Part of our Bulgaria guide.
This page gathers two itineraries: the 9 best day trips from Plovdiv and the 13 best day trips from Sofia. Use Plovdiv as a base to explore the surrounding region, or base yourself in Sofia for a different set of excursions.
The 9 Best Day Trips From Plovdiv
Plovdiv sits in the heart of Bulgaria. Options include the ancient theatre at Plovdiv itself, the Bachkovo Monastery, the town of Asenovgrad with its fortress, the Rhodope Mountains, the Thracian tomb at Kazanlak, the Rose Valley (best visited in June during the rose harvest), the town of Karlovo, the Koprivshtitsa architectural reserve, and the Buzludzha monument. For a full list of local highlights, see the best things to do in Plovdiv on this site.
The 13 Best Day Trips From Sofia, Bulgaria
Sofia lies at the foot of Vitosha Mountain and has convenient transport links. The 13 day trips include the Rila Monastery, the Boyana Church, the town of Veliko Tarnovo, the Etar Architectural-Ethnographic Complex, the Seven Rila Lakes, the Belogradchik Rocks, the Magura Cave, the town of Melnik and its wine region, the Rozhen Monastery, the Bansko ski resort, the town of Plovdiv itself, the Koprivshtitsa town, and the Vitosha Mountain hiking trails. For more ideas across the country, browse our things to do in Bulgaria and hiking and the outdoors in Bulgaria pages. If you are planning a trip in summer, check the dates for the Bansko jazz festival– line up, program and schedule. For practical advice on transport, see getting around Bulgaria.
Rila Monastery is about two hours by car or bus; the Boyana Church is a short bus ride from the city centre; Veliko Tarnovo is roughly three hours east; the Seven Rila Lakes involve a cable car ride and a hike; Belogradchik Rocks are about two hours north-west; Magura Cave is near the rocks and can be combined in one day; Melnik is about two hours south; Bansko is about two and a half hours south; and Vitosha Mountain is accessible by public transport from the city. For personal accounts of these trips, read our Bulgarian travel stories and tips.
