Bulgaria Tours & Trips
4.5 stars on(7,592 reviews)- Choose from 50+ Bulgaria tours
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Table of contents
- The best Bulgaria tour packages
- What people love about Bulgaria Tours
- Most popular destinations in Bulgaria
- Travel Bulgaria your way
- Top operators in Bulgaria
- Best places to start your Bulgaria tour
- Discover Bulgaria tours for every budget
- Bulgaria tours for every group
- Top Bulgaria travel itineraries to fit your plans
- Demographics
- Best time to visit Bulgaria
- Contact our Bulgaria travel experts
The best Bulgaria tour packages
Compiled by
NinaBulgaria travel expert at TourRadar
Peaks & Lakes of the Pirin and Rila Mountains
32 Reviews by TourRadar travelers“The scenery was stunning, the route - well thought, allowing for Plan B in case of bad weather conditions.”
Jennifer, traveled in July 2023
Bulgarian peaks await on this 8-day alpine adventure. The route leads through Pirin and Rila National Parks to scale Musala (2925m) and Vihren (2914m), passing 17 glacier lakes, with a visit to UNESCO Rila Monastery. Comfortable 3-star hotels in Bansko and Govedartsi serve as base camps, while expert guides lead daily hikes with daypacks.
Duration 8 days Destinations Sofia, Bansko, Pirin National Park, Mount Vihren, Rila, Seven Lakes National Reserve, Malyovitsa, Govedartsi, Mount Musala Age Range 13 to 70 year olds Operator Traventuria From
- US$1,046
Best of Bulgaria Roundtrip
17 Reviews by TourRadar travelers“Vera was amazing—hard working, determined to please the guests, personable, expert, and truly dedicated to excellence.”
Kim, traveled in May 2019
Bulgarian cultural treasures unfold over eight days, from Sofia's 4th-century St. George Rotonda to Plovdiv's Roman theater. Local artisans welcome visitors at Etura craftsmen village, while Yagodina cave reveals stunning stalactites. The UNESCO-listed Rila Monastery rounds out the journey. Includes 7 breakfasts and expert English-speaking guide.
Duration 8 days Destinations Sofia, Rila, Melnik, Trigrad, Plovdiv, Veliko Tarnovo, Koprivshtitsa Age Range 6 to 85 year olds Operator Penguin Travel From
- US$673+$105 local payments
Legends of Emperors and Crusaders , Wines, Traditional Cuisine. Museum Towns and Villages
3 Reviews by TourRadar travelers“The accommodations were good to very good and the itinerary was very good to excellent. Food and beverages were very good.”
Raymond, traveled in May 2024
Bulgarian heritage comes alive from Sofia's ancient streets to Varna's Roman baths. The Valley of Roses in Kazanlak beckons, historic Melnik offers wine tasting, and UNESCO-listed Nessebar dazzles visitors. Total costs around $2,600 includes 3-4* hotels, expert guides, and authentic experiences including Nestinari fire dancing at farewell dinner.
Duration 10 days Destinations Sofia, Veliko Tarnovo, Varna, Pomorie, Kazanlak, Plovdiv, Melnik Age Range up to 80 year olds Operator Across Europe Ltd. From
- US$2,576+$73 local payments
Bulgaria: Rodopi Mountains
10 Reviews by TourRadar travelers“The walking was challenging at times, but not scary! My waterproofs never came out of the rucksack (i.e. not needed).”
Ellen, traveled in July 2008
Bulgaria's wild Rodopi region opens up from Yagodina village. Rare butterflies flutter through Kastrakli Nature Reserve, while dramatic views await at Trigrad karst plateau and Mount Golyam Snezhnik (7,178ft). The family-run Yagodina Hotel provides home-produced meals before transfer to Sofia's Crystal Palace Hotel.
