The verdict
Our pick
Sofia: Rila Monastery & Boyana Church UNESCO Day Trip★ 4.60 (1,008) · 8h
Best value
Plovdiv Day Trip from Sofia: Roman Theatre & Old Town★ 4.51 (413) · 9h
Top rated
Plovdiv, Asen's Fortress & Bachkovo Monastery Day Trip from Sofia★ 4.83 (182) · 9h
The 12 best-value of 39 options, side by side
✓ 2026-09-29Real price per person across the 39 options: US$ 22–US$ 520 (median US$ 150). With an extra fee to pay on site: 6 of 39. With 100+ reviews: 11 of 39.
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Private experiences (10)
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.
Private Day Trip to Plovdiv from Sofia: 4,000 Years of HistoryA private day trip from Sofia to Plovdiv includes hotel pickup, an eight-hour sightseeing tour with an English-speaking driver-guide, and transportation by air-conditioned car. You walk the Old Town's Thracian, Roman and Bulgarian heritage sites—traditional Revival houses, a restored Roman theatre, early Christian mosaics and the remains of ancient fortified walls—with free time for lunch at a local restaurant. The operator uses eco-friendly vehicles (CNG or electric) to reduce air pollution.Is it for me?Book this trip if you're traveling as a couple or small group and want a private pace through Plovdiv's layers of history without coordinating transport from Sofia yourself. The driver handles navigation and timing, so you focus on the walk through Roman remains and Revival-era streets instead of logistics.
Private Day Trip to Plovdiv and Asen's Fortress from SofiaA private day trip from Sofia takes you 90 minutes south to Plovdiv, Bulgaria's second-largest city, for a 1.5-hour walking tour of its Roman Theater, 19th-century Revival old town, and early Christian mosaics, then into the Rodopi mountains to explore the medieval remains of Asen's Fortress and its panoramic overlook. Hotel pickup and drop-off, a professional driver-guide speaking English, and transport in an air-conditioned eco-friendly car are included; the full day runs nine hours.Is it for me?The guide speaks English throughout, so you follow the commentary without pauses or translation—ideal if you want the history explained as you move rather than reading it from a placard or app. The private format means the pace stays yours: if a site holds you longer, the schedule flexes without affecting other travelers.
Private Day Trip to Krushuna Waterfalls and Devetashka CaveThis private day trip takes you from your hotel to Krushuna Waterfalls and Devetashka cave near Bulgaria's Krushuna area, with a driver-guide, transportation in an eco-friendly car, and nine hours to move between the two sites at your own pace. Hotel pickup and drop-off are included; entrance fees and lunch are separate. The tour suits travelers who want the route and the guide without sharing the vehicle or the stops with other groups.Is it for me?Because this is a private tour, you set the rhythm at each stop instead of following a group schedule—ideal if you want to linger in the pools or take time exploring the cave without being hurried along. The driver-guide handles the route and the navigation, so you focus on the waterfalls and the cave instead of managing the day yourself.
Belogradchik Rocks and Fortress: Private Day Trip from SofiaThis private day trip from Sofia takes you to the Belogradchik Rocks, a 30-kilometer strip of limestone formations rising 200 meters high, and the medieval Belogradchik Fortress beside them. Hotel pickup and drop-off are included, along with a driver-guide who leads you through both sites. The tour runs 10 hours and travels by air-conditioned car, often an eco-friendly vehicle.Is it for me?Book this private tour if you want to move at your own pace without coordinating with other travelers — the driver-guide adjusts timing and focus to your interests, and the car waits while you explore. A moderate level of fitness helps, as you'll be walking among the rock formations and through the fortress on uneven ground.
Private Day Trip to Plovdiv and Bachkovo MonasteryA private day trip from your hotel to Plovdiv and Bachkovo Monastery pairs a two-hour guided walking tour of the old town with a visit to the 11th-century monastery famous for its icon of the Virgin Mary. Your driver and guide handle the full route; you walk the Roman Theater, the longest pedestrian street in Europe, and the Revival-era houses of the old town before heading south to the monastery in the afternoon. The tour runs nine hours total and travels by air-conditioned car.Is it for me?The nine-hour commitment means you need a full day free, but it also means you see both Plovdiv's urban history and the monastery's spiritual center without splitting the trip across two separate bookings or managing your own transport between them. The private guide and driver let you move at a steady pace through the old town's steep terrain without worrying about group timing or public transit schedules.
