The 15 Best Bulgaria Day Trips from Bucharest

1.Full Day Trip to Bulgaria from Bucharest

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 343 reviews · 12 hours (approx.) · from $95Our pick

Cross from Bucharest into Bulgaria on a 12-hour guided trip with Gray Line Romania. See Ruse, Veliko Tarnovo, Tsarevets Fortress, and Arbanasi, with transport, guide commentary, and central pickup included. Guides such as Lucian, Narcis, and Roberto are often praised for lively history talks. Bring border documents, euros, and patience for possible bridge delays.

“The guide is very informative, funny and great at english! We had no troubles following along, and even though we waited a while at the bridge, it was no problem, and everyone stayed joyous!”

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2.Day Trip to Medieval Bulgaria- Small group tour

★★★★★★★★★★3.5 · 75 reviews · 12 hours (approx.) · from $78

Travel from Bucharest to northern Bulgaria with hotel pickup, a licensed guide, and an air-conditioned car or minivan. Visit Ivanovo’s rock-hewn churches, Tsarevets Fortress in Veliko Tarnovo, and traditional Arbanasi. Expect a 12-hour day, border delays, separate entrance fees, and limited time at each stop.

“Great trip and excursion outside Bucharest, if you want to visit one more country without staying a night. Our guide Adrian was very knowledgable and informative and able to tell us all the interesting stories of each places. Small group with spacious wagon van. Each stops we had more than enough time to explore.”

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3.Bulgaria -Private Tour- Basarbovo, Arbanasi, Veliko Tarnovo

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 72 reviews · 11 hours (approx.) · from $170Top rated

Travel from Bucharest into northern Bulgaria with a private English-speaking guide such as Sebastian, Bogdan, or Radu. Visit a rock-hewn Orthodox monastery, Arbanasi’s fortified houses, Tsarevets Fortress, and Veliko Tarnovo’s craft quarter. Expect an 11-hour day, three hours each way by car, optional lunch, and extra entrance fees.

“Amazing tour! So glad we got to see the beauty of another country in one day. Sebastian was a great tour guide. Very knowledgable. Knew where to go and exactly what to show us.”

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4.Small-Group Day Trip to North Bulgaria

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 60 reviews · 12 hours (approx.) · from $71Best value

Travel from Bucharest into Northern Bulgaria in a small air-conditioned minivan. Visit Ivanovo’s rock-hewn churches, Tsarevets Fortress in Veliko Tarnovo, and Arbanasi with an English-speaking guide such as Serban, Valentin, or Mathew. Expect a full day, border delays, stairs, separate admission fees, and a group of no more than 16.

“The trip was really rushed. While I’m glad that I had a chance to visit the places that we visited, which were really worthwhile, I was really disappointed in how the trip was conducted. The “guide” was not a guide at all, merely a driver and facilitator. He just seemed to want to get us back to Bucharest as quickly as possible. Hardly said a word and just left us to our own devices. The trip did not meet the details described. I would hesitate to book a trip with Viator on the back of this, feel let down.”

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5.Visit Bulgaria – Veliko Tarnovo Medieval Fortress – Private tour from Bucharest

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 51 reviews · 12 hours (approx.) · from $177

Travel from Bucharest into Bulgaria in a private, air-conditioned vehicle with hotel pickup. Visit the inhabited cliff monastery of St. Dimitrii Basarbovo, explore Tsarevets Fortress and Veliko Tarnovo, then see Arbanasi and its National Revival houses. Guides such as Alin, Octavian, and Victor are noted for history, flexibility, and thoughtful driving.

“Our guide was wonderful and attentive. Great driver and very personable. It was a long way back and it was a very hot day but it was worth the trip.”

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6.Private Day Trip to Bulgaria and Veliko Tarnovo from Bucharest

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 34 reviews · 10 to 12 hours (approx.) · from $299

Leave Bucharest at 8:00 am with a private English-speaking guide such as Claudia, Florin, or Cristi. Cross the Danube, explore Veliko Tarnovo and Tsarevets Fortress, then visit Arbanassi’s painted Nativity Church. Expect a long road day, comfortable transport, hotel pickup, water, and a lunch stop at your own cost.

“Even though this trip took a few hours from Bucharest to Bulgaria it gave you a good look at the scenery and little towns along the way. We learnt a lot of history of the area on this day trip. Veliko Tarnovo is classified as Bulgaria's own Machu Picchu.”

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7.Private Daytrip to Buzludzha Monument and Veliko Tarnovo

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 19 reviews · 12 hours (approx.) · from $360

Travel from Bucharest into Bulgaria with OnAdventure and guide Alex, also called Alessandro. You’ll cross the Danube, visit Tsarevets Fortress in Veliko Tarnovo, learn about the battles at Shipka, and see Buzludzha’s flying-saucer monument high in the mountains. Pickup, snacks, drinks, and entrance fees are included.

“If you're a fan of beautiful nature, abandoned buildings and good food thank this tour is a perfect choice.”

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8.Bulgaria -Private Tour – Caves, Waterfalls, Hiking, National Park

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 13 reviews · 11 hours (approx.) · from $179

Leave Bucharest for a private 11-hour day in Bulgaria. Walk to Ivanovo’s cliff churches, follow forest paths at Krushuna Waterfalls, and enter vast Devetashka Cave. English-speaking guides such as Octavian, Sebastian, Roxana, Victor, and Leo have led this trip. Bring sturdy shoes and cash for the three entrance fees.

