Things to do in Bulgaria
The unmissables
Most booked
Rila Monastery & Boyana Church Tour: Medieval Frescoes★ 4.64 (1,147) · 8h
Top rated
Communist Walking Tour Sofia: 3 hours through Cold War history★ 4.88 (770) · 3h
Best value
Sofia: Rila Monastery & Boyana Church UNESCO Day Trip★ 4.60 (987) · 8h
Recommended (7)
Sofia Highlights Walking Tour: 20 landmarks in 2 hours★ 4.94 (730) · 2hUS$ 18.73View ›
Sofia: Museum of Illusions Ticket & Interactive Exhibits★ 4.86 (729) · 1h–2hUS$ 16.39View ›
Sofia Airport Transfer & Bulgaria: Sedan, Minivan & Van★ 4.54 (709) · 1h–10hUS$ 351View ›
Sofia: Bulgarian Wine Tasting & Local Cheeses★ 4.92 (580) · 1hUS$ 35View ›
Skopje Day Trip from Sofia: Old Bazaar, Fortress & Mother Teresa★ 4.68 (486) · 12hUS$ 116View ›
Plovdiv Day Trip from Sofia: Roman Theatre & Old Town★ 4.52 (407) · 9hUS$ 22View ›
Sofia to Rila Monastery & 7 Rila Lakes Day Trip Shuttle★ 4.76 (332) · 13hUS$ 55View ›Top rated (10)
Sofia: Private Walking Tour with Roman Ruins & Market HallYou’ll walk ancient Roman streets in Sofia, taste local pastries at the Market Hall, and pause beneath cathedral domes—all with stories from your private guide. Expect sensory surprises: echoes in old churches, fresh bread smells, and lively market chatter. This tour is more about feeling Sofia than just seeing it.
Sofia Small Group City Tour: 2 Hours, 3 Churches & Hidden SitesA 2-hour guided city tour of Sofia with a small group (up to 10 people) visiting Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, Saint Sofia Basilica and Saint George Rotunda, plus the old Parliament, Royal residence, National theater, Roman remains and other landmarks in the city center. The guide shares lesser-known facts: why Alexander Nevsky Cathedral was built, Constantine's connection to Sofia, who invented the Cyrillic alphabet, and what happened to Bulgaria's last royal family. A short café stop is included mid-tour, and afterward you receive recommendations for traditional restaurants and museums.Is it for me?Book the shared option if you want to meet other travelers and keep the cost down; book the private option if you'd rather have the guide's full attention and set your own pace through the city's stories.
Bulgaria: Private ski lesson with local guideYou’ll learn to ski (or get better) in Bulgaria’s relaxed atmosphere, guided by a local who knows every shortcut and trick on the slopes. Expect personal tips, patient instruction at your pace, and plenty of laughs along the way — plus small details you’ll remember long after you leave.
Plovdiv, Asen's Fortress & Bachkovo Monastery Day Trip from SofiaYou're picked up from your Sofia hotel and driven to Plovdiv, where you walk the Roman Theatre and Old Town before lunch. Then it's on to Asen's Fortress, perched on a cliff with views across the Rodopi Mountains, followed by Bachkovo Monastery, Bulgaria's second-largest. Your guide handles the narrative and logistics; all transport, entry fees and a traditional meal are included. The whole day runs about nine hours.Is it for me?Right for travelers based in Sofia who want to see multiple historical sites in one day without arranging their own transport or buying tickets separately — the small group format and fixed itinerary mean you move through Plovdiv, the fortress and the monastery at a pace that lets you absorb each one instead of rushing between them.
Sofia: Private Day Trip Rila Monastery & Boyana ChurchYou’ll slip into centuries-old silence at Rila Monastery, wander beneath the ancient trees of Boyana Church, and share stories with your private guide along winding mountain roads. With flexible stops and local lunch included, this day trip from Sofia feels both personal and quietly moving—something you’ll carry home long after.
