10-Day Bulgaria Tour Packages
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10 Days in Bulgaria, incl. Sofia and Plovdiv
A fascinating 10-day circuit weaves through 7 Bulgarian cities, from Sofia's Roman ruins to Varna's ancient baths. Three UNESCO sites including Nessebar, Rila Monastery, and Plovdiv's Old Town showcase cultural richness. Local experiences include wine tastings at Villa Melnik, rose production at Damascena complex, and traditional Nestinari fire dancing.
- Day 1
Sofia
Start your Bulgarian adventure in Sofia, a city Constantine the Great called "My Rome." Get a private transfer from Sofia Airport to your hotel. Book an afternoon arrival if you can to avoid the morning traffic congestion.
- Day 2
Sofia to Veliko Tarnovo
Explore 7,000-year-old Sofia in the morning before traveling to Veliko Tarnovo, Bulgaria's medieval capital. Visit Tsarevets Fortress, perched on four hills overlooking the Yantra River. The fortress walls and Baldwin's Tower showcase Bulgaria's historic victory over the 4th Crusade in 1205. A recent visitor noted: "Bulgaria has good roads and very attractive towns and villages. There is a lot to see."
- Day 3
Veliko Tarnovo to Varna
Take a morning walk through Veliko Tarnovo's cobblestone streets and visit Samovodska Charshia for wine tasting. Travel to Varna, a coastal gem that houses the world's oldest gold treasure from the 5th millennium BC. Explore the Roman baths and Sea Garden. Leave early to beat summer traffic on coastal routes.
- Day 4
Varna to Nessebar/Pomorie
Visit Nessebar, a UNESCO site founded in 510 BC. This ancient town sits on a peninsula linked to the mainland by a narrow strip. Have lunch in Old Nessebar before going to Pomorie for wine tasting. Check wine tasting schedules between Varna and Pomorie as they vary by day and season.
- Day 5
Nessebar to Kazanlak
See Europe's best-preserved Neolithic dwellings in Stara Zagora. Move on to Kazanlak in the Valley of Roses, once producing 75% of global rose oil. Visit the Thracian tomb, a UNESCO site. You'll see a replica since access to the original is restricted for preservation.
- Day 6
Kazanlak to Plovdiv
Stop at Shipka Church and sample rose brandy at Damascena Ethnographic complex. Continue to Plovdiv, Europe's oldest continuously inhabited city and 2022's Best Cultural Destination. A visitor shared: "I particularly enjoyed learning about the wine culture and the history of this proud nation." Take an evening walk through UNESCO-listed Old Plovdiv.
- Day 7
Plovdiv and Bachkovo
Take a day trip to Bachkovo Monastery, Bulgaria's second-largest monastery from the 11th century. Visit Assenova Fortress and stop for wine tasting in Brestovisa village. Return to Plovdiv for the night. Wear sturdy shoes for the old town's slippery cobblestones.
- Day 8
Plovdiv to Melnik
Visit Bansko museum town near Pirin Mountain National Park. Head to Melnik, Bulgaria's tiniest town, known for sandstone pyramids and wine cellars. Try the Broad Leaf Melnik wine at Villa Melnik, reportedly Winston Churchill's favorite.
- Day 9
Melnik to Sofia via Rila Monastery
See Kordopulov House, the Balkans' largest 19th-century home. Visit the UNESCO-listed Rila Monastery at 1,100m elevation. Return to Sofia for a final dinner with folklore music and Nestinari fire dancing (seasonal, May-October).
- Day 10
Sofia Departure
Use your free morning to shop or explore. Late flights? Visit the National History Museum or take the cable car up Vitosha Mountain.
10 Days in Bulgaria, incl. Sofia and Plovdiv
Bulgaria's finest attractions unfold over 10 days featuring Sofia's Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, Plovdiv's Roman ruins, and UNESCO-listed Rila Monastery. Five major cities plus traditional villages Kovachevitsa and Melnik offer diverse perspectives. Luxurious stays at Hotel Sense and Zornitza Estate include exclusive culinary and cultural experiences.
- Days 1-2
Sofia
Begin in Bulgaria's capital city. Visit Alexander Nevsky Cathedral before 9 AM to avoid crowds and see the golden domes in perfect morning light. Explore the Yellow Pavements area mid-morning when the cafes are lively. For lunch try a Soviet-themed restaurant but book ahead for 1 PM as they get busy.
- Days 2-3
Plovdiv
It's a 2-hour drive from Sofia to Plovdiv, known as Europe's oldest continuously inhabited city. Walk carefully on the Old Town's cobblestone streets which can be slippery. The Roman Theater offers beautiful sunset views over the city but has steep steps. Book a hotel in the Kapana district where you can spend your evenings trying local wines at nearby bars.
- Day 4
Gela
The mountain drive to Gela takes about 2.5 hours. Bring a physical map since GPS isn't reliable in this area. If you're visiting in July try to catch the National Bagpipe Festival. Book the foraging experience ahead and pack hiking shoes as trails often get muddy.