Duration 8 days Destinations Sofia, Borino, Zmeitsa Age Range 16 to 99 year olds Operator Exodus Adventure Travels From
- US$2,145
Rila-Pirin Mountain Trek (Bulgaria), guaranteed departures
14 Reviews by TourRadar travelers“Everything was very well organised. I enjoyed this hike.”
Rosa, traveled in June 2023
Bulgaria's highest peaks stand ready on this 8-day trek from Sofia. Mount Musala (2925m) challenges hikers, while UNESCO Rila Monastery offers cultural respite. The Seven Rila Lakes circuit leads to Mount Vihren (2914m), with stays in traditional mountain towns like Bansko and Govedartsi.
Duration 8 days Destinations Sofia, Mount Musala, Govedartsi, Malyovitsa, Seven Lakes National Reserve, Rila, Bansko, Mount Vihren Age Range 10 to 79 year olds Operator Penguin Travel From
- US$673+$105 local payments
What people love about Bulgaria Tours
- Peaks & Lakes of the Pirin and Rila Mountains
To Whom It May Concern, I just completed your Pirin to Rila trip today and I couldn’t even wait until I arrived home to tell you how impressed I was with your company. I have visited many countries with various companies but never experienced anything as incredible as what i did with your company. The itinerary was perfectly thought out and each day surpassed the one before. I loved the fact that the group was small. It added a real personal touch and made me feel like I was trekking with family. As for our guide, I cannot say enough great things about Alex. He is an amazing ambassador for your country. He was incredibly knowledgeable, charismatic, thoughtful, helpful and always went above and beyond the calls of duty to make sure everyone was happy. Nothing was ever a problem for him to do and he always did everything with a smile. He is obviously passionate about his work. I really cannot thank you enough for giving me the most incredible memories of your beautiful country. I am leaving Bulgaria with a heavy heart but I am sure that I will return in the future. From the bottom of my heart thank you for this inspiring experience. I wish you every success for the future. Go raibh mile maith agat.
- Best of Bulgaria Roundtrip
An enjoyable trip round the sites of Bulgaria. Plenty of monasteries, lovely scenery and a good introduction to a country I have never visited before. There were only 4 of us in a van which could take 8. Which meant plenty of room for us, but it would have been very cramped with more in. The guide (Kostos) was extremely pleasant and eager to please. No problems with either the pick-up or drop-off transfers. The hotels were sometimes a bit out of town for my liking, but we managed. You have to pay entry fees yourselves but they all seem very cheap so not an issue (average of about £3 or so to enter most places).
- Legends of Emperors and Crusaders , Wines, Traditional Cuisine. Museum Towns and Villages
Good pace Nice driver/guide.One or too many wine tastings for me.
Most popular destinations in Bulgaria
Discover the ideal tour package for you through Rhodope Mountains. On TourRadar you'll find trips starting from 4 days in length, and the longest tour is 12 days. The most popular month to go is June, which has the most tour departures.
See all Rhodope Mountains tours
Travel Bulgaria your way
Our self-drive tours let you discover Bulgaria exactly how you want, with expert backup whenever you need it. A popular route takes you from Sofia's old town to the UNESCO gems of Boyana Church and Rila Monastery. Travelers love winding through mountain passes to reach medieval Veliko Tarnovo, where local artisans still practice traditional crafts along Samovodska Street. If you prefer coastal views, try the Black Sea route through ancient Nessebar's narrow streets and onto Burgas with its buzzing beaches. For a deeper dive into Bulgarian culture, go for the complete explorer package - you'll cook with village families and visit the Rose Valley when the fields are in full bloom. Our customers tell us they really value having detailed directions and local contacts while keeping the freedom to change plans as they go.
See all Explorer toursSelect from our extensive range of 41 fully guided tours to enjoy a worry-free experience through Bulgaria with our expert guides leading the way.
See all Fully Guided toursChoose from over 34 cultural tours and explore historical sites, local traditions and immerse yourself in the vibrant culture of Bulgaria.
See all In-depth Cultural toursFind the right partially guided tour for you in Bulgaria. There are 18 trips to choose from, that range from one day in length, up to 14 days. The month with the most departures is May, making it the most popular time to visit Bulgaria.
See all Partially Guided tours
Top operators in Bulgaria
Looking at feedback from TourRadar travelers in Bulgaria, Traventuria stands out for their hiking and trekking tours. Their guides get high marks for knowing just when to change plans based on weather and how to adapt the pace for different hiking abilities. Emiliana impressed customers with quick responses and solid professional handling of self-drive tour details - exactly what you want when exploring unfamiliar roads in Bulgaria. Over in Varna, local tour operators put together well-thought-out itineraries, and their guides really engage with the groups, adding local knowledge that makes the difference. It's worth noting a couple of hiccups too. There was an issue with hotel staff at a Bansko ski resort that didn't meet expectations, and some cyclists mentioned problems with bike conditions and unclear information before their trip started. The pre-trip communication could have been clearer about what to expect and bring along. The good experiences seem to come down to guides who know their stuff and can think on their feet, especially when weather or group needs change. And while most accommodation and equipment worked out fine, those few issues show how important clear communication and quality gear are for active tours in Bulgaria.
- 5.0 (120 Bulgaria reviews)
"L'organizzazione del tour è stata come da programma. I driver si sono presentati puntualmente al momento della partenza ed erano presenti al nostro arrivo al termine delle camminate. I driver guidano in modo responsabile e sicuro sia sulle strade normali che sui terreni accidentati. C'è stato un piccolo disguido sul noleggio dei bastoncini, abbiamo chiesto un rimborso che è arrivato immediatamente, prima della fine del tour.
- Tours
- 4 Bulgaria tours
- Age range
- 10 to 70 years old
- Adventure type
- Hiking & Trekking
- Response time
- 14h
- Response rate
- 100%
- Average price
- $175
- 4.5 (540 Bulgaria reviews)
"It was a beutiful tour
- Tours
- 10 Bulgaria tours
- Age range
- 18 to 80 years old
- Adventure type
- Explorer
- Response time
- 20h
- Response rate
- 96%
- Average price
- $158
- 5.0 (3 Bulgaria reviews)
"Outstanding. Communications with the tour operators was smooth and seamless. The guide/driver (Stan) was superior. There wasn't a question or situation that he wasn't on top of. The accommodations were good to very good (using US standards) and the itinerary was very good to excellent. Food and beverages were very good. Bulgaria itself was nice though not, IMO, "bucket list worthy." It is not a nation easy to traverse if you have mobility issues with the usual old European "sortfalls" such as cobblestones, absence of ramps etc. I personally loved the "lack of tourists." I also particularly enjoyed learning about the wine culture and the history of this proud nation. Consider adding a few days on either side of the trip to explore Sofia on your own. Job well done!
- Tours
- 14 Bulgaria tours
- Age range
- 18 to 80 years old
- Adventure type
- In-depth Cultural
- Response time
- 33h
- Response rate
- 100%
- Average price
- $220
Best places to start your Bulgaria tour
Most people start their Bulgarian journey in Sofia - 38 of our tours begin right there in the capital. If you're looking at other options, Varna on the Black Sea kicks off 5 tours, while Bansko and Athens each launch 2 routes. Our booking patterns show that 69 days before departure is the ideal time to lock in your trip; you'll get the dates you want and have plenty of time to get ready. The local guides consistently earn praise from our customers - they really know their stuff and love sharing stories about their homeland. May-June or September hit the sweet spot for visiting, with nice temperatures and fewer tourists around. Spring travelers often time their visits with the Rose Valley harvest, while autumn brings excellent hiking weather and mountain slopes painted in fall colors. The ski runs in Bansko draw winter sports fans too, which means Bulgaria works well no matter when you visit.