Rila Monastery & Stob Pyramids hike from Sofia: Private tourA private day trip from Sofia combines a moderate hike through the Stob Pyramids with a guided tour of Rila Monastery, Bulgaria's largest and most significant religious site. You'll spend about an hour hiking the rock formations, then 1–2 hours inside the monastery exploring 19th-century frescoes, the iconostasis and the cave of Saint John of Rila, with hotel pickup and drop-off included. The monastery museum entrance is optional at checkout.Is it for me?Choose this if you're combining monastery sightseeing with hiking through the Stob pyramids—the private car and guide let you set the pace between both stops rather than following a fixed group schedule.
Private Day Trip to Koprivshtitsa: 19th Century Town TourA private day trip to Koprivshtitsa, a small 19th century town in Central Bulgaria, with hotel pickup, a professional English-speaking guide and an eight-hour itinerary built around your pace. You explore house-museums from the National Revival Period, learn about the April Uprising from your guide, and choose when to stop for photos, shops or lunch at a traditional local restaurant. The car is eco-friendly—CNG or electric—and the driver waits while you linger.Is it for me?Book this tour if you are traveling as a couple, a small family or a group of friends who want to move through the town without a fixed schedule or other travelers tagging along. The private car means you set the rhythm—linger in a museum, browse a shop, rest on a bench—without holding anyone back or waiting for a group to regroup.
Plovdiv day trip from Sofia: Private car with wine tasting optionA private day trip from Sofia to Plovdiv with hotel pickup and drop-off, an audio-guided walk through the Old Town covering Roman, Byzantine, Ottoman and Revival Bulgarian architecture, and 4.5 hours free time to visit museums, shop or taste local wines at a recommended venue. The driver speaks English and the return arrives by 5:30 PM.Is it for me?The 8.5-hour round trip leaves your morning and evening free in Sofia, so it works if you want a full-day outing without an overnight stay. The audio guide means you explore at your own pace rather than following a group schedule, and the 4.5 free hours let you choose between museums, wine, lunch or simply wandering—no itinerary is locked in once you arrive.
Rila Mountain and Spa Day Trip from Sofia: Private PickupA private day trip from Sofia to Borovets in the Rila Mountains, with hotel pickup and an English-speaking guide. You spend the morning exploring the alpine resort—taking the gondola, walking through pine forests, or visiting the restored Tsari Mali Grad fortress nearby—then move to a thermal spa center in the afternoon to soak in warm mineral pools and saunas. The tour runs about nine hours and returns to Sofia between 5pm and 6pm.Is it for me?Book this tour if you're staying in Sofia without a car and want to reach the Rila Mountains and back in a single day—the pickup from your hotel and the fixed return time (5pm–6pm) mean you don't arrange transport or worry about timing the spa visit around a bus schedule.
Up to 2 hours (1)
Self-Guided Rila Monastery Tour from Sofia: Audio Guide & E-GuideA self-guided day trip to Rila Monastery from Sofia with an audio guide in English and a comprehensive electronic guide containing expert notes and historical context. You navigate at your own pace, spending as much time as you want at each section of the monastery and the surrounding Rila Mountains. The audio guide and e-guide are included; children from age 5 are welcome when accompanied by an adult.Is it for me?Book this if you're traveling without a car or staying in Sofia and want to explore Rila Monastery without joining a group—the audio and electronic guides give you the context and storytelling of a live guide while you move at your own pace and linger wherever you choose.
Half day and longer (25)
Skopje Day Trip from Sofia: Old Bazaar, Fortress & Mother TeresaYou’ll cross borders and cultures on this Skopje day trip from Sofia with two guides sharing different perspectives. Wander Ottoman-era streets in the Old Bazaar, climb up to the fortress for wide city views, and pause inside Mother Teresa’s Memorial House. Expect local flavors over lunch and moments that linger long after you return.
