The 15 Best Self-Guided Tours in Bulgaria

1.Rila Monastery and 7 Rila Lakes Self-Guided Shared Trip from Sofia

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 280 reviews · 13 hours (approx.) · from $54Our pick

Leave central Sofia at 7:00 am with driver Philip and a shared minivan. Hike the Seven Rila Lakes at your own pace, using route advice and paper maps, then visit Rila Monastery. The 13-hour outing includes transport but not the 25 BGN chairlift, food, guide services, or mountain rescue insurance.

“A great and well organised journey which allows you to combine nature with a very impressive UNESCO site, the Monastery of Rila. Trustful company”

Check availability →Read our full review

2.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.”

Check availability →Read our full review

3.Self Guided Tour Experience in Rila Monastery

★★★★★★★★★★3.0 · 15 reviews · from $10

Visit Bulgaria’s Rila Monastery at your own pace with a mobile ticket, conversational audio guide, and electronic guide notes. You choose your arrival time during the 8 AM to 6 PM opening period, with no fixed group schedule. Check the download links before leaving Sofia, and dress modestly for this active place of worship.

“Compramos los tiques para el monasterio y no me pude descargar nada después me enteré que solía dar problemas. Se quedaron con el dinero sin soluciónar nada”

Check availability →Read our full review

4.Self-guided tour in Varna Archaeological Museum + ticket

★★★★★★★★★★3.5 · 14 reviews · 2 to 3 hours (approx.) · from $22

Spend 2 to 3 hours at Varna Archaeological Museum on a self-guided visit in English. You’ll see ancient tombstones, surgical tools, jewelry, and finds from Hellenistic, Roman, and medieval Bulgaria. Your booking includes museum admission, but you must watch for a second access voucher sent by email.

“This was a total rip off. I spent $11.50 for admission instead of a few lev. They gave me nothing & told me to read the English on the walls. You should be ashamed of yourselves for selling this”

Check availability →Read our full review

5.Discover Veliko Tarnovo at Your Pace: Private or Self-guided tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 11 reviews · 2 to 4 hours (approx.) · from $34

See Veliko Tarnovo in 2 to 4 hours, starting at Tsarevets Fortress and walking through the old town, Samovodska Charshiya, General Gurko Street, and the Assen Dynasty Monument. Choose a private English-speaking guide for local stories, or a self-guided format with digital notes and audio content. Hotel pickup is available within Veliko Tarnovo.

“Fast response from tour operator. Interesting and useful facts about Veliko Tarnovo. This will definitely be helpful when I visit!”

Check availability →Read our full review

6.Self-Guided Sand Festival in Burgas

★★★★★★★★★★3.5 · 9 reviews · from $10

This self-guided Burgas experience gives you a downloadable e-guide covering the Sand Festival’s history, logistics, and visit tips. You explore independently for roughly three to five hours, with the Pantheon of the Fallen Antifascists listed as the main stop. Festival admission is separate and paid on site.

“We wasn’t able to get there until quite late due to other travelling so lighting wasn’t great, I would suggest going in the day. The level of sculpture is awesome, very detailed for Sand!! Was full of familiar characters from movies and kids cartoRead more”

Check availability →Read our full review

7.Sofia Under Communism: Self-Guided Puzzle Quest

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 9 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $6Best value

Follow a story about a fallen communist hero through 12 Sofia stops using the Questo app. Solve clues at your own pace, from Saint Nedelia Cathedral to the Temple of Bulgarian Martyrs. There is no guide or entry fee included, but you get 24/7 access, private play for your group, and a flexible two-hour city walk in English.

“The app works well and the sites selected were worthwhile! Even so, many of the puzzles were silly, needlessly confusing, or irrelevant to the historical importance. The storyline was amusing. Players should know that the total time to play the game/ tour the sites is longer than the game estimates. More, you may save money by not doing this through Trip Advisor but instead download the free Questo app and buy similar games from any city for perhaps less!!”

Check availability →Read our full review

8.Self-guided Tour in Tsarevets Fortress

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 9 reviews · from $11

Visit Tsarevets Fortress independently with a personalized e-guide and flexible entry during opening hours. Allow two to five hours to explore the medieval walls, ruins, royal hill, and hilltop church with its striking modern murals. The route is private to your group, but note that the booking details conflict on whether admission is included.

