Bulgaria · FULL-DAY

The 15 Full-Day Tours in Bulgaria That Earn Their Price

46 tours  ·  from $23

Good full-day tours fill up weeks ahead and the great ones go first. Below: the 15 to book early, what each includes and how they differ.

From Bucharest: Full-Day Trip to Bulgaria - The early pickup and the road south
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From Bucharest: Full-Day Trip to Bulgaria

1.From Bucharest: Full-Day Trip to Bulgaria

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 1,008 reviews · 12 hours · from $93Our pick

Travel in a small group from Bucharest to Veliko Tarnovo, Arbanasi, and either Ruse’s Holy Trinity Cathedral or St. Basarabov Monastery. English-speaking guides such as Narcis, Lucian, Elena, and Roberto lead the day, with round-trip transport, guided visits, free time, and a Bulgarian lunch stop.

“What a great trip! Our guide was Narcis who was excellent! Nice small group. Be prepared for a long distance travel on the mini bus, but it was broken up nicely with comfort breaks. The border crossing went very smoothly, didn't need to show passports and only waited max of 10mins to go through. You need to take 50 euros per couple to change up at the exchange when get into Bulgaria to give most direct to the guide for the fort visit - which was fantastic! (rest of change was to pay for toilet trips and the odd item). We then went to the village a bit further up…”

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From Sofia: The Seven Rila Lakes Full-Day Hiking Tour - The Panichishte chairlift is part of the adventure
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From Sofia: The Seven Rila Lakes Full-Day Hiking Tour

2.The Seven Rila Lakes Full-Day Hiking Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 923 reviews · 10 - 12 hours · from $47

Spend 10 to 12 hours traveling from Sofia into Rila National Park, riding the Panichishte chairlift when operating, and hiking among seven glacial lakes. Choose a guided or self-guided format, but bring serious waterproof gear in winter. Guides such as Radi, Maya, Stoyan, and Dimitar are known for careful pacing.

“The guided tour was awesome!! The guides were great, they picked us up with a bus and the drive to the lakes was smooth. Very fun hike!!”

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Rila Monastery and Boyana Church Full-Day Tour - Meeting at the Vasil Levski Monument
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Rila Monastery and Boyana Church Full-Day Tour

3.Rila Monastery and Boyana Church Full-Day Tour

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

Travel from central Sofia to two of Bulgaria’s finest religious sites. An English-speaking guide or driver explains Rila Monastery and Boyana Church, with three hours at Rila for the museum, shops, photos, and lunch. Boyana’s tiny interior allows only 10 minutes per group, so expect a short visit and possible queue.

“The tour guide Vasil was wonderful. Tour was good, and extended by nearly 2 hours. Was not worth the extra £€$ to go up the tower in the monestry ,and the steps are really steep. We went outside the monestry and ordered doughnuts, but the local restaurants/bars would not let you eat them outside, even if you purchased from them. Boyana church was also a nice see. But as we where later here it was really busy, and took longer to enter the church, which you get 10 minutes to see inside, which is enough.”

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From Sofia: Full-Day Tour to Rila Monastery with Options - Starting near the Vasil Levski Monument
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From Sofia: Full-Day Tour to Rila Monastery with Options

4.Full-Day Tour to Rila Monastery with Options

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 479 reviews · 8h 30m · from $41

Meet near Sofia’s Vasil Levski Monument for an 8.5-hour shared minibus tour to Rila Monastery and Boyana Church. An English-speaking guide leads the day, with audio guides in six languages. Expect long drives, mountain scenery, church dress rules, and lunch at a local restaurant.

“Very good guide for us,he was really kind and funny guy... Thanks”

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From Sofia: Rila Monastery and Plovdiv Town Full-Day Trip - The early start and meeting point in central Sofia
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From Sofia: Rila Monastery and Plovdiv Town Full-Day Trip

5.Rila Monastery and Plovdiv Town Full-Day Trip

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 382 reviews · 13 hours · from $78

See two of Bulgaria’s finest sights in one day from Sofia. You’ll explore Plovdiv independently for more than four hours, then visit Rila Monastery with maps and practical advice from an English-speaking host such as Philip or Bobby. Expect scenic roads, a small group, and a very full 13-hour schedule.

