Koprivshtitsa & Plovdiv Private Tour from Sofia: 2 Towns

Two centuries of Bulgarian history in one full day: a 19th-century mountain town and an ancient Roman city

A 10-hour private tour from Sofia combines Koprivshtitsa, a 19th-century revival town, and Plovdiv, Bulgaria's second-largest city and 2019 European Capital of Culture, with stops at the Roman Theater and Old Town. Hotel pickup and entrance fees to most sights are included. You choose between traveling with a live English-speaking guide or using a self-guided e-guide with sight information. Children from age 11 are welcome.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each

1. Koprivshtitsa2h
2. Plovdiv Old Town1h · entry included
3. Plovdiv Roman Theater20m · entry included

Tour Koprivshtitsa and Plovdiv from Sofia

• Pick up from Sofia
• Visit Koprivshtitsa town
• Explore main sights in Koprivshtitsa
• Travel to Plovdiv
• Visit Plovdiv Old Town
• See Plovdiv Roman Theater
• Explore other top sights in Plovdiv
• Return to Sofia
• Drop off at starting location

The experience

The route covers roughly 150 kilometers round-trip from Sofia, splitting the day between two distinct landscapes. Koprivshtitsa sits in the Sredna Gora mountains, a town that became a symbol of Bulgarian national revival in the 1800s: its steep streets lined with restored houses painted in jewel tones, many now museums and galleries. From there the tour descends to Plovdiv, Bulgaria's second city, where the Roman Theater still hosts performances and the Old Town's narrow lanes climb between 15th-century Ottoman houses and earlier Byzantine remains. The guide (if you choose the privately-guided option) shapes the pace around your interests rather than a fixed schedule.

Transportation includes a vehicle with air conditioning and hotel pickup from Sofia in the morning, with drop-off back at your hotel at the end of the day. Entrance fees to most of the sights are covered. If you book the self-guided version, you receive an e-guide with information about each stop, letting you move through the towns on your own rhythm. Comfortable walking shoes matter: both towns involve steep, uneven streets and cobblestones.

The 10-hour span means an early start and a late return, but it avoids splitting the two towns across separate days. The combination works because Koprivshtitsa's compact size and Plovdiv's layered history each take roughly half the day, and the drive between them breaks up the walking.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup and drop-off from Sofia.
• transportation in an air-conditioned vehicle.
• entrance fees to most sights.
• a live English-speaking guide (if you choose the privately-guided option) or a self-guided e-guide with sight information for all stops.

Options for this experience

2 options

Self-guidedGuide in English · 08:30Logistics and transport are handled by us.

Privately-guidedGuide in English · 08:30All-inclusive: bookings for up to 4 people use a standard 5-seat car, since one seat is taken by the driver. Bookings for 5 or more people use a van. Pickup is included.

You'll see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates and prices

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 08:30

Book up to1h before

AgesAdult (18 and older) · Child (11 to 17 years) · Under 11: can't be booked

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup is optional; you can also go straight to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.You can choose from 2 pickup points.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated 14 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effort

Operated by VisitBulgariaOn Bespoke Experiences

Is this one for you?Choose the privately-guided option if you want someone who knows both towns to adjust the route based on what interests you most. Pick self-guided if you prefer to move at your own pace and decide how long to spend at each stop without a schedule.

Traveler reviews

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (11 to 17 years). Children under 11 can't be included in the booking.

What is the Plovdiv Roman Theater actually like when you get there?

The Plovdiv Roman Theater is a 2nd-century structure still used for performances today, built into a hillside in the Old Town. It seats around 3,000 and remains one of Bulgaria's best-preserved Roman monuments, with views over the city from the upper tiers.

How much walking is involved in Koprivshtitsa and Plovdiv combined?

Both towns are built on steep terrain with narrow, uneven streets and cobblestones, so the day involves substantial walking uphill and downhill. The 10-hour duration includes travel time, but plan on several hours of active exploration across both sites.

Can I book this tour with a guide, or is it self-guided only?

You choose at checkout: the privately-guided option includes a live English-speaking guide who travels with you and shapes the pace to your interests. The self-guided option provides an e-guide with sight information so you explore at your own speed.

Does the tour include meals?

Meals and drinks are not included, so you'll need to budget for lunch and refreshments in Koprivshtitsa or Plovdiv during the day.

What's the difference between Koprivshtitsa and Plovdiv, why visit both?

Koprivshtitsa is a mountain town frozen in the 19th-century Bulgarian revival period, with restored houses, small museums, and steep streets. Plovdiv is an ancient city layered with Roman, Byzantine, and Ottoman history, centered on the Old Town and the still-functioning Roman Theater. Together they show Bulgaria's different historical eras in one day.