Top 15 1-Day Tours in Bulgaria

1.From Bucharest: Full-Day Trip to Bulgaria

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 1,008 reviews · 12 hours · from $93Our pick

Cross from Bucharest into Bulgaria for a 12-hour small-group tour of Ruse or Basarabov Monastery, Arbanasi, Tsarevets Fortress, and Veliko Tarnovo. English-speaking guides such as Narcis and Lucian lead the day, with round-trip transport, free time, and scenic Balkan views. Bring your passport, cash, and comfortable shoes.

“What a great way to check off another country. The fortress at Veliko Tarnovo was very cool to explore and the small trip size was a great way to travel.”

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2.From Bucharest: Small Group Day Trip to Medieval Bulgaria

★★★★★★★★★★4.2 · 382 reviews · 12 hours · from $87

Travel from Bucharest into Bulgaria with an English-speaking guide such as Tudor, Carmen, or Koka. Visit the Ivanovo Rock Churches, Veliko Tarnovo, Tsarevets Fortress, Samovodene Artisans Street, and Arbanassi. Expect a full 12-hour day, border checks, plenty of walking, and extra costs for lunch and entrance tickets.

“wish there was more time actually in the town after we ate there was no time to shop just come straight back but it was unreal”

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3.Group Day Trip from Sofia

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 304 reviews · 8 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $22Best value

Travel from Sofia to Plovdiv in a group shuttle for a guided walk through the Roman Theater area, Old Town, colorful Revival houses, and Europe’s longest pedestrian street. The roughly 8.5-hour trip includes about two hours with a guide and two hours on your own. Guides may include Tuni, Sonya, Maria, Diana, or Raliza.

“It was an interesting day out, the guide was very knowledgeable, good amount of time to go out and explore + shop on your own! overall great value for money”

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4.Plovdiv and Koprivshtitsa Full-Day Trip

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 177 reviews · 11 hours (approx.) · from $24

Spend one long day visiting Plovdiv’s Roman theater and old town, then Koprivshtitsa’s 19th-century houses and liberation story. An English-speaking driver-guide, air-conditioned transport, and optional online audio guide are included. You get a useful overview of both towns, though time in Plovdiv is tight.

“Martin, our tour guide, was amazing!! A kind person with lots of knowledge and a great sense of humour. The places we visited were impressive and special. We strongly recommend this day trip 🙂”

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5.Day Trip to Bulgaria and Veliko Tarnovo from Bucharest

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 122 reviews · 12 hours · from $66

Travel from central Bucharest into Bulgaria with an English-speaking guide such as Gabriel, Alex, or Bogdan. Visit the cliff-carved Basarbov Monastery, explore Veliko Tarnovo and Tsaravets Fortress, then see Arbanasi’s medieval churches and architecture. Expect 10 to 12 hours, border delays, plenty of walking, and about $66 plus €10 in admission fees.

“It was an excellent value and I learned so much from Gabriel who was very accommodating. The church in Anabarasi is not to be missed”

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6.Private Day Trip to Boyana Church and Rila Monastery

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 108 reviews · 8 hours (approx.) · from $193Top rated

You’ll visit two UNESCO-listed Bulgarian sites in one day: Rila Monastery, with its frescoed courtyard and museum, and Boyana Church, famous for its 13th-century paintings. A private English-speaking driver-guide collects you at 9 a.m. and returns you to Sofia around 5 p.m. Past guides have included Alexander, Julian, Maria, Nikola, and Ivan.

“We had a wonderful time with Maria, our guide. She is such a cheerful, delightful person, very knowledgeable and passionate about history and Bulgaria. Her backpack is full of pamphlets, maps, alphabet and little things about Bulgaria. At Boyana Church and Rila Monastery, she took the time to explain everything about the places and even took us to try Mekitza, at the original bakery in front of the monastery. Lunch was also fabulous, in a small locally run restaurant. Overall, we are grateful to meet Maria, and highly recommend this experience!”

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7.Plovdiv and Rila Monastery tour in one day

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 87 reviews · 10 to 11 hours (approx.) · from $119

This 10 to 11-hour English-language trip pairs Plovdiv’s Old Town with Rila Monastery from Sofia. You get an air-conditioned vehicle, WiFi, and round-trip transport for up to six people. Drivers such as Apostolos, Tony, Alexander, and Abi have led the day, though the Plovdiv walk may join a much larger public group.

“This was a long day, but it was worth the time and money. Our driver/host Apostolos inew a lot about the country and kept us on track while ensuring we had opportunity to stop for food and bathroom. We very much enjoyed the 2hr walking free tour (tip based) that Apostolos arranged for us( we learned a lot about Plovdiv from our very knowledgeable local tour guide. We had enough time at the Rila Monastery to walked around and admire the architecture and religious wealth. We wished that we had received the audio tour hyperlink from the company that runs the tour one day in advance, as we had planned…”

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8.Rila Monastery and Plovdiv Day Trip

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 52 reviews · 12 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $71

See two of Bulgaria’s major sights in one 12.5-hour day from Sofia. An English-speaking host, often Philip, leads the shared minibus trip while you explore Rila Monastery and Plovdiv on your own. Expect long road time, useful WhatsApp updates, free stops, and a small group of up to 15 people.