“Nice trip, guide was lovely and very friendly, very clear meeting point, van was comfortable. Great day out :)”

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From Sofia: Belogradchik Rocks & Venetsa Cave Full-Day Tour - Inside the Belogradchik Fortress
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From Sofia: Belogradchik Rocks & Venetsa Cave Full-Day Tour

6.Belogradchik Rocks & Venetsa Cave Full-Day Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 354 reviews · 10 hours · from $163

Leave Sofia for Bulgaria’s dramatic northwest, where sandstone rock towers, a Roman-era fortress, and the colorful Venetsa Cave fill a long but rewarding day. Hotel pickup, transport, guide, parking, and entrance fees are included. Expect plenty of walking, stairs, and a 2.5 to 3-hour drive each way.

“Very nice and professional guide! He managed the trip also a bit tailored to our groups needs e.g. food and restroom stops. I liked hia enthusiasm about Bulgaria and in particular tge sightseeing spots we've been to”

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From Sofia: Full-Day Tour to Plovdiv and Asen's Fortress - Leaving Sofia for Plovdiv
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From Sofia: Full-Day Tour to Plovdiv and Asen’s Fortress

7.Full-Day Tour to Plovdiv and Asen’s Fortress

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 350 reviews · 9h 30m · from $45

Travel from Sofia to Plovdiv and Asen’s Fortress in a small group of up to 18 people. Walk Plovdiv’s old town with an English-speaking guide or audio guide, enjoy two hours free time, then see the medieval fortress and mountain views.

“Well structured and free time to eat and have a look at the city”

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From Sofia: Plovdiv and Koprivshtitsa Full Day Tour - Getting started at the Vasil Levski Monument
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From Sofia: Plovdiv and Koprivshtitsa Full Day Tour

8.Plovdiv and Koprivshtitsa Full Day Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 314 reviews · 11 hours · from $47

Travel from Sofia to Plovdiv and Koprivshtitsa with a live guide or multilingual audio guide. Walk Plovdiv’s Roman Theatre, Ancient Stadium, Old Town, and Kapana district, then see preserved 19th-century houses in the Sredna Gora town of Koprivshtitsa.

“I had a very great experience in Plovdiv ! Absolutely loved the city… our guide was great, he knew a lot about the history, culture, architecture about Plovdiv and Bulgaria in general, everything was perfect and I recommand this tour 100% ! Thank you”

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Plovdiv Small Group Full Day Guided Tour from Sofia - Meeting at the Vasil Levski Monument
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Plovdiv Small Group Full Day Guided Tour from Sofia

9.Plovdiv Small Group Full Day Guided Tour from Sofia

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

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 and Roman Stadium, hear about 8,000 years of history, and get about 90 minutes for lunch, shopping, or Kapana.

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

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Plovdiv and Koprivshtitsa Full-Day Trip - Plovdiv Old Town, Roman Ruins, and Limited Free Time
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Plovdiv and Koprivshtitsa Full-Day Trip

10.Plovdiv and Koprivshtitsa Full-Day Trip

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 177 reviews · 11 hours (approx.) · from $24

Travel from Sofia by air-conditioned minibus to Plovdiv and Koprivshtitsa. An English-speaking guide leads walks through Plovdiv’s Old Town and Koprivshtitsa’s revolutionary-era streets, with free time for lunch and shopping. Optional online audio guides are available in six languages.

“The Roman ruins in Plovdiv and the beautiful old houses in Koprivshtitsa were the most memorable parts of our trip. The highlight of the day though was being guided by Maria who in addition to taking us around the main attractions of the featured excursion gave us an invaluable insight into Bulgarian history and culture together with its people.”

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Seven Rila Lakes - Full Day Hiking Trip in the Rila Mountain - The road from Sofia to Panichishte
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Seven Rila Lakes – Full Day Hiking Trip in the Rila Mountain

11.Seven Rila Lakes – Full Day Hiking Trip in the Rila Mountain

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 108 reviews · 10 hours · from $35

Travel from Sofia by comfortable minivan to Panichishte, ride the chairlift into the Rila Mountains, then walk for about five hours among seven striking lakes. This self-guided trip has no tour guide, but an English-speaking driver and optional audio guide help you manage the day.

“The lakes are beautiful and our driver, Simon was really kind, much reccommended!”

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Full-day Nis and Serbian History Tour from Sofia - Mediana and the Roman world of Constantine
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Full-day Nis and Serbian History Tour from Sofia

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

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

Cross from Sofia into Serbia on a 10-hour guided day trip to Niš. Expect Mediana’s Roman mosaics, Skull Tower, Niš Fortress, the Red Cross concentration camp, free time for lunch, and an English-speaking driver-guide such as Georgi, Michael, or Ivan.

