5-Day Highlight Tour of Sofia, Bulgaria
Europe's most affordable capital, Sofia, is Bulgaria's strongly beating heart. It's beautifully positioned at the foot of the majestic mount Vitosha, and boasts a proud history spanning some 2,400 years. Its ancient name, Serdica, derives from the local Celtic tribe, the Serdi, who established the town in the 5th century BC, and it's never looked back; with most of the major universities, cultural institutions, museums, administration and businesses of Bulgaria concentrated here to this day.
This 5-Day Highlight Tour of Sofia, Bulgaria takes you down the city centre's yellow brick roads to explore this ancient capital's heady mix of historical, cultural, and religious treasures, as well as trips out of town to suprising Plovdiv and a beautiful monastery nearby. Beautiful Sofia, linking the Middle East to the Near East, and Europe's East and West, is a city off the tired old tourist track well worth discovering, and there's no better way to do so than with this trip right here.
Services
Included:
- Hotel accommodation
- Transfers
- Meals
- Entrance fees
- Guide
- Driver
- Specialised and personalised services
Excluded:
- Travel insurance
- Drinks
- Visas (if needed)
Itinerary at a Glance
Sofia
Welcome to the Bulgarian capital
Roman ruins of Serdika - St. George Rotunda, Sofia - Sofia University
Sofia's cultural and religious treasures
Plovdiv Roman Theater - Bulgarian Architectural National Revival - Sofia
Touring grand old Plovdiv
Rila Monastery
Tour to Rila Monastery
Sofia - Onwards
So long, Sofia
Detailed Itinerary
Sofia
Day 1: Welcome to the Bulgarian capital
Experience the warmest of Bulgarian welcomes upon your arrival at Sofia airport, where you'll have a private transfer to your hotel right in the middle of the city. The listed hotels have been selected for their optimal location: achieving a magic balancing trick of being central but still on peaceful streets, and all feature cosy, modern accommodation, where you'll be spoilt by warm and considerate staff. What better way to start things off than tonight's welcome drink?
Roman ruins of Serdika - St. George Rotunda, Sofia - Sofia University
Day 2: Sofia's cultural and religious treasures
Today, you'll be chuffed to meet your professional, licensed guide, who is the best personage to guide you on a private Sofia tour. What this means is that you'll see all the major attractions, such as the ancient Roman ruins of Serdika; and the St. George Rotunda, one of Europe's oldest fully-preserved churches, dating back to the 4th century AD. Get a taste of Sophia's famed embrace of religious diversity, by visiting the Mosque, the Synagogue, and St. Nedelya (dubbed the Triangle of Religious Tolerance by some), as well as the Catholic St. Joseph's; and other Orthodox churches, such as St. Petka, St. Sophia, the Russian Church and St. Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, the latter being the Cathedral of the Patriarch of Bulgaria and one of the world's largest Eastern Orthodox churches. Here you'll be treated to a peek at the amazing icons deep in the Cathedral's crypt. Walk down the halls of the former Royal Palace, which nowadays serves beautifully as an ethnographic museum; as well as the Ivan Vazov National Theatre; the Mineral Baths; Parliament; the statue of the Tsar Liberator, and the Sofia University. The afternoon will see you happily visiting the UNESCO-listed Boyana church, included in the list of UNESCO, as well as a fascinating browse through the National History museum.
Plovdiv Roman Theater - Bulgarian Architectural National Revival - Sofia
Day 3: Touring grand old Plovdiv
Today is devoted to getting out of Sofia and spending a day exploring the pleasures of Plovdiv, one of the oldest towns in Europe, and Bulgaria's second-largest. Plovdiv possesses a rich pot-pourri of a cultural history, having been inhabited by Thracians, Romans, Goths, Slavs, and Ottomans at various times. It's well worth the visit, as it's an Architectural Reserve, as well as home to a number of brilliant examples of the Bulgarian National Revival.You'll also have a walk among the ruins of the ancient Roman Theater and the stadium of Philippopolis, as Plovdiv was anciently known. After all this pleasant Plovdivving, it will be back to Sofia in the afternoon.
Rila Monastery
Day 4: Tour to Rila Monastery
Today's tour is to Rila Monastery, the largest in all of Bulgaria, and one of the most beautiful monuments on the Balkan Peninsula. Founded in the l0th century by the Bulgarian monk St. John of Rila, this beautiful structure was rebuilt in the l4th century, which earnt it UNESCO World Heritage status way back in 1983. Here, you'll see the treasures of its unique museum, its church, and even an authentic monk cell. Relish a really representative Rila repast by tucking into a tremendously tasty trout in a restaurant nearby. The late afternoon will see you back to your comfy Sofia hotel, which is in no way similar to any kind of monk's cell.
Sofia - Onwards
Day 5: So long, Sofia
You'll have some free time after your sumptuous breakfast to walk Sophia's streets one last time, before heading to the airport. Here is where the journey ends, but it's not entirely unlikely that Bulgaria, being eminently lovable as it is, will see you again one day. Until then, Sofia will miss you.
