Excursions are the best way to learn the history and culture of the country. We will tell you where to go and how much excursion tours in Bulgaria cost.
Excursion routes in Bulgaria are divided into two big types: along the coast and inland. Once you've explored those in the first group, you can easily drive the roads you like on your own. In this case, you can save up to half of the cost. Routes included in the second group, usually include inaccessible attractions on mountain trails or in small towns with undeveloped public transportation systems. A rental car can be an alternative to group tours.
Coastal excursion routes
From Sozopol to Burgas
Characteristics of the excursion
Duration: full day.
Cost of the group tour: from 90 BGN per adult, from 45 BGN per child.
What to bring: water, snack, comfortable shoes, camera.
Description
The tour includes:
Visiting the small town of Sozopol;
Lunch at a local restaurant called "Windmill";
a walk around Ropotamovo or a tour of Ravadinovo Castle, with a choice of sightseeing;
Free time in the resort of Burgas.
Sozopol
Sozopol in Bulgaria is considered at least local Athensor localJerusalem. In fact, it is a miniature copy of the same Nessebar: Roman Amphitheatre, beautiful promenade, picturesque nature, medieval cozy streets.
Roporamovo and Ravadinovo
Ropotamovo is a national reserve park. There are many species of rare fauna here. Ravadinovo is a relatively young but stylized castle from the Middle Ages. It is a favorite place for photo shoots by the Bulgarians themselves.
Burgas
On the way back, tourists stop in Burgas. There is an opportunity to stop in Nessebar or Sunny Beach, located nearby. The first option is preferable for romantics, the second for party people.
Trip to Aladži Monastery and Varna
Characteristics of the tour
Duration: half a day.
Cost of the group tour: from 100 BGN per adult, from 50 BGN per child.
What to bring: water, snacks, motion sickness pills, comfortable shoes, camera.
Description
The usual departure of the bus to visit Varna and Alazda is fromGolden Coast.
Aladzha Monastery
The drive to Aladzhi takes a couple of hours along winding mountain serpentines. This monastery has now become a tourist attraction and has not functioned for a long time. Many myths and legends are associated with this place.
Dolphinarium
The next destination is one of the largest dolphinariums in Bulgaria, the Varna Dolphinarium. After its visit, there is some time to explore the surrounding areas of the resort. For example, check out the Cathedral of Our Lady of Varna one of the most beautiful churches in the country.
Shopping in Varna
Characteristics of the tour
Duration: half a day.
The cost of the tour is from 50 BGN per adult, from 25 BGN per child.
Description
Tourists are picked up in Sunny Beach, brought to the largest shopping center in Varna, and taken back three to four hours later.
Balchik - Kaliakra
Characteristics of the tour
Duration: half a day.
Cost of the group tour: from 90 BGN per adult, from 45 BGN per child.
What to bring: water, snacks, motion sickness pills, comfortable shoes, camera, money for wine tasting in the botanical garden and souvenirs.
Description
Balchik Botanical Garden
This is rightly one of the most interesting excursions in Bulgaria. It starts with a visit to a paradise on Earth - the Botanical Garden of Balchik. It features several waterfalls, stone staircases, winding paths lined with outlandish plants, and many themed gardens, such as a rose garden and a cactusarium.
Everyone in the special wine cellar is treated to several types of wine made from local grapes for 10 BGN. In the botanical garden is thePalace of Romanian Queen Maria, a European castle that opens up the first two floors to guests.
Silent Nest Palace
The next stop for a rest stop during the tour route is the palace "Quiet Nest", located on Cape Kaliakra. The beauty of the picturesque places is emphasized by the ruins of the surviving fortress.
Excursion routes inside "mainland" Bulgaria
From Boyarskie Spaces to Veliko Tarnovo
Characteristics of the tour
Duration: practically the whole day (end of the tour at 17:00).
Cost of the group tour: from 120 BGN per adult, from 60 BGN per child.
What to bring: water, snacks, motion sickness pills, comfortable shoes, clothes for visiting the monastery, warm jacket, camera, money for souvenirs.
Description
Departure is usually quite early: around 6:00. The next five hours are spent traveling along narrow mountain trails.
Arbanassi
The first stop along the way will be a small village of 300 people, Arbanassi. Most of the preserved municipal buildings of this village date back to the XVII century, as well as the Svyatoyuspensky Monastery located in it.
Veliko Tarnovo
The next place tourists will visit is Veliko Tarnovo, the ancient capital of the Bulgarian Principality. Its main attraction is the Fortress of Tsarevets.
This tour is notable because, unlike most others, the road winds through colorful neighborhoods far removed from the poor Bulgarian backstreets.
From Rose Valley to Yetyr
Characteristics of the tour
Duration: full day.
Group tour cost: from 100 BGN per adult, from 50 BGN per child.
What to bring: water, snacks, motion sickness pills, comfortable shoes, clothes for visiting the monastery, camera, money to buy souvenirs.
Description
The rose plantations, covering about 900 square kilometers, is not only a tourist attraction, but also the main center of production of valuable rose oil..
The town of Kazanlak
The town of Kazanlak is located in the Rose Valley region.
There is a unique, the world's only Museum dedicated to roses.
Further tourists will see the Trakian Tomb, Shipka and Yetyr craft museums.
Excursions from Plovdiv
Characteristics of the tour
Duration: almost the whole day (until 19:00).
Cost of the group tour: depending on the "set" of sights included in the route from 140 to 230 BGN per adult, from 70 to 115 BGN per child.
What to bring: water, snacks, motion sickness pills, comfortable shoes, camera, money for souvenirs.
Description
Plovdiv is often compared to Rome. It stands on seven hills. It seamlessly combines the Old, almost medieval, and the New part, where one of the two largest airports in Bulgaria is located.
There are the following places to visit besides Plovdiv:
Bachkovo, including the Bachkovo Monastery, founded in the 11th century;
The small town of Petrich, associated with the legendary Vanga;
Rila Monastery, one of the most iconic monasteries in Bulgaria;
Melnik- the smallest settlement in the country, a handicraft workshop of the locals.
To see the real Bulgaria, it's worth combining a trip along the coast with a trip inland. Only this combination will give you the opportunity to experience the unique spirit of the country.