Sofia to Rila Monastery & 7 Rila Lakes Day Trip ShuttleYou’ll ride from Sofia into the mountains by shuttle, hike among the Seven Rila Lakes at your own pace, then explore Bulgaria’s famous Rila Monastery with time to linger over its frescoes. Expect moments of silence above alpine lakes and small surprises—like sharing snacks or catching pine on the breeze—that stay with you long after you’re back in town.
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: Rila Monastery & 7 Lakes Day Trip with PickupYou get hotel pickup in Sofia, a guided walk through Bulgaria's most famous monastery with its frescoed courtyards and Orthodox history, then a self-paced hike among seven glacial lakes in the Rila Mountains. The driver waits at the cable car station and brings you back to the city by evening. The whole day is 11 hours, and you need covered shoulders and knees for the monastery.Is it for me?Book this if you want to see Bulgaria's most famous monastery and alpine lakes without arranging transport, cable car tickets, or timing the day yourself—the fixed pickup and return schedule is what makes both stops fit into one day from Sofia.
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.
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.
Sofia: Seven Rila Lakes & Rila Monastery Day TripYou drive from Sofia early, take a chairlift to seven glacier lakes between 2,100 and 2,500 meters, hike a moderately steep circuit with views across the Rila range, then visit the UNESCO Rila Monastery with its Renaissance frescoes and vast courtyard. Transport, chairlift, and a professional guide or audio app are included; bring trekking boots, a packed lunch, and expect to return by evening.Is it for me?Book this if you want Bulgaria's two major highlights — mountain lakes and a historic monastery — in a single day without arranging transport or timing yourself; the fixed 7am departure and 7:30pm return mean the logistics are already solved, and the guide adjusts the hiking pace on the spot so you're not racing.
Sofia: Rila Monastery & Plovdiv Day Trip with PickupYou're picked up from your Sofia hotel at 07:45 and driven to Rila Monastery, Bulgaria's largest and most famous monastery, where you have an hour to explore the frescoes and fortress-like courtyard. After that, you travel to Plovdiv and join a local walking tour of the Old Town, then have free time to wander the 8,000-year-old streets before returning to Sofia by 18:30. The whole day is 11 hours, includes your driver and transport, and requires only that you bring appropriate clothes (covered shoulders and knees at the monastery) and cash for the guide's tip.Is it for me?Book this if you want to see Bulgaria's most famous monastery and its second-largest city in one day without arranging separate transport, tickets, or timing — the fixed schedule and included pickup handle all of that, leaving you free to focus on the two sites themselves.
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.
Day trip to Skopje and Matka Canyon from SofiaThis 12-hour day trip from Sofia takes you across the Bulgarian border into North Macedonia to experience Matka Canyon and Skopje in one intense itinerary. You'll ride a boat deep into a limestone gorge to visit Vrelo Cave, then spend 1.5 hours exploring Skopje's historic core—the Stone Bridge, Macedonia Square, and the Old Bazaar. Hotel pickup in Sofia and English-speaking guides in both countries are included; the pace is fast and the driving is substantial, but that is what fits two bucket-list destinations into a single day.Is it for me?Book this tour if you're staying in Sofia without a car and want to cross the border into North Macedonia in a single day. The fixed itinerary and included guides mean the logistics are settled before you arrive—you show up at your hotel at pickup time and the day unfolds without negotiation or planning on your end. The pace is intense and the driving is long, which is exactly what makes two contrasting destinations possible in twelve hours.
Sofia: Rila Monastery & Hot Mineral Bath Day TripYou're driven from Sofia to 10th-century Rila Monastery for an hour of exploration, then taken higher into the mountains to soak in naturally heated mineral baths with views of the Rila range. The driver handles the route and timing; you bring swimwear and pay the spa entry fee separately when you arrive. It's a full day that combines history and rest without you arranging transport or logistics yourself.Is it for me?Pick this if you want to see Bulgaria's oldest monastery and soak in mountain hot springs without arranging two separate trips or navigating public transport — the single driver and fixed route let you do both in one day and actually relax at the end.
