Bulgaria Itinerary – A Perfect 10-Day Trip

Even after all this time, it still amazes me how diverse a continent Europe is. For such a relatively small area, the differences between east and west, north and south will never cease to surprise me. Being from western Europe, I love visiting the eastern countries and discovering cultures so different to my own. Bulgaria was on my radar, but I didn’t seriously consider travelling there until I started planning a trip from Seville (where I was living at the time) to Romania and discovered how cheap a flight to Sofia was. So a ten-day Bulgaria itinerary was added to the trip. And I’m so happy it was, as I fell in love with this amazing Balkan country.

Bulgaria is the very definition of a melting pot. Its position on the fence between the Byzantine east and the Roman west centuries ago has led to a modern population with roots from all over. Slavic, Bulgar, Roma, Turks – they’re all found here. Bulgaria is also quieter and cheaper than many of its more popular neighbours, with surprisingly good bus and train systems, so it’s the perfect destination for those looking to get a little more off the beaten track.

It has mountains, cities both modern and ancient, museums, castles and more food than you could hope to try in just ten days. What are you waiting for?

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Bulgaria Itinerary Recommended Route:

• Day 1: arrive in Sofia
• Day 2: explore some more of Sofia
• Day 3: day trip to Rila Monastery
• Day 4: travel to Plovdiv (3 hours)
• Day 5: continue to explore Plovdiv
• Day 6: day trip to Asen’s Fortress/Bachkovo Monastery
• Day 7: travel to Burgas (4-5 hours)
• Day 8: day trip to Nessebar
• Day 9: travel to Veliko Târnovo (4-6 hours)
• Day 10: explore more of Veliko Târnovo
• Day 11: travel home/onwards

Sofia

Bulgarian: софия

Just as Bulgaria is often overlooked for its more well-known neighbours, so is Sofia overlooked for the Black Sea coastline or other parts of the country. But the country’s capital is very underrated, in my opinion, and it’s well worth taking the time to explore the city instead of just using it as an entry point.

The level of history here is insane, from pre-Roman to the Communist era, and there’s the unique Square of Tolerance where places of worship of FOUR different religions sit in close proximity to each other. Not to mention really good walking tours and beautiful architecture. Sofia took me by surprise and reminded me of several different European destinations all at once.

Highest-rated hostel: Hostel N1

Read more: Sofia – Why It Shouldn’t Be Overlooked Or Underrated

Day Trip: Rila Monastery

Bulgarian: Рилски манастир

Rila Monastery was one of my top bucket list items for my Bulgaria itinerary. From the moment I saw photos of the striped, mountain-top church, I knew I had to get there. There are tours available, but it’s also possible to get public transport (read my Sofia post above for tips on how to get there).

The original founder of the monastery lived in a nearby cave in the 10th century, but the original buildings were built by students who came to the mountains to learn from him. The heavily-decorated church is unlike anything I’ve ever seen before and is worth the several-hours journey in small minivans and along windy mountain roads (travellers with sensitive stomachs, you have been warned).

If you want to extend your stay in Rila, you can actually spend the night in the monastery. Don’t expect much of a nightlife, as there are still monks living here and the gates are closed early at night. But it would definitely be a memorable experience. Get more information here.

Plovdiv

Bulgarian: Пловдив

When I was planning my trip to Bulgaria, I imagined green mountains, beautiful architecture and lots of churches. And I found all those things. What I did not expect to find was a city covered in incredible street art.

Plovdiv is one of the oldest cities in the world, dating back 8000 years. Roman ruins are found in abundance here, from the hippodrome underneath the main pedestrian street to the amphitheatre sitting above the highway. The restored Old Town is a maze of hills and cobbled streets, the Kapana district is a haven for art, food and crafts, and the views from any of the seven hills are wonderful to take in, especially at sunset.

Highest-rated hostel: Hostel Old Plovdiv – I stayed here and can personally attest that everything about it is fantastic.

Read more: Plovdiv – Fall In Love With Bulgaria’s Cultural Capital

Day Trip: Asen’s Fortress/Bachkovo Monastery

Bulgarian: Асенова крепост / бачковски манастир

Bulgaria’s cities are very pretty, but it’s nice to get out into the countryside for a bit. Asen’s Fortress, near the small town of Asenovgrad, is an easy day trip from Plovdiv and gives you a very different view of Bulgaria. Finding the fortress isn’t the easiest, but once you’re on the right road, it’s just a matter of slogging your way to the top. Along the way, the fortress will appear, perched on top of a stony crag jutting out from the forested hills.

To get to the fortress, walk south out of the town for about 3km until you see a road winding up the hill to the right with the words “Асенова крепост” (Asen’s Fortress). Follow this up and up until you reach the top. The ticket office is in the small building across from the entrance gate. The fortress was really quiet while I was there, with only a few other people around. It’s a really great place to sit and take in the views for a while.

You can also combine your trip to Asen’s Fortress with the nearby Bachkovo Monastery, another beautiful monastic complex similar to Rila. It’s only a couple of kilometres away and a bus passing between Asenovgrad and Smolyan stops at the entrance.

Burgas

Bulgarian: Бургас

Because of its relative youth compared to other cities in Bulgaria (it has only been settled for a couple of centuries), Burgas is more of a base for exploring the Black Sea coast than a destination in itself. It has plenty of accommodation and restaurant options, a beautiful pier on the beach and is an easy transportation hub, so it usually makes its way onto any Bulgaria itinerary.

I want to quickly mention the hostel I stayed at in Burgas, as I highly recommend it. The A16 Hostel is really close to the South bus/train station, is pretty new, really nicely decorated and has a gorgeous kitchen and lounge area. Update October 2022 – it looks like this hostel hasn’t reopened after the pandemic, which is so sad. It seems the only hostel open at the moment is Hug Center Hostel.

Day Trip: Nessebar

Bulgarian: Несебър

Another place really high on my trip bucket list, this was my third Bulgarian UNESCO World Heritage Site. It’s described as a city-museum, because the entire town (well, the old town section) is one giant open-air museum. People still live here, and there are plenty of restaurants and shops to browse through. Sitting on a small peninsula, the Old Town is only accessible by crossing a narrow land bridge.

Nessebar is only half an hour away from Burgas, and with it being such a popular destination, there are several bus companies running along the route.

The Old Town has seen Thracian, Greek, Roman, Medieval and Renaissance history. There are also many churches for such a small area, some of which lie in ruins that still feel very much part of the town around them. I simply adored wandering the small, cobbled streets, with all the historical detail surrounding me. Definitely one of my favourite places on this Bulgaria itinerary.

Veliko Târnovo

Bulgarian: Велико Търново

The last stop on our Bulgaria itinerary, Veliko Târnovo is by no means the last. This curiously U-shaped city will have you walking a lot, so wear comfortable shoes, but the views are certainly memorable. The Tsarevets Castle is the dominating feature of the skyline, with the Church of the Ascension at the top filled with surprisingly modern and vivid murals that will take your breath away. Another place that could take your breath away if you’re not careful is Execution Rock, a high promontory at the north end of the castle where prisoners were – you guessed it – executed by being pushed off the cliff.

Within the rest of the city there are museums, street art, monuments, free walking tours, historical market streets and views not only from above the city, but below it on the river banks too.

From here you can travel back to Sofia, or cross the border into Romania (which I also highly recommend).

Highest-rated hostel: Rooster Hostel

Have you ever considered visiting Bulgaria? If you have any questions about this amazing country I haven’t already answered in this post, please leave a comment below or get in touch!

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