Discover Bulgaria tours for every budget
Bulgaria really delivers on budget tours that give you a lot for your money. There's an 8-day roundtrip from Sofia that covers all the must-sees without overspending. Our customers keep telling us how much they enjoy exploring the ancient monasteries, discovering mountain caves and wandering through old villages. The guides make a big difference - like Anna Maria who one traveler said "became our friend" while sharing Bulgarian cultural insights. Down in the Rodopi Mountains, we've got another great option where you stay in family guesthouses in Yagodina village. The local food gets high marks from our travelers, and they love watching the village come alive when the cows return home through the streets each evening. If you're short on time, our 3-day Sofia city breaks pack in guided walks through Roman ruins and medieval churches, plus you can add trips to UNESCO sites like Rila Monastery.
Bulgaria budget tours9 tours
Starting from
$67
per day
- Bulgaria luxury tours
Bulgaria tours for every type of group
Who are you traveling with?
Group
38 tours in BulgariaExplore Bulgaria on a pre-planned itinerary and meet like-minded travelers
Small Group
36 tours in BulgariaVisit Bulgaria with fewer travelers, ensuring more immersive activities.
Private / Personalized
20 tours in BulgariaPrivate tours give you that perfect mix of expert guidance and doing things your way. Our 10-day wine and history route is particularly special - travelers love the intimate wine tastings in Melnik's sandstone cellars and having dinner in carefully chosen traditional restaurants. Along the Black Sea, we run a fantastic route from Varna where you'll get time to properly explore Cape Kaliakra's cliffs and also Queen Maria's botanical gardens in Balchik. Food enthusiasts go for our Rose Valley tours with hands-on cooking classes and visits to family-run distilleries making Bulgaria's famous rose oil. In Plovdiv, art lovers can spend time with local iconographers and traditional jewelers, learning directly from the craftspeople. What makes these tours work so well is how our guides adjust everything - pace, stops and focus - to match what interests you most.
Top Bulgaria travel itineraries to fit your plans
Seven-day Bulgarian tours really shine when it comes to mountains and village life. The Zagoria Valley route lets you stay in small villages like Peshtan, where locals welcome you into their daily routines. Popular week-long trips mix hiking in the Rodopi Mountains with stops at Ottoman buildings in Gjirokaster. Our guests tell us they love how these tours balance active days outdoors with real cultural experiences - one day you're helping villagers with potato harvesting, the next you're walking through UNESCO monastery grounds.
Don't miss out on visiting:
Sofia, Karlovo, Kazanlak, Koprivshtitsa, Plovdiv
Ten days in Bulgaria gives you proper time to explore the country's wine culture and traditions. These tours typically start from Sofia then head to the Valley of Roses, where you'll learn about centuries-old rose oil making at local distilleries. Wine lovers get excited about Melnik, where vintners age their wines in sandstone caves - including Churchill's preferred broad-leaved Melnik variety. Our TourRadar guests particularly enjoy the variety: they'll visit Rila Monastery's UNESCO site, walk through Plovdiv's Roman ruins and end their evenings with local dishes and folk performances.
Don't miss out on visiting:
Sofia, Apriltsi, Koprivshtitsa
See all tours
Two-week journeys use Bulgaria's trains to link its most interesting places, perfect for really getting to know the country. You'll ride the narrow-gauge railway through the Rhodopes, stopping in historic Koprivshtitsa, Tryavna and other lovely towns. There's enough time to watch local artisans at work - from woodcarvers to icon painters in their workshops. Our travelers especially value having multiple days in places like Bansko, combining Pirin National Park hikes with visits to traditional houses and also local museums.
Don't miss out on visiting:
Sofia, Rila, Bansko, Plovdiv, Koprivshtitsa, Tryavna, Veliko Tarnovo
Demographics
The Peaks & Lakes tour through Bulgaria's Pirin and Rila Mountains works brilliantly if you're traveling solo. Our customers tell us the small group dynamics make it feel more like hiking with friends than a formal tour. You'll get to climb Mount Polezhan past 17 glacier lakes, explore the Banderishki Lakes Cirque and take on Mount Vihren - Bulgaria's second highest peak. What makes it especially good for solo travelers is how flexible everything is; you can skip a day if you need to rest and you'll only carry a daypack since you return to proper hotels each night. The guides Alex, Mitko and Maya are particularly good at matching the pace to everyone's abilities while sharing fascinating details about local wildlife, plants and traditions.
