Bulgaria · TOURS

The 15 Best Tours & Day Trips in Bulgaria

79 tours  ·  from $11 a head

Everything with a guide, a minibus or a chairlift attached, in one list. The 15 below are the ones worth a whole day, priced and timed, with the rest of the catalogue underneath.

Rila Monastery and Boyana Church Full-Day Tour - Boyana Church rewards a short visit
Boyana Church Tours, Full-Day, Rila Monastery Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours, Tours in Sofia

Rila Monastery and Boyana Church Full-Day Tour

1.Rila Monastery and Boyana Church Full-Day Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 918 reviews · 8 hours (approx.) · from $24Our pick

Spend about eight hours visiting Rila Monastery in the mountains and Sofia’s small Boyana Church. Expect a 40-minute monastery tour, 2.5 hours of free time, and only 10 minutes inside Boyana Church. Guides such as Maria, Ina, Vasil, and Tuni have led especially well-received departures, though language and guide arrangements can vary.

“We really enjoyed seeing the monastery and church and thought it was a worthwhile trip from Sofia. It’s in a beautiful setting in the mountains.”

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From Sofia: Rila Monastery & Boyana Church Day Tour - What the Sofia departure is like
Boyana Church Tours, Rila Monastery Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours, Tours in Sofia

From Sofia: Rila Monastery & Boyana Church Day Tour

2.Rila Monastery & Boyana Church Day Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 866 reviews · 8 hours (approx.) · from $24

Spend a full day visiting Sofia’s Boyana Church and the mountain-set Rila Monastery with an English-speaking guide such as Lubo or Liubomir. Expect an air-conditioned minibus, free time to explore, optional audio commentary, and extra fees for both church and museum entry. The schedule also allows time for the monastery bakery, museum, or optional St. Ivan’s Cave walk.

“Svet was an awesome tour guide, made everything super engaging. Very knowledgeable about all things Bulgaria and a lot of historical references.”

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Communist Walking Tour of Sofia - St. Petka and the place of religion
Buzludzha and Communist Heritage Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours, Tours in Sofia, Walking Tours, Walking Tours in Sofia

Communist Walking Tour of Sofia

3.Communist Walking Tour of Sofia

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 690 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $21Top rated

Walk central Sofia with an English-speaking guide through communist-era landmarks, from the Palace of Justice and Largo to the Soviet Army Monument, NDK, and a piece of the Berlin Wall. Guides such as Niki, Nikola, Vasko, Stefan, and Martin use family stories, photographs, and political context to explain daily life under communism.

“A great experience! Very informative, great guide who made it personal and had great story telling skills. Fascinating side of history!”

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Sofia Highlights 2 Hour Sightseeing Walking Tour - Churches, wishes, and Sofia’s name
2-Hour Experiences, City Tours, City Tours in Sofia, Tour Reviews, Tours, Tours in Sofia, Walking Tours, Walking Tours in Sofia

Sofia Highlights 2 Hour Sightseeing Walking Tour

4.Sofia Highlights 2 Hour Sightseeing Walking Tour

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

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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Day tour to Skopje, North Macedonia - Small Group - Border crossing and the cost of convenience
Skopje and North Macedonia Day Trips, Tour Reviews, Tours, Tours in Sofia

Day tour to Skopje, North Macedonia – Small Group

5.Day tour to Skopje, North Macedonia – Small Group

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 431 reviews · 12 hours (approx.) · from $95

Travel from Sofia to Skopje in a small group of up to 15, with an English-speaking Bulgarian guide and a local Macedonian guide. Expect about four hours on the road each way, a guided walk through the Old Bazaar, Kale Fortress, Stone Bridge, Macedonia Square, and Mother Teresa Memorial House, plus about two hours for lunch and your own exploring.

“Nice trip but overpriced and short. Travelers should be given more time to spend on their own in skopje. Both tour guides were very professional and helpful. Trip should be cheaper.”

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Sofia Pub Crawl Tour of The Hidden Unique Bars - What you receive at the bars
Drinking Tours, Nightlife, Pub Crawls, Tour Reviews, Tours, Tours in Sofia

Sofia Pub Crawl Tour of The Hidden Unique Bars

6.Sofia Pub Crawl Tour of The Hidden Unique Bars

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 284 reviews · 4 to 5 hours (approx.) · from $24

Meet at Crystal Garden at 9 pm for a four to five hour walk through Sofia’s bars and clubs. Guides such as Damien, Mirela, Afrodita, and Jan lead you to four or five stops, with beer or wine, rakia, welcome shots, and entry included. Expect conversation, local nightlife, and a larger group on busy Saturdays.

“Good way to spend an evening. Met some good people, visited some nice bars and drank some good local beers in a cool city. Highly recommend! Fun night out and organised really well by our excellent guide :)”

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Plovdiv Small Group Full Day Guided Tour from Sofia - The two-hour road to Bulgaria’s second city
Full-Day, Guided, Plovdiv Day Trips, Tour Reviews, Tours, Tours in Sofia

Plovdiv Small Group Full Day Guided Tour from Sofia

7.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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Tour to Lovech, Devetaki cave & Krushuna waterfalls - Krushuna Waterfalls and the seasonal reality
Cave Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours, Tours in Sofia, Waterfall Tours

Tour to Lovech, Devetaki cave & Krushuna waterfalls

8.Tour to Lovech, Devetaki cave & Krushuna waterfalls

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 167 reviews · 10 hours (approx.) · from $114

You’ll travel from Sofia to northern Bulgaria for Devetashka Cave, Krushuna Waterfalls, and Lovech’s Covered Bridge and medieval fortress. Expect about 10 hours on the road, a moderate amount of walking, an English-speaking guide, and a small group when available. Lunch is not included, so bring money for food and plenty of water.

