Veliko Tarnovo

Tours

Embark on a captivating full-day trip from Bucharest to Bulgaria, where you'll explore the charming city of Veliko Tarnovo, the historic capital of the Second Bulgarian Empire. Visit the majestic Tsarevets Fortress, a medieval stronghold that has stood proudly since the 12th century. Your journey begins early in the morning with a convenient pickup from central meeting points or your accommodation, followed by a scenic drive to the foothills of the Balkan Mountains. Once we cross the Bulgarian border, we will delve deeper into Bulgarian religion and culture with a stop at either the Holy Trinity Cathedral Church in the quaint Old Town of Ruse or the unique St. Basarabov Monastery, the only monastery in Bulgaria carved into a cliff, depending on the activity day. No Bulgarian day trip from Bucharest is complete without visiting Arbanasi Village. Nestled on a high plateau between Veliko Tarnovo and Gorna Oryahovitsa, Arbanasi offers spectacular views and stunning examples of medieval architecture dating back several centuries. This tour is perfect for history enthusiasts and anyone who appreciates beautiful buildings, breathtaking scenery, and the opportunity to learn more about Bulgaria. Join us for a day filled with history, culture, and unforgettable sights on this exceptional Bulgarian adventure.

Start by meeting your local guide at your hotel, then drive south from Bucharest towards the Romanian and Bulgarian border. After crossing the Danube River and the Friendship Bridge, you will enter Bulgaria. On the way towards Veliko Tarnovo, stop for an exclusive visit of the Rock-Hewn Churches next to the village of Ivanovo. These are Bulgarian Medieval churches, chapels, and monastic cells hewn into the craggy gorge of Roussenski Lom River. Inscriptions, portraits of saints, and other restored items are from the 13th century. Then, discover Veliko Tarnovo, which was the capital of the Second Bulgarian Empire and has a long tradition in the culture of Bulgaria. The city is rich in museums and historical sites, combined with a vivacious nightlife propelled by the students in one of the largest universities in Bulgaria. Take a walk on the Artisans Street where you have the chance to pass by workshops owned by Bulgarian families for generations, preserving the old traditions. Get the chance to see a fully functional coppersmith workshop to see the production of copper plates and cups used for Turkish coffee.  Hike up the Tsarevets Hill with the remains of the castle and church of Bulgarian kings. Visit the Fortress, the Patriarchal Church, the Royal Palace, and Emperor Balduin’s Tower. Next, journey to Arbanassi and step back in time while wandering the streets lined with houses and churches dating back as far as the 16th century. Take a peek into the life of rich merchants from the 17th century while visiting the Konstantsalieva House, showing the lavish but simple lifestyle of the nobility. Next, stop for lunch in one of the many restaurants serving local food and savor the famous Bulgarian cuisine. Following this, begin the journey back to Bucharest.

After 1 hour driving from Bucharest you will cross the border to Bulgaria over Danube river, the second largest river in Europe and then stop at Ivanovo to visit Ivanovo Churches (UNESCO heritage since 1979). Located in the Valley of the Rusenski Lom River, the rock-hewn churches are famous thanks to their impressive XIII-XIVth century frescos. The second stop will be in Veliko Tarnovo, one of the most beautiful cities in Bulgaria, located on the banks of Yantra River. Also known as the City of Tsars, Veliko boasts an impressive fortress with the ruins of the former Tsarevets Palace and the patriarchal church, nowdays with modern and intriguing paintings. The medieval atmosphere is well kept in the city thanks to the old architecture and the narrow streets where you can admire local craftsmen and their work. There are plenty of good restaurants in Veliko Tarnovo and it will be chosen one to enjoy the tasty Bulgarian food together with one of their fine wines. The Village of Arbanassi is the next place you will visit, being located very close to the city. Arbanassi is a quiet and picturesque village which even today keeps the medieval touch through the old architecture. The tour ends after returning to Bucharest.

Embark on a fascinating journey through Bulgarian history with a guided tour to Veliko Tarnovo departing from Sofia. Explore the city's medieval fortress, market street, and historical landmarks. Make a stop in the village of Arbanasi and enjoy a glimpse into the traditional local lifestyle. Get picked up from your hotel in Sofia to travel toward Veliko Tarnovo, the country's capital during the Second Bulgarian State. Located on hills, admire breathtaking views of the town, covered in typical houses looking down at the meandering Yantra River. Arrive at Tsarevets Fortress with remains of the royal palace, more than 400 houses, and 18 churches. Climb up to Baldwin's Tower, where Latin Emperor Baldwin I died after he was captured by Tsar Kaloyan. Gaze at the Patriarchal Cathedral of the Holy Ascension of the Lord on top of the hill. Up next, visit the Samovodska Charshia, the old market street with craft and gift shops. Have some free time for yourself and purchase lunch if you wish to. Follow the Stambolov Bridge to the impressive Asenevtsi Monument, erected in memory of the four kings who proclaimed Bulgaria's independence. Before riding back to Sofia, discover Arbanasi, a village that once was home to rich traders and craftsmen. See iconic representations of the monumental architectural style that developed here over the last few centuries.

