Prices and schedules of excursions in Bulgaria in 2016 – 2017

Excursions by the Bulgarian coast

Would you buy excursions or would you rather go on a DIY tour? To note, 90% of the popular and also little-known sites can be visited up to two times cheaper when traveling by public transport.

Yes, tour operators include various hard-to-reach sights in their itineraries, which you can see only by renting a car. But the fact is that many of these are uninteresting, but unless you want to explore as much of Bulgaria as possible — even with these uninteresting tourist spots — then by all means, do it.

The great thing about holidays along the coast is that you can do them all by yourself. You do not have to sign up to expensive excursions or guided tours. It’s easier to go there, provided that you have all prior preparations.


Sozopol – Ropotamo or the castle of Ravadinovo

Our opinion: Sozopol was not as beautiful as it is written on the Internet; maybe it is worse than Nessebar. Visiting Ravadinovo or Ropotamo depends on the day of the excursion. It will be smarter to purchase an individual excursion by car. It is much expensive (20 Euros), but will get you to more interesting spots in areas like Ropotamo and Ravadinovo.

Price of excursion:

  • 68 BGN – adult,
  • 34 BGN – child

Do not forget: comfortable shoes, money for souvenirs and purchases, a camera.

Days of the week: Tues, Wed, Fri, Sat

The beginning of the excursion: 8:00
End of the tour: 17:00

Where to read the description and see the photo: We recommend you to look at this option for an individual excursion

What’s in the program:

  • Sozopol – like Nessebar, but worse
  • Lunch in the restaurant
  • Option 1: boat trip on Ropotamo
  • Option 2: visiting the beautiful castle of Ravadinovo
  • Free time in Burgas

Sozopol – Ropotamo tour

The excursion going in two versions: with a visiting of the beautiful nature reserve of Ropotamo or with a stop at the really picturesque (but not old) castle of Ravadinovo, which translates as “In Love with the Wind”.

By itself, the city Sozopol does not look particularly impressive (despite the fact that the travel agencies call it the Bulgarian Jerusalem,or the Bulgarian Athens). One of our friends described it in this way: “Have you see Old Nessebar?” Here in Sozopol everything is the same, but three times smaller and not so concentrated. ” As in any Bulgarian town, in Sozopol there is a beautiful embankmentand very picturesque seascapes. Still here there is a small amphitheater, a little better than in Nessebar, but not as impressive as in Plovdiv. In Sozopol, you will have dinner in an ordinary restaurant with a beautiful name “Windmill”.

Further, depending on the day of the week (specify when buying an excursion), tourists go for a walk on a boat on the Ropotamo reserve, where you can see turtles, and with great luck other forest animals.

The second option is that you will enter to the castle of Ravadinovo. It was built quite recently, but “under the old days”. The territory of the castle is really very beautiful, the pictures are just fantastic.

The tour ends with a trip to Burgas – a large port city. Don`t count on an excellent shopping  – in 2016, prices in the city have become almost higher than in Sunny Beach, although the choice is good.

After a very short shopping, tourists are returned to Nessebar or to Sunny Beach. We would advise you to stay and see Burgas. The return ticket will cost only 6 levs, stop practically in the city center, ask the guide. The last bus leaves at 22:50.


Dolphinarium in Varna and the Monastery of Aladzha

Our opinion: It is interesting, but if the monastery of Aladzha is not principled for you, then it’s better to come alone. The ticket to Varna costs only 12 levs

Price of excursion:

  • 82 BGN – adult,
  • 41 BGN – child

Do not forget: comfortable shoes, pills for motion sickness, money for souvenirs and purchases, a camera, mineral water.

Days of the week: Thu, Sun

The beginning of the excursion: 8:00
End of the tour: 15:00

What’s in the program:

  • The rocky monastery of Aladzha
  • Visiting the Dolphinarium in Varna
  • Free time in Varna
  • Cathedral of the Holy Mother of God

Description of the excursion “Dolphinarium in Varna and Monastery of Aladzha” in Bulgaria:

Early in the morning you are waiting for departure from Sunny Beach. The road to Aladzha Monastery takes about 2 hours. Prepare for the fact that you will have to pass through some winding mountain serpentines – some can rock to sleep. On beautiful mountain landscapes on the way, unfortunately, you should not count.

