Sofia and a day at Rila Monastery, then Plovdiv with Roman ruins and Bachkovo, and on to the medieval capital of Veliko Tarnovo and the churches of Arbanasi.
7 days, 40 stopsBalanced paceMay to Jun, Sep to OctApproved by TravPa Editors, Nov 7, 2026
Trip at a glance
Add your first day to see each day's date, weather, sunset and closing days.
Day 1: Nevsky Cathedral, Serdica and the market hall
The Neo-Byzantine cathedral, a museum of Thracian and Roman finds, the Roman streets of Serdica, a market-hall lunch and a boulevard dinner.
1
9:30 AMAlexander Nevsky CathedralArrive early, while it is quiet. Dress modestly with covered shoulders and knees; the cathedral closes at 5:30 PM.About 30 min here
Open daily until 5:30 PM
Walk about 10 min
2
10:15 AMNational Archaeological MuseumAllow about 90 min for the Thracian gold and Roman finds. Closed Mondays from November to April.About 1 hour 45 min here
Adult: €6 (about $7) · Pay at the door; closed Mondays Nov to Apr
12:00 PMAncient Serdica complexWalk the Roman street under Nezavisimost Square. The Largo area is free to enter every day from 7 AM to 10 PM.About 1 hour here
Largo area free every day, 7 AM to 10 PM
Walk about 5 min
4
1:00 PMCentral Sofia Market HallBrowse the stalls of the 1911 market hall for a quick lunch. Stall hours vary, so eat early in the day.About 1 hour 30 min here
Pay as you go
Walk about 5 min
5
2:30 PMOptionalChurch of St George RotundaThe 4th-century rotunda sits in a courtyard off Dondukov Boulevard. Opening hours are not posted online, so skip it if closed.About 1 hour 30 min here
Check the opening hours
Walk about 5 min
6
4:00 PMBanya Bashi MosqueAdmire the 16th-century dome from outside. It is an active mosque, so go inside only outside prayer times.About 2 hours 15 min here
Active mosque; visit outside prayer times
Walk about 12 min
7
6:30 PMVitosha BoulevardTake a table on the pedestrian boulevard, where restaurants and coffeeshops line the street, with Vitosha mountain at its far end.
Pay as you go
Before you go
Book these aheadBoyana Church (day 2): timed tickets, or tickets that often sell out.
Hire a driverThe Rila, Bachkovo and Arbanasi days and the long drives between cities are easiest with a hired driver or rental car.
Shorter hours from OctoberTsarevets and the Arbanasi churches open and close earlier from October, and some Arbanasi sites shut on weekdays in winter.
Dress for monasteriesCover shoulders and knees at Rila, Bachkovo and the Arbanasi churches, and take hats off inside.
Skip the Monday trapPlovdiv museums close on Mondays and the archaeological museum in Sofia closes Mondays in winter. Shift days to avoid them.
Carry some cashBulgaria uses the euro. Keep some small bills for monastery visits, craft workshops and small cafés.
Book a late flight homeThe last day ends with a drive of about 3 hours to Sofia Airport, so book a flight after 6 PM.
Where to stay for this plan
Base yourself in central Sofia for two nights, in or near Kapana in Plovdiv for three, and in the old town of Veliko Tarnovo for one.
Map and live prices from Stay22 and its booking partners. TravPa earns a commission if you book; your price stays the same.
Plan last checked Nov 7, 2026. Check individual fee sources before you go. TravPa earns a commission when you book through a partner; your price stays the same.
