Bulgaria · TOUR REVIEWS

The 15 Best Tours in Bulgaria

298 tours  ·  from $7

A long weekend in Sofia or two weeks end to end, the problem is the same: mountains on one side, coast on the other, one itinerary. The 15 below are the days worth the slot, priced and timed, with the rest of the catalogue underneath.

From Bucharest: Full-Day Trip to Bulgaria - The early pickup and the long road south
1-Day Tours, Full-Day, Tour Reviews

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

Cross from Bucharest into Bulgaria with an English-speaking guide, then explore Ruse or Basarabov Monastery, Arbanasi Village, Tsarevets Fortress, and Veliko Tarnovo. Expect a long but well-paced day in a small van, with free time for lunch and walking. Guides such as Narcis and Lucian are known for clear history, humor, and helpful local advice.

“I enjoyed tge guides knowledge of the area & learning the rich history of this area as well.”

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Rila Monastery and Boyana Church Full-Day Tour - The morning departure from central Sofia
Boyana Church Tours, Full-Day, Monastery Tours, Rila Monastery Tours, Sofia Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours

Rila Monastery and Boyana Church Full-Day Tour

2.Rila Monastery and Boyana Church Full-Day Tour

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

Travel from central Sofia to Rila Monastery and UNESCO-listed Boyana Church in about eight hours. Expect an English-speaking guide or driver-guide, a 40-minute monastery tour, free time for lunch and museums, and only 10 minutes inside Boyana Church. Bring cash, food, and clothing that covers shoulders and knees.

“Excellent guide Maria Well organised Rila Monastery is an amazing place unlike anything I’ve seen before Try something from the bakery Would recommend a visit”

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Sofia Escape Room - Teorema Rooms - Stop two: Atlantis and its wider quest format
Sofia Tours, Tour Reviews

Sofia Escape Room – Teorema Rooms

3.Sofia Escape Room – Teorema Rooms

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 895 reviews · 1 hour 15 minutes (approx.) · from $37Top rated

At Teorema Rooms in central Sofia, choose between TNT Bank Robbery, a 60-minute classic escape room, and Atlantis, a newer quest with escape-room puzzles and adventure elements. Your private group of 2 to 7 gets an English-language experience, with staff support and a meeting point on ul. Krakra 11.

“Amazing experience. Had a fun and interesting time in TNT room. It was the higlight of our Trip. Maya is super host. 5/5.”

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From Sofia: Rila Monastery & Boyana Church Day Tour - Boyana Church and its early Renaissance-style frescoes
Boyana Church Tours, Monastery Tours, Rila Monastery Tours, Sofia Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours

From Sofia: Rila Monastery & Boyana Church Day Tour

4.From Sofia: Rila Monastery & Boyana Church Day Tour

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

Travel by air-conditioned minibus from central Sofia to Boyana Church and Rila Monastery. You’ll see medieval frescoes, carved icons, mountain scenery, and have free time to explore. Guides such as Lubo and Liubomir are often praised for clear historical commentary. Boyana Church and the monastery museum cost extra.

“We had a good time travelling with Maksim who was a professional and knowledgeable tourguide. We learned a lot from him”

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Communist Walking Tour of Sofia - St. Petka and religion under communism
Communist Heritage Tours, Sofia Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours, Walking Tours, Walking Tours in Sofia

Communist Walking Tour of Sofia

5.Communist Walking Tour of Sofia

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

Spend about three hours walking from Sofia’s Palace of Justice to the National Palace of Culture and a piece of the Berlin Wall. Guides such as Niki, Nikola, Vasko, Martin, and Stefan explain communist ideology, daily life, political change, and the stories behind Sofia’s monuments. Expect a thoughtful, sometimes personal history lesson with plenty of walking.

“I am unfortunately terrible with names, but our guide was very patient and knowledgeable, answering a seemingly never ending flood of questions. It began to storm during our tour and he let us take a short break in a nearby bar/Cafe to wait out the rain but then back to it. His mixture of personal experience, history, and historic knowledge had forever turned me on to taking historical tours wherever I go.”

