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Private tour: Buzludzha Monument and Tsarevets Fortress exploration in Bulgaria
5.0
8 Ratings
Veliko Tarnovo
Embark on a private tour from Bucharest to Bulgaria and explore the iconic Buzludzha Monument and Tsarevets Fortress. Discover the rich history and stunning landscapes on this 510 km, 9-hour drive adventure.
Duration:
14 hours
Cancellation:
1 day
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Highlights
- Tsarevets - Tsarevets is a medieval stronghold located on a hill with the same name in Veliko Tarnovo in northern Bulgaria. Tsarevets is 206 metres (676 ft) above sea level. It served as the Second Bulgarian Empire’s primary fortress and strongest bulwark between 1185 and 1393, housing the royal and the patriarchal palaces, and it is also a popular tourist attraction.
![](https://media-cdn.tripadvisor.com/media/attractions-splice-spp-720x480/10/6e/7d/f0.jpg)
What's Included
- Private transportation
- Hotel pick-up and drop-off
- In-vehicle air conditioning
- Professional tour guide in English
What's Not Included
- Lunch
- Entry/Admission to Tsarevets Fortress - 5€ per adult
Additional Information
This is an exclusive journey from Bucharest to Bulgaria. Once we collect you from your location, we’ll head towards the border to enter Bulgaria. Over there, you will explore:
- Tsarevets Fortress - an ancient fortification positioned on a namesake hill in Veliko Tarnovo, located in the north of Bulgaria.
- The Memorial House of the Bulgarian Communist Party, stationed on Buzludzha Peak, nestled in the Bulgarian mountains. It opened its doors in 1981, funded by the citizens to honor the socialist movement in Bulgaria – but has been deserted since the country shifted to democracy.
This expedition spans 510 km - a 9-hour drive.
Location
Tsarevets
Tsar Asen Square
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Customer Ratings
5.0
(8 Ratings)
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Joellep867
Oct 9, 2023
Unique Tour with the best guide! - Victor was the best guide! Although this monument is a few hours from Bucharest, there was never a dull moment. Victor was so knowledgeable and we learned so much about both Romania and Bulgaria. We felt safe and had many laughs. Thank you for this experience!!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Mayukoh341
Sep 26, 2023
Wonderful experience! - We really had a great time! Our guide Bogdan was so amazing! He explained not only the sight points but cultures and history that was between Romania and Bulgaria, and proposed us flexible options. It was a long day but we enjoyed everything even though during moving. One of our main purpose of our trip was visiting the Buzludzha Monument and was so impressed. We couldn’t enter inside anymore but the view was spectacular. The fortress we stopped at on the way there was also excellent.
We highly recommend this tour!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Matthew_m
Jul 18, 2023
A Perfect Day to Bulgaria! - From the start, my tour guide and driver Octavian made the day just perfect and it’s a long but action packed day! He communicates well and was perfectly on time at the hotel in a clean and air conditioned car, important as it was 40 degrees Celsius yesterday! We crossed the Danube and went to Tsaravets Fortress in Veliko Tarnovo which was very interesting. We had a fantastic lunch in Arbanassi which was perfect and even had time to visit a 13th C coaching inn! We continued our journey into the beautiful Balkan Mountains and then went to the jaw dropping Buzludzha Monument to the Bulgarian Communist Party. It’s closed as the interior of the ruins are dangerous but the visit was just spectacular. The ruins are an astounding reminder to the power of communism prior to 1989. We then returned to Bucharest. It’s a long drive and there can be long queues at the border but I enjoyed the day very, very much and Octavian’s driving made me feel safe and his conversation and information helped the time pass easily. I would book him for other tours if I had more time, such as to the wineries, salt mines, and Transylvania. His private tour is totally worth it!
Review provided by Viator
Stephen_h
Jul 11, 2023
Sebastian is a superstar! - I had booked this tour because it was going to Bulgaria and the monument was there. I had a low bar set as we were not really knowledgeable or interested in Bulgaria….Enter in; Sebastian!
