Bulgaria · PRIVATE

The 15 Best Private Tours in Bulgaria

77 tours  ·  from $19

The 15 best private tours you can book today, with what each costs, how long it runs and who it suits. Number one is top for a reason; start there.

Private city walking tour of Sofia - Catholic Sofia and Saint Sofia’s controversial statue
City Tours, Private, Sofia Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours, Walking Tours

Private city walking tour of Sofia

1.Private city walking tour of Sofia

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

Spend about two hours walking central Sofia with a private English-speaking guide. Follow the route from Saint Nedelia Cathedral through Serdika, the mosque, synagogue, Largo, Russian Church, and Alexander Nevsky Cathedral. Guides such as Vasil and Mina are praised for clear stories and lively anecdotes.

“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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Sofia Walking Private City Tour - Saint Sofia Church and the city beneath your feet
City Tours, Private, Sofia Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours, Walking Tours

Sofia Walking Private City Tour

2.Sofia Walking Private City Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 127 reviews · 2 to 3 hours (approx.) · from $84

Walk Sofia’s historic center with a private English-speaking guide such as Pavlina, Rumi, or Nikolaj. See Roman streets, Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, the Russian Church, mosque, synagogue, royal palace, and communist-era buildings while getting useful advice for exploring on your own.

“Our tour guide Pavlina was the best! She was so knowledgeable and informative and made sure we saw all the historic sites in Sofia. She went above and beyond our tour time as it ran over a little bit but she didn’t skimp on anything. Highly recommend this tour and Pavlina!”

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Private Day Trip to Boyana Church and Rila Monastery - The drive from Sofia to Rila Monastery
1-Day Tours, Boyana Church Tours, Private, Rila Monastery Tours, Sofia Tours, Tour Reviews

Private Day Trip to Boyana Church and Rila Monastery

3.Private Day Trip to Boyana Church and Rila Monastery

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 108 reviews · 8 hours (approx.) · from $193

Travel from Sofia to Rila Monastery and Boyana Church in a private, air-conditioned car with an English-speaking driver-guide. See medieval frescoes, a preserved monk room, and mountain scenery, with guides such as Maria, Alexander, Julian, Nikola, and Iwan bringing the sites to life.

“We had a wonderful time with Maria, our guide. She is such a cheerful, delightful person, very knowledgeable and passionate about history and Bulgaria. Her backpack is full of pamphlets, maps, alphabet and little things about Bulgaria. At Boyana Church and Rila Monastery, she took the time to explain everything about the places and even took us to try Mekitza, at the original bakery in front of the monastery. Lunch was also fabulous, in a small locally run restaurant. Overall, we are grateful to meet Maria, and highly recommend this experience!”

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Private Ski Lesson in Bulgaria - The first hour: building balance and confidence
Borovets Tours, Private, Skiing, Tour Reviews, Workshops

Private Ski Lesson in Bulgaria

4.Private Ski Lesson in Bulgaria

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 92 reviews · 2 hours (approx.)

Meet your English-speaking instructor in Borovets for about two hours of private coaching tailored to your level. Instructors such as Phil, Neil, Lexi, Yuri, and Alexei have helped beginners, families, and skiers needing extra support. Equipment and lift passes cost extra.

“It was a lovely experience! Highly recommended! Ivan the store manager was really kind to give our group a private instructor over just a call- helping us with all our doubts as first timers! Phil the ski instructor was so patient and fun to learn from! Great ski lessons- fun to talk to- really funny and supportive- helped us learn so much in such little time. The people at the ski depot were also very kind and helpful- helping us and joking around the whole time! Overall a lovely experience- 10/10 recommended. The best ski service in Borovets hands down!”

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Private city walking tour of Plovdiv - Starting at Plovdiv Municipality
City Tours, Plovdiv Tours, Private, Tour Reviews, Tours, Walking Tours

Private city walking tour of Plovdiv

5.Private city walking tour of Plovdiv

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

Walk from Plovdiv’s central square through Kapana and the Old Town to Nebet Tepe and the Ancient Theatre. A private English-speaking guide covers Roman ruins, Ottoman houses, churches, and local stories. Guide Niki is specifically praised for clear, engaging explanations.

“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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Borovets: Private Ski or Snowboard Tuition - Meeting beside The Black Cat
Borovets Tours, Private, Skiing, Tour Reviews

Borovets: Private Ski or Snowboard Tuition

6.Private Ski or Snowboard Tuition

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 54 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $90

Meet at Snowshoe Ski School & Rental beside The Black Cat in Borovets for two hours of private ski or snowboard tuition. Your licensed English-speaking instructor may include Ivan, Dobrin, Dobrimir, Dobri, or Gery. Keep your group at one ability level and arrange equipment and lift passes separately.

