovo, can only recommend!
Donald_W, Apr 2026
I really enjoyed it. The only issue for me is the van was completely full. It's nice to meet new people, but to be so close to absolute strangers is uncomfortable. I realize you cannot rent an oversize vehicle to transport 6 people. But there should be a bit more space to add to the comfort of riding for several hours.
Rhonda_A, Apr 2026
Our tour guide was very knowledgeable, answered all of our questions, had great personality, very explicit with the time and place where we should meet after our tour completed. He also gave us a lot of interesting background when we were traveling in our van.
Our van driver was very safe, always aware of what was going on around us and did his best to keep us on schedule.
We highly recommended this trip.
Jocelyn_P, Apr 2026
Bulgaria is still developing their tourism, so it was a very interesting place to visit. Learning about its history was fascinating as it is very different from the rest of Europe. After touring Europe for so long and seeing all the historical the cities, they all can start kind of blending together. So visiting Bulgaria was a very nice change.
Terrance_T, Apr 2026
First time visitor to Bucharest, and I was unable to locate the tour operator at the designated meeting point located at the university square. I arrived at the square on time, however the EXACT location of the tour operator wasn’t specific enough, and I guess it’s possible the tour operator came and went while I was wandering from one end of Elisabata blvd to the next trying to find the guy. Long story short, the instructions I was provided weren’t specific enough, and so it’s my mistake for booking a tour that does not provide pickup service from your hotel.
Sribachha_P, Apr 2026
The trip through communist era of Bulgaria and the way the country has evolved since was good to know. Our guide "Angelika" was an excellent person and did all she could to accommodate us throughout the trip and was sweet, funny and entertaining.
The reason I docked the 1 star is because I perhaps drew the shortest straw in the 18-seater van and got the seat right behind the guide. The pitch on the seat was less than what most budget airlines would operate. Sitting in that cramped space for 7-8 hours was not fun.
Robin_B, Mar 2026
Do NOT miss this opportunity! Absolutely the best part of our trip. You will make friends with the group and have a shared experience of a lifetime. I had my niece and young nephew, their world view is forever enlightened. Thank you so much for the adventure.
Christopher_M, Mar 2026
This tour was great to get a good feel for Bulgaria and visit a beautiful fortress. The guide was top notch as well!
Emma_K, Feb 2026
Lucien was our tour guide today and we had a great time. He was very knowledgeable and had a great sense of humour too. We had a little wait at the bridge crossing but that was nobody’s fault. We started our morning in Ruse with a great coffee & cookie recommended by Lucien.
We then moved onto the monastery followed by more recommendations for lunch in Veliko. We finished our trip with a walk up to the Fortress where we also managed to sit and enjoy the first sun of this year!
We then travelled back to Bucharest accompanied by more information and humour. Thank you for a lovely day 😊
Roberto_V, Feb 2026
It was indeed a very pleasant experience conducted by our tour guide Narcis who certainly added more interest to our tour with his knowledge about Romania and Bulgaria. Strongly recommended
Irina_M, Jan 2026
Lucien was great. He was very knowledgeable and full of anecdotes. Although it was a long day, he made it worthwhile!!! Learned a lot about Bulgaria.
Jeffrey_M, Jan 2026
Great tour. Bad weather but Lucian the guide was a champ. Wonderful trip all around! Saw things otherwise impossible to experience
Nicky_T, Dec 2025
Our guide, Lucian David, was good, amusing commentary. Transport was in a comfortable 20 seater minibus.
First stop was Rousse, pleasant but nothing special.
The church in Arbanasi was well worth seeing, amazing frescoes and good views, would have liked some free time as village was beautiful.
Excellent pizza restaurant for lunch in Vileko Taranova and stunning views all around the town. A good walk up to the fortress, definitely worth doing for amazing views and surprisingly modern frescoes in the church.
All in all a great day and good value.
Taina_K, Dec 2025
The town and castle were beautiful and interesting.Rock monastrry was worth seeing.The driver/guide was very good and had much knowledge.Driving was excellent.
