The 9 Best City Tours in Bulgaria

1.Sofia Highlights 2 Hour Sightseeing Walking Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 442 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $19Our pick

Start at Alexander Nevsky Cathedral at 11:00 am for a two-hour English walking tour led by a licensed local guide. Enter the cathedral, taste Sofia’s mineral water, see Serdika’s ruins, and finish near Vitosha Boulevard. Guides such as Nikola explain Bulgaria’s past with patience and plenty of time for questions.

“Nice visit around the place with historical and small détails. The guide was nice and there were not much people (in fact I was alone with the guide 😅...).”

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2.Sofia Walking Private City Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 127 reviews · 2 to 3 hours (approx.) · from $84

Walk Sofia’s compact center with a private English-speaking guide such as Pavlina, Rumi, Nikolaj, Angela, Gregory, or Venni. You’ll see Roman streets, Orthodox churches, the Russian Church, royal buildings, a mosque, synagogue, and the city’s main squares. It is a strong first-day orientation, though the pace and history can feel brisk.

“Excellent and very pleasant tour guide. I would highly recommend her. She explained Sofia sites in detail”

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3.History and Heritage – Small Group City Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 84 reviews · 2 hours to 2 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $19

Walk through Sofia’s old center with guides such as Vasil or Vessy, visiting Alexander Nevsky Cathedral and Saint Sofia Basilica while seeing the Rotunda, Largo, Roman remains, royal sites, and more. The tour lasts about two hours, includes a short café break, and ends on Vitosha Boulevard with restaurant and museum tips.

“This tour is a great tour covering all major sights and gems of Sofia. Our tour guide Vasil was great. He was very knowledeable about all sights and history. At the end of the tour , he submits a list including all the best museums, restaurants and bar to make your stay more enjoyable in Sofia. This tour is definiyely the utmost of Sofia. Higly recommended”

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4.Private City Tour of Sofia

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 34 reviews · 2 to 4 hours (approx.) · from $31

See Sofia’s major sights with a private English-speaking guide, including Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, Saint Sofia Church, Roman Serdica, the Russian Church, and Banya Bashi Mosque. The tour usually takes two to four hours and can include hotel pickup. Confirm transport in advance, since the private option may use public transport or proceed mainly on foot.

“Very good tour and very kind guide! Rumi was perfect! we highly recommend her! thank you very much for this experience!”

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5.Art Gallery Sightseeing Tour in Sofia

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 15 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $56

Meet at Sofia’s Alexander Nevsky Crypt Museum at 3 pm for a two-hour English tour with guide Yoanna. You’ll visit the cathedral, its icon collection, the former royal palace, Sofia City Art Gallery, and central landmarks. Admission is included, and a complimentary alcoholic drink adds a social finish.

“Excellent tour with Yoannna who was able to provide a very informed commentary about the art we were viewing. Good sample of art from early ages to contemporary.”

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6.Private Sofia City Tour by Bike

★★★★★★★★★★3.5 · 10 reviews · from $45

See Sofia by bicycle on a private 2 to 3 hour ride starting at Alexander Nevsky Cathedral. Your English-speaking guide leads you through Boris Garden, Loven Park, Yuzhen Park, and other central sights. Bikes and equipment are supplied, with an e-guide included. Bring water, expect a refundable bike deposit, and be ready for some busy crossings and stairs.

“The tour supplier at last moment unilaterally changed terms of our initial agreement. Original agreement including our voucher indicated hotel pickup would be provided at 9AM on day of tour at central Sofia hotel, in our case the Arte - Dondukov. Hotel information was proviRead more”

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7.Private Sofia Guided Walking City Tour with Traditional Breakfast

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 9 reviews · 3 hours (approx.)

Meet at Alexander Nevsky Cathedral for a three-hour guided walk through Sofia’s Roman, medieval, Ottoman, royal, and Soviet-era center. Guides including Diana, Ivan, Piotr, and Chimmy have led past tours. You’ll see the Rotunda, St. Sofia Church, Parliament, the National Theater, mineral springs, and finish on Vitosha Boulevard with a traditional Bulgarian breakfast.

“The breakfast was amazing. The guide was a little quiet for a guide but definitely hit the highlights and did the best he could with us being late from the public transit strike traffic and the kids that were with us.”

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8.Guided Nessebar Sightseeing Tour with Pick Up

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 6 reviews · from $114

Travel from Varna to Nessebar with pickup, transport, and a local guide. The afternoon route includes Sunny Beach, the Old Town, Christ Pantokrator, St. Stephen’s, St. Sophia, and St. John the Baptist. Guides such as Hristo and Souren explain the churches, legends, and local history, with an e-guide for three churches.

“We had an amazing tour with our guide. He had fun info on both the churches and history but also other things we asked about. He even sang us a song in exchange for us singing one. We really recommend this tour if you’re looking for something fun and educational. They had it in multiple languages but we had the tour in English.”

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9.Full-Day Private Sightseeing Tour to the North of Varna

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 4 reviews · 7 to 8 hours (approx.) · from $259

Start at 8 a.m. from Varna or a nearby resort with a private, air-conditioned vehicle and guide Kiril, when available. Visit Balchik Palace and its botanical gardens, then continue to Durankulak Lake and Cape Kaliakra. Expect a long but varied day of gardens, ancient sites, birdlife, sea cliffs, and flexible stops.

“The tour was exclusive. The guide Kiril was a very good travel companion who responds to the interests of the tearaways. We were out for 12 hours, and Kiril showed me the beauty of his country. He is very well organized, a good conversation partner, and he has always given me time.Auto-translated”

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