“My friend any I had a wonderful day on our trip with our guide Octavian. The Orlova Chuka cave was amazing, it felt like being on the moon! The Krushuna waterfalls were beautiful and the Devatashka cave at the end was the icing on the cake. The best part of our day though was spending it with our amazing guide, Octavian! He was very knowledgeable about the area, had a GREAT sense of humor, and he took the best pictures of us. When I come back to visit again I am definitely going to request that Octavian be our guide again. Thank you!”

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9.Bulgaria Day Trip: Private Tour from Bucharest

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 11 reviews · 10 hours (approx.) · from $171

Travel from Bucharest into Bulgaria by private minivan, visiting Basarbovo Rock Monastery, Ivanovo’s medieval rock churches, and Veliko Tarnovo. The 10-hour trip includes hotel pickup, an English-speaking guide, and round-trip transport. Claudiu Sorin has earned especially warm praise, but guide quality has varied, so confirm who will lead your tour.

“The monastery, rock hewn churches and the Veliko Tarnovo Fortress all were amazing in their own unique ways”

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10.Buzludzha Monument and Tsarevets Fortress in Bulgaria Private

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 8 reviews · 14 hours (approx.) · from $227

Leave Bucharest at 7:00 am with an English-speaking guide such as Bogdan, Octavian, or Sebastian for a private 14-hour trip into Bulgaria. Explore Tsarevets Fortress in Veliko Tarnovo, then head into the Balkan Mountains to see Buzludzha’s striking communist-era ruins from outside. Lunch and fortress admission cost extra.

“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…”

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11.Private Day Trip to Medieval Bulgaria from Bucharest

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 7 reviews · from $272

Cross from Bucharest into Bulgaria with a private English-speaking guide such as Gabi or Cokco. Visit the frescoed Ivanovo Rock Churches, Tsarevets Fortress, Veliko Tarnovo, Samovodene’s craft workshops, Arbanassi’s traditional homes, and Ruse. Hotel pickup, entrance fees, water, Wi-Fi, and private transport are included.

“Wow, what a wonderful day trip to see the beautiful Bulgaria!! This tour inspired us to want to spend more time in Bulgaria in the future. Gabi was a phenomenal tour guide. He picked us up promptly and did a great job weaving historical stories and personal stories throughout the day. We loved learning so much about the land, the people, the architecture, religion, and groups in power through the centuries. Tour was a good balance of free time and dedicated learning time. I thought the stops along the way were thoughtfully designed and made for a great trip.Read more”

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12.Private Day-Trip to Medieval Bulgaria from Bucharest

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 7 reviews · from $205

Leave Bucharest at 8:00 a.m. for a private Bulgarian history tour with hotel pickup, an air-conditioned vehicle, and a personal guide. Visit Ivanovo’s rock churches, Tsarevets Fortress in Veliko Tarnovo, Samovodene Artisans Street, Arbanassi’s Konstantsalieva House, and Ruse. Bring your passport and expect a long day with plenty of driving.

“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 Read more”

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13.Day Trip to Bulgaria and Veliko Tarnovo from Bucharest

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 7 reviews · 11 to 12 hours (approx.) · from $82

Leave Bucharest at 7:30 a.m. with a guide such as Gabriel and cross into Bulgaria by air-conditioned minibus. Visit Basarbovo Cave Monastery, explore Veliko Tarnovo, and walk to Arbanasi. Expect about 11 to 12 hours on the road, a small group of up to 18 people, steep paths, and extra fees for entry tickets.

“Great day! It’s lots of driving but the guide was very friendly and helpful. Gave us great instructions at each stop for things to see and where to meet.”

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14.Explore Northern Bulgaria Day Trip from Bucharest

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 6 reviews · 12 hours (approx.) · from $220

Cross the Danube from Bucharest with an English-speaking private guide and spend a full day in northern Bulgaria. Visit the cave monastery at Basarabov, Tsarevets Fortress, artisan-lined Samovodene Street, and the UNESCO-listed village of Arbanassi. Guides such as Angelica and Ian add history, humor, and flexible help along the way.

“Great way to see Bulgaria from Bucharest. Our tour guide Angelica was very knowledgeable, friendly, and attentive. We stopped at a restaurant in Bulgaria recommended by Angelica - the food was delicious and the staff were friendly. Lots of photo opportunities - I would definately recommend this tour !”

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15.Bulgaria Day Trip – Private Tour from Bucharest – Veliko Tarnavo & Arbanasi

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 4 reviews · from $347

Travel from Bucharest into Bulgaria in an air-conditioned private vehicle with a guide, stopping at Basarbovo Monastery, Veliko Tarnovo, and Arbanasi Village. You get a full day of medieval sights, traditional food, narrow streets, and remarkable stone houses. Silvia has guided at least one departure, with pickup and transport included.

“Excelente tour realizado por Silvia nuestra guía turística y nuestro chofer realmente de primera categoría . Muy bueno todo , puntuales y muy profesionales, recomiendo un 100% .”

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