The Best of Bulgaria Roundtrip really suits senior travelers, mixing cultural visits with gentle walks at a comfortable pace. You'll see the Alexander Nevski Cathedral in Sofia, explore the UNESCO-listed Rila Monastery and take in Plovdiv's Roman amphitheater. Two of our regular guests Bibi and Göran, who are 72 and 76, told us they loved how the trip combined monastery visits, cave explorations and museum tours without feeling rushed. The Legends of Emperors tour is another solid choice, letting you discover ancient towns and local wineries at an easy tempo. Just keep in mind that many heritage hotels don't have elevators - worth discussing any mobility needs when you book. Our guides Vera, Emil and also Anna Maria get lots of praise for adapting the pace and making sure everyone's comfortable while sharing Bulgaria's fascinating history.
- Solo Travelers63 tours
- Couples14 tours
- Young Adults (18 - 39)9 tours All tours for Young Adults
- Seniors (50+)21 tours
- Family34 tours
Best time to visit Bulgaria
- Spring 2025
Bulgaria really comes alive in spring, especially during May's rose harvest in the Rose Valley. Our Sofia-based cultural route gets you right into the action - you can pick flowers yourself and see how local distilleries create that precious rose oil. The Rhodope Mountains offer another great option as wildflowers spread across the hills. The spring monastery circuit connects UNESCO-listed Rila Monastery with gentle forest walks, while the weather stays just right for exploring Plovdiv's Roman sites and Sofia's historic center. Our TourRadar travelers often mention how they appreciate having major sites mostly to themselves during spring visits.
- 27 tours
- 24 tours
- popular 40 tours
- Summer 2025
Summer opens up serious mountain possibilities in the Rila and Pirin ranges. Our most complete route takes you up notable peaks like Polezhan, Vihren and also Musala, with clear views stretching over glacier-carved lakes below. The days mix proper hiking with cultural stops - you'll cross alpine meadows by day and settle into mountain villages for traditional Bulgarian dinners at night. Our guides know their stuff cold - from local plants and animals to mountain stories passed down through generations. Travelers particularly like how we've structured things around hotel stays rather than mountain huts, so you only need carry a daypack.
- popular 45 tours
- 41 tours
- 42 tours
- Fall / Autumn 2025
Autumn brings ideal conditions for mixing culture with walking tours. Our September and October routes catch the mountain color changes while temperatures stay comfortable enough for proper exploring. One route that gets consistently good feedback starts in Sofia and works through the Rhodope Mountains, where our customers tell us the autumn views are especially good. Wine fans tend to prefer our cultural circuits through Melnik, where you can sample local wines just as harvest wraps up. The guides know exactly where to catch the best seasonal colors, and travelers love how shorter walking days lead into cozy evenings at traditional restaurants.
- popular 45 tours
- 32 tours
- 18 tours
- Winter 2025 / 2026
Winter in Bulgaria centers on Bansko's 75km of varied slopes, where our ski packages include smart touches like airport transfers and hotels with spa facilities. The setup works really well - active mornings on the slopes flow into cultural evenings exploring traditional mexanas (restaurants) along Pirin Street. Many of our guests love taking breaks at Banya's thermal springs, which locals have long used for their healing properties. The format gives you room to choose your pace - ski hard or take it easier with trips to mountain villages and cultural spots nearby.
- February 2025 popular 18 tours
Contact our Bulgaria travel experts
Marianne
Expert in Bulgaria at TourRadar
Marianne is one of our seasoned Bulgaria Travel Experts. Reach out to us to get all your questions about Bulgaria tours answered!
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