13 Food Tours in Sofia to Build a Day Around

1.Wine Tasting in Heart of Sofia

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 545 reviews · 1 hour (approx.) · from $36Our pick

Meet Kalin at Tempus Vini in Sofia’s Old City Center for a one-hour tasting of five Bulgarian grape varieties: Misket, Melnik, Mavrud, Gumza, and Rubin. You’ll sample wines from small producers, sometimes including Kalin’s own bottles, with local cheeses, craft bread, and a clear introduction to Bulgaria’s wine past and present.

“Very enjoyable, small (5) gathering. Very interesting, starting from white through to red. The shop had so much variety - really enjoy the Bulgarian wines. I felt the wines of the shop owner were the most delicious.”

Check availability →Read our full review

2.Sofia Food & Tasting Tour with Communist-Era Tram Ride

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 35 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $91

Spend about three hours with Peter of Peter’s Tours, combining five Bulgarian food stops with Sofia’s cathedral, Roman Serdica, markets, mosques, and mineral baths. A small group of no more than 11 people, local beer, wine, a city card, and possible tram travel make this a useful first look at the capital.

“Peter was such a wonderful guide. I was the only person on the tour so he adjusted itinerary due to the fact I had already visited several items on the itinerary. He had a great understanding and knowledge of history including the communist period. Our last stop was a bar/restaurant right out of the communist sixties. Beer was great and so was the fried cheese. You had a choice of wine or beer. I would highly recommend his tour”

Check availability →Read our full review

3.Wine and Tapas Boutique Bulgarian Wine Tasting

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 25 reviews · 1 hour (approx.) · from $33Best value

Meet in central Sofia at Vineria Wine Bar & Shop for a guided tasting of about five or six Bulgarian boutique wines, paired with local meats, cheeses, bread, and olive oil. Lyubomir and Maria lead an informal look at Bulgarian wine, regional grapes, and the country’s wine industry. The group is limited to eight people.

“Thoughtful presentation and tasting of Bulgarian wines, including historical context and details on the origin of each bottle, with emphasis on regional emerging varieties. Two whites, an “orange”, and two reds. All extremely flavorful and enjoyable. A charcuterie plate for each guest complemented the wines very well. I recommend.”

Check availability →Read our full review

4.Market Food Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 21 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $55

Spend about three hours walking central Sofia with a local guide such as Minna, Danny, Christina, or Dara. Visit the Antique and Artisan Fair, Central Market Hall, Zhenski Pazar, and Lions’ Bridge, stopping for Bulgarian snacks and a traditional meal. The tour suits curious eaters, includes a vegetarian option, and requires moderate walking.

“It was a great mix of food and a cultural tour. We explored several parts of the city center and our guide was fantastic.”

Check availability →Read our full review

5.Special Selection Bulgarian Wine Tasting

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 20 reviews · 1 hour (approx.) · from $56

Meet at 6 pm on Tsar Shishman Street for a one-hour tasting hosted in English by Sofia Social Adventures. You’ll try five Bulgarian wines with traditional cold cuts and cheeses while Yohanna or Radoslav shares stories about Bulgarian wine and history in a stylish, aristocratic setting near central Sofia.

“This experience provided a great introduction to Bulgarian wine. Tried five delicious wines and enjoyed local meats and cheeses that paired well with the wines. My host, Yohanna, was very informative and personable. Highly recommend!”

Check availability →Read our full review

6.Bulgarian Food tasting, cullinary-historical tour, Cooking class

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 15 reviews · 6 hours (approx.) · from $138

Join Mariela in Sofia for a private Bulgarian cooking class shaped around your tastes and skill level. Shop at the Women’s Market when weather and schedules allow, learn three traditional dishes, then sit down to eat. Expect about six hours, a second-floor kitchen with a cat, and a warm, personal look at Bulgarian food.

“Mariela was so generous with her time, experiences, history of Sofia and friendship. Of course the cooking was superb, delicious and left us wanting more.”

Check availability →Read our full review

7.Plovdiv and Thracia Valley with Wine Tasting

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 15 reviews · 10 hours (approx.) · from $174

Travel from Sofia to Plovdiv with a guide such as Niki, Nely, Stoyan, or Victoria, explore the Old Town and Roman theater, then visit Villa Yustina in the Thracian Valley for a one-hour wine tasting. Hotel pickup, transport, and drop-off are included.

