Would we be able to start and end our journey from Sofia, starting Sept 4th?

The tour you selected starts and ends on the Black Sea coast, in either Varna or Burgas. The drive from Bucharest to Varna takes less than four hours, which is actually much closer than Sofia. If you prefer to start your journey from Sofia, we recommend this tour instead: Go Local: Best of Bulgaria, Self-Drive. If you find this itinerary a bit too long, we would be happy to tailor a shorter version for you - for example, an 8-day route.

tour to start in Sofia with one night stay, pick up car on 2nd day, drive to Rila and have 2 nights stay in Plovdiv, drive to Veliko Tarnovo and stay there 2 nights and then to Ruse where drop off car for 5 days. Need accommodations for 6 nights and car rental for 5 days. Tour starts on Oct 28, car pick up on 29th, returning car on Nov 2nd. Provide rates for 3 and 4 stars hotel with breakfast and car rental.

Route overview: Sofia (1 night), Plovdiv (2 nights), Veliko Tarnovo (2 nights). Pick up rent-a-car on 29.10 at hotel reception in Sofia in morning. Drop off car on 02.11 in Rousse. Note: Pick up/drop off at different locations makes rental more expensive.

From

$762

US $648 per person

Explore Bulgaria in a week, Self-Drive

8 days

•

From Varna to Burgas

5.0

4 traveler reviews

View all
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From

$762

-15%

US $648 per person

Price based on Cheapest Room

Price based on Shared Room

Price based on Private Single Room

Price based on Private Double Room

Select Date

1 Adult2 Adults, 1 Child2 Children

Best price guarantee Learn More

Plan your adventure:

Operator: Destination Services Bulgaria
Explorer: Curated to ignite your sense of adventure
Self-guided: Independent exploration, backed by expert advice and support
Low Intensity: Travelers can expect some light physical activities
Guided in English
All Ages Welcome

Image of a map showing the route of the tour

Itinerary

Day 1
Varna or Bourgas
Start point
Varna, Bulgaria (Welcome to Bulgaria! Arrive at your chosen Airport – Varna or Bourgas, take your car, and drive to your accommodation hotel. , 01:00 - 00:00)
Optional Activities
- Professional guided tour of Varna or Bourgas (4 hours, English/French/German/Spanish-speaking guide available)
- Walk in pedestrian centre
- Visit Sea Gardens
- Explore local museums
- Beach relaxation
Landmarks
Sea Gardens
Day 2
Varna or Bourgas - Nessebar - Kazanlak - Plovdiv
Meals
Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Explore Old Town of Nessebar
- Visit 13th-century churches in Nessebar
- Visit UNESCO-designated Thracian Tomb of Kazanlak (dating to 310–290 BC)
- Visit Rose Museum in Kazanlak
Landmarks
Old Town of Nessebar
Thracian Tomb of Kazanlak
Rose Valley
Day 3
Plovdiv
Meals
Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Visit Roman Amphitheatre of Plovdiv
- Explore Old Town of Plovdiv
- Visit Hindlyan House
- Browse Thursday market
- Explore Kapana bohemian quarter
- Trip to Rhodopi Mountain
- Visit Batchkovo Monastery
Landmarks
Roman Amphitheatre of Plovdiv
Old Town of Plovdiv
Hindlyan House
Kapana Quarter
Batchkovo Monastery
Rhodopi Mountain
Day 4
Plovdiv to Sofia
Meals
Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Visit ethnographical centre in Karlovo
- Try traditional Bulgarian sweets and coffee in Karlovo
- Dress in Bulgarian costumes for photos
- Explore town of Panagyurishte
- Visit Panagyurishte History Museum
Landmarks
Karlovo
Panagyurishte
Panagyurishte History Museum
Sredna Gora Valley
Day 5
Sofia
Meals
Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Visit St. Alexander Nevski Cathedral
- Visit St. George Rotonda
- Visit Russian Church St. Nikolay
- Visit National Theatre Ivan Vazov
- Explore National History Museum
- Visit UNESCO-listed Boyana Church
- Hike Vitosha Mountain
- Walk pedestrian street Vitoshka
- Professional guided tour of Sofia (4 hours, English/French/German/Spanish-speaking guide)
- Dinner with Folklore and Nestinari Dances (4-course menu with wine, folklore program, barefoot dance on embers)
Landmarks
St. Alexander Nevski Cathedral
St. George Rotonda
Russian Church St. Nikolay
National Theatre Ivan Vazov
National History Museum
Boyana Church
Vitosha Mountain
Vitoshka Street
Day 6
Sofia to Veliko Tarnovo
Meals
Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Visit Troyan Monastery
- Explore Veliko Tarnovo medieval capital
- Visit Tzarevetz Hill
- Stroll Samovodska charshia street
- Explore village of Arbanassi
Landmarks
Troyan Monastery
Veliko Tarnovo
Tzarevetz Hill
Samovodska Charshia
Arbanassi
Day 7
Veliko Tarnovo to Varna or Bourgas
Meals
Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Visit UNESCO-designated Thracian Tomb of Sveshtari
- Visit Madara Rider relief monument
- Optional dinner at a fancy restaurant in Varna (4-course menu with glass of wine, for Varna-based accommodations)
Landmarks
Thracian Tomb of Sveshtari
Madara Rider
Day 8
Varna or Bourgas
End point
Varna, Bulgaria (Day 8: CAR HIRE DROP-OFF / DEPARTURE VARNA or BURGAS, 00:00 - 00:00)
Meals
Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Professional guided tour of Varna or Bourgas (4 hours, English/French/German/Spanish-speaking guide)

