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

$750

US $675 per person

Explore Bulgaria in a week, Self-Drive

8 days

•

Start and end in Varna

5.0 (4 reviews)

View all
View all

From

$750

-10%

US $675 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
Road Trip & Self-Drive: Hit the open road and travel at your own pace
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
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 tour guide in Varna or Bourgas (4 hours, English/French/German/Spanish-speaking, private basis)
- Walking tour of pedestrian centre
- Visit museums in Varna or Bourgas
- Beach relaxation
Landmarks
Sea Gardens
Day 2
Varna or Bourgas - Nessebar - Kazanlak - Plovdiv
Varna or Bourgas - Nessebar - Kazanlak - Plovdiv
Meals
Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Explore Old Town Nessebar and 13th-century churches
- Visit UNESCO Thracian Tomb in Kazanlak (dating back to 310–290 BC)
- Rose Museum visit and rose production experience
- Breakfast en route
Landmarks
Old Town of Nessebar
Thracian Tomb of Kazanlak
Rose Museum (Kazanlak)
Day 3
Plovdiv
Plovdiv
Meals
Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Visit Roman Amphitheatre (built 2nd century AD)
- Tour Hindlyan House (Bulgarian Revival architecture)
- Explore Thursday market
- Walk through Kapana bohemian quarter
- Visit Rhodopi Mountain
- Tour Batchkovo Monastery (second largest in Bulgaria)
Landmarks
Roman Amphitheatre of Plovdiv
Hindlyan House
Batchkovo Monastery
Kapana Quarter
Day 4
Plovdiv to Sofia
Plovdiv to Sofia
Meals
Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Visit Karlovo ethnographical centre with Revival Period houses
- Dress in Bulgarian costumes for photos in Karlovo
- Visit Panagyurishte History Museum (home of Panagyurishte Golden Treasure)
- Explore ancient monuments in Panagyurishte region
Landmarks
Panagyurishte History Museum
Day 5
Sofia
Sofia
Meals
Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Visit St. Alexander Nevski Cathedral
- Tour St. George Rotonda
- Visit Russian church St. Nikolay
- Explore National History Museum
- Visit UNESCO Boyana Church with wall paintings
- Coffee on pedestrian street Vitoshka
- Vitosha Mountain nature treks
- Professional tour guide in Sofia (4 hours, English/French/German/Spanish-speaking, private basis)
- Optional dinner with folklore and Nestinari Dances (3 hours, 20:00-23:00, four-course menu with wine, UNESCO intangible cultural heritage barefoot dance on smouldering embers)
Landmarks
St. Alexander Nevski Cathedral
St. George Rotonda
Russian Church St. Nikolay
National Theatre Ivan Vazov
National History Museum
Boyana Church
Vitosha Mountain
Day 6
Sofia to Veliko Tarnovo
Sofia to Veliko Tarnovo
Meals
Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Visit Troyan Monastery (third largest in Bulgaria)
- Walk streets of Veliko Tarnovo
- Climb Tzarevetz hill for views
- Explore Samovodska charshia street
- Visit Arbanassi village
Landmarks
Troyan Monastery
Tzarevetz Hill
Samovodska charshia
Arbanassi Village
Day 7
Veliko Tarnovo to Varna or Bourgas
Veliko Tarnovo to Varna or Bourgas
Meals
Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Visit UNESCO Thracian Tomb of Sveshtari
- Visit UNESCO Madara Rider relief
- Optional dinner at fancy restaurant in Varna (4-course menu, not included in base package)
Landmarks
Thracian Tomb of Sveshtari
Madara Rider
Day 8
Varna or Bourgas
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 tour guide in Varna or Bourgas (4 hours, English/French/German/Spanish-speaking, private basis)

Landmarks
Sea Gardens

Landmarks
Old Town of Nessebar
Thracian Tomb of Kazanlak
Rose Museum (Kazanlak)

Landmarks
Roman Amphitheatre of Plovdiv
Hindlyan House
Batchkovo Monastery
Kapana Quarter

Landmarks
Panagyurishte History Museum

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

Landmarks
Troyan Monastery
Tzarevetz Hill
Samovodska charshia
Arbanassi Village

Landmarks
Thracian Tomb of Sveshtari
Madara Rider

What's Included

Expand All

Accommodation
Guide
Meals
Additional Services
Transport

What's Not Included

Flights
Insurance
Optional
Additional Services

Operated by

Destination Services Bulgaria

Rating: 5.0 (4 reviews)
Response time: less than 1 hour
Response rate: 100%
Cancellation policy

Reviews from other tours by Destination Services Bulgaria

Tour Operator
5.0

Vincent5.0•June 2025
Great tour for a quick introduction to the country.
David5.0•August 2023
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
Adele5.0•June 2023
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

Select departure month and travellers

Select Date

1 Adult2 Adults, 1 Child2 Children

Upcoming departures

Hurry, deals only available for a limited time!