- Day 5
Kovachevitsa
Getting to Kovachevitsa involves winding mountain roads. Book Maria Jekova's cooking class well in advance. Bring warm clothing as mountain temperatures can drop unexpectedly.
- Days 6-8
Zornitza Family Estate & Melnik
Start early to photograph Melnik's sand pyramids in morning light. Visit Kordopulov House right when it opens at 9 AM before tour groups arrive. Book your spa treatments at Zornitza Estate a day ahead. Wear good shoes for the BBQ dinner location which involves walking on uneven ground.
- Days 9-10
Rila Monastery & Sofia
Get to Rila Monastery before 11 AM to beat the crowds. Plan extra time for the drive back to Sofia especially on weekends when traffic can extend the usual 2.5-hour journey. Book a later flight to avoid rushing.
9 Days in Bulgaria, incl. Sofia and Plovdiv
This cultural circuit spans 785 km across 9 Bulgarian cities, from Sofia to Veliko Tarnovo. The UNESCO-listed Rila Monastery, Plovdiv's Roman ruins, and Kazanlak's rose valleys await. Guests stay 8 nights in family-run hotels and traditional guesthouses.
- Days 1-2
Sofia
Begin in the capital with a morning tour of Alexander Nevski Memorial Cathedral. Visit before 9 AM to avoid crowds and see the morning light through the stained glass. Take an afternoon walk to see the 4th-century St. George Rotunda and Arena di Serdica ruins. Park near Eagles' Bridge for easy access to the center.
- Day 3
Rila Monastery & Bansko
Drive 2 hours south to Rila Monastery early in the day. Try to get there by 9 AM since this UNESCO site gets crowded. The mountain roads are good but winding. Pack motion sickness pills if you need them. Drive another 90 minutes to Bansko. Skip driving in the old town's narrow streets. Park at the main square and walk instead.
- Day 4
Bansko & Melnik Region
Drive to Melnik, Bulgaria's smallest town. Bring a light jacket for the cool wine cellars. You can hike to Rozhen Monastery (30 minutes uphill) for great valley views. Another option is taking the lift from Dobrinishte to Bezbog Hut for high-altitude hiking.
- Day 5
Plovdiv
The 3-hour drive from Bansko follows mountain valleys. Watch for sheep crossing, especially in the morning. Park in lots near the Old Town since many historic streets are closed to cars. Visit the Roman Amphitheatre in late afternoon when it's cooler and the light is perfect for photos.
- Day 6
Rose Valley & Kazanlak
Go to the Damascena complex in the morning to see rose harvesting (May-June). It's about 90 minutes from Plovdiv. In Kazanlak, check out the Thracian Tomb replicas. They're actually better for photos than the restricted original sites.
- Day 7
Shipka Pass to Veliko Tarnovo
Drive the mountain pass after mid-morning when the fog clears. Stop for lunch at Etura complex where you can try traditional Bulgarian food. In Veliko Tarnovo, park at the bottom of the hill and take a taxi up to Tsarevets fortress.
- Day 8
Arbanasi & Return to Sofia
It's a quick 15-minute drive to Arbanasi village from Veliko Tarnovo. Start at Konstantsalieva House for the best morning light. The 3-hour drive back to Sofia is on main highways. Keep small bills ready for tolls.
- Day 9
Sofia Departure
Leave time for the rental car return inspection. Airport transfers take 20-30 minutes depending on traffic.
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What people love about 10-day Bulgaria tours
- Legends of Emperors and Crusaders , Wines, Traditional Cuisine. Museum Towns and Villages
This was a very good tour. We had an excellent guide and saw many interesting places. Bulgaria is a beautiful country which now has good roads and very attractive towns and villages. There is a lot to see. We stayed in several four star hotels, mostly for one night. For the most part they were good, although one hotel did not have a lift, which was a nuisance and another, where we stayed for two nights, had hardly any guests the first night. The room was good and the staff were friendly, but it provided a very poor breakfast the first morning and really was below par. The receptionist was new and had not been trained to use the software properly. My fellow traveller was put in a room with no chair. The receptionist (who was a pleasure to speak to and was extremely helpful) and him (he was 88) had to manouvre a chair into his room from another bedroom. This really is not what I would expect from a four star hotel. The second night, they had a tour group, so there were more people and it provided a proper breakfast. On balance I was very impressed with this tour and with the tour guide. I would certainly consider using Tour Radar again. They were very prompt to deal with email queries as well.
- Eastern Europe Express
best guide you can have...he cares about the people in his group
We have a small group and lots of flexibility on choice of restaurants and amount of time to spend on each sight. Slight disappointment is the village we stay on the last day. Poor accommodation and not much to see. Guide is helpful and accommodating. But don't like to explain too much on background of various sights.
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