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.
Borovets ski and snowboard lessons from Sofia: Full gear includedA full-day ski or snowboard lesson at Borovets Ski Resort, Bulgaria's largest, departing from Sofia with professional instruction, all equipment, lift pass and transport included. Groups stay under eight per vehicle. Lessons are available upon request—book in advance to confirm. The drive passes the Iskar reservoir, Bulgaria's largest, with a photo stop on the return.Is it for me?Book this if you're skiing for the first time or don't have your own transport—the drive from Sofia is included, the group stays under eight, and lessons are available on request.
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.
Rila Monastery & Boyana Church day trip: UNESCO sites in BulgariaA day trip in Bulgaria to Rila Monastery and Boyana Church, two UNESCO World Heritage sites, with your choice of a private English-speaking guide or self-guided tour with audio narration. The privately-guided option includes hotel pickup, transport and guide; the self-guided version gives you an audio guide and the freedom to set your own pace. Children from age 4 are welcome, and the day suits all fitness levels.Is it for me?Book the privately-guided option if you want someone to explain the history and the art as you move through each site—the guide handles logistics and you focus on what you're seeing. Choose self-guided if you prefer to set your own pace and explore independently, using the audio guide to understand what the frescoes and architecture mean.
Day trip from Sofia to Boyana Church and Rila MonasteryThis 9-hour day trip from Sofia visits Boyana Church on Vitosha Mountain and Rila Monastery in the Rila range, with a traditional Bulgarian restaurant lunch in between and a stop at Sapareva Banya's outdoor mineral pools. Pickup starts at Alexander Nevsky Cathedral in central Sofia; a live English-speaking guide and luxury SUV are included, and you return to the same meeting point by evening.Is it for me?The 9-hour commitment is what makes visiting two UNESCO monasteries, eating a mountain lunch, and soaking in hot springs possible in a single day from Sofia—the fixed route and timing hold it all together without you arranging transport between sites. If your afternoon is free and you want to see Bulgaria's most famous religious sites without driving yourself, this loop covers the ground.
Plovdiv and Perushtitsa Day Trip with Wine Tasting from SofiaThis day trip from Sofia takes you to Plovdiv's Old Town on foot, then to Perushtitsa to see the Red Church, one of Bulgaria's most important Early Christian monuments, and finishes at a winery where you taste wines typical of the region. Hotel pickup and drop-off are included; the guide speaks English, Spanish or Italian depending on which option you choose at checkout.Is it for me?Book this if you want to combine Plovdiv's layered history with a winery visit in one day—the tour handles transport from Sofia, so you avoid driving yourself.
Rila Monastery & Villa Montevino tour: UNESCO site & wine estateA half-day tour from Sofia to Rila Monastery, Bulgaria's largest and most famous monastery, with 90 minutes to explore the UNESCO-listed complex independently, plus a 30-minute stop at Villa Montevino wine estate on the return. An English-speaking host travels with you; hotel pickup and drop-off are included, and audio guides in English, Spanish and Italian are available on your smartphone. The monastery museum entrance is optional and paid on-site.Is it for me?Choose this if you want to explore independently with an audio guide on your phone rather than follow a group—you'll move through the monastery at your own pace, and you'll need a smartphone with wifi to use it.
Veliko Tarnovo day trip: Medieval fortress walking tourA full-day guided walking tour from Sofia to Veliko Tarnovo, Bulgaria's medieval capital, with an English-speaking driver-guide, audio guides for Tsarevets Fortress and two museums, and stops at 12 historic sites including churches, bridges and the homes of local architects. The three-hour transfer from Sofia follows the Balkan foothills; upon arrival, the guide distributes audio equipment and walks the entire route with you, raising a numbered sign at each location so you can follow along in your chosen language. Museum entry, transport and pickup from St. Alexander Nevsky Cathedral are included; food and gratuities are separate.Is it for me?Choose this if you want a guided drive through the Balkan Mountains with stops at Tsarevets Fortress rather than navigating mountain roads yourself, and prefer a structured itinerary over building your own route.
