1 Week In Bulgaria Itinerary – Sofia, Plovdiv, Rila & More

While the Black Sea beaches draw most tourists to Bulgaria, this streamlined one-week itinerary will focus on the culture, history, and nature of Bulgaria. It includes two wonderful cities, visits to the stunning Rila Monastery and 7 lakes, and more.

I traveled through Bulgaria for 2 weeks, but have boiled my experience down to my recommended route for a 1-week trip. Because I traveled a bit longer, I’ll mention several alternative options and additions along the way.

I loved my time in Bulgaria and consider it an authentic and diamond-in-the-rough destination. It may be thoroughly underhyped, but it’s far from the typical tourist crowds in Europe and is sure to surprise you at every turn!

Bulgaria in 1 Week

With one week available, I suggest keeping things streamlined and planning a two-base trip around Sofia and Plovdiv, two cities that are just three hours apart but very different from each other. They both make for ideal springboards to other sights in the region.

This itinerary assumes you will be traveling by bus, train, or local tour.

DAY 1 + 2: SOFIA

Bulgaria’s capital positively surprised me. I should say that it’s a big and modern city and some parts can be a little ugly, but it also has some fascinating sights and you definitely shouldn’t rush through it!

I had read some lukewarm online comments on Sofia and came across several guides on how to spend just 24 hours there. However, I think it can easily be worth staying several nights.

My suggestion is to stay for three days in Sofia: spend two days seeing the city and one for a day trip into the region.

Mind you, Sofia is no Paris or Rome. It isn’t a very ‘Instagrammy’ city and it’s mostly modern with a fair bit of communist-era architecture. What it does offer is a lot of street life, street art, history, several good museums, a small creative scene, and yes — some very beautiful historical architecture too.

There are other Balkan capitals I liked a little more (such as Sarajevo or Tirana), but Sofia quickly grew on me as I got to know it better. It’s arguably the best place to learn about Bulgaria. It’s also very green, with several huge parks and the Vitosha Mountains close by.

I loved my time in Sofia, though judging by the opinions of other travelers it may be a bit love-or-hate-it. I’m just trying to paint a picture here so you know what to expect, though I think it’s the perfect starting point for your Bulgaria itinerary.

Essentials in Sofia

• Take a walking tour. Knowing the stories behind the monuments and facades will bring everything to life. You’ll see Sofia with different eyes guaranteed. This is the kind of city where a walking tour is pretty much essential!
• Explore the Art District. I didn’t see this mentioned in any Sofia guides but this was probably my favorite part of the city! Go here for street art, cute cafes, and boutique shops. You can also take this Sofia street art tour.
• Experience the Red Flat. This incredible immersive experience gives you a real sense of daily life in 1980s socialist Bulgaria.
• Visit the Archeological Museum. Housed in a former mosque, this small museum shows off impressive pieces from Thracian, Roman, and Ottoman times.
• See the Alexander Nevsky Church. This is Sofia’s iconic building, a neo-Byzantine Orthodox cathedral that is impressive on the in- and outside.

But there are more things to do in Sofia that I’ve covered in its own guide. While you can tick the essentials off the list in a day if you rush, I suggest spending two days so you can take it easy and explore a bit on your own time.

In Sofia, I personally stayed in two hotels that I recommend:

• Arte Sofia Hotel is a wonderful option that just couldn’t be more central — you’re just steps away from the key sights! While it lacks a public lobby, the rooms are clean and comfortable and I really liked the buffet breakfast.
• Generaator Sofia is more of a budget option that’s a 15-minute walk north of the central square near the Art District. No breakfast is offered here but the facilities were good and the rooms are good value as well.

DAY 3: DAY TRIP FROM SOFIA

A good reason to stay at least three nights in Sofia is that its central location makes it easy to book a day trip.

You can find a lot of day trip options on GetYourGuide or Viator.

You’ll get picked up from your hotel in Sofia (or a central pickup point), and then all you have to do is enjoy your day. It’s the best way to get out of the cities in Bulgaria when you don’t want to waste time dealing with complicated local transportation. On a one-week trip, taking a local tour or two will let you see more with limited time.

I have four suggestions for day trips. I have actually done all four of these, so let me spill the beans for you here.