The rock monastery of Aladzha is quite a picturesque and beautiful place, with which many legends and beliefs are connected. The monastery is no longer functioning and is a purely tourist attraction

Varna is one of the largest cities on the Bulgarian coast. After visiting the dolphinarium, you can count on a good shopping or sightseeing.

The excursion program ends with a visiting of the cathedral of the Holy Mother of God, the main tourist attraction of Varna.


Shopping in Varna

Our opinion: It is better to go by yourself. The ticket to Varna costs only 12 levs, The largest shopping center is right at the bus station

The price of shopping:

  • 49 levs – adult,
  • 25 levs – child

Do not forget: money, pills from motion sickness.

Days of the week: Thu, Sun

The beginning of shopping: 8:00
End of shopping: 15:00

What’s in the program:

  • Shopping in Varna

Description of the excursion “Shopping in Varna” in Bulgaria:

Exactly the same excursion as the previous one (even the bus is sometimes one and the same), but without all the sights. You will simply be brought to Varna, planted next to the shopping center, and then taken back.


Balchik – Palace “Quiet Nest” – Kaliakra

Our opinion: The tour is very good, but you can go to see the botanical garden of Balchik by yourself for 46 levs.

Price of excursion:

  • 86 BGN – adult,
  • 43 BGN – child

Do not forget: comfortable shoes, pills for motion sickness, money for wine tasting, camera, mineral water.

Days of the week: Mon, Sat

The beginning of the excursion: 8:00
End of the tour: 16:00

Where to read the description and see the photo: We recommend our article about the Botanical Garden of Balchik and the Palace of Queen Mary

What’s in the program:

Description of the excursion “Balchik – Palace” Silent nest “- Kaliakra” in Bulgaria:

The Botanical Garden in Balchik is really one of the most beautiful places on the Bulgarian coast. Picturesque waterfalls, magnificent nature, palm trees and cacti, stone stairs and much more. We were very satisfied.

The palace of the Romanian Queen Mary in reality was not at all interesting. Tourists were allowed only 2 floors, inside chalk-washed walls and some furniture. Virtually any European castle, not even the most popular, is much more interesting.

During the tour, we were offered tasting of vintage wines in a beautiful cellar on the territory of the bot.

Cape Kaliakra is a pretty place where you can admire the picturesque nature, barely preserved fortress and wind turbines. There are a lot of similar landscapes in Bulgaria and we saw such things during our trip around Bulgaria.


Excursions deep into the country – an opportunity to see real Bulgaria

We highly recommend you to buy these excursions from tour operators. If you go on a DIY trip, that would be difficult because public transport usually cannot reach to these remote areas. You can go by renting a car, but that would be too tedious and bothersome.

While there are pros, there are also cons in this excursions – tourists usually have time limit in actually exploring these places.


Veliko Tarnovo, Arbanassi – Boyarsky Spaces

Our opinion: These are really excellent excursions, and we highly recommend them.

Price of excursion:

  • 109 BGN – adult,
  • 55 BGN – child

Do not forget: comfortable shoes, pills for motion sickness, money for souvenirs, warm outer clothing, clothes for churches, a camera, mineral water.

Days of the week: Wed

The beginning of the excursion: 6:00
End of the tour: 17:00

What’s in the program:

  • Arbanassi
  • Holy Assumption Monastery
  • Veliko Tarnovo
  • Historical complex “Tsarevets”
  • Lunch and free time

Description of the excursion “Veliko Tarnovo, Arbanassi – Boyarskie Prostory” in Bulgaria:

Despite being a modest and not being popular option, this has got to be one of the best trips we’ve had in Bulgaria.

Departure from Nessebar to Sunny beach is at 6:00 to 6:30 AM. Already by eleven you will drive up to the ancient village of Arbanassi, which is one of the most beautiful sights in Bulgaria. The population here is only under 300.  You can see the picturesque courtyards with flowers, old Bulgarian houses with preserved interior decoration and the Holy Assumption Monastery. Inside the monastery you will find a particularly revered icon of the Holy Mother of God of the Three Hills and several icons from the 17th and 18th centuries.

The medieval city of Veliko Tarnovo, once the capital of the Second Bulgarian Kingdom, is notable not only for its unique architecture, but also for the unusual arrangement of buildings in different levels – very similar to small Italian or Greek towns.