“Brilliant experience, the staff were very friendly and helpful. Dobrin helped us to organise everything and made sure we found the place easily and the staff was already waiting for us. Alex the guy from the rental place was very friendly and helpful same as Ivan the instructor. Very professional and with a good English knowledge, easy to understand commands and professional demonstrations. Highly recommend”

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Private City Tour of Sofia - Starting at Alexander Nevsky Cathedral
City Tours, Private, Sofia Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours

Private City Tour of Sofia

7.Private City Tour of Sofia

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 34 reviews · 2 to 4 hours (approx.) · from $31

Explore Sofia with a private English-speaking guide, visiting Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, ancient Serdika, Saint Sofia Church, the Russian Church, Sofia Synagogue, Banya Bashi Mosque, and more. Guides including Rumi, Stoyan, Chris, and Martin tailor the pace. Hotel pickup is offered, but confirm whether your tour is walking or vehicle-based.

“Of course there were some interesting buildings but nothing super spectacular. Lots of walking (almost five miles all in). The literature indicated a private air conditioned vehicle would be utilized with a number of drivebys and a number of stops but no vehicle showed up for us and the operator said it was because our hotel was near city center. We would not have booked this tour if we knew it would be a walking tour for 4 hours. The guide was pleasant and knowledgeable so no complaint there, its all on the operator. Some of the ancient ruins were interesting but government and university buildings were not so interesting.”

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Private Wine Tasting in the UNESCO town of Nessebar - What happens when you arrive at Staria Grad
Bulgarian Wine Tastings, Food & Drink, Nessebar Tours, Private, Tour Reviews, Wine Tours

Private Wine Tasting in the UNESCO town of Nessebar

8.Private Wine Tasting in the UNESCO town of Nessebar

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 25 reviews · 1 to 2 hours (approx.) · from $53

Meet in Old Nessebar for a relaxed wine tasting at Minkov Brothers Winery. An oenologist presents four or five Bulgarian wines with a tasting board, while the friendly hosts explain each region. Add a multi-course lunch or dinner if you want to turn a short stop into a full meal.

“Me and some friends did the 4 wine tasting, the host was so kind and informative regards the wine and allowed us to really customise the experience to our tastes. Great atmosphere and we ended up ordering a bottle and whiling the hours away. Could not recommend more.”

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Rila Monastery and Boiana church private tour - Rila Monastery and its mountain setting
Private, Rila Monastery Tours, Sofia Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours

Rila Monastery and Boiana church private tour

9.Rila Monastery and Boiana church private tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 23 reviews · 6 to 9 hours (approx.) · from $120

Travel from Sofia in a private, air-conditioned vehicle with WiFi and bottled water. Your guide, often Vladi, Philip, or Rusha, leads you to Boyana Church’s famous frescoes and Rila Monastery’s mountain setting, with time for museums, lunch, and scenic stops.

“the experience went well. Our driver Rusha was friendly and helpful. the monastery and the boyan church are definitely worth seeing.”

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Private trip to Bachkovo Monastery and Assen’s Fortress - Asen’s Fortress and the hilltop church
Bachkovo Monastery Tours, Bachkovo Monastery Tours in Plovdiv, Plovdiv Tours, Private, Tour Reviews

Private trip to Bachkovo Monastery and Assen’s Fortress

10.Private trip to Bachkovo Monastery and Assen’s Fortress

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 22 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $55

Leave Plovdiv with Lyuben for a private, air-conditioned trip to Bachkovo Monastery and Asen’s Fortress. See a 14th-century icon, colorful monastery frescoes, a medieval church, and sweeping views toward the Rhodope Mountains in about three hours.

“Our guide was nice and polite but didn’t explain much about the fortress and church that we visited. We wish we would have learned some of the history of these amazing spots.”

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Private Day Trip to Plovdiv from Sofia - The two-hour ride from Sofia
1-Day Tours, Private, Sofia Tours, Tour Reviews

Private Day Trip to Plovdiv from Sofia

11.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 Wi-Fi, hotel pickup, and an English-speaking driver-guide such as Simon, Poli, Jordan, or Dimitri. See Roman remains and Revival-era houses, then enjoy free time for lunch, museums, and independent wandering.

“Très belle ville riche en culture. La vieille ville est splendide. Le musée ethnographique vaut vraiment la peine. Le guide Dimitri pas avare en explications.”

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Private Premium One-way Transfer Sofia Airport to Hotel or back - Modern vehicles and the right size for your group
Airport Transfers, Private, Private Drivers, Sofia Tours, Tour Reviews

Private Premium One-way Transfer Sofia Airport to Hotel or back

12.Private Premium One-way Transfer Sofia Airport to Hotel or back

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 21 reviews · 1 hour (approx.)

Book a private, English-speaking driver from Sofia Airport Terminal 1 or 2 to your hotel, or back to the airport. Cars are modern, clean, and reserved for your group. Choose a vehicle for up to 3, 4, 6, or 8 people, with generous waiting time for flight delays.

