Tour highlights:

Day 1 - Sofia, arrival. Enjoy a city tour (mostly walking), including a guided visit of the Boyana Church (UNESCO World Heritage).

O/N in Sofia, Hotel Niky*** (centrally located)

Day 2 - depart Sofia for Veliko Tarnovo. Upon arrival, visit the Tsarevets Fortress and the Samovodene (Craftsmen’s street). Continue to the nearby village of Arbanassi, where you will visit the Konstantsalieva House and the Nativity Church.

O/N in Veliko Tarnovo, Hotel Bolyarski**** (centrally located)

Day 3 - depart for Varna. On the way, visit the Madara Horseman (UNESCO World Heritage). Upon arrival in Varna, enjoy a guided walk in the center, and also a visit of the Archaeological Museum, where some of the oldest gold items in the world can be found. Continue to the ancient city of Nessebar (UNESCO World Heritage).

O/N in Nessebar, Hotel St. Stefan*** (located in the Old Town)

Day 4 - guided walk in Nessebar’s Old Town in the morning, then depart for Plovdiv. On the way, visit the Thracian Tomb in Kazanlak (UNESCO World Heritage). Upon arrival in Plovdiv, enjoy a guided walk in the Old Town.

O/N in Plovdiv, Hotel Alafrangite*** (located in the Old Town)

Day 5 - leave Plovdiv, headed for the Rila Monastery (UNESCO World Heritage). Guided visit of the monastery and the monastery museum, then continue to Sofia.

O/N in Sofia, Hotel Niky*** (centrally located)

Day 6 - departure, transfer to the airport.

Detailed itinerary:

Day 1 – Sofia. Arrival, followed by city tour

Statue of Sofia

Upon your arrival at the airport, you’ll be met by your private tour guide and taken to the hotel. After check in at your hotel you can start exploring Bulgaria’s capital city. Sofia will offer you a blend of West and East, of new and old, of modern and antique. It is a city with rich history, which waits to be discovered, and also a city trying to achieve a modern European outlook.

Sofia was a small town until 1879 when it was chosen to be the capital of the newly liberated Bulgarian state. Since then the city grew to more than 1.2 million inhabitants. It lies at the foot of the Vitosha Mountain which is the favorite place of the city’s residents for hiking and skiing.

As you enjoy a guided walk along the central area of the town you will discover traces from the Roman and Thracian times as well as beautiful examples of the 19th and early 20th century European architecture – usually the work of German, Austrian or Italian architects. They coexist with some monstrous concrete buildings inherited from the Communist past of the country.

Alexandar Nevski Cathedral

Your stroll along the area of “yellow paving stones” once marking the Palace district will start with the impressive Alexander Nevski Cathedral. It is one the country’s landmarks and Sofia’s top attraction. Its gold-plated domes dominate the skyline of the city center. Built to commemorate the Russian and Ukrainian soldiers who fought in the Russo-Turkish Wars 1877- 1878, this large Eastern Orthodox Cathedral is a gallery of the best Russian and Bulgarian artists at the turn of the 20th century.

Nearby you will also see one of the most valuable examples of early Christian architecture in South Eastern Europe – the 14th century Hagia Sophia church that also gave the name of the Bulgarian capital.

If you enjoy treasure-hunting, you might want to stop at the little flea market opposite the church where you can find a large variety of little souvenirs and antiques, including also some memorabilia from the country’s communist history and way of life.

Russian Church

Walking further, you will be fascinated by the golden onion-shaped domes and vibrant colors of the Russian church – the official church of the Russian embassy in 1882. Then it will be time for something more European as you will have reached the former Royal Palace, the work of 2 Austrian architects and home of the Bulgarian Royal family. Nowadays it houses the National Art Gallery. Passing by the National Theater, another lovely piece of work of Viennese architects and also the place where the mausoleum of the communist leader Georgi Dimitrov once stood, you will get to the Presidency building. Take a peak through the gate and you will discover the charming 4th century Rotunda St. George, hiding in the courtyard of the presidency and the Sheraton hotel. The surrounding area was the heart of the ancient town of Serdica and in the underpass next to the Presidency you can see some more traces of the Roman and Thracian times – the old city gates and fortification walls.

Fresco in the Boyana Church

If you are interested you can also see and visit The Synagogue, which was recently beautifully restored and is the center of community life for the Jewish people in the capital. Next to it is the restored building of the Covered food market.

One of the highlights of the city is the Boyana church (UNESCO World Heritage Site) set in one of the green suburbs of the city. The church dates from the 11th c. and has 3 layers of frescos, the most remarkable ones from the 13th century. They are a precious example of Medieval art in our lands and display individuality and vitality, not typical for that period.

O/N in Sofia, Hotel Niky*** (centrally located)

Day 2 – Sofia – Veliko Tarnovo – Arbanassi – Veliko Tarnovo

Veliko Tarnovo

After breakfast and check out of the hotel you will head east for the former capital of the country – the picturesque town of Veliko Tarnovo. It will take you some 2 and half hours to get to “the town of noblemen” as it is called in Bulgaria where you can find some lovely restaurants and cafes and enjoy lunch. You will have some time to take short stroll along the historical Samovodene street in the Old Town. There you will find a charming handicraft shops and get acquainted with some traditional local crafts like icon-painting, wood-carving, weaving, copper-smithing, silver-smithing, etc. You can even enjoy a cup of Turkish coffee made on hot sand the way it was prepared for the craftsmen and tradesmen 100 years ago.

Tsarevets Fortress

The symbol of the city is the Tzarevetz fortification which was the seat of the kings and the Bulgarian Patriarch during the Second Bulgarian Kingdom. The fortress walls and watchtowers as well as the Patriarch’s church on top of the hill can still be seen. You will also see the so-called Baldwin Tower surrounded by legends and myths where supposedly one of the most prominent leaders of the Fourth Crusade, Baldwin of Flanders was imprisoned and died.

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Fresco in the Nativity Church

Only some 2 miles (4km) from Veliko Tarnovo lies the village of Arbanassi, a small architectural gem with houses and churches from the 17th and 18th centuries. The village enjoyed some privileges from the Ottoman sultan and was the residence of rich merchants in the past. Now it is a great and beloved place for both locals and tourists. The most famous church is the Nativity church where you can admire the beautiful fresco depicting the circle of life. Depending on the day of the week you can also see the Konstantzalieva house and learn about the way of life in the 17th century of a wealthy local family. The village offers spectacular views over the town of Veliko Tarnovo.

O/N in Veliko Tarnovo, Hotel Bolyarski**** (centrally located)

Day 3 – Veliko Tarnovo – Madara – Varna – Nessebar

Madara horseman

Today you will continue your journey to the east, towards the Black Sea. Along the way you will take a short detour to the village of Madara and see another monument from UNESCO’s world heritage list – the Madara Horseman. It is dated to 8th century and is connected to the early history of the Bulgarians. It is a relief cut in vertical rocks and depicting a rider on a horse. The horseman is thrusting his spear in a lion at his horse’s feet, there is a dog running behind him and an eagle flying ahead of him. It possibly represents a military victory or a Thracian god. The Madara Horseman is seen as one of the symbols of the Bulgarian State.

Varna Cathedral

The trip continues to Varna and the Black Sea. Once you arrive at the “summer capital” of Bulgaria you can take a short stroll along the pedestrian street where you will find a number of lovely cafes and small restaurants. As you are exploring the city with your guide you will pass by the Train station – the first in the country to connect the port of Varna with the town of Ruse on the Danube and provide a commercial link between Europe and Istanbul. You will also have a short stop at the port area to enjoy the view of the bay and the port. Then along the beautiful Sea Garden, the favorite park of the locals, you will drive by the Maritime Museum, the former Greek neighborhood in town, and the ruins of the Roman baths. You will visit the Archaeological Museum (depends on the day of the week your visit takes place) to see the Varna Necropolis and its unique findings – some of the gold items date back to 4000 BC. The museum takes us on a trip through the history of Odessos, the ancient name of the town, revealing layer after layer. Upon leaving the city you can stop for photos or a short visit in the Orthodox cathedral The Dormition of the Theotokos, dominating the main square in town and rightfully deserving to be one of the city’s landmarks.

Nessebar fortifications

After the short stay in Varna, your journey will take you south along the coastline to the picturesque Nessebar. The old town, which is protected by UNESCO and is more than 9000 years old, is situated on a tiny peninsula, and a narrow strip of land connects this small jewel to the mainland. Nessebar not only has many layers of history, beautiful old churches and houses but also the charm of a fishermen settlement, narrow cobbled stoned streets, lovely little restaurants overlooking the sea and the smell of the salty sea water in the air. Your guide will take you on a guided walk to show you the hidden treasures of Nessebar.

O/N in Nessebar, Hotel St. Stefan*** (located in the Old Town)

Day 4 – Nessebar – Kazanlak – Plovdiv

Fresco inside the Thracian Tomb

Today after breakfast you leave the Black Sea coast and we travel inland, direction west towards Plovdiv. Before you reach Plovdiv, you stop at Kazanlak – the town in the Valley of the Roses and the Thracian kings. You will visit the Thracian tomb (entrance included in the copy as visits to the original are rarely possible) on the heritage list of UNESCO. Discovered in 1944, this tomb dates from the Hellenistic period, around the end of the 4th century BC. It is located near Seutopolis, the capital city of the Thracian king Seutes III, and is part of a large Thracian necropolis. The tomb has a narrow corridor and a round burial chamber, both decorated with murals representing Thracian burial rituals and culture. These paintings are Bulgaria’s best-preserved artistic masterpieces from the Hellenistic period.

With Plovdiv as your destination today, you will leave Kazanlak behind and drive south-west. Originally Plovdiv was a Thracian settlement before becoming a major city ruled by Greeks and Romans. The city is located on both banks of the Maritsa River and historically has developed on 7 hills. It is abundant of monuments from different historical periods – Antiquity, Middle Ages, and the Ottoman rule, The National revival. Plovdiv has also a unique artistic atmosphere with its many prominent artists, galleries and cozy bistros where the local Bohemians gather.

Roman theatre

During your guided walk we will admire some of the highlights of Plovdiv. As you discover the Old Town you will get the Antique theater. Built in the early 2nd century A.D. by the Roman Emperor Traianus (98-117), the theatre was one of the most important public buildings in Trimontium, remarkable with its architectural impressiveness and splendor. The Ancient Theatre seated 5 to 7 thousand. It still is the center of the cultural life in Plovdiv. Another trace from the Roman times is the Roman stadium under the main street in town. It is believed to have been built during the reign of Septimus Severus (193-211) and had a capacity to seat 30 000 spectators. Now the larger part of it remains still underground but the stadium is visible from the Dzhumayata Square. The Old Town of Plovdiv will offer us the possibility to admire also the Bulgarian Renaissance architecture with a few houses that are masterpieces of the local architectural tradition. Nowadays many of them are galleries, museums; some are turned into restaurants and cozy hotels.

O/N in Plovdiv, Hotel Alafrangite*** (located in the Old Town)

Day 5 – Plovdiv – Rila Monastery – Sofia

Panorama of Rila Monastery

In the morning, you will depart from Plovdiv and head for south western part of Bulgaria where you will find the next UNESCO site on your tour, the Rila Monastery. The monastery lies in the heart of Rila mountain at 1147 meters (3,763 ft) above sea level, and is regarded as the holiest place in Bulgaria. It is no doubt the most popular tourist site among all monasteries in Bulgaria equally for its size, natural surroundings, architecture, wall paintings and ancient history. It is believed that the hermit John of Rila founded the monastery in the 10th century. His ascetic dwelling and tomb became a holy site and were transformed into a monastic complex that played an important role in the spiritual and social life of medieval Bulgaria. In the main church of the monastery you can see beautiful examples of frescoes and icons of the prominent icon-painters of the 19th century – the brothers Dimitar and Zahari Zograf. The monastery museum has also some interesting items and valuable items among which is Rafail’s cross – a wooden cross, made from a whole piece of wood (81×43 cm) and recreating 104 religious scenes and 650 miniature figures.

The mountainous surroundings of the monastery will appeal to those of you who love nature and if time and weather allow it, you can take a short hike to the dwelling place of the hermit John of Rila.

In the afternoon you will head back to the staring point of your trip, the city of Sofia.

O/N in Sofia, Hotel Niky*** (centrally located)

Day 6 – Sofia, departure

Today, you will say goodbye to Bulgaria and the friends you made here. Your guide will escort you to the airport for the flight home.