In Veliko Tarnovo you will take a walk along the historical complex Tsarevets, which is considered to be entirely an architectural reserve.

After lunch, the bus with tourists returns to their own lodgings on the picturesque mountain roads of Bulgaria.


Valley of roses – Shipka – Etyr

Our opinion: the tour is good, but you have to come here from May to the end of June, while roses are still in bloom.

Price of excursion:

  • 99 BGN – adult,
  • 50 BGN – the child

Do not forget: Comfortable shoes, pills for motion sickness, money for souvenirs, decent clothes for churches, warm clothes, a camera, mineral water.

Days of the week: Thu, Sun

The beginning of the excursion: 6:00
End of the tour: 21:00

What’s in the program:

  • Valley of roses
  • Museum of Roses in Kazanlak
  • The top of Stara Planina
  • The monument “Shipka”
  • Etar – museum of crafts

Description of the tour “Valley of roses – Shipka – Etir” in Bulgaria:

Upon arrival in Kazanlak you will visit the “Rose Museum” which is the only one in the world. It would be very cool to get here on the first weekend of June, when the Feast of Roses is held. They say that the spectacle is unforgettable.

The next element of the program is the Thracian tomb. In the original tomb you will not be allowed to go, but you can visit an authentic copy.

Then you will be invited to visit the Shipka Museum and have a lunch. Afterwards there is a long way to go among the mountains, an opportunity to look at the monument to Russian soldiers and the museum of crafts Etyr.


Plovdiv and Bachkovo

Our opinion: Not a bad excursion, it’s worth a trip.

Price of excursion:

  • 139 BGN – adult,
  • 70 BGN – child

Do not forget: comfortable shoes, pills for motion sickness, money for souvenirs, clothes for churches, a camera, mineral water.

Days of the week: Tue

The beginning of the excursion: 6:00
End of the tour: 19:00

What’s in the program:

  • Bachkovo Monastery
  • Free time
  • Walking tour around Plovdiv
  • Church of Saints Constantine and Helena
  • Free time

Description of the excursion “Plovdiv and Bachkovo Monastery” in Bulgaria:

During the tour you will have the opportunity to visit the second largest monastery in Bulgaria – Bachkovsky. It was founded in 1083. The monastery itself is quite beautiful and there is something to see.

Further free time is planned – you can take pictures or take a lunch.

Plovdiv is one of the oldest cities in Europe, standing on seven hills (like Rome). The city is both ancient and modern, with many factories and plants, and, at the same time, with the buildings of the Byzantine Empire.

After a walking tour of the old part of the city you will have free time – you can have a snack or take a few photos.

You will return to Sunny Beach rather late.


Plovdiv – Rupite – Rila Monastery

Our opinion: Good excursion for 2 days.

Price of excursion:

  • 219 BGN – adult,
  • 100 BGN – the child

Do not forget: comfortable shoes, pills for motion sickness, money for souvenirs, clothes for churches, a camera, mineral water.

Days of the week: Tuesday

The beginning of the excursion: 6:00
End of the tour: 21:00
Duration of the tour: 2 дня.

What’s in the program:

  • Plovdiv
  • Bachkovo Monastery
  • The smallest city in Bulgaria – Melnik
  • Rupite
  • The Church of St. Petka of Bulgaria
  • Vanga’s house in Petrich
  • Rila Monastery

Description of the excursion “Plovdiv – Rupite – Rila Monastery” in Bulgaria:

People who are into magic and mystery will have find enjoyment in this excursion. It includes the 2 most important monasteries in Bulgaria and visits to places associated with the legendary prophetess Vanga.

Day 1: Early in the morning you will travel to Plovdiv – one of the oldest cities in Bulgaria, standing on 7 hills. After a short walking tour, you will move to the Bachkovo Monastery and visit the second largest monastery in the country. Then, you will move to the smallest town in Bulgaria – Melnik. After a short walk, a hearty meal awaits you.

Day 2: After breakfast you will be brought to Rupite, where you can see the church of St. Petka of Bulgaria. After a short excursion you will walk along Petrich, where the house of the prophetess Vanga is located. The excursion ends with a visit to the Rila Monastery, the most famous and revered in Bulgaria.

Other articles about excursions in Bulgaria: