Day Trips in Sofia

Experience Bulgaria's mountain landscapes on a full-day Seven Rila Lakes hiking tour from Bansko. Ride a chair lift into the Rila Mountains and take a guided, medium-difficulty trek to see the Rila Lakes, a group of seven glacial lakes framed by craggy ridges. After a picnic, descend through forests to visit the UNESCO-listed Rila Monastery, famous for its carvings and frescoes. Your tour includes transport, lunch, and hotel pickup and drop-off in Bansko.

Combine the flexibility of independent travel with the expertise of a private guide on this private Plovdiv tour. Learn about the Bulgarian National Revival as you wander the cobbled streets of the old town. See the Plovdiv Roman Theater, the Ancient Stadium of Philippopolis, and early Christian mosaics, and enjoy a 3-course lunch.

It's impossible to visit both the Rila Monastery and Boyana Church by public transport in one day, so this convenient tour saves both time and energy. Check off not one but two UNESCO World Heritage sites as you explore the medieval church on the outskirts of Sofia and the 19th-century monastery in the Rila Mountains. The day includes guiding and door-to-door transfers but entrance fees are at your own expense.

This tour will show you one of the best Bulgarian monasteries and UNESCO sight - the Rila Monastery.

Reaching the Seven Rila Lakes by public transport typically involves two buses, a shuttle and most of your day. Take the pain out of transportation - while maintaining total independence - with this cost-effective shared transfer. Visit both these beautiful glacial lakes and the Rila Monastery, a UNESCO World Heritage site, with ample time for hiking.

Explore Bulgarian customs and culture, and discover a pace of life far removed from the busy capital on this 8-hour history, spa and wine tour from Sofia. Follow your guide through Koprivshtitsa and admire the town's 19th-century Bulgarian Revival architecture. Learn of the role the locals played in the struggle against Ottoman rule during the 1876 uprising, and gain insight into the town's rich heritage. Head through the Rose Valley to the Thracian Temple of Starosel. Visit a local winery and spa, then return in comfort to Sofia.

Plovdiv is the 2019 European capital of Culture and home to one of Bulgaria's most impressive archeological sites. This full-day tour from Sofia takes in all the highlights, including a walking tour of the atmospheric Old Town and visits to the Roman Stadium, Roman Forum, and Amphitheatre. Tour includes hotel pickup, lunch, and entrance fees.

Immerse yourself in the beguiling beauty of two of Bulgaria's most spectacular sights on a full-day trip from Sofia. Admire the natural splendor of rural Bulgaria as you travel to the Rila Monastery, a sacred structure cradled by the dense pine forests of the mountains. Delve into the history of the medieval landmark and browse the intriguing exhibitions of the on-site museum. Continue to Boyana Church to gaze at the fascinating pre-Renaissance frescoes that decorate the walls within. Please note, entrance fees are not included on this tour.

Spin along open roads and explore Bulgaria by bike on this 9-hour Rila Monastery trip from Sofia. Hop onto your bike and follow a guide along rolling asphalt roads through the Bulgarian countryside. Along the way, gain insight into the country's culture and history, and admire sweeping views over the peaks and vineyards. Visit the 10th-century Rila Monastery - widely considered one of Bulgaria's most important pilgrimage sites. Explore the cave of St Joan of Rila, then zoom down the valley back to base.

Explore two Bulgarian and Serbian medieval masterpieces on this 9-hour tour to Boyana Church and Poganovo Monastery from Sofia. First, visit the UNESCO-protected Boyana Church just outside Sofia, to admire its 13th-century frescoes, considered some of the best examples of medieval Bulgarian artistry. Then, cross into Serbia to the Poganovo Monastery to view its artworks and treasures, and absorb its deep spirituality. Tour includes a Serbian lunch, air-conditioned transport, and Sofia hotel pickup and drop-off.

Cover ground that's only really possible with a professional at the wheel and check off three key Bulgarian attractions in just one day on this convenient guided tour. Soak up the architecture and Roman ruins of Plovdiv Old Town, the 17th-century murals at Bachkovo Monastery, and 13th-century Asen's Fortress. Tour includes hotel pickup and drop-off but excludes entrance fees.

See two of Bulgaria's religious treasures and another in Macedonia on this full-day tour from Sofia. Admire Sofia's Boyana Church, a UNESCO-listed gem famed for its 13th-century frescoes, and then travel to the rural Zemen Monastery, a medieval complex graced with murals and portraits of Bulgarian nobles. Finally, cross into Macedonia to the mountainside Osogovo Monastery, considered one of the country's most beautiful. Lunch, Boyana and Zemen admission, and Sofia hotel pickup and drop-off included.

Plovdiv is in the top 10 ancient cities in the world. Inhabited since 4,000 B.C., beginning with a Neolithic settlement, Plovdiv has been conquered many times throughout the years by the Thracians, the Greeks and the Romans. Explore the unique Revival old town, see the Roman theater and learn more about the history of the town from your local guide.