15 Self-Guided Tours in Bulgaria, Compared

1.Rila Monastery and 7 Rila Lakes Self-Guided Shared Trip from Sofia

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 280 reviews · 13 hours (approx.) · from $54Our pick

Join Philip and a shared minivan from central Sofia for a long but rewarding day in the Rila Mountains. You’ll ride the chairlift, hike the Seven Rila Lakes at your own pace, then visit Rila Monastery. The walk is unguided, but maps, route advice, timing help, and WhatsApp support keep the day on track.

“The entire day is incredible! The guide was informative, friendly, spoke great English and had a good sense of humour! The seven lakes was beautiful, not to challenging at all and finished within a few hours! But you need to do this hike, it’s stunning! The monastery was so rich in history as well, very stunning and a special place to visit”

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2.Rila Monastery and Boyana Church Self-Guided Day Trip from Sofia

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 41 reviews · 8 hours (approx.) · from $36

Leave central Sofia at 9:00 for Boyana Church’s remarkable 13th-century frescoes, then continue to Rila Monastery in the mountains. You get air-conditioned minivan transport, parking, and an online audio guide, while the driver handles the road. Allow extra money for Boyana Church and the Monastery Museum.

“So worth taking this tour to see the Boyana Church with its fabulous frescoes, and then on to the amazing Rila Monastery. Although the tour was self-guided, our driver Lubo was happy to answer questions and pass on interesting information. A good day out, and I thoroughly recommend.”

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3.Self Guided Tour Experience in Rila Monastery

★★★★★★★★★★3.0 · 15 reviews · from $10

Visit Bulgaria’s UNESCO-listed Rila Monastery on your own schedule with a mobile ticket, conversational audio guide, and electronic guide notes. You can arrive during the listed 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM opening hours and stay for roughly two to six hours. Check exactly what your ticket covers before paying, since entry arrangements can be unclear.

“Compramos los tiques para el monasterio y no me pude descargar nada después me enteré que solía dar problemas. Se quedaron con el dinero sin soluciónar nada”

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4.Self-guided tour in Varna Archaeological Museum + ticket

★★★★★★★★★★3.5 · 14 reviews · 2 to 3 hours (approx.) · from $22

Visit Varna Archaeological Museum with a pre-booked admission voucher and explore its Hellenistic, Roman, and medieval collections at your own pace. The English self-guided format suits independent visitors and families. Allow 2 to 3 hours, check your access voucher carefully, and avoid Bulgarian national holidays when museums may close.

“This was a total rip off. I spent $11.50 for admission instead of a few lev. They gave me nothing & told me to read the English on the walls. You should be ashamed of yourselves for selling this”

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5.Discover Veliko Tarnovo at Your Pace: Private or Self-guided tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 11 reviews · 2 to 4 hours (approx.) · from $34

See Veliko Tarnovo at your own pace on a private or self-guided city tour. Expect Tsarevets Fortress, Samovodska Charshiya, General Gurko Street, the Assen Dynasty Monument, Trapezitsa, and the Patriarchal Cathedral. Choose a local guide for personal stories, or use the electronic guide and audio material for a lower-cost, flexible visit.

“If the system would allow me to give 0 star, I would. I booked a tour, the hotel pick up and time have been confirmed by the tour company, however, on the day of the tour it was cancelled cause my hotel was outside the pick up radius. I was offered to pay double the price for the tour agent to pick me up. What a shame! They refused to give a refund. STAY AWAY FROM THIS COMPANY! THEY ARE SCAMMERS!”

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6.Self-Guided Sand Festival in Burgas

★★★★★★★★★★3.5 · 9 reviews · from $10

Explore Burgas’ annual sand-sculpture festival with a downloadable e-guide from VisitBulgariaOn Bespoke Experiences. You set the pace and can revisit the guide as needed. Expect detailed works by international artists, changing yearly themes, and a stop near the Pantheon. Festival admission is separate and paid on site.

“Unique sand figures. Brought some business customers and they absolutely loved it. Quite different from all the other attractions in the area.”

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7.Sofia Under Communism: Self-Guided Puzzle Quest

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 9 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $6Best value

Use the Questo app to follow a story about a fallen communist hero through 12 Sofia stops. Solve phone-based clues, pause whenever you like, and finish at the Temple of Bulgarian Martyrs. The walk is in English, open 24/7, and costs $6.02 per person, but attraction entry fees and a human guide are not included.

“Great opportunity to see the city you live in from a totally different perspective and to learn more about communism.”