Landmarks
Sea Gardens

Landmarks
Old Town of Nessebar
Thracian Tomb of Kazanlak
Rose Valley

Landmarks
Roman Amphitheatre of Plovdiv
Old Town of Plovdiv
Hindlyan House
Kapana Quarter
Batchkovo Monastery
Rhodopi Mountain

Landmarks
Karlovo
Panagyurishte
Panagyurishte History Museum
Sredna Gora Valley

Landmarks
St. Alexander Nevski Cathedral
St. George Rotonda
Russian Church St. Nikolay
National Theatre Ivan Vazov
National History Museum
Boyana Church
Vitosha Mountain
Vitoshka Street

Landmarks
Troyan Monastery
Veliko Tarnovo
Tzarevetz Hill
Samovodska Charshia
Arbanassi

Landmarks
Thracian Tomb of Sveshtari
Madara Rider

What's Included

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Accommodation
Guide
Meals
Additional Services
Transport
Free eSIM
TourRadar offers the lead traveler (the person who booked) a free 1GB eSIM for the trip. The eSIM is redeemable only through the TourRadar app 72 hours before departure.

What's Not Included

Flights
Insurance
Optional
Additional Services

Operated by

Destination Services Bulgaria

5.0

(4 reviews)

Number of tours

Age Range

2 to 99 years old

Response time

11 hours

Response rate

100%

Destination Services Bulgaria is the leading incoming tour operator in...

Cancellation Policy

A transparent overview of applicable fees.

Travel Insurance

Be covered for any unforseen circumstances.

Reviews from other tours by Destination Services Bulgaria

Tour Operator
5.0

Vincent
June 11th, 2025
5.0
Great tour for a quick introduction to the country.
David
August 31st, 2023
5.0
We really enjoyed the excellent communication from Emiliana and we found every detail of the organisation to be...
We really enjoyed the excellent communication from Emiliana and we found every detail of the organisation to be perfect. We had a delightful day with our very knowledgeable and engaging guide from Varna. We thought all the hotels were well placed and comfortable. The hire car was very good and all arrangements for it went smoothly. We very much appreciated the suggested place to visit and did our best to cover all of them. We also enjoyed the meals arranged for us. In short, we loved Bulgaria and would happily recommend your company to anyone.Show more
Adele
June 27th, 2023
5.0
Our Bulgaria trip was outstanding as we covered so much each day all of which was so interesting as well as varied....
Our Bulgaria trip was outstanding as we covered so much each day all of which was so interesting as well as varied. Our guide Milena was very professional. She explained each exploration carefully allowing us to process the history of the country and the impact of other Eurpean forces on the land. Her language ability was precise. She led us through the aims of each day and guided us through towns and fortresses and in and out of so many features such as tombs and churches and food. I cannot thank her enough for making the trip so memorable. George , our driver was expert at his job. He was polite and caring and good company too.Show more

Dates & Availability

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1 Adult2 Adults, 1 Child2 Children

Upcoming departures

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Ends on 18 Feb, 2026

-15%
From Wednesday
1 Apr, 2026
To Wednesday
8 Apr, 2026
English
Almost Sold Out
This departure date is available and will 100% depart
Guaranteed departure
From:
$839
US $713 per person
Multiple Room Types
-15%
From Thursday
2 Apr, 2026
To Thursday
9 Apr, 2026
English
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This departure date is available and will 100% depart
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From:
$839
US $713 per person
Multiple Room Types
-15%
From Friday
3 Apr, 2026
To Friday
10 Apr, 2026
English
Almost Sold Out
This departure date is available and will 100% depart
Guaranteed departure
From:
$839
US $713 per person
Multiple Room Types
-15%
From Saturday
4 Apr, 2026
To Saturday
11 Apr, 2026
English
Almost Sold Out
This departure date is available and will 100% depart
Guaranteed departure
From:
$839
US $713 per person
Multiple Room Types
-15%
From Sunday
5 Apr, 2026
To Sunday
12 Apr, 2026
English
Almost Sold Out
This departure date is available and will 100% depart
Guaranteed departure
From:
$839
US $713 per person
Multiple Room Types
-15%
From Monday
6 Apr, 2026
To Monday
13 Apr, 2026
English
Almost Sold Out
This departure date is available and will 100% depart
Guaranteed departure
From:
$839
US $713 per person
Multiple Room Types
-15%
From Tuesday
7 Apr, 2026
To Tuesday
14 Apr, 2026
English
Almost Sold Out
This departure date is available and will 100% depart
Guaranteed departure
From:
$839
US $713 per person
Multiple Room Types
-15%
From Wednesday
8 Apr, 2026
To Wednesday
15 Apr, 2026
English
Almost Sold Out
This departure date is available and will 100% depart
Guaranteed departure
From:
$839
US $713 per person
Multiple Room Types
-15%
From Thursday
9 Apr, 2026
To Thursday
16 Apr, 2026
English
Almost Sold Out
This departure date is available and will 100% depart
Guaranteed departure
From:
$839
US $713 per person
Multiple Room Types
-15%
From Friday
10 Apr, 2026
To Friday
17 Apr, 2026
English
Almost Sold Out
This departure date is available and will 100% depart
Guaranteed departure
From:
$839
US $713 per person
Multiple Room Types