“La visita di plovdiv vecchia e la degustazione vini presso villa justina Ottima la guida Maria che nonostante il nostro poco inglese è stata molto chiara”

Check availability →Read our full review

8.3-Hour Private Bulgarian Food Tasting Tour of Sofia

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 14 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $104

Spend three hours eating your way through central Sofia with a private English-speaking guide. Expect Bulgarian soups, bread, sarma, banitsa, lyutenitsa, sweets, and possibly local wine, with stops shaped around the day’s route. Guides including Rali, Ivo, Nesi, Ivaylo, and Daniella have led the tour.

“We loved tasting all the local foods and hearing the history behind it all! Our tour guide was exceptional!”

Check availability →Read our full review

9.Authentic Homemade Bulgarian Dessert Tasting in Sofia

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 12 reviews · 1 hour (approx.) · from $56

Meet near Serdika metro at 3 p.m. for a one-hour tasting of four homemade Bulgarian desserts, farmer’s honey, medicinal tea, and boza. Your English-speaking host explains the food, customs, and history in an aristocratic, vintage-style setting in central Sofia. It suits food lovers, small groups, and team-building outings.

“This was an interesting experience, chatting with our guide about Bulgaria in an intimate setting, while eating some excellent desserts and drink.”

Check availability →Read our full review

10.Rila Monastery and Wine Tasting Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 9 reviews · 8 hours (approx.) · from $203

Leave Sofia by air-conditioned minivan for the Rila Mountains and the UNESCO-listed Rila Monastery. Your guide, such as Georgi or Victor, explains the monastery’s art and Bulgarian past before you taste five wines at Medi Valley Winery. Hotel pickup, drop-off, guiding, and wine tasting are included.

“I really enjoyed this tour. It was me, my husband and the guide. This is a nice side tour when visiting Sofia. It gets you out of the city and you are able to explore more of Bulgaria. The Monastery was beautiful and our guide was able to explain things to us that I would have missed otherwise if I went on my own. We also had time on our own to explore. After the monastery we went to a winery, had a tour and got to taste several wines...they were tasty so we brought some home with us as a souvenir won't last long.”

Check availability →Read our full review

11.Enchanting Honey and Healing Tea Tasting

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 8 reviews · 1 hour (approx.) · from $56

Meet at 3 p.m. near Sofia’s Serdika metro station for a one-hour tasting hosted by Rado, also named Raoul in some booking notes. Sample five Bulgarian honeys, warm homemade Ceylon tea with herbs you choose, and mekitsa, a traditional pastry, while hearing local stories in an aristocratic vintage setting.

“Had a great time here. This was something new for me so I didnt know what to expect, but the experience was great. I learned a lot about honey and tea, and the culture of Bulgaria as well. Was really cool and I would go again.”

Check availability →Read our full review

12.Plovdiv and Perushtitsa Day Trip with Wine Tasting from Sofia

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 6 reviews · 9 hours (approx.) · from $172

Leave Sofia at 9:00 a.m. for a nine-hour guided trip to Plovdiv, Perushtitsa, the Red Church, and Villa Yustina. Expect a walking tour of Plovdiv’s Old Town, early Christian architecture, Bulgarian wine, and transport for up to 15 people. Guides have included Filip, Demetri, and Maris.

“The tour was informative thanks to the tour guide, Maris is an encyclopedia of information concerning Bulgaria and other countries nearby”

Check availability →Read our full review

13.Private Sofia Tour with Unique Local Food & Drinks Experience

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 3 reviews · from $92

Start at Alexander Nevsky Cathedral at 12:30 with a local guide such as Peter or Simona. Walk Sofia’s central sights, including Roman ruins, the Presidency, and the cathedral, while tasting banitsa, ayran, Shopska salad, homemade bread, local beer, salami, and sweets. The group can include up to 15 people and ends on Vitosha Boulevard.

“Simona, una guía de las que quedan pocas, estupenda, maravillosa, atenta, correcta y sobre todo profesional.”

Check availability →Read our full review