Bulgaria · TOURS

The 15 Best Tours & Day Trips in Bulgaria

239 tours  ·  from $9

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

From Sofia: Rila Monastery & Boyana Church Day Tour - Boyana Church: a short visit with serious art
Boyana Church Tours, Rila Monastery Tours, Sofia Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours

From Sofia: Rila Monastery & Boyana Church Day Tour

1.Rila Monastery & Boyana Church Day Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 5,107 reviews · 8 - 9 hours · from $23Our pick

Travel from Sofia to Boyana Church and Rila Monastery in an international group, with an English, Spanish, or Italian guide. See Boyana’s remarkable frescoes, explore Bulgaria’s grandest monastery, visit museums, taste mekitsi, and enjoy Rila Mountain scenery. Guides such as Lubo, Kamen, Martin, and Hristo are often praised for clear, lively commentary.

“Rila Monastery was really impressive and Svet our tour guide was very friendly, knowledgeable and made the day fun. Our tour was on a full coach and would have been better if it was a smaller group”

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From Sofia: Must-See Rila Monastery & Boyana Church Day Tour - Meeting the bus at the Vasil Levski Monument
Boyana Church Tours, Rila Monastery Tours, Sofia Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours

From Sofia: Must-See Rila Monastery & Boyana Church Day Tour

2.Must-See Rila Monastery & Boyana Church Day Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 3,322 reviews · 9 - 10 hours · from $23

Travel from Sofia to Rila Monastery and Boyana Church with a multilingual guide such as Maria, Iva, or Karina. You get about three hours at Rila, a shorter visit to Boyana, mountain views, free time, and optional museum and church entry. The day lasts 9 to 10 hours.

“Thanks for such a nice experience. Unforgettable moments at the Rila monastery- a perfect place to connect to the Divine!”

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From Sofia: Guided Day Tour of Plovdiv's Must-See Sights - The 9:00 AM departure from central Sofia
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From Sofia: Guided Day Tour of Plovdiv’s Must-See Sights

3.Guided Day Tour of Plovdiv’s Must-See Sights

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 1,688 reviews · 510 minutes - 10 hours · from $23

Travel from Sofia to Plovdiv in a comfortable air-conditioned van, then choose a two-hour walking tour with guides such as Tuni, Sonia, or Simeon, or explore independently for four hours. See Roman ruins, Revival architecture, hilltop views, and the long pedestrian center before returning to Sofia.

“I liked the knowledgeable guide and perfect communication before and at the end of the tour.”

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Sofia: Communist Walking Tour - Starting at the Palace of Justice
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Sofia: Communist Walking Tour

4.Communist Walking Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 1,106 reviews · 3 hours · from $21

Spend three hours walking central Sofia with an English-speaking guide such as Daniel, Vasil, Martin, or Dino. Visit communist landmarks, a former secret police site, the Soviet Army Monument, and the National Palace of Culture while weighing daily life, politics, and the era’s lasting effects.

“An incredible and knowledgeable tour guide, would recommend this tour to others”

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From Sofia: The Seven Rila Lakes Full-Day Hiking Tour - The Panichishte chairlift is part of the adventure
Full-Day, Hiking & Trekking, Seven Rila Lakes Hikes, Sofia Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours

From Sofia: The Seven Rila Lakes Full-Day Hiking Tour

5.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
Boyana Church Tours, Full-Day, Rila Monastery Tours, Sofia Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours

Rila Monastery and Boyana Church Full-Day Tour

6.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: Rila Monastery & Boyana Church Day Tour - Boyana Church: a short visit with serious art
Boyana Church Tours, Rila Monastery Tours, Sofia Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours

From Sofia: Rila Monastery & Boyana Church Day Tour

7.Rila Monastery & Boyana Church Day Tour

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

Travel from central Sofia to UNESCO-listed Boyana Church and Rila Monastery in an English-speaking group tour. Guides such as Lubo, Lachezar, Martin, and Liubomir add historical context, while free time lets you explore the monastery at your own pace. Boyana entry, museum tickets, food, and audio guides cost extra.

“Excellent tour leader. Lubo is very knowledgeable and courteous. Rila Monastery is great place to visit. We enjoyed the trip”

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From Sofia: Small Group Guided Tour of Plovdiv's Highlights - The road from Sofia to Plovdiv
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From Sofia: Small Group Guided Tour of Plovdiv’s Highlights

8.Small Group Guided Tour of Plovdiv’s Highlights

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 857 reviews · 510 minutes - 11 hours · from $23

Travel from Sofia to Plovdiv by comfortable coach, then walk through the Old Town with a live guide such as Maria, Martin, Todor, or Simeon. See the Roman Theatre, Ancient Stadium, fortress walls, Revival houses, and panoramic viewpoints, followed by free time for lunch, Kapana, and shopping.

“The guide was very informative and the trip was well planned.”

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Sofia: City Monuments Guided Walking Tour with Audio Guide - Meeting at Ivan Vazov National Theater
Audio Tours, City Tours, Guided, Self-Guided Tours, Sofia Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours, Walking Tours

Sofia: City Monuments Guided Walking Tour with Audio Guide

9.City Monuments Guided Walking Tour with Audio Guide

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 825 reviews · 2 hours · from $17Best value

Start by Ivan Vazov National Theater and follow a guide through Sofia’s central sights, including Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, Serdika ruins, St. George Rotunda, and the Presidency. Headphones provide commentary in seven languages, while the live guide keeps you on course and leaves time for photos.