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Admission Ticket to the Museum of Illusions in Sofia - How long you should allow
Museums, Sofia Tours, Tickets, Tour Reviews

Admission Ticket to the Museum of Illusions in Sofia

6.Admission Ticket to the Museum of Illusions in Sofia

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 659 reviews · 1 to 2 hours (approx.) · from $17Best value

Spend about one to two hours at Sofia’s 400-square-meter Museum of Illusions, where optical tricks, unusual rooms, inventions, and photo setups turn perception into play. Friendly staff explain how the exhibits work. The visit suits families, couples, friends, and curious adults, though most people finish in about an hour.

“The opportunity to take some really illusionary photos, great fun and staff were super-helpful, thank you :-)”

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Wine Tasting in Heart of Sofia - How the one-hour tasting unfolds
Food & Drink, Food and Drink Tours in Sofia, Sofia Tours, Tour Reviews, Wine Tours, Wine Tours in Sofia

Wine Tasting in Heart of Sofia

7.Wine Tasting in Heart of Sofia

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 545 reviews · 1 hour (approx.) · from $36

Meet Kalin at Tempus Vini in central Sofia for a one-hour tasting of five Bulgarian grape varieties: Misket, Melnik, Mavrud, Gumza, and Rubin. He explains wine regions, local history, and modern producers while serving Bulgarian cheeses and bread. Some sessions include six wines or bottles made by Kalin himself.

“It was a great experience learning about different wine regions in Bulgaria. Our host was very knowledgeable and well-informed about wine, and he was also very helpful with our questions and any additional information.”

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Sofia Highlights 2 Hour Sightseeing Walking Tour - Russian Church, royal Sofia, and yellow cobblestones
2-Hour Experiences, Sofia Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours, Walking Tours, Walking Tours in Sofia

Sofia Highlights 2 Hour Sightseeing Walking Tour

8.Sofia Highlights 2 Hour Sightseeing Walking Tour

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

Meet your English-speaking guide at Alexander Nevsky Cathedral for a brisk two-hour walk through Sofia’s churches, Roman ruins, royal buildings, mineral springs, and communist-era Largo. Guide Nikola is specifically praised for his friendly manner and clear answers. The tour ends beside Vitosha Boulevard, handy for lunch and more exploring.

“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 - Crossing the border into North Macedonia
North Macedonia Day Trips, Sofia Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours

Day tour to Skopje, North Macedonia – Small Group

9.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 up to 15, with hotel pickup, an English-speaking Bulgarian guide, and a local Macedonian guide. Expect a four-hour drive each way, a guided walk through Skopje’s Old Bazaar, fortress, Stone Bridge, Macedonia Square, and Mother Teresa Memorial, plus about two hours for lunch and independent exploring.

“This was a very enjoyable day to Skopje where we had 4+ hours to go on a guided tour of the city, looking at all the iconic statues and get a lot of history. A highlight was visiting Mother Teresa’s museum. We enjoyed the marketplace and our pork kabobs lunch. Our driver was exceptionally personable and a pleasure to be around. Highly recommend!”

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Transfer services - Key points to know before booking
Private Drivers, Sofia Tours, Tour Reviews

Transfer services

10.Transfer services

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 430 reviews · from $347

Arrange a private transfer from Sofia to destinations across Bulgaria or major airports in Turkey, Romania, and Greece. Choose a sedan, minivan, or nine-seat van, then confirm your pickup details and vehicle needs through Top Rent A Car. Professional drivers handle the road while you ride in a clean, practical vehicle.

“The company is always very efficient and professional. Cars are clean and safe. They also give discount cards for gas.”

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From Bucharest: Small Group Day Trip to Medieval Bulgaria - Ivanovo’s churches cut into the cliffs
1-Day Tours, Tour Reviews

From Bucharest: Small Group Day Trip to Medieval Bulgaria

11.From Bucharest: Small Group Day Trip to Medieval Bulgaria

★★★★★★★★★★4.2 · 382 reviews · 12 hours · from $87

Travel from Bucharest into Bulgaria with an English-speaking guide such as Pavel, Carmen, Tudor, or Marius. Visit Ivanovo’s UNESCO rock churches, Tsarevets Fortress, Veliko Tarnovo, Samovodene Artisans Street, and Arbanassi. The $87 price covers transport, hotel pickup, and a private licensed guide, but not meals or entry tickets.