Sebastian was punctual, professional, informative, personable and a very good driver. Right from the start, Sebastian started providing deep insight into Romania as we drove through the country on our way to Bulgaria. He kept us well informed about expectations throughout the tour so there were Z E R O “bad” surprises, which was greatly appreciated. We traveled and talked, got through the border with no issues and after a couple hours arrived at Tsarevets Castle. I’ll be straight up honest with you; I had no idea about Tsarevets Castle and wasn’t sure I was going to be too interested. Sebastian fixed that by presenting us with amazing intel and facts about the castle and its history. He informed us, that based on our conversations the inside of the monastery was going to be our favorite part….And he knew us well! Understand, like many castles and fortresses, things get destroyed by wars, forgotten by time and/or neglected. Tsarevets Castle was no exception, but one thing that really brought it home was the story and the work of the artist that painted the inside of the monastery. I have traveled around the world and have seen many churches, temples and mosaics but never had I seen such a take on the history of the town and Christianity. We were floored by the concept and really appreciated the artist, his works and his thinking process. I will not go into anymore details; just know you have to go there now! As we loaded up and went on our way, Sebastian pointed out several murals done by the local artist. Now we were on our way to Buzludzha Monument which is conveniently located in the middle of Bulgaria in the top of a mountain in the middle of nowhere! The road to the monument was awful and they were making it worse while trying to fix it, but after many bumps and shocks to the lower back, we arrived at a very picturesque view of the monument. Sebastian stopped and afforded us plenty of time to get all our pictures in and them we loaded up and were off to lunch. Who would have thought there would be a very nice resort in the middle of nowhere with bad roads, but Sebastian once again nailed it by taking us to this resort for lunch. Food was great, service was meh, but she was running everything, front desk, inside dining, outside dining, so kudos for her and her efforts. After a fantastic meal we drove up to the top of the mountain and parked right at the monument. Please note, the word “Mountain” and the word “Top” because you are top of a mountain with many crosswinds. Make sure you bring some warmer clothes or the tour will be a little less fun. The building is only viewable from the outside, but it was totally worth the trip to see it, learned more than I ever knew about Bulgaria and the wonderful rendition of Romanian history provided by Sebastian. Back to Bucharest, through the border check no issues, and smooth sailing back to the hotel was had. We (as a family) cannot recommend Sebastian enough. He is very focused on his clients, their needs and does his very best to give you the very best on this tour. If you want to learn a ton of fascinating info on Bulgaria and this crowning communism structure, book this tour immediately and enjoy the adventure!
Review provided by Viator
Frederique
Aug 20, 2022
An original way of visiting Bulgaria from Bucharest, with a great tour guide - I wanted to go off the beaten track in Bulgaria and found this day trip to be extremely interesting since you get to visit the world-renowned Tsarevets fortress but also go to a huge abandoned communist conference centre at the top of a mountain with a fantastic 360° panorama.
This full day trip gives you a good perspective on Romanian and Bulgarian countryside. We first stopped in Veliko Turnovo where the tour guide gave a full tour of the Tsarevets fortress (entrance included), then we took a very nice road to Buzludzha's abandoned building. On the way, there are several villages & forests to cross, then you see the Buzludzha appearing on the top of the mountain from far away. The place has a fantastic 360° view of the hills around, and the abandoned building is so huge and special, that I think it is totally worth the trip before it becomes a touristic place and loses its authentic touch. Please note that you cannot visit the inside of the building, but you can walk around it and take beautiful pictures. Take a jacket as it can be chilly and windy even in the summer.
We had lunch in a very nice hotel close to the Buzludzha site.
It was a long day on the road but I thought it was a great way of seeing rural Romania and Bulgaria and watching people in their daily lives there.
The border crossing was smooth, just don't forget your passport. Entrance to Tsarevets, tolls and border taxes are included in the price.
What made the day so special is the tour guide Sebastian: he drives really safely (we agreed he's the best driver in Romania), has a nice modern car with Wifi & A/C, knows the facts of the visited places but also adapts to the expectations of his customers and also shares information about daily life in his native Romania. It felt like visiting a country with a friend, and although I am a female solo traveler I felt very comfortable with Sebastian.
He made sure we had plenty of pit stops on the road which made the day go really smoothly. The car is comfortable.
I strongly encourage you to book this tour with Sebastian if you want to see the very unusual Buzludzha building and the Bulgarian mountains, without missing out on the famous Tsarevets fortress.
It was one of the highlights of my trip in Romania to take this day tour and totally worth the price. Thank you Sebastian for making this possible!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Karsonw240
Feb 22, 2020
Professional and considering guide, highly recommend - Our tour guide Sebastian is really really professional , He well explained all the history, stories …Also He took many photos for us! Car is nice and comfortable and he drive safely 👍Highly recommend to choose this company ! Reasonable price, good service and useful information before you start your tour !! Thank you so much to let us have a wonderful vacation !
Review provided by Tripadvisor