Self-Drive Tour The Best of Bulgaria

The tour detailed itinerary:

Day 1: Sofia – Rila Monastery

Arrival to Sofia Airport, car delivery and departure to Rila Monastery UNESCO site, located less than 2 h drive from Sofia. Check-in at a family-run hotel, located close to a small river, just 5 km before the monastery. The hotel has a traditional restaurant, where you can try local specialties – monastery beans soup, mountain trout, pancakes with forest fruit jam, etc. Approximate mileage: 120 km

Day 2: Rila Monastery – Bansko

Visit of the monastery and pleasant walk in its surrounding area. Enjoy the unspoiled nature of Rila Mountain – the highest mountain on the Balkan peninsula, declared a National Park. Continue south to Bansko museum village, located at the foothills of another mountain – Pirin National Park ( UNESCO list ). Explore the old town of Bansko, its traditional architecture, museum houses, and St. Trinity Church. Check-in at a family-run hotel. Approximate mileage: 100 km

Day 3: Bansko

Today we can suggest 2 options: If you are a mountain lover and like to walk/ hike – you can drive to the nearby town of Dobrinishte ( 6 km ) and take the seat lift from Gotse Delchev hut to Bezbog hut ( 2236 m above sea level ) then have a pleasant walk to Bezbog lake and Popovo lake. If you prefer to do sightseeing, you can drive south from Bansko towards Melnik ( the smallest Bulgarian town ), located at the foothills of some sandstone pyramids in which wine cellars were dug and to Rojen Monastery ( one of the oldest preserved monasteries in Bulgaria ) with wonderful panorama towards the border mountains with Greece. Back to Bansko and spend the night in the same hotel. Approximate mileage – option 1: max. 30 km/ option 2: max. 230 km

Day 4: Bansko – Plovdiv

Today you leave Bansko, crossing part of the Rhodope mountains to explore Plovdiv. Plovdiv has been the European capital of culture in 2019 and is one of the oldest inhabited cities in Europe. You will be able to see the Old Plovdiv Architecture reserve with its cobblestone streets, museum houses, galleries, and artists, small restaurants, the ruins of Roman times – the Ancient Theatre, Stadium, Forum, etc. etc. If time permits, we suggest visiting Kapana – the artistic neighborhood of Plovdiv and the longest pedestrian street in the world. Check-in at your hotel and overnight. Approximate mileage – 170 km

Day 5: Plovdiv – Kazanluk – Nessebur

Morning departure to Kazanluk - the center of the Valley of Roses, known as well as the Valley of the Thracian kings. In the past, 75% of the world rose attar was produced here. Nowadays, Bulgaria is among the top 4 producers in the world of roses, as well as a leading producer of lavender oil. You will be able to visit the regional history museum of Kazanluk (one of the oldest and richest museums in Bulgaria), Kazanluk Thracian Tomb (UNESCO site, copy, 3rd c BC), Goliama Kosmatka Thracian tomb (5th c BC), the Museum of Rose, etc. etc. In the afternoon continue towards the Black sea coast and Nessebur UNESCO town. Check-in at your hotel and time to enjoy the sea. Approximate mileage - 380 km

Day 6: Nessebur

Possible visit of the Old Nessebur, located on a small peninsula with many medieval churches and the local museum or relax on the beach. Overnight at the same hotel.

Day 7: Nessebur – Zhervna – Kotel - Arbanassi

Day dedicated to the small museum towns and villages of central Bulgaria. On the way to Arbanassi museum village, we suggest that you stop to Kotel and Zheravna – the main centers of the carpet industry in the past. Zheravna is an architectural reserve of national importance consisting of more than 200 wooden houses from the Bulgarian National Revival period (18th and 19th century). Afternoon arrival in Arbanassi, check-in at your hotel and overnight. Approximate mileage: 300 km

Day 8: Arbanassi – Veliko Turnovo - Arbanassi

A day dedicated to Veliko Turnovo - explore the Medieval capital city of Bulgaria ( 11-14th c ), picturesquely located on 4 hills above the Yantra river. You can walk in the Old town of Veliko Turnovo with Samovodska Charshia – the street of traditional crafts - potter, artisan cutler, coppersmith, carver, confectioner, weaver, icon-painters studio, photographer, café, a workshop where kadaif (a classic Middle Eastern pastry) is made, and a bakery – all in the style of the first decades of the 20th Century, Gurko Street and others. Visit Tsarevets Royal hill with the medieval fortress, Patriarh`s complex and Baldwin tower – the leader of the 4th Crusade, who was imprisoned there. Not far from Veliko Turnovo you can visit Transfiguration and / or Petropavlovski Monastery. Approximate mileage: 50 km

Day 9: Arbanassi – Sofia

Departure to Sofia, arrival after 3.5 h. Free time to explore the capital city of Bulgaria. A number of ancient Roman, Byzantine, and medieval Bulgarian buildings have been preserved in the city and its outskirts, including the UNESCO World Heritage site Boyana Church, the 4th c St. George Rotunda and the early Byzantine Basilica of St Sophia from 6th century. You will see as well Alexander Nevski Memorial Cathedral, Parliament Square, Sofia University, National Theatre, and the Old City Garden, the former Royal Palace, the ruins of Ancient Serdica close to the Presidency, and Arena di Serdica. Check-in at your hotel. Approximate mileage: 270 km

Day 10: Sofia – departure

Free time and drop off the car at Sofia Airport.