“Part of an excursion while sailing on the Danube.”

Check availability →Read our full review

9.Plovdiv Old Town Self-Guided Audio Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 6 reviews · 2 to 3 hours (approx.) · from $15

Walk Plovdiv’s Old Town at your own pace with an English mobile audio guide covering the Roman Theatre, Ancient Stadium, Nebet Tepe, historic houses, churches, museums, and more. The route takes about 2 to 3 hours, though access now extends to 72 hours. Entry fees for several museums are extra, and a 15% restaurant discount is included.

“Great service! Enjoyed the walk the whole day! I also visited 3 museums! Small Basilica is a must see!”

Check availability →Read our full review

10.Roman Plovdiv, Self-Guided Tour and Urban Quest Game

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 6 reviews · 2 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $10

Use your phone to follow a self-guided route through central Plovdiv, beginning at the Roman Forum of Philippopolis. Solve 16 escape-room-style riddles while learning about Roman landmarks and overlooked details. The private game takes about two to two and a half hours, works in English or Bulgarian, and ends where it begins.

“This was such a wonderful, fun and educational experience! I completed the quest together with my partner who is English, but even I, originally from Plovdiv, learned so much! The Roman history of the city is so rich, there is so much to explore and this game is the best way to do it! The flow of the puzzles was reallly like no other and the organisers are fantastic people. You wouldn't want to miss out!”

Check availability →Read our full review

11.Self-Guided Ruse from Bucharest Tour

★★★★★★★★★★3.5 · 6 reviews · from $22

You receive a personalized electronic guide for a self-guided visit to Ruse and nearby sights. Plan your own transport, timing, and stops, then explore Freedom Square, Sveta Troitsa Cathedral, the Ecomuseum, Rusenski Lom Nature Park, Sexaginta Prista, the transport museum, and Orlova Chuka Cave. The guide can be adapted for departures from Bucharest or elsewhere in Bulgaria.

“Paid nearly 40 euro for a word document...very misleading on the site, why have a meeting point when you have to organize your own transport?”

Check availability →Read our full review

12.Church of Christ Pantocrator Self-Guided

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 5 reviews · from $10

Explore the Church of Christ Pantocrator and Old Nessebar at your own pace with a private electronic guide, live route maps, and audio commentary in English, Russian, or Bulgarian. The guide loads on any device, while one support staff member is available to help. Allow one to three hours, and note that church admission costs extra.

“Real history, a mist while in Nessebar. I booked again from this operator and they fully delivered everything needed. Very handy and useful!”

Check availability →Read our full review

13.Self-guided Tour in the Museum of Socialist Art

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 4 reviews · from $8

Use a personal e-guide on your phone or other devices while exploring Sofia’s Museum of Socialist Art at your own pace. See more than 70 socialist sculptures, political art, and archival footage. The entrance ticket costs extra, so buy it at the museum before beginning your visit.

“No recomiendo para nada esta "Guia" ya que se trata de un PDF de 2 hojas y media”

Check availability →Read our full review

14.Self-Guided Off the Beaten Track Tour in Nessebar

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 3 reviews · 2 to 3 hours (approx.) · from $35

Follow an English audio guide through Nessebar’s Old Town, from St Stephens Church and the Archaeological Museum to ancient churches, the St Nicolas Statue, and the Old Fountain. You get maps, local tips, and a flexible route for your private group. Allow two to three hours, plus extra time for paid sights.

“Nessebar is a lovely small town on the Black Sea coast. It has good shops and restaurants and is full of old charm.”

Check availability →Read our full review

15.Plovdiv Roman Sights Self-Guided

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 3 reviews · from $22

Follow a personalized electronic guide through Plovdiv’s Roman sights, including the Ancient Theatre, Ancient Stadium, and Old Town. You get audio commentary in English, Russian, or Bulgarian, live maps, route details, and one support contact for your group. The pace is yours, but entrance fees are extra.

“This self guided tour is great. Very informative and interactive. We greatly enjoyed it and recommend the compnay. Do it while in Plovdiv.”

Check availability →Read our full review