“Tour and sights were good and worth doing, however our guide insisted in playing the radio in the vehicle and even when speaking and giving us information which ment it was extremely difficult to hear him. Even when asked to put the radio off it made no difference. So this did limit the enjoyment of the tour.”

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Full-Day Belogradchik Rocks and Belogradchik Fortress from Sofia - Entering Belogradchik Fortress among the stone towers
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Full-Day Belogradchik Rocks and Belogradchik Fortress from Sofia

13.Full-Day Belogradchik Rocks and Belogradchik Fortress from Sofia

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 75 reviews · 10 to 11 hours (approx.) · from $95Top rated

Leave Sofia at 8:00 am for Belogradchik Rocks, a dramatic group of red stone pinnacles in northwestern Bulgaria. Climb the Roman-era fortress, enjoy lunch in town, and return with a licensed English-speaking guide and driver. The group is limited to seven, but Venetsa Cave should be confirmed before booking.

“Our tour leader was really nice and helpful and the place is fantastic! Really memorable ❤️ worth the 3hrs drive I recommend this place.”

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Full-day Rila Mountains, Seven Lakes Hike, and Hot Springs Tour from Sofia - What makes the Rila scenery worth the effort
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Full-day Rila Mountains, Seven Lakes Hike, and Hot Springs Tour from Sofia

14.Full-day Rila Mountains, Seven Lakes Hike, and Hot Springs Tour from Sofia

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 70 reviews · 6 to 8 hours (approx.) · from $132

Leave Sofia for a guided hike above the tree line in Rila National Park, choosing a three or five-hour circular route around the Seven Rila Lakes. Guides such as Phil, Velko, Kiril, and Daniel are praised for adapting to changing conditions. Finish with mineral pools at Sapareva Banya.

“Terrible experience..The weather was terrible witn rain and strong wind ..It was impossible to get to the lakes...We were soaking wet when we made it to tne second sale but there was no fire place to warm us up a little..The chairlift ride was 25 minutes..It was very very windy and quite scary at times especially when it stoped because of the wind and left us hanging in the wind and rain..My daughter and wife were terrified.. To the positives our guide Swet was amazing..So was the spa at the end...They should cancel the excursion when the weather is so bad It is dangerous.”

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Full-Day Small-Group Tour of Bulgaria by Minivan with Lunch - Roman Baths of Odessos: a quick look at Varna’s Roman past
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Full-Day Small-Group Tour of Bulgaria by Minivan with Lunch

15.Full-Day Small-Group Tour of Bulgaria by Minivan with Lunch

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 59 reviews · 7 hours (approx.) · from $96

Travel from Bulgaria’s northern Black Sea coast to Varna, Pobiti Kamani, Devnya’s Museum of Mosaics, and Beloslav. Your guide explains Orthodox customs, local wages, social systems, and daily life. Lunch at a local house and a distillery visit are included.

“Wunderbar geführte Tour um Kultur und Bräuche Bulgariens zu erleben. Ein Erlebnis für groß und klein”

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New in Full-Day

★ 5.0Veliko Tarnovo & Arbanasi Full day tourFrom $1635 reviews
★ 5.0Full-Day Private Sightseeing Tour to the North of VarnaFrom $2594 reviews
★ 5.0Plovdiv Full-Day Small-Group Tour from Sofia with PickupFrom $669 reviews
★ 4.0Full Day Mystical East Rhodope and the ancient city of PerperikonFrom $1074 reviews
★ 5.0Full day Snowshoeing tour to Bezbog peak 2645 m in Pirin MountainsFrom $1895 reviews
★ 5.0Sofia Full Day TourFrom $1535 reviews
★ 5.0Full-Day TourFrom $1169 reviews
★ 4.8Musala Peak, Rila Mountains: Full-Day Hiking Tour from SofiaFrom $1647 reviews
★ 5.0Full-Day City Tour including UNESCO Boyana ChurchFrom $1135 reviews
★ 5.0Full Day Eco Private Tour in Plovdiv from SofiaFrom $1766 reviews
★ 5.0Bulgaria and Serbia Full Day Tour from SofiaFrom $1393 reviews
★ 5.0Koprivshtitsa Full-Day Tour – Back to the 19th CenturyFrom $1409 reviews
★ 4.8Plovdiv and Bachkovo: Private Full-Day Tour from SofiaFrom $20610 reviews
★ 5.0Full Day Sofia TourFrom $11510 reviews
★ 4.9Perperikon, Haskovo and Thracian Tomb Full-Day TripFrom $10411 reviews

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