Day Trip: Rila Monastery & 7 Lakes Hike

This tour, which combines the UNESCO Heritage-listed Rila Monastery with a hike around the 7 Lakes of Rila, is my best suggestion for a fantastic day out.

I think most people will love this trip! It doesn’t involve quite as much driving as other tours, and it includes two amazing places.

What I liked about this tour is that it’s self-guided. A shuttle minibus will take you to the sights, but then you can do everything at your own pace.

You’ll still get a full briefing in the morning with a printed map and background info. There’s also a WhatsApp group through which you’ll receive detailed and helpful instructions. I thought this tour was super well organized, and it’s the best way to see these somewhat distant sights, which are about a 90-minute drive outside Sofia.

Rila Monastery is stunning, but keep in mind it will take no more than an hour or so to see, so it’s worth getting a tour that combines it with something else.

The 7 Lakes mountain hike is stunning and includes spectacular views and alpine landscapes. A ski lift will take you to an elevation of 2,196 m where you can choose from several routes depending on your level of fitness and/or motivation. The full circuit will take about 5 hours, but you can cut it down to about 2 hours by taking a shorter loop. There is a chalet where you can grab a drink or meal.

Although it’s a mountain hike, I would consider it broadly accessible based on the various routes you can take. So even if you’re not a mountain goat, you’ll surely enjoy the 7 lakes.

But if you’re really not into hiking, the alternative is the Rila Monastery & Boyana Church tour.

Boyana is a small 10th-century UNESCO-listed church on the outskirts of Sofia with some impressive frescoes inside. I do think it’s a lot of driving for just Rila Monastery and Boyana, so I’d go with the 7 Lakes option if you can.

Other Day Trips

Want to be a bit more original? Or maybe do not one but two day trips from Sofia? Then there are two other day trips I highly recommend.

Full-Day Tour to Belogradchik

Belogradchik was probably the best thing I did in Bulgaria. This unique ancient fortress is built inside natural rock pillars, looking like something straight out of Game of Thrones or Lord of the Rings. The views from the top are absolutely jaw-dropping.

Getting there takes 3 hours one way, so not everyone may be willing to do this as a day trip. On the plus side, the road follows the Iskar Gorge through the Balkan Mountains, offering beautiful views of rugged crags and limestone towers for much of the way. The tour also includes a visit to the Venetsa Cave.

I took a train to Belogradchik and stayed overnight, but you can also do it as a day trip from Sofia. Not many people visit Belogradchik, so you’ll likely be able to enjoy a stunning location without crowds. If you want to go off-path in Bulgaria, here’s your chance! I’ve included more detailed instructions on how to get there in my guide to Belgradchik.

Lovech, Devetaki Cave, and Krushuna Waterfalls Tour

Lovech is a cute historical town about two hours northeast of Sofia. It is mainly known for its wooden covered bridge.

However, the real highlight of this trip is the Devetashka Cave—an absolutely enormous cavern with multiple gaps in the ceiling through which light beams enter the space. This cathedral-like cave is sure to leave you in awe!

The cave is not accessible by public transport, so unless you have your own vehicle, an organized tour is the best way to see it.

A visit to Krushuna Waterfalls will let you cool off on a hot day and will round out this day trip with a varied itinerary.

Consider booking this tour for a guided experience.

DAY 4 – 6: PLOVDIV

Plovdiv (population: ~350,000) is an incredibly easy-to-recommend tourist destination. It has lots of historical sights, lots of charm, and a vibrant creative scene. If you thought Sofia was a little too busy or modern, you’re surely going to love the vibe in Plovdiv.

Not only was Plovdiv a European Capital of Culture in 2019, but it is also believed by some archaeologists to be the oldest city in Europe. It has some wonderfully intact Roman ruins in several locations, as well as many remnants from the Byzantine and Ottoman eras.

I wouldn’t hesitate to direct anyone interested in culture or history straight to Plovdiv, but the great food and atmosphere are equally great reasons to visit.

