Bulgaria in 5 days

Day 1

On our first busy day we start early from your hotel or accommodation in Sofia and head straight East from Sofia along the beautiful Balkan range (Stara Planina) to historic town of Koprivshtitsa. After a visit of 3 houses-museums and a quick lunch, we continue our road trip to Kazanlak area and we visit the Thracian Tombs (UNESCO and Goliama Kosmatka), Shipka Memorial Church and we will arrive in Veliko Tarnovo where we can enjoy at night the sound and light show over the fortress and relax in our hotel in Veliko Tarnovo with a great view over the monument of Assen Dynasty of Kings. Overnight in Veliko Tarnovo.

Day 2

In the morning after a nice breakfast we start our climb of the Tsarevets hill fortress – the city of Bulgarian Tsars in the 13th and 14th centuries. After that we can take a nice walk around the old Samovodska Street to buy a souvenir and grab some lunch. A short drive will take us to Arbanassi village in the afternoon for a visit of the the Nativity of Christ church with its beautiful frescoes from 1632 and one of the oldest preserved iconostasis from wood. The mural paintings include the life of St. John the Baptist, patron of the church, and the wheel of life with the 12 zodiac signs. In about 3-hour drive we arrive in the sea capital of Bulgaria – Varna where we will check in into our central hotel and enjoy a night walk in the Sea Garden. Overnight in Varna.

Day 3

This 3rd day we will dedicate to our Black Sea north coast – Balcik and Kavarna and its beautiful rocks. We will first visit the Palace in Balcik and its gardens, built by the Romanian Queen Marie in 1937, then have lunch in a restaurant called The Shell Farm, where we can have some fresh clams and other sea fruits and fish. Then we will go to Kaliakra Cape where dolphins and cormorants might be seen. We come back to Varna. There you can see the oldest gold treasure discovered in the whole world in the local historical museum. Overnight in Varna.

Day 4

We will drive south along Bulgarian Black Sea coast to Nesebar, a UNESCO monument and famous sea resort. Sunny Beach nearby will fascinate you with its 8 kilometer long fine sand beach and blue water. On this 4th day you will have a walk in the old town of Nessebar. The town is one of the oldest towns in Europe and the most abundant with medieval architectural monuments in Bulgaria. It inherits an ancient Thracian settlement established 2000 years BC. Nessebar holds nearly 60 houses from the Revival period in Bulgaria (18th-19th century) and more than 40 churches. Overnight in Old Town of Nessebar.

Day 5

On this very last day we go back east (3 hour drive) for our last stop in Plovdiv, the second largest city in Bulgaria. Its old town, Roman Theater and Stadium will make you a nice walk garnished with Roman, Medieval and Revival history before we get back to Sofia in the evening.

Suggestion: Add a day tour from Sofia to Rila Monastery and Boyana Church with our daily RILA MONASTERY SHUTTLE tour for just 30 € per person (35 € November-March) and make your visit of Bulgaria complete.