“We didn't know much about Bulgaria before coming to Sofia. We decided to take this tour because of all the good ratings. Have to say, they were all speaking the truth. We had the same guide that the other reviews referenced. Our guide was Philip and he was a storehouse of great knowledge. He knew so much about the places we were visiting, but also gave us some great insights into Bulgaria and the recent history from Communism to Democracy. Our driver was excellent and was a very pleasant guy to be around at all the stops. I will say, this is a VERY LONG day. Out of 12+ hours,…”

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9.Rila Monastery and Boyana Church Self-Guided Day Trip from Sofia

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 41 reviews · 8 hours (approx.) · from $36

Travel from Sofia to Boyana Church and Rila Monastery in about eight hours. See Boyana’s remarkable 13th-century frescoes, then explore Bulgaria’s best-known monastery with a driver, air-conditioned minivan, and online audio guide. The trip is mostly self-guided, with drivers such as Lubo or Constanza sometimes adding helpful local information.

“Worth to do a guided daytrip to Rila Monastery and Boyana church by an enthusiastic guide. It's a lovely place to visit.”

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10.Day trip to Skopje and Matka Canyon from Sofia

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 35 reviews · 12 hours (approx.) · from $173

Travel from Sofia to Skopje and Matka Canyon in a small group of up to 15. Bulgarian and North Macedonian guides lead you through the Old Bazaar, Fortress, Stone Bridge, Alexander the Great Square, Mother Teresa Memorial House, and a boat ride into Matka Canyon. Expect a long day with no sit-down lunch.

“Its was a really nice tour, everyone was super friendly, and its was really nice to meet new people.”

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11.Private Day Trip to Plovdiv from Sofia

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 22 reviews · 8 hours (approx.) · from $198

Travel from Sofia to Plovdiv in a private, air-conditioned car with hotel pickup, Wi-Fi, and an English-speaking driver-guide. Spend about four hours seeing the Old Town, Roman remains, traditional houses, and museums, then explore at your own pace. Guides such as Simon, Poli, Jordan, and Dimitri have led past tours.

“Plovdiv is a must see when visiting Bulgaria. Simon, my guide, was so knowledgeable on all the history of this beautiful town. Don’t forget to whisper your wish in Milyo’s ear!”

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12.From Bucharest: Bulgaria 1-Day Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 21 reviews · 12 hours · from $205

Travel privately from Bucharest with an English or Romanian-speaking guide such as Angelica, Andrei, or Pavel. Cross the Danube, visit Basarbovo Monastery, Arbanasi, and Veliko Tarnovo, then return the same day. Pickup, transport, tolls, parking, and a flexible schedule are included. Bring your passport or ID.

“Review: Our day trip to Bulgaria was absolutely amazing! We enjoyed every second of it, from exploring the stunning historical sites to indulging in the delicious local cuisine. The rich history and beautiful architecture made the experience truly unforgettable. The food was another highlight—fresh, flavorful, and a perfect representation of Bulgarian culture. Everything about the trip was well-organized, and we couldn’t have asked for a better way to experience Bulgaria in a day. Highly recommended!”

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13.The Ski and Snowboard Day Trip from Sofia to Borovets. We Provide All You Need!

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 20 reviews · 10 hours (approx.) · from $298

Travel from Sofia to Borovets with guide Nikolay or another local host, using supplied skis or a snowboard, boots, clothing, helmet, goggles, gloves, and an all-mountain lift pass. You get about eight hours at Bulgaria’s biggest ski resort, plus views of Musala and a short stop at Iskar Reservoir.

“they cancelled on me last minute, had to go with another company. would not recommend. The price seemed fair but bit of a bate-and-switch, or at least they held out for a large/group booking.”

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14.Day trip to The Marvelous Bridges and the unique Rhodope cuisine

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 15 reviews · 9 hours (approx.) · from $94

Travel from Plovdiv into the Rhodope Mountains for the Marvelous Bridges, a traditional meal in Kosovo, and Bachkovo Monastery. Your English-speaking guide, often Ivo, drives a small group of up to eight in an air-conditioned vehicle. Expect mountain roads, steep paths, local food, and a full day away from the city.

“Ivo is supremely knowledgeable and enthusiastic about the history and culture of Bulgaria, giving us a great background to the trip. He drove us safely in the comfortable air conditioned vehicle. The ‘bridges’ are well worth the 2hr winding, scenic drive. Wear shoes with good grip as paths are steep & slippery in places. You won’t be walking far from the vehicle & can opt out of any paths you’re not happy about. Absolutely magical place! Next, to interesting old village then delicious food stop (ask Ivo for recommendations). Last stop at the ornate monastery- more great stories, facts and descriptions from Ivo! Wonderful, un-hurried, memorable day. Thank you from…”

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15.Bulgaria and Serbia in One Day from Sofia

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 14 reviews · 8 hours (approx.) · from $141

Travel from Sofia into Serbia with a guide and driver, stopping at UNESCO-listed Boyana Church and peaceful Poganovo Monastery. The 8-hour trip includes hotel pickup, transport, border crossing, and time for local food. Guides such as Todor, Ivan, Maria, and Peter have led past departures, though assignment varies.

“If you want to get away from the city and see some beautiful countryside, this is the way to go! This is a private tour - I was traveling alone and a little worried about how it would work with just me and a guide in the car all day, but Maria was an awesome guide. She is very knowledgeable but makes it into an interesting conversation rather than just telling you the standard tour info. The drive in Serbia included gorgeous scenery. There's not a lot to see at the monastery, it's just a calm beautiful place. One of the monks invited us to sit and have tea and…”

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