The main thing to know about Plovdiv

The layout of Plovdiv is a bit unusual in that it’s a bit separated between two areas:

• The Old Town (Staria Grad). Here you can enjoy cobbled streets lined with traditional Ottoman-style houses with timber-covered balconies, as well as a dozen or so small museums. It’s very charming, though there isn’t as much street life and local activity as elsewhere. This hilltop quarter is a little separated from the rest of the city — on the west side, there’s just one pedestrian bridge across a busy avenue that lets you access it.
• The Central District. This is the buzzing center with shopping streets and historical (though more recent) architecture. The best place to be for restaurants, bars, and cafes is the lively and super cozy Kapana art district. In many ways, this area feels like the ‘real center.’

While there is much tourist accommodation in the Old Town, I enjoyed staying in the Central District much more, since here you can be surrounded by local life and lots of food and entertainment options. Although picturesque, the Old Town can feel a bit dead, particularly at night.

For some good accommodation options in the Central District, close to both the Old Town and the Kapana Creative District, check out these picks:

• VIZUALIZA Residence Hotel
• Villa Flavia Heritage Boutique Hotel
• Plovdiv City Center Hotel.

Essentials in Plovdiv

There are a lot of things to do in Plovdiv, but I would rate these as the most important ones:

• Wander through the Old Town. There are various small museums, such as ancient merchant houses and an old apothecary. You can pick up a combination ticket at any of these to get access to all the small sights.
• Enjoy the nightlife in Kapana. This area is seriously cozy with loads of bars and restaurants with outdoor terraces adorned with fairy lights and candles.
• Ancient Theatre of Philippopolis. One of the world’s best-preserved Roman theatres and a must-see in Plovdiv.
• Bishop’s Basilica of Philippopolis. An impressive museum showcasing the original mosaic-tiled floors of the ruined mid-4th century Basilica.
• Tsar Simeon Garden Park. A beautiful park featuring an unusual singing (musical) fountain on the lake.
• See Plovdiv from its 7 hills. My appreciation of Plovdiv reached new heights once I saw it from one of its many viewpoints. I recommend hiking up to the Monument of the Red Army Alyosha — a Soviet propaganda statue where you can enjoy a relaxed atmosphere with panoramic views.
• Dig into the Bulgarian cuisine. With many traditional restaurants peppering the old town, here’s your chance to try Bulgarian specialities such as Tarator and Kavarma.

For an impression of Plovdiv, you can also view my travel vlog below, where I take you on a visual tour of Europe’s oldest city:

Day Trips from Plovdiv

I thought that Sofia has the most options for day trips or local tours, however, there are a number of options leaving from Plovdiv as well.

Consider taking a trip to the Bachkovo Monastery, the Wonderful Bridges (epic stone bridges forming cave-like spaces), and the Asen’s Fortress. There is a great group tour for this on GetYourGuide as well as on Viator.

Another popular tour that I didn’t get to do due to time constraints is the Valley of the Thracian Kings which focuses on the ancient history of the region.

Bulgaria in 2 Weeks

While I’ve put together my suggestions here for a 1-week trip, you can easily extend it to 10 days or 2 weeks.

My first suggestion is to add Veliko Tarnovo. This is not only a pleasant tourist town located inside a scenic gorge, but it’s also the location of the stunning Tsarevets Fortress, which was once the heart of the Second Bulgarian Empire.

I stayed 3 nights in Veliko Tarnovo and enjoyed my time here a lot, though in large part because Hostel Mostel makes for such a lovely base here.

Tarnovo is very scenic and has restaurants with spectacular views of the gorge pretty much everywhere. There are some busy roads around the town though so it’s not always 100% free of background noise.

If you want to add the coast, consider Varna, which has the nicest architecture and has many cultural and historical sights in addition to the nearby beaches.

While it’s normally a day trip destination, I liked spending the night in Lovech. It gave me the chance to see some sights like Devetaki Cave without having to take an organized tour and there are many tavern-style restaurants in the old town where you can enjoy authentic Bulgarian meals.

I didn’t get the chance to go this time, but south of Sofia there is also the town of Bansko, a quaint ski resort town that rose to international renown by becoming a ‘digital nomad village’. It provides excellent access to the Pirin National Park and is worth adding to your itinerary for some more outdoor activities.

By taking the core Sofia + Plovdiv itinerary but padding it out a little with secondary destinations, you can have an excellent 2-week trip that follows a mostly circular route — starting and ending in the capital.