15 1-Day Tours in Bulgaria That Are Worth the Day

From Bucharest: Full-Day Trip to Bulgaria - Leaving Bucharest early by comfortable van

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 1,008 reviews · 12 hours · from $93Our pick

Review of the 12-hour Bucharest to Veliko Tarnovo tour, with Tsarevets Fortress, Arbanasi, border tips, costs, and practical advice.

“It was an amazing day trip. Loved seeing the fortress and church (that wasn’t a church) and the views from up there were absolutely beautiful!!! Narcis was wonderful and full of info. The restaurant and recommendations were right on point. I wanted to visit Bulgaria but didn’t want to have to fly there because I’m limited with time so this tour was perfection!!!”

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1-Day Tours, Tour Reviews

From Bucharest: Small Group Day Trip to Medieval Bulgaria

2.Small Group Day Trip to Medieval Bulgaria

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

Review of the $87 Bucharest day trip to Bulgaria, with Ivanovo Rock Churches, Veliko Tarnovo, Tsarevets Fortress, and Arbanassi.

“Carmen is a great tour guide and cracks jokes everytime. The tour itself is just okay for me. I think the highlight would be the Tsarevets Fortress, but I think you will need more time to explore everything including the city center. It’s understandable though because we travelled far away so the time is a bit hectic, but if you have more time, I suggest to spend overnight in Veliko Tarnovo and you can still probably explore Arbanasi by foot (because during the tour we only passed by the village while riding in the van). And don’t forget to bring your passport ;)”

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1-Day Tours, Day Trips in Sofia, Sofia Tours, Tour Reviews

Plovdiv – Group Day Trip from Sofia

3.Group Day Trip from Sofia

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 304 reviews · 8 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $23Best value

Review of the Plovdiv day trip from Sofia, with Roman ruins, Revival houses, free time, transport advice, prices, and practical tips.

“Great day excurtion to Plovdiv, on time,informative guide, very interesting historical place to visit.”

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1-Day Tours, Day Trips in Sofia, Full-Day, Sofia Tours, Tour Reviews

Plovdiv and Koprivshtitsa Full-Day Trip

4.Plovdiv and Koprivshtitsa Full-Day Trip

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 177 reviews · 11 hours (approx.) · from $25

Review of a full-day Sofia trip to Plovdiv and Koprivshtitsa, with Roman ruins, revival-era homes, transport details, costs, and practical tips.

“Great day out, small number on tour, excellent guide Dafini, great resturant recommendations. Long day but worth it!”

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1-Day Tours, Tour Reviews, Veliko Tarnovo Day Trips

Day Trip to Bulgaria and Veliko Tarnovo from Bucharest

5.Day Trip to Bulgaria and Veliko Tarnovo from Bucharest

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 122 reviews · 12 hours · from $66

Review of a 12-hour Bucharest day trip to Bulgaria, with Basarbovo Monastery, Veliko Tarnovo, Arbanasi, costs, timing, and practical tips.

“Was really good. Gabriel the guide and driver was very professional, friendly and easy to talk to, he gave us few tips as well best places to visit and eat. Definitely recommend the trip and thanks Gabriel for the pleasant day.”

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1-Day Tours, Boyana Church Tours, Day Trips in Sofia, Private, Rila Monastery Tours, Sofia Tours, Tour Reviews

Private Day Trip to Boyana Church and Rila Monastery

6.Private Day Trip to Boyana Church and Rila Monastery

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 108 reviews · 8 hours (approx.) · from $194Top rated

Review of Sofia’s private day trip to Rila Monastery and Boyana Church, with pricing, itinerary, guide quality, practical tips, and honest drawbacks.

“The monastery is spectacular and the Boyana church was an interesting short stop. Our guide was knowledgeable and very friendly, and our driver was professional and friendly too.”

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1-Day Tours, Day Trips in Sofia, Rila Monastery Tours, Sofia Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours

Plovdiv and Rila Monastery tour in one day

7.Plovdiv and Rila Monastery tour in one day

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 87 reviews · 10 to 11 hours (approx.) · from $120

See Plovdiv and Rila Monastery from Sofia in one long day, with transfers, English guidance, small groups, and practical tips.

“This was a long day, but it was worth the time and money. Our driver/host Apostolos inew a lot about the country and kept us on track while ensuring we had opportunity to stop for food and bathroom. We very much enjoyed the 2hr walking free tour (tip based) that Apostolos arranged for us( we learned a lot about Plovdiv from our very knowledgeable local tour guide. We had enough time at the Rila Monastery to walked around and admire the architecture and religious wealth. We wished that we had received the audio tour hyperlink from the company that runs the tour one day in advance, as we had planned…”

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1-Day Tours, Day Trips in Sofia, Rila Monastery Tours, Sofia Tours, Tour Reviews

From Sofia: Rila Monastery and Plovdiv Day Trip

8.Rila Monastery and Plovdiv Day Trip

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 52 reviews · 12 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $72

Review of Sofia's Rila Monastery and Plovdiv day trip, with practical advice on timing, transport, cost, dress code, and what to expect.

