Plovdiv, Asen's Fortress & Bachkovo Monastery Day Trip from Sofia

Three centuries of history in one day: Plovdiv's Roman ruins, a cliff-top fortress, and Bulgaria's second-largest monastery

You'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.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each

1. Plovdiv Old Town3h · entry included
2. Asen's Fortress30m · entry included
3. Bachkovo Monastery30m

Visit Plovdiv, Asen's Fortress, Bachkovo

• Pick up from Sofia hotel
• Drive to Plovdiv (1.5 hours)
• Visit Roman Theatre and Stadium
• Walk in Plovdiv Old Town
• Have traditional Bulgarian lunch
• Drive to Asen's Fortress (25 minutes)
• Explore Asen's Fortress
• Drive to Bachkovo Monastery
• Visit Bachkovo Monastery

The experience

The van picks you up from your hotel in central Sofia around 7 or 8 in the morning (the exact time depends on where you're staying), and heads south toward Plovdiv. The drive takes about an hour and a half, which gives you time to settle in and ask your guide questions about what you're about to see. Plovdiv itself is the oldest continuously inhabited city in Europe, and you'll feel that the moment you step into the Old Town. The Roman Theatre is still there, carved into the hillside, and you can walk through narrow cobblestone streets lined with Revival Period houses that have been turned into small museums. Your guide will point out the Roman Stadium too, and then you'll have lunch: traditional Bulgarian food, which matters because you'll need the energy for what comes next.

After lunch, it's about a 25-minute drive to Asen's Fortress, which sits on top of a cliff in the Rodopi Mountains roughly 20 kilometers from Plovdiv. The fortress is medieval and the views from up there are the kind that make you understand why someone built a fortress in that exact spot. You're not climbing for hours, it's a manageable walk up, but the elevation and the exposed stone mean you need to be reasonably fit. The guide will tell you the history as you go, and there's time to stand and look out over the valley.

The last stop is Bachkovo Monastery, which is the second-largest monastery in Bulgaria and dates back to the late 11th century. It was founded by a Georgian nobleman and has survived centuries of upheaval: the walls and the frescoes inside carry that weight. You'll spend time walking through the monastery grounds and the church, and then the drive back to Sofia takes a couple of hours. You'll be back at your hotel in the evening, tired but having seen three very different pieces of Bulgarian history in a single day.

What’s included

Your day includes hotel pickup and drop-off from a centrally located address in Sofia, transport by private vehicle, a professional guide throughout the tour, entry fees to all three sites, and a traditional Bulgarian lunch in Plovdiv.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 08:30

Book up to10h before

AgesAdult (12 and older) · Child (3 to 11 years) · Infant (under 3): free

GroupUp to 15

Live guideEnglish

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

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Moderate physical effortInfant seats availablePublic transport nearby

Operated by BulTrips

Is this one for you?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.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (3 to 11 years); Infant (under 3): free.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

How long is the drive from Sofia to Plovdiv?

Approximately one hour and a half.

What is included in the tour?

Hotel pickup and drop-off, transport by private vehicle, professional guide, all entry fees and taxes, and lunch.

Do I need to be very fit to do this tour?

You should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness. There is walking involved, including a climb up to Asen's Fortress.

What time does the tour start?

Pickup is in the morning from your centrally located hotel. The exact time depends on your accommodation.

Is lunch included?

Yes, traditional Bulgarian lunch is included after your time in Plovdiv.

How far is Asen's Fortress from Plovdiv?

About 20 kilometers, roughly a 25-minute drive.