“very sunny day , warm after morning, easy going driver and our guide”

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Plovdiv - Group Day Trip from Sofia - Meeting at Vasil Levski Monument at 8:40am
1-Day Tours, Sofia Tours, Tour Reviews

Plovdiv – Group Day Trip from Sofia

12.Plovdiv – Group Day Trip from Sofia

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 304 reviews · 8 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $22

Travel from Sofia to Plovdiv by shuttle bus for a guided walk through the Roman Theater, Roman Stadium, pedestrian center, and colorful Revival-era Old Town. You get about two hours with a guide, then roughly two hours to eat and explore alone. Past guides have included Tuni, Sonya, Maria, Diana, Raliza, and Dmitri.

“The tour was a joke. Why didn’t City Tour notify us in advance that they were not providing a guide for the tour. We could have cancelled and gone with another agent. Secondly, why were we crammed in a mini van with the rudest of drivers who made it clear from the word go that he didn’t want to be there. He was abrupt and ignored us completely. Thirdly, we were 8 passengers on the tour all of whom spoke English so why was the guide cancelled . This tour was the highlight of our entire trip. Before the tour, Three local guides indicated that the Provdiv tour was the…”

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Sofia Pub Crawl Tour of The Hidden Unique Bars - The first bar: an easy start with Bulgarian rakia
Drinking Tours, Nightlife, Pub Crawls, Sofia Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours

Sofia Pub Crawl Tour of The Hidden Unique Bars

13.Sofia Pub Crawl Tour of The Hidden Unique Bars

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 284 reviews · 4 to 5 hours (approx.) · from $24

Start at Crystal Garden at 9 pm for a 4 to 5-hour crawl through about five Sofia bars and clubs. You get a beer or wine, rakia, welcome shots, and free entry. Guides such as Damien, Mirela, Afrodita, and Jan lead the evening, which suits social solo visitors and small groups.

“Super fun night and well organised. Recommend this to anyone wanting to see some hidden gems and meet new people.”

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Rila Monastery and 7 Rila Lakes Self-Guided Shared Trip from Sofia - Reaching the Seven Rila Lakes by chairlift
Monastery Tours, Rila Monastery Tours, Self-Guided Tours, Seven Rila Lakes Tours, Sofia Tours, Tour Reviews

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

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

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

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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Plovdiv Small Group Full Day Guided Tour from Sofia - The two-hour ride from central Sofia
Full-Day, Guided, Sofia Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours

Plovdiv Small Group Full Day Guided Tour from Sofia

15.Plovdiv Small Group Full Day Guided Tour from Sofia

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

Travel by air-conditioned minibus from central Sofia to Plovdiv, then walk the Old Town with an English-speaking guide such as Hristo, Martin, Maria, or Todor. See the Ancient Theatre, Roman Stadium, and 19th-century homes, followed by about 90 minutes for lunch, shopping, museums, or Kapana. Airport pickups can add time.

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

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New in Tour Reviews

★ 4.0Self-guided Tour in Tsarevets FortressFrom $119 reviews
★ 5.0Monasteries and Waterfalls Tour from Veliko Tarnovo8 reviews
★ 5.0Wine Experience & Tasting HubFrom $176 reviews
★ 5.0Varna Exquisite Wine TastingFrom $695 reviews
★ 5.0Full-Day Private Sightseeing Tour to the North of VarnaFrom $2594 reviews
★ 4.5Infinity spaFrom $754 reviews
★ 5.0Guided Nessebar Sightseeing Tour with Pick UpFrom $1146 reviews
★ 5.0Private Cape Kaliakra & the Balchik Botanical Gardens from VarnaFrom $1143 reviews
★ 5.0The Ultimate Private Varna Walking, Culture & Wine Tasting TourFrom $868 reviews
★ 4.5Superb Jeep Safari from Sunny beach, Nessebar, St. Vlas & PomorieFrom $19113 reviews
★ 4.0Private Varna Gourmet Tour with Superb Wine TastingFrom $818 reviews
★ 5.0Private Exploration: French Influence in Varna + Walking + Wine tasting tourFrom $538 reviews
★ 5.0E-Motorcycle Tour in Old Rock Monastery and Old Roman FortressFrom $12610 reviews
★ 4.515 Min Of Go KartingFrom $234 reviews
★ 4.5Private Winter Day Trip to the Rila MountainFrom $573 reviews

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Explore Bulgaria

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Monasteries

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The mountains

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On snow

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Table and water

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