Top Sofia Tours, Sightseeing & Cruises - page 2

After belonging to many empires over time (including Roman, Byzantine, Ottoman, and most recently Yugoslavian), Macedonia gained its independence in 1991. This influence from different eras and cultures has made its mark on the appearance of Skopje. Skopje is the capital and largest city of North Macedonia. It is the country's political, cultural, economic, and academic centre. Тhe city has long been shared by Christians and Muslims. - Feel the spirit of time in ancient Skopie and discover its modern transformation from the "Project 2014". - Save time finding a meeting point with hotel pickup and drop-off included - Learn about the city’s history and culture from an experienced guide! - Visting Old Bazaar + Caravanserais - Sultan Murad Mosque - Memorial House of Mother Teresa - Church of the Holy Savior Note: Bring your passport!

Experience the beauty of Bulgaria’s scenery by going on this small-group day trip to the Seven Rila Lakes. Opting for a guided tour means there’s no need to study a map or worry about getting lost. Simply follow a guide to discover the magnificent lakeside scenery, with round-trip transfers included for extra convenience.

Get an in-depth exploration of the Bulgarian capital on this full-day tour of Sofia. Set out from your hotel and travel in an air-conditioned minivan. Accompanied by a guide, visit Boyana Church, the National Historical Museum, Pancharevo Lake, and more. Take a walking tour through the city center and learn about Bulgarian history from your guide.

Save yourself the hassle of hiring a car, and get to two highlights of northern Macedonia with ease, thanks to this small-group day trip. After getting picked up from Sofia, the trip visits the capital city of Skopje to tick off a variety of local landmarks—such as Skopje Fortress, Macedonia Square, and the Memorial House of Mother Teresa. The trip also showcases the natural wonder of Matka Canyon, where you can embark on a boat trip through a cave.

Discover the beautiful parks of downtown Sofia on this guided bike tour. Conveniently, a bike and helmet are provided, so you don’t have to organize your own rental, and a guide takes care of the navigating. Along the way, see magnificent scenery, pass by top landmarks—such as the National Palace of Culture and the Ivan Vazov National Theater—and learn fun facts about the city too.

Venture away from the bustling city of Sofia and discover the natural landscapes of Bulgaria during this small-group tour. Visit three of the country’s most popular, and beautiful, caves and learn about how these underground locations have been used throughout the centuries. See the corridors and halls of Saeva dupka, then head to Bulgari’s most famous cave, Prohodna—also known as the ‘Eyes of God’—before concluding at Devetashka.

Lovers of landscapes will adore this guided, small-group tour to the rocky vistas around Belogradchik town. Travel through the Balkan Mountains to Belogradchik, then admire the spectacular rock formations and ancient fortress. Enjoy the stalagmites and stalactites of Venetsa Cave and—if there’s time—see the towering Vratsata Gorge before your guide returns you to your hotel.

Getting around Kosovo and North Macedonia independently is a slow and time-consuming business. Discover them with a driver/guide and a small group of like-minded travelers on this 2-day adventure from Sofia, with an overnight stay at a 3-star hotel in historic Prizren. See bazaars, medieval bridges, giant statues, Ottoman mosques, mountaintop fortresses, and more on a whirlwind tour of two of the Balkans’ most fascinating and least visited nations.

Zip around Sofia’s historic landmarks in a traditional Trabant car on this private 2-hour tour. Learn about life in Bulgaria during the communist era as you pass landmarks such as the National Palace of Culture, the former Headquarters of the Communist Party, the Central Department Store, and the State Archive Agency.

Dive deep into Bulgarian history on a 10-hour group tour to the Valley of the Thracian Kings region. Beginning and ending at your Sofia accommodation, comfortable transportation enables you to cover a number of destinations in a short amount of time. Along the way, listen to mysterious stories about Orpheus and Spartacus. You also enjoy guided visits to Ostrusha Tomb, Golyama Kosmatka Mound, and the UNESCO listed Tomb of Kazanlak.

Discover two of Bulgaria’s UNESCO World Heritage gems on this day self-guided day tour from Sofia. Traveling by minivan, admire rural Bulgaria en route to the Rila Monastery in the pine-carpeted Rila Mountains. Take a self-guided tour of the medieval treasure with its fresco-coated church, and visit its fascinating museum. Then, after time to explore independently, continue to Boyana Church, near Sofia, to marvel at its spectacular pre-Renaissance frescoes. This tour is with an English-speaking driver only.

Discover Plovdiv, the 2019 European Capital of Culture, and the mighty Asen’s Fortress on this full-day small-group tour from Sofia. Explore the atmospheric Old Town of Plovdiv on a guided walking tour; go back in time with a virtual reality experience; enjoy a typical Bulgarian lunch at a local restaurant (own expense), then marvel at the views from the mountaintop medieval castle.