“Booked with this company 2hrs prior to our arrival, and despite the short notice they were able to deliver. Driver arrived on time. The driver spoke english well because he used to work in the US. Car was a BMW sedan, was clean and spacious.”

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Boyana Church & Rila Monastery Full-Day Private Tour - A Bulgarian lunch stop beside the river
Boyana Church Tours, Full-Day, Private, Rila Monastery Tours, Sofia Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours

Boyana Church & Rila Monastery Full-Day Private Tour

13.Boyana Church & Rila Monastery Full-Day Private Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 18 reviews · 8 hours · from $188

Spend eight hours with a private English-speaking guide visiting Rila Monastery and Boyana Church from Sofia. Expect a 45-minute guided visit, free time for the monastery museum and mountain setting, a Bulgarian lunch stop, and expert commentary from guides such as Iva, Dhiraj, Tuny, and Alex.

“Our guide Tuny was fantastic, very knowledgeable and interesting. He took the time to explain many fine details to us. Very enjoyable day!”

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The Most Affordable Private Sofia Walking Tour - From the Russian Church to the Ivan Vazov Theater
Private, Sofia Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours, Walking Tours

The Most Affordable Private Sofia Walking Tour

14.The Most Affordable Private Sofia Walking Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 18 reviews · 2 to 4 hours (approx.) · from $22Best value

See Sofia’s key sights on a private 2 to 4 hour walk, from Alexander Nevsky Cathedral and the Roman Rotunda to Vitosha Boulevard and the mineral springs. Choose the privately guided option for live questions, or use the e-guide for a lower-cost self-guided visit. English is offered.

“Excellent tour. It would really be improved if we had time to enter the main sights and not see everything from outside”

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Private Vitosha Mountains Hiking with Black peak & Dragalevtsi Monastery - Why the guide matters on Vitosha
Hiking & Trekking, Private, Sofia Tours, Tour Reviews, Vitosha Mountain Tours

Private Vitosha Mountains Hiking with Black peak & Dragalevtsi Monastery

15.Private Vitosha Mountains Hiking with Black peak & Dragalevtsi Monastery

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 18 reviews · 6 hours (approx.) · from $34

Set out from Sofia for Vitosha’s Cherni Vrah, hiking in summer or snowshoeing in winter. Choose a private outing with transport, hotel pickup, and a guide such as Tony, or follow a self-guided plan. The day also includes Dragalevtsi Monastery.

“Our guide was very knowledgeable and helpful. Because the lift is not running the police close the road up the mountain after a certain number of cars each day. Our guide, knowing this, contacted us to leave earlier and we arrived be for the road closed and before the trail was busy.”

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New in Private

★ 5.0Full-Day Private Sightseeing Tour to the North of VarnaFrom $2594 reviews
★ 5.0Private Cape Kaliakra & the Balchik Botanical Gardens from VarnaFrom $1143 reviews
★ 4.5Private Winter Day Trip to the Rila MountainFrom $573 reviews
★ 5.0Private transfer from Sofia to Plovdiv or vice versa8 reviews
★ 4.5Private Day Trip to the Belogradchik Rocks and FortressFrom $2206 reviews
★ 5.0Rila Monastery and hiking to the Stob Pyramids- Private Day Trip from SofiaFrom $1895 reviews
★ 5.0Private 2 Hours Sofia Street Art and Graffiti TourFrom $423 reviews
★ 4.5Private Sofia Guided Walking City Tour with Traditional Breakfast9 reviews
★ 5.0Private tour: Rila Mountains and The Seven Rila Lakes from SofiaFrom $2595 reviews
★ 5.0Rila Monastery and Boyana Church Eco Private TourFrom $1383 reviews
★ 4.5Rila Monastery Private TourFrom $1263 reviews
★ 4.0Private Transfer from Sofia City to Sofia (SOF) Airport4 reviews
★ 5.0Private Day Trip to Sapareva Banya for SPAFrom $1196 reviews
★ 5.0Private tour to Plovdiv, Bachkovo monastery and Asen’s fortressFrom $1644 reviews
★ 5.0Private Day Trip to Plovdiv and Bachkovo MonasteryFrom $2075 reviews

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Rila Monastery Tours59Plovdiv Tours43Wine Tours36Food & Drink45Walking Tours32Museums15
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Explore Bulgaria

Pick a monastery, a ridge, a cellar or a beach.

Monasteries

Rila MonasteryBachkovo MonasteryBoyana ChurchHistory ToursMuseums

Mountains

Seven Rila LakesVitoshaMountain HikesSki DaysJeep Safaris

Table and cellar

Wine TastingsFood TastingsFood & DrinkMehana DinnersBar Nights

Rock and water

Belogradchik RocksCavesKrushuna WaterfallsMineral BathsBlack Sea Boats