The 15 Best Plovdiv Day Trips from Sofia

1.Group Day Trip from Sofia

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

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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2.Plovdiv Small Group Full Day Guided Tour from Sofia

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 235 reviews · 8 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $22

Travel from central Sofia to Plovdiv by air-conditioned minibus, then walk the Old Town with an English-speaking guide. You’ll see the Ancient Theatre, Roman Stadium, 19th-century houses, and Kapana before free time for lunch or shopping. Guides such as Hristo, Martin, Maria, and Todor are praised for clear storytelling, though traffic can shorten your time in town.

“A lot of interesting historical information was shared, great sights. Very knowledgeable tour guide.”

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3.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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4.Small group tour to Plovdiv, Asen’s Fortress and Bachkovo Monastery

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 164 reviews · 9 hours (approx.) · from $90Top rated

Leave Sofia at 8:30 am for Plovdiv’s Roman ruins and Revival-era Old Town, then visit cliff-top Asen’s Fortress and Bulgaria’s second-largest monastery, Bachkovo. A professional English-speaking guide, private vehicle, hotel pickup, and drop-off are included. Guides such as Daniel, Theodore, Anna, Krisi, and Stanimira have led past departures.

“So much to see in Plovdiv it was good to have an experienced person help pull it all together. Wish we had a little more time to explore certain parts and while the recommendation for lunch was perfect from a culinary perspective it did not leave any time to go back to previous spots. Only suggestion is that it was hard to hear in the back seat of the transport so maybe a microphone or something else to project to all”

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5.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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6.Private city walking tour of Plovdiv

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 65 reviews · 2 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $184

Walk from Plovdiv’s municipal square through Kapana and the Old Town to the Ancient Theatre of Philippopolis. Your private English-speaking guide covers Roman ruins, old houses, churches, and city history, with guide Niki among the named guides praised for clear storytelling. Entrance fees are separate.

“Thank you so much for an amazing tour of Plovdiv. My guide Niki was awesome, super knowledgeable, about the city, its history and its story. Thank you for a great day.”

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7.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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8.Full-Day Plovdiv and Asen’s Fortress Tour from Sofia

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 36 reviews · 9 hours (approx.) · from $35

Travel from Sofia to Plovdiv and Asen’s Fortress with a guide such as Philip, Ivan, or Gregorio. Walk Plovdiv’s Old Town, see its Roman theatre, enjoy free time, then climb to a medieval fortress above the Rhodope Mountains. The small group, English guidance, and virtual reality headset add value, but uneven steps and extra entrance fees require planning.

“I opted for hotel pick up and drop off, which made me feel way more comfortable being alone in a new country. Tzvetomir was wonderful from the very beginning, and the car ride was great, chatting with him and the other people exploring Plovdiv. He knew a ton about the area and he helped take photos with my camera. 10/10, would definitely recommend!”

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9.Food Walk: Bulgarian Food and Culture Tour in Plovdiv

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 35 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $59

Start at Plovdiv’s Monument of the Unification and spend three hours tasting Bulgarian treats at markets, pastry shops, tea shops, and restaurants. Guides Iliya and Daniel add local history and customs, while the walk ends near the Mosque and Roman Stadium. Groups are capped at 10 people.

“This particular food tour was not only interesting… It was a lot of fun! Our tour guide Daniel taught us a lot about the history of Bulgaria and its culture. The food was amazing! Each stop allowed us to try a different Bulgarian delicacy. We definitely would recommend this tour!”

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10.Wonderful Bridges-Bachkovo Monastery-Assen’s Fortress – day tour from Plovdiv

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 32 reviews · 7 hours (approx.) · from $134

Leave Plovdiv at 9:00 for a private guided trip through the Rhodope Mountains. Visit Asen’s Fortress, Bachkovo Monastery, and the Wonderful Bridges, with hotel pickup, commentary, and a group of no more than eight. Expect mountain roads, uneven paths, a 4 EUR fortress fee, and roughly seven to nine hours away.

“Took the Wonderful Bridges, Bachkovo Monastery, Assen's Fortress Private Day Tour from Plovdiv on Aug 31, 2017. Had a wonderful day at the sights and enjoyed getting a chance to see the Rhodope Mt's. The guide was very informative and helpful. Would definitely recommend it.”

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11.Plovdiv guided walking tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 31 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $22

Meet at the Eastern Gate of Ancient Philippopolis at 11:15 am for an approximately two-hour guided walk through Plovdiv’s Old Town. With no entrance fees included, the tour focuses on outdoor sights, local context, and practical orientation. Groups are limited to 15, and Boris is one of the guides.

“A great walking tour and highly recommended. Why do I have to write so much for this review to accepted?”

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12.Bachkovo Monastery & Asen’s Fortress – day tour from Plovdiv

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 28 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $98

Travel from Plovdiv to Asen’s Fortress and Bachkovo Monastery in a small group of up to eight. Guides such as Kamen and Kalina explain Bulgarian history, Orthodox art, and local traditions in clear English. Expect mountain views, a short climb at the fortress, hotel pickup, and optional paid visits to the monastery refectory and nearby waterfall.

“Kamen is an exceptional guide. We booked this tour at 11 pm and the following day at 9 am he was under our hotel. It is a perfect trip for half a day if you are in Plovdiv without car. Kamen is eager to share information not only on the fortress and the Monastery, but also on Bulgaria and Bulgaria culture in general. Recommended!”

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13.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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14.Plovdiv, Asen’s Fortress and Bachkovo Monastery small group tour with pickup

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 21 reviews · 9 to 10 hours (approx.) · from $94

Travel from Sofia with an English-speaking guide, usually Ventsislav, to Plovdiv’s Old Town, Nebet Tepe, Kapana, and the Ancient Theatre. Continue to Asen’s Fortress and Bachkovo Monastery in the Rhodope Mountains. The small group is capped at seven, with hotel pickup, transport, and selected entrance fees included.

“The tour start on time. Our tour guide Ventsislav is very organized from start to end. He is very knowledgable and know the ins and out of the city we visited. Our experience with Multi Travel highly on my record and create a lifetime memories.”

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15.Transfer Sofia Airport/city to Plovdiv with a sedan 3+1

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 20 reviews · 1 to 2 hours (approx.)

Travel privately from Sofia Airport or a Sofia address to your Plovdiv hotel, station, or other convenient address. The drive takes about one to two hours. Drivers such as Ivan, Georgi, Nikolov, and Bobi are noted for punctual service, clean cars, water, chargers, and helpful local advice. Confirm vehicle and luggage space when booking.

“I had excellent experience and great service with this company.”

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