Ends on 2 Sep, 2026

-10%
From Friday
18 Sep, 2026
To Friday
25 Sep, 2026
English
Almost Sold Out
This departure date is available and will 100% depart
Guaranteed departure
From:
$950
US$855 per person
Sign up to unlock savings
Price based on Private Double Room
-10%
From Saturday
19 Sep, 2026
To Saturday
26 Sep, 2026
English
Almost Sold Out
This departure date is available and will 100% depart
Guaranteed departure
From:
$950
US$855 per person
Sign up to unlock savings
Price based on Private Double Room
-10%
From Sunday
20 Sep, 2026
To Sunday
27 Sep, 2026
English
Almost Sold Out
This departure date is available and will 100% depart
Guaranteed departure
From:
$750
US$675 per person
Sign up to unlock savings
Price based on Private Double Room
-10%
From Monday
21 Sep, 2026
To Monday
28 Sep, 2026
English
Almost Sold Out
This departure date is available and will 100% depart
Guaranteed departure
From:
$750
US$675 per person
Sign up to unlock savings
Price based on Private Double Room
-10%
From Tuesday
22 Sep, 2026
To Tuesday
29 Sep, 2026
English
Almost Sold Out
This departure date is available and will 100% depart
Guaranteed departure
From:
$750
US$675 per person
Sign up to unlock savings
Price based on Private Double Room
-10%
From Wednesday
23 Sep, 2026
To Wednesday
30 Sep, 2026
English
Almost Sold Out
This departure date is available and will 100% depart
Guaranteed departure
From:
$750
US$675 per person
Sign up to unlock savings
Price based on Private Double Room
-10%
From Thursday
24 Sep, 2026
To Thursday
1 Oct, 2026
English
Almost Sold Out
This departure date is available and will 100% depart
Guaranteed departure
From:
$750
US$675 per person
Sign up to unlock savings
Price based on Private Double Room
-10%
From Friday
25 Sep, 2026
To Friday
2 Oct, 2026
English
Almost Sold Out
This departure date is available and will 100% depart
Guaranteed departure
From:
$750
US$675 per person
Sign up to unlock savings
Price based on Private Double Room
-10%
From Saturday
26 Sep, 2026
To Saturday
3 Oct, 2026
English
Almost Sold Out
This departure date is available and will 100% depart
Guaranteed departure
From:
$750
US$675 per person
Sign up to unlock savings
Price based on Private Double Room
-10%
From Sunday
27 Sep, 2026
To Sunday
4 Oct, 2026
English
Almost Sold Out
This departure date is available and will 100% depart
Guaranteed departure
From:
$750
US$675 per person
Sign up to unlock savings
Price based on Private Double Room

Why book with TourRadar?

Trusted and vetted operators
Rated excellent on
Best price guarantee

24/7 customer support
Unlock exclusive TourRadar+ member savings

To protect your payment and ensure your booking will be processed in United States, never transfer or communicate outside of the TourRadar website or app.

More benefits

What our customers ask about this tour

The content in our FAQ section is subject to change.

All questions

We couldn't find results

Try a different search term or ask a question to this adventure's experts

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

$750

-10%

US $675 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
As a traveler from USA, Canada, England, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa you will need an adaptor for types C, F.
Type C
Bulgaria
Type F
Bulgaria
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 October 27th, 2026 a full payment is necessary. For tours departing after October 27th, 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.
Insurance
Our travel protection from our award-winning partner, XCover, means you and your travel companions can book with peace of mind knowing there’s protection available in case your trip doesn’t go to plan. At checkout you will be able to select between different options in case you or the tour are eligible for insurance. In case no option is available, you are always able to purchase travel insurance outside of TourRadar.
Checking which travel protection options are available for you…
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.
People also viewed
Kruger Park Safaris
5 Day Golden Triangle Tour (Taj Mahal Sunset/…
Glaciers and Aurora Tour: Around Iceland in W…
Andean Trilogy
Balkan Express: Serbia, Bulgaria, North Maced…
Argentina: Bariloche, Calafate and Ushuaia -…
Countryside of the Emerald Isle (Dublin to E…

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

Want to read it later?

What's Included

What's Not Included

Reviews from other tours by Destination Services Bulgaria

Dates & Availability

Want to read it later?

Why book with TourRadar?

What our customers ask about this tour

Good to Know

Keep Exploring Bulgaria

Explore Bulgaria in a week, Self-Drive

Itinerary

Optional Activities

Optional Activities

Optional Activities

Optional Activities

Optional Activities

Optional Activities

Optional Activities

Optional Activities

Want to read it later?

What's Included

What's Not Included

Reviews from other tours by Destination Services Bulgaria

Dates & Availability

Want to read it later?

Why book with TourRadar?

What our customers ask about this tour

Earn while you share

Good to Know

Keep Exploring Bulgaria

Like this Moment?