Bulgaria · TOURS

The 15 Best Tours & Day Trips in Bulgaria

139 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.

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

1.Rila Monastery and Boyana Church Full-Day Tour

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

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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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

2.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

3.Communist Walking Tour of Sofia

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

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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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

4.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

5.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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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

6.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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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

7.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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Tour to Lovech, Devetaki cave & Krushuna waterfalls - Krushuna Waterfalls and the seasonal question
Cave Tours, Sofia Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours, Waterfall Tours

Tour to Lovech, Devetaki cave & Krushuna waterfalls

8.Tour to Lovech, Devetaki cave & Krushuna waterfalls

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 167 reviews · 10 hours (approx.) · from $114

Travel from Sofia into northern Bulgaria for Devetaki Cave, Krushuna Waterfalls, and historic Lovech. Your English-speaking guide handles the long drive, local history, and timing, with guides such as Ivo, Laura, Daniel, and Theodor among those used for this tour. Expect about 10 hours, moderate walking, slippery steps, and a Bulgarian lunch at your own cost.

“Good to be picked up from hotel. Comfortable minibus, group size 5 adults. Circular walk to waterfall. Scenic, but could get very crowded. Quite a lot of walking and many slippery steps throughout the whole trip. We visited several caves all with different features. Zero accessibility if you have a mobility impairment. A full day trip. Bring plenty of water. On our trip being driven at 150km/hr on several occasions was interesting, as was the driver not using windscreen wipers for a while.”

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7 Rila Lakes and Rila Monastery Tour - The Seven Rila Lakes: beautiful, physical, and weather dependent
Monastery Tours, Rila Monastery Tours, Seven Rila Lakes Tours, Sofia Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours

7 Rila Lakes and Rila Monastery Tour

9.7 Rila Lakes and Rila Monastery Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 165 reviews · 10 to 11 hours (approx.) · from $71

Spend a full day from Sofia visiting the peaceful Rila Monastery and hiking toward the Seven Rila Lakes. Guides such as Alexander, Apostolos, and Stoyan have driven this route, but the mountain section is largely self-guided. The lift costs €15 extra, and snow, mud, storms, or poor visibility can change the plan.

“An overall great experience..!! A day away from the city and close to nature. A beautiful monastery in a green landscape. As for the 7 lakes, it's a stunning scenery with breathtaking views. It is recommended for everyone to visit it, either take the short route with fewer lakes or the long one with all 7 lakes.”

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Small group tour to Plovdiv, Asen's Fortress and Bachkovo Monastery - Plovdiv Old Town: Roman ruins and Revival houses
Bachkovo Monastery Tours, Castles and Fortresses, Castles and Fortresses in Sofia, Monastery Tours, Sofia Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours

Small group tour to Plovdiv, Asen’s Fortress and Bachkovo Monastery

10.Small group tour to Plovdiv, Asen’s Fortress and Bachkovo Monastery

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 164 reviews · 9 hours (approx.) · from $90

Travel from Sofia to three of Bulgaria’s finest cultural sights with a professional English-speaking guide. Walk Plovdiv’s Roman ruins and Old Town, see Asen’s Fortress above the Rodopi Mountains, and visit Bachkovo Monastery. Hotel pickup, transport, entrance fees, and drop-off are included. Guides such as Daniel, Teodor, Krisi, and Stanimira have earned especially strong praise.

“Daniel the tour guide was very good, very knowledgeable and informative. We like the small group ( total of 3). Thank you soo much!!!”

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Guided Walking Tour of Sofia - St. Sofia Church and early Christian foundations
Guided, Sofia Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours, Walking Tours, Walking Tours in Sofia

Guided Walking Tour of Sofia

11.Guided Walking Tour of Sofia

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 143 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $48

Walk Sofia’s central streets with an English-speaking guide such as Diana, Jivko, or Peter. In about two hours, you’ll enter Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, St. Sofia Church, and the Rotunda, while connecting Roman, Orthodox, Ottoman, and communist-era stories. Groups are advertised at up to 10 people.

“The guide Peter was very friendly and informative and would definitely book again the next time I come to Sofia. Pity I didn't have more time to be able to try other tours you offer.”

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Private city walking tour of Sofia - Saint Nedelia and the opening chapter
City Tours, Private, Sofia Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours, Walking Tours, Walking Tours in Sofia

Private city walking tour of Sofia

12.Private city walking tour of Sofia

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

Explore Sofia’s center privately with a certified English-speaking guide. See Saint Nedelia, Roman Serdika, the mosque, synagogue, Largo, Russian Church, and Alexander Nevsky Cathedral while hearing stories about Bulgaria’s faiths, rulers, wars, and politics. Guides such as Vasil and Mina are praised for clear storytelling and warm, personal attention.

“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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Day Tour to Nis, Serbia - Small group - Skull Tower, a powerful and unsettling memorial
Serbia Day Trips, Sofia Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours

Day Tour to Nis, Serbia – Small group

13.Day Tour to Nis, Serbia – Small group

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 130 reviews · 10 hours (approx.) · from $60

Travel from Sofia to Nis with a guide such as Ivan, Laura, Rosen, or Dmitr, depending on the date. Visit Medijana, Skull Tower, the Red Cross Nazi camp, and Nis Fortress, then enjoy free time for Serbian food and shopping. Pickup, transport, and admission are included.

“Wonderful experience. Our guide Iliaan was very knowledgeable and friendly. Our dtive to Nis was very comfortable.”

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Sofia Walking Private City Tour - Starting at St. Nedelya Cathedral
City Tours, Private, Sofia Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours, Walking Tours, Walking Tours in Sofia

Sofia Walking Private City Tour

14.Sofia Walking Private City Tour

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

Walk Sofia’s compact center with an English-speaking private guide such as Pavlina, Rumi, Nikolaj, or Angela. See Roman streets, St. Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, the Russian Church, mosque, synagogue, royal palace, and communist-era buildings. The tour takes about two to three hours, with hotel pickup available in the central area.

“Excellent and very pleasant tour guide. I would highly recommend her. She explained Sofia sites in detail”

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Full-day Nis and Serbian History Tour from Sofia - Mediana and the Roman world outside Niš
Full-Day, Historical Tours, Serbia Day Trips, Sofia Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours

Full-day Nis and Serbian History Tour from Sofia

15.Full-day Nis and Serbian History Tour from Sofia

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 90 reviews · 10 hours (approx.) · from $83

Spend about 10 hours crossing from Sofia into Serbia with an English-speaking driver-guide. Visit Mediana’s Roman mosaics, Skull Tower, the Red Cross concentration camp, and Nis Fortress, with free time for lunch and exploring. Guides such as Georgi, Michael, Ivan, and Stefan are praised for strong Balkan history and easy company. Border delays can reshape the day.

“It was a fantastic tour if you are interested in history. I Loved the stops we had, our guid was grat and the time I had in Nis to explore for my self was a good choice. Thank you for an amazing tour.”

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