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What our customers ask about this tour

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C
Caroline
Asked on October 29th, 2025
Would we be able to start and end our journey from Sofia, starting Sept 4th?
Tour Details
Transport
- Destination Services BulgariaOperator•Written October 2025
  The tour you selected starts and ends on the Black Sea coast, in either Varna or Burgas. The drive from Bucharest to Varna takes less than four hours, which is actually much closer than Sofia. If you prefer to start your journey from Sofia, we recommend this tour instead: Go Local: Best of Bulgaria, Self-Drive. If you find this itinerary a bit too long, we would be happy to tailor a shorter version for you - for example, an 8-day route.
P
Patricia
Asked on September 2nd, 2025
tour to start in Sofia with one night stay, pick up car on 2nd day, drive to Rila and have 2 nights stay in Plovdiv, drive to Veliko Tarnovo and stay there 2 nights and then to Ruse where drop off car for 5 days. Need accommodations for 6 nights and car rental for 5 days. Tour starts on Oct 28, car pick up on 29th, returning car on Nov 2nd. Provide rates for 3 and 4 stars hotel with breakfast and car rental.
Accommodation
Transport
- Destination Services BulgariaOperator•Written September 2025
  Route overview: Sofia (1 night), Plovdiv (2 nights), Veliko Tarnovo (2 nights). Pick up rent-a-car on 29.10 at hotel reception in Sofia in morning. Drop off car on 02.11 in Rousse. Note: Pick up/drop off at different locations makes rental more expensive.

From

$762

-15%

US $648 per person

Price based on Cheapest Room

Price based on Shared Room

Price based on Private Single Room

Price based on Private Double Room

Select Date

1 Adult2 Adults, 1 Child2 Children

Best price guarantee Learn More

Plan your adventure:

Good to Know

Tour ID: 234135

Currency
лв.
Bulgarian Lev
Bulgaria
Plugs & Adapters
Vaccines
- These are only indications, so please visit your doctor before you travel to be 100% sure.
- Hepatitis A - Recommended for Bulgaria. Ideally 2 weeks before travel.
- Tuberculosis - Recommended for Bulgaria. Ideally 3 months before travel.
- Hepatitis B - Recommended for Bulgaria. Ideally 2 months before travel.
Visa
- Unfortunately we cannot offer you a visa application service. Whether you need a visa or not depends on your nationality and where you wish to travel. Assuming your home country does not have a visa agreement with the country you're planning to visit, you will need to apply for a visa in advance of your scheduled departure.
- Here is an indication for which countries you might need a visa. Please contact the local embassy for help applying for visas to these places.
Payment information
- For any tour departing before April 15th, 2026 a full payment is necessary. For tours departing after April 15th, 2026, a minimum payment of 20% is required to confirm your booking with Destination Services Bulgaria. The final payment will be automatically charged to your credit card on the designated due date. The final payment of the remaining balance is required at least 60 days prior to the departure date of your tour. TourRadar never charges you a booking fee and will charge you in the stated currency.
- Some departure dates and prices may vary and Destination Services Bulgaria will contact you with any discrepancies before your booking is confirmed.
- The following cards are accepted for "Destination Services Bulgaria" tours: Visa, Maestro, Mastercard, American Express or PayPal. TourRadar does NOT charge you an extra fee for using any of these payment methods.
Cancellation Policy
- Your money is safe with TourRadar, as we only pay the tour operator after your tour has departed.
- TourRadar is an authorized Agent of Destination Services Bulgaria. Please familiarize yourself with the Destination Services Bulgaria payment, cancellation and refund conditions.
Accessibility
Some tours are not suitable for mobility-restricted traveler, however, some operators may be able to accommodate special requests. For any enquiries, you can contact our customer support team, who are ready and waiting to help you.
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Explore Bulgaria in a week, Self-Drive

Itinerary

Varna or Bourgas

Optional Activities

Varna or Bourgas - Nessebar - Kazanlak - Plovdiv

Optional Activities

Plovdiv

Optional Activities

Plovdiv to Sofia

Optional Activities

Sofia

Optional Activities

Sofia to Veliko Tarnovo

Optional Activities

Veliko Tarnovo to Varna or Bourgas

Optional Activities

Varna or Bourgas

Optional Activities

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What's Included

What's Not Included