“I had so much fun on this day trip - it was a great opportunity to see cool sights that I would have not seen otherwise. Our tour guide, Mihail, was fantastic - knowledgable, kind, and catered to whatever the group wanted. I definitely recommend this trip!”

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7 Rila Lakes and Rila Monastery Tour - Weather can rewrite the whole itinerary
Rila Monastery Tours, Seven Rila Lakes Hikes, Tour Reviews, Tours, Tours in Sofia

7 Rila Lakes and Rila Monastery Tour

9.7 Rila Lakes and Rila Monastery Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 165 reviews · 10 to 11 hours (approx.) · from $71

This full-day trip from central Sofia pairs the peaceful Rila Monastery with a mountain hike to the Seven Rila Lakes. Expect a 1.5 to 2.5-hour drive each way, about five hours at the lakes, and a chairlift fee of roughly €15. Guides such as Alexander, Apostolos, and Stoyan have led recent departures, but the hike is largely self-guided.

“To take the trip to the rila monastery and the Rila lakes was the best decission we made during our visit of Sofia. My girlfriend and I had an amazing experience exploring the beautiful nature of Bulgaria. Our guide/driver Stoyan made the trip even more memorable with his enthusiasm and knowledge about the place and Bulgarian history. He was really helpfull and ready to answer all our questions, we would really recommend him as a guide! Bulgaria had a lot more to offer than I expected. I would really recommend this trip!”

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Small group tour to Plovdiv, Asen's Fortress and Bachkovo Monastery - Leaving Sofia at 8:30 am
Bachkovo Monastery Tours, Fortress and Castle Tours, Plovdiv Day Trips, Tour Reviews, Tours, Tours in Sofia

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

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

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

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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Guided Walking Tour of Sofia - The Russian Church and the National Theatre
Guided, Tour Reviews, Tours, Tours in Sofia, Walking Tours, Walking Tours in Sofia

Guided Walking Tour of Sofia

11.Guided Walking Tour of Sofia

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 143 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $48

Walk central Sofia with an English-speaking guide such as Diana, Jivko, Peter, or Petar. Visit Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, Saint Sofia Church, the Rotunda, Roman Serdica, and more, with a small group capped at 10 people. Expect a brisk historical overview, free time for questions, and an easy finish on Vitosha Boulevard.

“We had a great time walking around the city with our tour guide Peter. Peter was super friendly and encouraged tourists to ask as many questions as possible. We saw key landmarks across the city, and whilst it is a slightly shorter walking tour of 2 hours, in a 32c+ Sofia, 2 hours is enough before you want to get back indoors or find some shade. You’ll have lots more to explore across Sofia once this tour has finished, as it doesn’t cover the entire city, nor the more in-depth history of communism. Some of us even finished the tour with a glass of wine with Peter. Highly recommend.”

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Private city walking tour of Sofia - Roman Serdika below the city center
Private, Tour Reviews, Tours, Tours in Sofia, Walking Tours, Walking Tours in Sofia

Private city walking tour of Sofia

12.Private city walking tour of Sofia

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 141 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $183

Spend about two hours walking central Sofia with a private English-speaking guide. See Roman Serdika, churches, mosque, synagogue, communist-era Largo, royal buildings, and Alexander Nevsky Cathedral. Guides such as Vasil and Mina bring the city’s difficult and varied past to life, while your private group sets the pace.

“We recently enjoyed a 2-hour city center tour of Sofia with Vasil, and it was a highlight of our stay. Although we had been exploring the city center on our own for the past two days, Vasil brought the history and culture of Sofia to life in a way we hadn’t experienced. His deep knowledge, backed by his academic background in tourism, made the tour both informative and engaging. Vasil was exceptionally friendly and enthusiastic, and his passion for the city was contagious. My wife and I learned so much during our time with him. We highly recommend Vasil for anyone looking to explore and truly understand the majestic city…”

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Day Tour to Nis, Serbia - Small group - Pickup in Sofia and the two-hour drive
Tour Reviews, Tours, Tours in Sofia

Day Tour to Nis, Serbia – Small group

13.Day Tour to Nis, Serbia – Small group

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 130 reviews · 10 hours (approx.) · from $60

Travel from Sofia to Nis with a guide such as Ivan, Laura, Rosen, or Dimitri, depending on the departure. Visit Medijana, Skull Tower, the Red Cross camp, and Nis Fortress, then enjoy free time for Serbian food and town walks. Pickup, transport, and entrance fees are included. Bring your passport and allow about 10 hours.

“Excellent experience to Niš, the tour guide was lovely and guided the group very well. I just wish that there was a bit more free time in the city center and a bit more recommendations given”

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Sofia Walking Private City Tour - Starting at St. Nedelya and walking into old Sofia
City Tours, City Tours in Sofia, Private, Tour Reviews, Tours, Tours in Sofia, Walking Tours, Walking Tours in Sofia

Sofia Walking Private City Tour

14.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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Full-day Nis and Serbian History Tour from Sofia - Mediana and the Roman world of Nis
Full-Day, Historical Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours, Tours in Sofia

Full-day Nis and Serbian History Tour from Sofia

15.Full-day Nis and Serbian History Tour from Sofia

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 90 reviews · 10 hours (approx.) · from $83

Travel from Sofia to Nis in a small group with an English-speaking driver-guide. Visit Mediana’s Roman mosaics, Skull Tower, Nis Fortress, and the Red Cross concentration camp, then enjoy free time and Serbian lunch at your own cost. Guides such as Georgi, Michael, Ivan, and Stefan are praised for their history and Balkan culture knowledge.

“Vwry punctual, engaging and knowledgeable Guide -Michael. This makes a huge difference. Very doable day trip to visit Niṣ̌ and get a feel of Serbia. Visited enough places and some free time too.”

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