Nick_B, Dec 2025
This was a fun and wonderful experience. Serban Riga, our tour guide, and Peter, our driver were both AWESOME!!!!!!
Brett_V, Nov 2025
Excellent tour. Guide Robert was funny and very informative. The fortress is definitely the highlight but our other stops were also very interesting.
Claudia_N, Nov 2025
The guide is very helpful and funny and explains everything very clearly and answers all the questions , definitely if I have to go again I choose the same company.
nadine_z, Oct 2025
We had a wonderful trip and our guide Roberto was great. Would recommend. Long trip but they take breaks bathroom etc
Elizabeth_N, Oct 2025
It was a great way for a day trip to Bulgaria. Our guide Narcis was so friendly and informative! The driver was very safe.
Henry_R, Oct 2025
Depending on the time of year the traveling takes place (autumn, winter) make sure to have warm clothes, because even though it may be a bit fresh or cool enroute to Bulgaria, the weather changes unexpectedly, especially when visiting the Fortress at such a high elevation. Add the fact that while visiting other places of interest or shopping, all tourism will be done outside with a few places to keep warm if the cold weather sets in.
Kyle_S, Oct 2025
It was a great day trip! Lucian was amazing and very detailed and had a lot of great historical facts to share.
Kenneth_J, Oct 2025
Roberto was an excellent tour guide and showed us the sights of Veliko Tarnovo, Arbanasi, and Ruse. Veliko Tarnovo was the highlight of the tour. I enjoyed seeing the medieval church and city walls. Also, the town itself had a lot of character. Had an excellent Bulgarian stew for lunch in one of the local restaurants. Would definitely take the tour again if given the chance.
Amanda_M, Oct 2025
This was a nice day trip from Bucharest, and a good way to see a little bit of another country. The church and Freedom Square in Ruse were lovely. Veliko Tarnovo was really amazing. Tsaravets Fortress was incredible. The town has beautiful views over the hills and valley, and a lot of shops and restaurants in which to pass the time.
meirdkl_d, Oct 2025
Trip by Gray Line Romania- 27.9.2025 was very good . By guide Robert . who gave a lot of Interesting information during the trip to Bulgaria and back to Buchrest .
Realy one man show. driver and a guide. kudos!
You get here what you paid for!
sue_k, Sep 2025
Loved the fortress and surrounding areas. The towns visited were lovely. The driver was knowledgeable and helpful. The suggested lunch venue was great.
Suzanne_M, Sep 2025
Our driver and guide were brilliant. Detailed history and information. Gave scheduled rest breaks so we were always comfortable . Took tour on Thursday 25th of September. One of the best tours I've ever taken. I want to do it again +
Kimberley_V, Sep 2025
Be prepared for a long day, the tour start bright an early and you will spend roughly 12+ hours together pending traffic.
The vehicle seats weren’t the comfiest but sufficient for the travel, and was very clean. The driver was very friendly and helpful.
Our tour guide was informative and engaging.
When we travelled to the walking artisan street he did direct us in a few directions and recommended 2 restaurants noting the type of food (Bulgarian or international). It would have been nice if her could recommend some specific dishes to order for a more authentic experience.
Seeing the fortress was the highlight of this trip. Note that if you have mobility issues this may be a bit difficult for you as there is a slight hike to reach the top to the church. Definitely go if you’re looking for a low stakes day where everything is planned for you and you can just relax and go at the pace of the tour.
Candice_R, Sep 2025
This was a wonderful tour by design. But it was certainly made even better by our tour guide Narcis. He was knowledgeable, funny, cool, and a good manager of the group. Keep in mind that there may be traffic crossing the bridge between countries due to construction, but the tour can’t do anything about that. Just have it in your mind that it’s a possibility. We had no bridge traffic on the way, but a bit coming back. Also, don’t forget to have currency to exchange. As a couple things will require Bulgarian currency. Lei, dollars, pounds, euros, etc, they exchange all the major ones.
From $85.43
per personup to 24 hours before the experience starts (local time)
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