Private Day-Trip to Medieval Bulgaria from Bucharest

Embark on a private day-trip from Bucharest to medieval Bulgaria. Explore UNESCO World Heritage Sites, ancient fortresses, artisan workshops, and charming villages in just one day!

Duration: 12 hours
Cancellation: 1 day learn more
Highlights

You will start the day by going over the border to Bulgaria, so be sure to have your passport with you. Your first stop will be at the Ivanovo Rock Churches, a UNESCO world heritage site which is actually carved in the rock and has among the best preserved frescoes. Afterwards we visit Veliko Turnovo, once the capital of the second Bulgarian empire and also Tsarevets hill with the remains of the castle and church of the Bulgarian Kings. It dates back to the 12th century. Enjoy a walk on Samovodene Artisans Street packed with workshops of locals were you can find a coppersmith, silversmith, an icon painter and many more. Many of the workshops are there for 3-4 generations already.

The next stop will be the intriguing village of Arbanassi with an included visit to Konstantsalieva house, so you can discover the interior from a typical local house. Before setting off for Romania, last visit will be in the small town of Ruse that has a beautiful main square and pedestrian area. Together with your local guide you will be immersed in the town’s charm and learn more about its history from the Roman times to modernity.

Arrive back to your hotel in the evening after a wonderful day filled with great sights, history and friends from Bulgaria.

Points of Interest

  • Rock-hewn Churches of Ivanovo

  • Konstantsalieva House

  • Eastern European Experience

What's Included
  • Hotel pickup and drop-off
  • Transport by modern air-conditioned private vehicle
  • Personalized private tour experience
  • Complimentary bottled water
  • Expert professional guide
  • Priority access with no wait times
  • Free Wi-Fi onboard all vehicles
What's Not Included
  • Lunch
Additional Information

Embark on a private day trip to see Bulgaria’s highlights. Depart in the morning towards the border between Romania and Bulgaria, where you’ll first visit the Ivanovo Rock Churches, a unique UNESCO World Heritage Site featuring well-preserved frescoes. The journey continues to Veliko Turnovo, once the capital of the second Bulgarian Empire, where you can explore the 12th century Tsarevets fortress. Next, travel back in time exploring the Samovodene Artisans Street, bustling with local craft workshops, including coppersmiths, silversmiths, and icon painters. Proceed to Arbanassi Village, a unique architectural reserve in Bulgaria. Inside, you’ll tour the Konstantilieva House, a 17th-century merchant’s residence. Lastly, off to the town of Ruse, where you’ll take a brief walk through the central area before concluding your Bulgarian exploration.

  • Comfortable walking shoes are recommended
  • A current valid passport is required on the day of travel
Location
Rock-hewn Churches of Ivanovo
Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Customer Ratings
4.4
(7 Ratings)
5 stars
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1 star
154jacksonp
Oct 30, 2023
Fun and informative day trip to Bulgaria - We had a great time with Cornel as our guide. He picked us up at 8am and dropped us off around 8pm. He was knowledgeable, pleasant, and efficient. A very worthwhile day trip.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
851fayea
Sep 15, 2023
Daytrip - Our day trip from Romania to Bulgaria was an absolute pleasure. Christian O., went above and beyond to ensure we were comfortable with bathroom breaks and time for snacks. He spoke English which was a bonus for me and gave a detailed account of all the places we passed on the journey. Christian O. arrived on time , the vehicle was clean and he assisted us with our luggage. 5 Stars for Christian O On the return trip Christian O, drove on a different route so we could experience crossing the Danube by ferry at the border This experience was definitely the highlight of the trip
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Charles_d
Sep 28, 2022
Wonderful day trip to Bulgaria from Bucharest, is worth adding a day to your visit to Romania - This is was a fabulous experience as a day trip from Bucharest. My tour company was Eastern European Experience. I am very fortunate because Adrian was my private guide and driver. He was very punctual and a very safe driver. I learned a lot about the history of Bulgaria from Adrian. He went out of his way to show me the rock hewn monastery of Basarabovo because the steps to reach Ivanovo monasteries were more difficult for me. He showed me all the highlights in Veliko Turnovo and Arbanasi and the best spots for photo opportunities. Fortunately, the border crossing from Giurgiu to Ruse and return only took a few minutes. To summarize, I highly recommend to all visitors to Romania to go to Bulgaria for a day trip.
Review provided by Viator
Jjrolyat
Sep 19, 2019
Day trip to Bulgaria - We highly recommend this day trip to Bulgaria. Niko our tour guide was excellent. He was well knowledged and made sure our trip was comfortable. He even went out of his way to do an unscheduled stop for us at Comana monastery, after he found out my wife’s obsession with Vlad the Impaler! Good tour, great guide!
Review provided by Viator
Bonesy11
Jul 28, 2019
Day trip from Bucharest - We visited a rock hewn church of Ivanovo and then Veliko Tărnovo. Our guide lead us along the merchant street and gave us some history of the area.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Chanelle_j
Aug 30, 2023
Disappointing trip to Bulgaria but a great driver - We had a fabulous driver Andreii but the towns we visited were not worth going to. We traveled from Bucharest to Arbanassi and basarabov monastery and another small town. Not much to see in the towns. A lot of driving (about 8 hours) with little to see. The trip cost us $398 for two people so quite expensive for the outcome. We could have put the time to better use. I wouldn't recommend this trip but I would recommend the driver. I'm sure there's better towns to see in Bulgaria.
Review provided by Viator
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September 2024
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