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8.Self-guided Tour in Tsarevets Fortress

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 9 reviews · from $11

Explore Tsarevets Fortress independently with a personalized e-guide and flexible entry during opening hours. Walk the old fortified hill, see the former royal complex, visit the modern-painted church, and look across Veliko Tarnovo and the river bends. Plan on two to five hours, with a steep, stony route and no live guide.

“Part of an excursion while sailing on the Danube.”

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9.Plovdiv Old Town Self-Guided Audio Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 6 reviews · 2 to 3 hours (approx.) · from $15

Walk Plovdiv’s Old Town with an English audio guide covering 12 stops, from Djumaya Mosque and the Roman Stadium to Nebet Tepe and the Ancient Theatre. Plan on 2 to 3 hours, though access has been extended to 72 hours. Entry to the Ethnographic Museum, Small Basilica, and Trakart is extra, and a 15% restaurant discount is included.

“Comprehensive tour of the Old Town. Only problem was having to switch between the map and the audio. A printed map (clearly easier to read in the sun) would have helped. The pdf map on the phone was unclear when I zoomed in - could the resolution be increased?”

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10.Roman Plovdiv, Self-Guided Tour and Urban Quest Game

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 6 reviews · 2 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $10

Use your own phone to follow a web-based quest through central Plovdiv and its Roman past. You will solve 16 escape-room-style riddles at historic sites around the former Philippopolis, while learning about the city along a 2.5-kilometer route. The English or Bulgarian game runs at your pace and begins and ends at the Roman Forum.

“Great experience with fun riddles! We really enjoyed the walking route and the questions were a lot of fun! 10/10 would recommend.”

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11.Self-Guided Ruse from Bucharest Tour

★★★★★★★★★★3.5 · 6 reviews · from $22

Use a personalized electronic guide to explore Ruse from Bucharest or another starting point. The self-guided route covers Freedom Square, Sveta Troitsa Cathedral, the Danube city, Rusenski Lom Nature Park, Orlova Chuka Cave, museums, and Sexaginta Prista Fortress. You arrange your own transport and pay selected admission fees.

“Paid nearly 40 euro for a word document...very misleading on the site, why have a meeting point when you have to organize your own transport?”

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12.Church of Christ Pantocrator Self-Guided

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 5 reviews · from $10

You receive an English, Russian, or Bulgarian audio guide plus a personalized electronic guide with maps, route details, and logistics. Begin at the Church of Christ Pantocrator, then walk through Old Nessebar at your own speed. A support staff member is assigned to your booking, but there is no live guide walking with you.

“Real history, a mist while in Nessebar. I booked again from this operator and they fully delivered everything needed. Very handy and useful!”

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13.Self-guided Tour in the Museum of Socialist Art

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 4 reviews · from $8

Explore Sofia’s Museum of Socialist Art at your own pace with a personalized e-guide loaded onto your devices. See more than 70 socialist sculptures, political art, archival footage, and exhibition grounds. The $8.33 guide fee does not include museum admission, which is paid on site.

“No recomiendo para nada esta "Guia" ya que se trata de un PDF de 2 hojas y media”

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14.Self-Guided Off the Beaten Track Tour in Nessebar

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 3 reviews · 2 to 3 hours (approx.) · from $35

Follow an English e-guide through Nessebar’s Old Town, from St Stephens Church and the Archaeological Museum to ancient churches, the St Nicolas Statue, and the Old Fountain. You get maps, audio commentary, and local tips, then explore at your own pace. The route lasts about 2 to 3 hours and ends where it begins.

“The audio was well planned and descriptive. The locations were easy to find and follow along with the guide. The cobblestone streets were usually easy to walk upon, but areas needed extra caution, which is to be expected in such a timeless place. There is much to see and a great atmosphere about Old Town. Definitely take the time to go into the Archaeological Museum. The displays are good and different from the guide, which gives added dimension, but the ticket is also good for Saint Stephens!”

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15.Plovdiv Roman Sights Self-Guided

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 3 reviews · from $22

Follow a personalized digital route through Plovdiv’s Roman sights, including the Ancient Theatre, Ancient Stadium, and Old Town. You receive audio commentary in English, Russian, or Bulgarian, plus one support contact for help. Plan for one to six hours, with entrance fees paid separately.

“La majeure partie du stade antique qui date du deuxième siècle estmalheureusement enfoui sous la rue piétonne. Mais il y a une maquette qui donne une idée de ce qu’il a été : ensemble impressionnant 290 m de long. On peut accéder au début des ruines par un escalier.”

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