“Toni was a great guide, very informative and knowledgeable. The walk itself was done at a very relaxed pace stopping a 20 locations with the last being the Changing of the Guard at the Residency, Thank You”

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From Sofia: The Seven Rila Lakes & Rila Monastery Day Tour - The chairlift: useful, scenic, and easy to underestimate
Rila Monastery Tours, Seven Rila Lakes Hikes, Sofia Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours

From Sofia: The Seven Rila Lakes & Rila Monastery Day Tour

10.The Seven Rila Lakes & Rila Monastery Day Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 699 reviews · 12 hours · from $53

Combine a mountain hike and Bulgaria’s finest Orthodox monastery in one long day from Sofia. You’ll ride an open-air chairlift, walk among the Seven Rila Lakes, and visit Rila Monastery with a guide such as Magi, Radi, or Ivaylo, or follow the route independently with practical advice.

“The self guided tour of Rila Lakes and Monastery was the way to go! I was able to set my own hiking pace and the trail was very easy to follow. I was able to make 6/7 lakes at a very comfortable pace, and easily could have made 7 if I had gone just a little faster. The amount of time allotted for hiking was plenty and I didn’t feel stressed or anxious about not having enough of it. The monastery was a wonderful addition because it was gorgeous and well worth the drive to get there! I highly recommend this tour to anyone visiting Sofia!”

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Communist Walking Tour of Sofia - Starting at Sofia Court House
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Communist Walking Tour of Sofia

11.Communist Walking Tour of Sofia

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

Meet your English-speaking guide at Sofia Court House at 4pm for a three-hour walk through communist-era Sofia. Expect personal stories, political history, architecture, and stops at the Largo, Soviet Army Monument, NDK, and a piece of the Berlin Wall. Guides may include Niki, Nikola, Vasko, Martin, or Stefan.

“So much information! And really interesting history. Great guide, Nickolas, who presented the pros and cons of communism.”

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From Sofia: Rila Monastery & Optional St. Ivan Cave Day Tour - The one-hour guided visit and free time
Rila Monastery Tours, Sofia Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours

From Sofia: Rila Monastery & Optional St. Ivan Cave Day Tour

12.Rila Monastery & Optional St. Ivan Cave Day Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 647 reviews · 8 - 11 hours · from $23

Travel from Sofia to Rila Monastery in a comfortable air-conditioned vehicle, with live commentary or a cloud-based audioguide. Choose the St. Ivan Cave option for a short but steep forest walk and cramped crawl through the saint’s cave. Guides may include Hristo, Lubo, Maya, Martin, or Dafina.

“I really appreciated the guide, Maria. She expressed her knowledge with such passion and calmness. I’d recommend her for any trip. She is lovely and patient ♥️”

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

From Sofia: Full-Day Tour to Rila Monastery with Options

13.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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Sofia Highlights 2 Hour Sightseeing Walking Tour - Royal Sofia, yellow cobblestones, and the city’s theater
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Sofia Highlights 2 Hour Sightseeing Walking Tour

14.Sofia Highlights 2 Hour Sightseeing Walking Tour

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

Meet your English-speaking licensed guide at Alexander Nevsky Cathedral for a two-hour walk through Sofia’s major sights. You’ll enter the cathedral, see Roman Serdika, taste mineral water, and finish near Vitosha Boulevard. Guides such as Nikola add warm, personal insight to Bulgaria’s story.

“This tour was a fantastic way to discover Sofia’s most important landmarks. What made it really special was our guide, Nikola — knowledgeable, friendly, and someone who made me feel completely at ease from the start. He shared fascinating insights into Bulgaria’s history and took the time to answer all my questions thoroughly. It felt more like exploring the city with a local friend than a typical tour. Highly recommended!”

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Day tour to Skopje, North Macedonia - Small Group - The Old Bazaar and Kale Fortress
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Day tour to Skopje, North Macedonia – Small Group

15.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 no more than 15, with hotel pickup, two local guides, and a four-hour city visit. Walk through the Old Bazaar, cross the Stone Bridge, see Macedonia Square and Mother Teresa’s memorial, then enjoy free time for lunch.

“Long trip but it was worth it. Away from globalisation. It was nice going back to the 80's. Our guide Lena and our driver and guide Ilian were amazing.”

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★ 4.5Private Sofia Guided Walking City Tour with Traditional Breakfast9 reviews
★ 3.5Sofia Audio guide Tour offers available in 7 languagesFrom $153 reviews
★ 4.5One-day tour to Skopje from SofiaFrom $3023 reviews
★ 5.0Saeva dupka and Ledenika Caves Day-Tour from SofiaFrom $1428 reviews
★ 5.0UNESCO World Heritage Site Tour in BulgariaFrom $1,0043 reviews
★ 5.0Private tour: Rila Mountains and The Seven Rila Lakes from SofiaFrom $2595 reviews
★ 5.0Rila Monastery and Melnik, Day Tour from Sofia with PickupFrom $1016 reviews
★ 5.0Rila Monastery and Boyana Church Eco Private TourFrom $1383 reviews

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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