SHORT TOURS FROM SOFIA

FULL DAY TOUR TO PLOVDIV AND BACHKOVO MONASTERY, DURATION: 10h

AVAILABLE: MONDAY AND THURSDAY, APRIL - OCTOBER

PICK-UP POINT:

Pickup: 8:30 from your accommodation in Sofia.;Transfer time: 5 h total (2 hours to Plovdiv, 1/2 hour Plovdiv - Bachkovo, 2.5 hours Bachkovo - Sofia)

Walking time: 2-3 hrs,

17:30- 18:00Expected time of your return in Sofia

The cliché “you must see Plovdiv to see Bulgaria” is absolutely true and there is so much to explore in the country’s second biggest city. Plovdiv (160 m a.s.l.), a 2 hour drive from Sofia, is situated in the western part of the fertile Thracian Valley.  It is also one of the oldest European towns contemporary to Troya and Mycenae.  With about a 2-hour walking tour you will learn about its intriguing history while exploring the charming historic quarter of the city - a fabulous architectural ensemble of beautifully decorated 19th century houses, the ancient fortress-walls, magnificent churches and  Roman structures like a forum and stadium. In the afternoon a 30 minutes trip will take you to Bachkovo Monastery (est. the year 1083), a notable religious and tourist site. Enjoy the unique frescoes of the dining room and the facade of St. Nicholas Church, while your guide explains about the history, architecture and nowadays life in the monastery.

FULL DAY TOUR TO RILA MONASTERY AND BOYANA CHURCH, DURATION: 7h

AVAILABLE: DAILY

PICK-UP POINT:

9:00 am The meeting point is behind "Alexandar Nevski" Cathedral at sharp.

11:20 am is the expected time of arrival at Rila Monastery.
13:30 pm is the transfer from Rila Monastery to Boyana Church

15:30 pm expected time of arrival at the Boyana Church is.

You will have 30 minutes at the Boyana Church.

16:30-17:00 pm you will be back at Alexandar Nevski Cathedral.
 

Rila Monastery is definitely a must-see. The arcaded balconies, the unique frescoes – a work of one of the most famous Bulgarian Revival Period painters, the gilded iconostasis, the fabulous mountain views… and the unique combination of them all makes the visit to the monastery extraordinary and memorable one. One will have at least two full hours of free time at the Rila Monastery to explore the most visited UNESCO site in Bulgaria, enter the main church and take photos of the narthex’s gallery, admire the exhibits in the History Museum of the Monastery, try the tasty "mekitsi" (Bulgarian donnuts) with delicious buffalo’s yogurt (local specialty) or even have a short walk in the area.

The Boyana Church's frescoes bring epochal change in the mural painting and are considered predecessors of the European Renaissance. The majority of more then 240 figures depicted there have individuality, vitality and psychological dept.

FULL DAY TOUR TO PLOVDIV & KOPRIVSHTITSA, DURATION: 11 h

AVAILABLE: SATURDAY AND SUNDAY

Pickup point:

8:30 am The meeting point is behind "Alexandar Nevski" Cathedral and just in front of "Mamma Mia" Restaurant.

10:30 am is the expected time of arrival at Plovdiv .
13:30 pm is the transfer from Plovdiv to Koprivshtitsa is approximately.

14:30 pm is the expected time of arrival at Koprivshtitsa. You will have 2-3h in Koprivshtitsa.
17:30-19:30 pm you will be back at Alexandar Nevski Cathedral.
 

Discover the cities of Plovdiv and Koprivshtitsa on this full-day tour from Sofia. The amusing mixture of traditions, culture, and architectural masterpieces are a must-see for every culture-hungry traveler.

A 2-hour drive from Sofia will take you to the city of Plovdiv, Bulgaria’s second largest city and one of its oldest towns. Within 2-3 hours of walking along the city you will discover history and culture behind an 7000-year old settlement, written by the Roman, Byzantine, Ottoman, and Bulgarian civilizations. You can enjoy sightseeing in the Old Town with its museums, historical monuments, revival period houses, lined with souvenir shops cobbled streets or get impressed by the rich Ethnographical Museum and the ancient Roman Theater. Feel the atmosphere of this artistic and trade center and enjoy a lunch at the local restaurants.

Next stop on your way back is the charming town of Koprivshtitsa with its fascinating history and authentic 19 th-century architecture. Spend the rest of the day in the leisure of this small and picturesque city situated in central Bulgaria, spread amongst the slopes of Stara Planina Mountains, that carries a specific spirit of tranquility and eternity. Once scene of battles for the liberation of Bulgaria, now the city is turned into museum of the Revival Period of Bulgaria. Here you can visit the homes of some of the most eminent Bulgarians, writers and rebels, admire the vast collections of ethnographical treasures, including ancient weapons, intricate national costumes and stunning jewelry.

To proceed with further booking, please contact us at:

office@alexandertour.com