Lovech, Devetaki Cave & Krushuna Waterfalls Day Trip from SofiaYou’ll wander Lovech’s winding streets and cross its famous covered bridge before climbing up to Hisarya Fortress for city views. Taste traditional Bulgarian food in Varosha Quarter with locals nearby, then stand inside Devetaki Cave where ancient echoes linger. Finish at Krushuna Waterfalls—blue cascades hidden by forest—before heading back to Sofia with new stories tucked away.
Guided Walking Tour of Sofia: Three Churches & Roman RemainsA guided walking tour of central Sofia with a live English-speaking guide covering ten landmarks across two hours, including free entry to Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, Saint Sofia Basilica and Saint George Rotunda. The tour runs as a private experience if you're the only booking for your date and time, which is typical. Groups stay under ten people.Is it for me?Start at Alexander Nevsky Cathedral in the city center, so you don't need a car or transport to reach the meeting point — the walk unfolds from there through Sofia's landmarks, ending at Vitosha Boulevard. If you're staying elsewhere in the city or arriving without a vehicle, this route keeps you on foot the whole time.
Bulgaria: 4x4 Mountain Day Tour, Village BBQ & Honey TastingYou’ll ride off-road by 4x4 through Bulgaria’s wild hills, try archery at Walnut Ranch near Tunkovo village, climb Biberna mountain for local stories and drinks, then share a traditional BBQ lunch with homemade honey in Poroy village. It’s not polished or fancy — just real moments with locals and honest flavors you’ll remember long after.
Bansko: Ski & Snowboard Rental with Premium BrandsYou arrive without equipment and leave the rental shop fitted and ready to ski or ride. The 10am fitting window gives you time to settle in, and the daily servicing means your gear is reliable from the first run. Return the equipment at the end of the day to the shop or your accommodation.Is it for me?Right for travelers flying in without gear or those who don't want to travel with skis and boards. Plan for a 10am arrival at the shop for fitting, which leaves the rest of the morning and full afternoon on the slope.
Nis Day Trip from Sofia: Skull Tower, Fortress & Local LunchYou’ll cross from Sofia into Serbia for a full day exploring Nis with a local guide—see Medijana’s Roman ruins (from outside), stand inside Skull Tower’s haunting walls, visit a preserved WWII camp, walk through Ottoman fortress gates, and finish with real Serbian food before heading home feeling both heavier and strangely hopeful.
Lowest price (10)
Sofia Walking Tour: 20+ Landmarks with Audio GuideA guided walking tour of Sofia covering more than 20 cultural landmarks and historical sites, starting at Ivan Vazov National Theatre and ending at the Presidency. You receive an audio guide and headphones in one of eight languages, allowing you to move freely through the city center, enter temples, and photograph without standing close to the guide. The tour runs 2 to 3 hours and suits all fitness levels.Is it for me?Book this tour if you want to move through Sofia's landmarks on your own schedule without organizing transport or entry tickets separately—the audio guide frees you from staying close to the group, so you can photograph, linger, or move ahead as the city interests you.
Plovdiv & Koprivshtitsa Day Trip from Sofia with Walking ToursYou’ll start your day with a local guide in Plovdiv’s winding old town streets before tasting lunch among Roman ruins. Then ride through rose valleys to Koprivshtitsa for stories of revolution and colorful mansions. There’s time for wandering and small discoveries—the kind that stick with you long after you’re home.
Sofia: Private Walking Tour & Alexander Nevsky CathedralYou walk through Sofia's historical center with a private guide for 2-4 hours, visiting the St. George Rotunda, Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, and Amphitheater of Serdica among other major sights. The guide handles the route and context; you handle the pace. Includes professional guide and e-guide for the full itinerary, suitable for all fitness levels, and children are welcome with an adult.Is it for me?Pick this if you want to understand Sofia's layout and history without arranging separate tickets or transport — the private guide and fixed route do that work for you in one afternoon.
Sofia: Rila Monastery Day Trip with Extended Free TimeYou get a guided introduction to Rila Monastery's 1,000-year history, then hours of unscheduled time to explore the main church, optional museums, hiking trails, and a traditional lunch at your own pace. Round-trip transport from Sofia is included, with either a live guide or self-guided audio app, and you return to your starting point by late afternoon.Is it for me?Pick this if you want to see Rila Monastery without the standard tour rush — the extended free time is what lets you actually sit with the frescoes, explore at your own pace, and eat lunch without watching the clock.
Rila Monastery & St. Ivan Cave Day Trip from SofiaYou depart Sofia at 9am and spend the day at two sites: the Rila Monastery (a 10th-century UNESCO complex at high elevation with guided or audio-guided access) and the Cave of Saint Ivan Rilski (a sacred site with a holy spring, reached by a forest walk). Transport, entry fees, and a professional guide or audio app are included; you return to Sofia around 5pm.Is it for me?Book this if you want to see Bulgaria's most important monastery and a sacred mountain cave without arranging your own transport, entry tickets, or navigation — the fixed schedule and included guide mean you spend the day looking instead of planning.
Veliko Tarnovo & Arbanassi Day Trip: Medieval Capital TourA full-day small-group tour from Sofia to Veliko Tarnovo and Arbanassi with a professional English-speaking guide, air-conditioned minivan transport, and stops at the medieval Tsarevets fortress, the craftsmen's quarter, and the 17th-century Church of the Nativity. Minimum age is 6 years; entrance fees to the sites are not included. The tour departs at 7am and returns around 7:30pm.Is it for me?Book this tour if you want to see two distinct periods of Bulgarian history—medieval and early modern—without arranging your own transport or navigating between sites. The small-group format and live guide mean you get the stories behind the architecture instead of just walking through it alone; the fixed schedule also means the full day holds together without you building it.
Sofia Party Pub Crawl: 4 bars, club & shots includedA Sofia pub crawl tour visits 4 of the city's best bars plus a club, with a live English-speaking guide leading the group through 4 hours of stops. Every bar round includes a free shot; club entry and a discount card for other Sofia activities are included. Minimum age is 18; dress code is presentable for a club (no tank tops or sweatpants), and you'll need an ID at the door.Is it for me?Choose the public tour if you want to meet other travelers and keep costs down, or book the private option if you're bringing your own group and want the guide's attention on just your party.
Sofia Airport to Hotel Transfer: Private & Fixed PriceYou get a named driver waiting at arrivals with a sign, a private air-conditioned vehicle with WiFi, and a fixed price agreed before you travel. The driver helps with luggage at both ends, and you avoid the taxi queue, surge pricing, and curb-side negotiation. Book in advance and your arrival in Sofia is handled.Is it for me?Book this if you land with luggage and want to skip the taxi queue and curb-side negotiation — the fixed price and named driver mean your arrival in Sofia is settled before you land.
Sofia: Pub Crawl 5 Bars & Club with Free Drinks & EntryYou visit five hidden bars across Sofia in one night, with free beer or wine at the first stop, welcome shots at alternating venues, and a complimentary traditional rakia drink. Entry is free everywhere, including the final club, and you move between stops on foot with a guide who knows the history of each place. The pace stays relaxed—no games, no pressure—so you can talk to other travelers and actually see how locals spend their evenings.Is it for me?Book this if you want to see Sofia's actual nightlife without arranging your own bar crawl, paying cover charges, or navigating the city alone—the fixed route and included drinks and entry mean you show up and the night is already planned.
Rila Monastery Day Trip from Sofia: Guided Tour & Mountain MinibusYou depart Sofia at 9am by air-conditioned minibus and travel 120 kilometers south into the Rila Mountains to reach the UNESCO-listed monastery. A professional guide or audio guide leads you through the frescoed medieval church and museum, then you explore freely before returning around 5pm. Transport, parking, and guide are included; monastery entry is separate.Is it for me?Book this if you want to see one of Bulgaria's most important medieval sites without arranging your own transport or timing—the fixed 9am departure and 5pm return mean the whole day is already structured, and the minibus handles the mountain drive both ways.