Discover one of Bulgaria’s UNESCO World Heritage gems on this day trip from Sofia. Admire rural Bulgaria en route to the Rila Monastery in the pine-carpeted Rila Mountains. Take a guided tour of this medieval treasure with its fresco-coated church. After time to explore independently, visit the Cave of St. Ivan - one of the most sacred places in Bulgaria. Please kindly note that on some dates the free time at the Rila Monastery may be shorter due to traffic, group size, or complementary stop at Boyana church. Below you can find detailed itinerary of the tour: 09:00 - Alexander Nevsky Cathedral 12:00-12:15 - Estimated time of arrival at Rila Monastery 12:15-13:00 - Guided visit to the Monastery 13:00-14:00 - Free time for lunch or further explorations of the area on your own 14:00-15:00 - Visit the St. Ivan Cave 15:00 - Depart from Rila Monastery back to Sofia 17:00 - Estimated time of arrival at Alexander Nevsky Cathedral

Feel like a Sofia local on this 3-hour afternoon city and food walking tour. Check out historical highlights such as the National Theater and King’s Palace, and see the Rotunda St. George, Banya Bashi Mosque, Synagogue, and St. Nedelya Church. Stop on route to taste ‘shopska’ salad and an ‘ayryan’ yogurt drink; shop for culinary goodies at the Central Hali Market; and finish with tastings of Bulgarian wine and cold meats at a traditional restaurant.

Travel back in time to the Socialist Republic of Bulgaria on a full-day Communist tour. Provided round-trip transportation from your hotel eliminates the guesswork of navigating public buses on your own. After a visit to the Museum of Socialist Art in Sofia, relax during a scenic country drive to the Buzludzha monument. Along the way, listen to in-depth commentary about the country’s eventful history from 1946 to 1989.

Immerse yourself in the natural landscapes of the Rila Mountains National Park on this full-day hiking tour from Sofia. Set out on a 3- or 5-hour hike around the seven Rila lakes; enjoy spectacular views of Okoto Lake, Lakes Peak, and Bubreka Lake; then relax with a soak in the hot springs at the Sapareva Banya Spa resort.

With its lakes, waterfalls, caves, and forests, Pirin National Park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site—but it’s hard to reach without your own transport. Skip the hassle of researching routes and join a guide for a scenic hike past three of the beautiful Banderishka Lakes. After lunch (own expense) in Bansko, Bulgaria’s biggest ski resort, take a short walking tour of its historic quarter, then return to your Sofia hotel.

Get out of Sofia and learn about rose oil on this guided tour. Visit the Valley of the Roses, a center of rose oil production before continuing on to the Thracian tomb in Kazanlak to learn about its history from your guide. Admire the architecture at the 19th-century Memorial Temple of the Birth of Christ. It is important to note that rose blooms can only be seen from mid-May to mid-June.

Leave the crowds of Sofia behind for the day and take a small group tour to Rila Monastery and Boyana Church. Relax as comfortable transportation takes you from the city and into the scenic Bulgarian countryside. Discover 10th-century medieval history at Rila Monastery, then see some of the best preserved Orthodox frescoes in Europe at the Boyana Church. Enjoy immersive guided visits at both UNESCO sites, along with free admission.

Cover ground that’s unimaginable by public transport and check off three of Bulgaria’s key attractions safely on this private, fully guided day tour. Hike to—and through!—Prohodna Cave, explore beautiful Saeva Dupka cave, then tour the 13th-century Glozhene Monastery. Besides your private driver/guide, enjoy a dedicated caving guide in Saeva Dupka.

Experience old-time Bulgaria on this small-group tour of Veliko Tarnovo and Arbanassi from Sofia. Travel by air-conditioned minivan to Tarnovo, a one-time medieval craft center and capital of the Second Bulgarian Empire. Stroll the cobbled streets, discover the craft shops, explore Tsarevets Fortress, once a stronghold of Bulgaria’s tsars, and visit nearby Arbanassi village, famous for its well-preserved stone houses and church frescoes. Central Sofia pickup and drop-off included, with entrance fees at own expense.

See ancient caves and visit a 13th-century monastery with this small-group tour from Sofia. You'll visit the Prohodna Cave, known as the God's Eyes Cave in English, and the Saeva Dupka Cave, known for its fantastic acoustics (in fact, it sometimes serves as a concert venue). You’ll also visit the fortress-like Glozhene Monastery—which dates to the 13th century—before returning to Sofa.

Admire the sights of Sofia by night before dinner and a folklore show on this evening tour. Take a panoramic drive around Bulgaria’s capital to see its illuminated highlights, including the floodlit Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, National Palace of Culture, and more. Then, savor a 3-course Bulgarian dinner complemented with a live folklore show of traditional local music and dance. Dinner, show, air-conditioned transport, and central hotel pickup and drop-off included.