Spa Day Trip to Bankya and Divotinski Monastery from SofiaA full-day spa and monastery tour from Sofia includes hotel pickup, a private car ride to the 11th-century Divotinski Monastery on Lyulin Mountain's northern slopes, free time for lunch in Bankya town, and 3.5 hours at the Royal Baths Resort with access to thermal pools, saunas, steam baths and hydromassage. The driver speaks English and returns you to your hotel by late afternoon.Is it for me?Choose this if you want a full day combining monastery and spa in one trip with a private car—the 3.5-hour spa allocation lets you soak without rushing, while the fixed route handles both sites in sequence from your hotel.
Pernik Day Trip from Sofia: Mining Museum & Krakra FortressThis day trip from Sofia takes you to Pernik, a city an hour away built on mining heritage and medieval history. You visit Krakra Fortress, the Mining Museum housed in a 1932 Directorate building, St. Ivan Rilski Church (the miners' patron saint), and the first underground mine now preserved as a museum, with entrance tickets included and an English-speaking driver-host guiding the route. About three hours of structured visiting time leaves room for lunch and browsing local shops.Is it for me?Hotel pickup from Sofia means you skip arranging your own transport to Pernik and back — the driver handles the route and timing, which matters if you don't have a car or are staying in the city center without easy access to the fortress and museum sites.
Sofia to Plovdiv day trip: Three UNESCO sites with guideThis day trip from Sofia visits three UNESCO heritage sites: Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, the ancient city of Plovdiv, and Boyana Church. You travel by luxury SUV with an English-speaking guide, walk the Old Town of Plovdiv for two hours, and see the medieval frescoes and architecture that made Boyana a World Heritage site. The tour runs about eight hours and includes transport, guide and entry to all three locations.Is it for me?The tour runs nearly eight hours with a two-hour walking section through Plovdiv's Old Town, so it suits travelers who are comfortable with a full day in the car and on foot. The fixed itinerary and timing mean you don't arrange transport or entry separately — the guide handles the sequence and the stops, which is what makes three UNESCO sites fit into one day.
Snowshoeing day trip to Malyovitsa from Sofia: Alpine peaksA guided snowshoeing day trip from Sofia to Malyovitsa in Rila National Park, where you hike a loop through alpine terrain to Wild Boars Lakes and back through pine forest. The walk takes 5–6 hours with 600 meters of elevation gain and loss; private transport, snowshoes, poles, mountain guide and insurance are included. Minimum age is 18 and moderate fitness is required.Is it for me?Book this trip if you want a full alpine day with a guide leading the route and handling logistics—the private transport and early start mean you're not arranging the drive or the timing yourself, and the guide reads the snow and the terrain so you can focus on the climb and the views.
Saeva Dupka & Prohodna Caves Day Trip from SofiaA private day trip from Sofia to two of Bulgaria's most distinctive caves: Saeva Dupka, with 400 meters of corridors across 5 galleries, and Prohodna cave, naturally lit by two enormous ceiling openings that earned it the local name Eyes of God. On the route between them, you stop at an ostrich farm in the village of Brestnitsa to learn about Bulgarian ostrich farming. Hotel pickup and drop-off in Sofia, professional driver-guide included; the trip runs about 9 hours, returning around 6pm. Entrance fees are separate.Is it for me?The 9-hour commitment means you leave Sofia early and return by evening, which works for a full-day excursion but rules out combining it with other activities that day. The private format and fixed itinerary let you move at a steady pace through both caves without waiting for a group to assemble or keeping to a rigid schedule within each site.
Frequently asked questions
Can I book with free cancellation?
Yes: 37 of the 39 options offer free cancellation, so you can book now and confirm your plans later.
How long do these experiences last?
Most options last half a day or longer. There are also shorter and longer formats to fit your itinerary.
Which one is the travelers' favorite?
Sofia: Rila Monastery & Boyana Church UNESCO Day Trip is the travelers' favorite, rated 4.60 out of 5 across 1,008 reviews.
Are private options available?
Yes, 10 private experiences are available if you prefer a closed group.