“Excellent day to see Rila Monastery and Bulgaria’s second largest city - Plovdiv. Phillip, our host was clear with his communication and the two locations we visited were really interesting. I would highly recommend.”

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1-Day Tours, Boyana Church Tours, Day Trips in Sofia, Guided, Rila Monastery Tours, Self-Guided Tours, Sofia Tours, Tour Reviews

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

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

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 41 reviews · 8 hours (approx.) · from $37

Visit Boyana Church and Rila Monastery from Sofia on an 8-hour self-guided trip with transport, an audioguide, and free cancellation.

“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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1-Day Tours, Day Trips in Sofia, Sofia Tours, Tour Reviews

Day trip to Skopje and Matka Canyon from Sofia

10.Day trip to Skopje and Matka Canyon from Sofia

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 35 reviews · 12 hours (approx.) · from $174

See Skopje’s Old Bazaar, fortress, Stone Bridge, and Matka Canyon on a long but rewarding day trip from Sofia.

“Very interesting guide and the tour was even better than expected. The canyon was soo beautiful, photos can’t replicate it. Highly recommend this tour.”

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1-Day Tours, Day Trips in Sofia, Private, Sofia Tours, Tour Reviews

Private Day Trip to Plovdiv from Sofia

11.Private Day Trip to Plovdiv from Sofia

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 22 reviews · 8 hours (approx.) · from $199

Review of a private Sofia to Plovdiv day trip with hotel pickup, Wi-Fi, Roman ruins, Old Town walks, guide insight, and free time.

“Plovdiv is a fascinating place and Poli is an excellent guide (and driver). The tour duration was just about perfect. Poli did a good job helping us manage the heat on the hills of Plovdiv.”

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1-Day Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours

From Bucharest: Bulgaria 1-Day Tour

12.Bulgaria 1-Day Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 21 reviews · 12 hours · from $205

Review of a private Bucharest to Bulgaria day tour, with Basarbovo Monastery, Arbanasi, Veliko Tarnovo, guides, costs, and tips.

“Review: Our day trip to Bulgaria was absolutely amazing! We enjoyed every second of it, from exploring the stunning historical sites to indulging in the delicious local cuisine. The rich history and beautiful architecture made the experience truly unforgettable. The food was another highlight—fresh, flavorful, and a perfect representation of Bulgarian culture. Everything about the trip was well-organized, and we couldn’t have asked for a better way to experience Bulgaria in a day. Highly recommended!”

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1-Day Tours, Day Trips in Sofia, Ski & Snowboard Equipment Rental, Skiing, Sofia Tours, Tour Reviews

The Ski and Snowboard Day Trip from Sofia to Borovets. We Provide All You Need!

13.The Ski and Snowboard Day Trip from Sofia to Borovets. We Provide All You Need!

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 20 reviews · 10 hours (approx.) · from $299

Review of Sofia’s Borovets ski day trip, with gear, lift pass, transport, mountain views, costs, timing, and practical booking advice.

“Dear Waldorf DC Management - We want to commend the excellent service we received from everyone on the Waldorf staff as we celebrated the wedding of Joe and Amanda in May 2025. Everyone on the Waldorf staff was extremely professional and outstanding at their job. We obtained a few names to identify, but this list is not exclusive. Everyone who worked with us should be commended. Kalynne worked with us for months and provided insightful and experienced guidance throughout. The catering staff provided excellent service for the reception; we received many, many compliments on the excellent hors d’oeuvres and meal items and post-meal items. Then on Sunday morning in the…”

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1-Day Tours, Plovdiv Tours, Tour Reviews

Day trip to The Marvelous Bridges and the unique Rhodope cuisine

14.Day trip to The Marvelous Bridges and the unique Rhodope cuisine

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 15 reviews · 9 hours (approx.) · from $95

Review of a Plovdiv day trip to the Marvelous Bridges, Kosovo village, Rhodope cuisine, and Bachkovo Monastery.

“Ivo is supremely knowledgeable and enthusiastic about the history and culture of Bulgaria, giving us a great background to the trip. He drove us safely in the comfortable air conditioned vehicle. The ‘bridges’ are well worth the 2hr winding, scenic drive. Wear shoes with good grip as paths are steep & slippery in places. You won’t be walking far from the vehicle & can opt out of any paths you’re not happy about. Absolutely magical place! Next, to interesting old village then delicious food stop (ask Ivo for recommendations). Last stop at the ornate monastery- more great stories, facts and descriptions from Ivo! Wonderful, un-hurried, memorable day. Thank you from…”

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