Veliko Tarnovo was the medieval capital of Bulgaria. The town flourished between the 12th and 14th century, when the territory of Bulgaria spanned over most of the Balkans. During the 5th century of Ottoman oppression, the town developed as a merchant and craftsman town with distribution channels extending into North Africa and Central Europe. Nowadays, the town has often been ranked by the media as the most beautiful and pleasant Bulgarian city to live in. Veliko Tarnovo and the nearby architectural reserve Arbanassi are included in almost every tour agency’s round-trip itinerary, while famous guidebooks define it as a must-see tourist attraction. Despite the long transfer time from Sofia (three hours) you will quickly understand why it's worth the journey. On this tour, you will see all of the major tourist highlights in Veliko Tarnovo and Arbanassi in an intriguing and educational way.  The local tour operator, Traventuria, was awarded a “Business Which Supports Biodiversity” certification by the Bulgarian Biodiversity Foundation for its “Tours with a Cause” initiative.

This one day tour to Bulgaria starts and ends in Bucharest from any place or hotel you desire. It takes approximately 12 hours so an early start is always recommended. You will cross one of the biggest and most impressive rivers in Europe, the Danube River, that forms the border between Romania and Bulgaria. There, you will visit and learn about the Basarbovo Monastery, the traditional Bulgarian village of Arbanasi and Veliko Tarnovo, the former capital of the mighty medieval Bulgarian Empire and now probably the most beautiful Bulgarian city. On request, there are many nice restaurants that can be recommended for lunch. The tour is guided by an English-speaking, well-educated young licensed guide.

Plovdiv, Architectural and Historical Open Air Museum - Etara and Veliko Tarnovo During this full-day tour, we will visit some of the famous destinations located before and after the imposing Stara Planina mountain range. This is one of the most picturesque excursions, during which we will look at the wonderful green hills, Sredna Gora, Rose Gardens, and in front of us we will see the impressive Stara Planina, which seems to rise like a wall along and wide from the west to the east. We will cross the mountain through one of the most beautiful mountain passes - Shipka, where the road leads turn after turn, and around us we will see dense beech and oak forests. Thus, we will imperceptibly reach the Etara Architectural and Historical Open Air Museum. We will immerse ourselves in the atmosphere of the 18th and 19th centuries, where life was lived in small villages with shops, cafes, churches, houses next to each other and many artisans. We will see water powered mills, a sawmill, many knife sharpening facilities, woodworking, a blacksmith shop, an icon painting studio, a copper shop and much more. Then we will head to the old Bulgarian capital from the 12th to the 14th century - Veliko Tarnovo. Veliko Tarnovo is a town located on several hills, which gives an extremely beautiful picturesque view with the houses seemingly on top of each other. And below them the yantra river passes, forming beautiful meanders. Many of the houses are from the 19th and early 20th centuries. Some of them are museums, others converted into cafes and restaurants, others into hotels. We will visit the Tsarevets hill, where was the royal palace and the cathedral of the Bulgarian kings from the second Bulgarian kingdom - 12-14 centuries. Surrounded by fortress walls that were restored in the 70s of the 20th century, we will see the ruins of many residential buildings, churches, the partially restored palace and the fully reconstructed cathedral, where the Bulgarian patriarch was.

You start the day by going over the border to Bulgaria, so be sure to have your passport with you. First stop will be at the Ivanovo Rock Churches, a UNESCO world heritage site which is actually carved in the rock and has among the best preserved frescoes.  Afterwards you visit Veliko Turnovo, once the capital of the Second Bulgarian Empire and also Tsarevets hill with the remains of the castle and church of the Bulgarian Kings. It dates back to the 12th century. Enjoy a walk on Samovodene Artisans Street packed with workshops of locals were you can find a copper smith, silversmith, an icon painter and many more. Many of the workshops are there for 3-4 generations already.  Next stop will be the intriguing village of Arbanassi with an included visit to , so you can get the chance to discover a real interior from from a typical local house. Before setting off for Romania, last visit will be in the small town of Ruse that has a beautiful main square and pedestrian area. Together with your local guide be immersed in the town's charm and learn more about it's history from the Roman times to modernity. Arrive back to your hotel in the evening after a wonderful day filled with great sights, history and friends from Bulgaria.

Travel to the foothills of the Balkan Mountains and visit Basarabov Monastery, the only monastery in Bulgaria carved into the rock. Explore the medieval town of Veliko Tarnovo, including the Tsaravets Fortress, a formidable Middle Ages fortification. Admire the charming village of Arbanassi, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Begin your day trip by departing from Bucharest and crossing the Danube River into Bulgaria. Your first stop is the rock-hewn Basarabov Monastery, continuously inhabited since its founding. Next, explore Veliko Tarnovo, known as the "City of the Tsars." Stroll through the cobbled streets of the Samovodskata Charshiya historical quarter, and discover the hilltop Tsaravets Fortress, established in the 4th century and considered the strongest Bulgarian fortification of the Middle Ages. Veliko Tarnovo was often compared to Rome and Constantinople in its grandeur. Your final stop before returning to Bucharest is the village of Arbanassi, influenced by Greek culture for centuries and featuring large, fortified houses and 17th- and 18th-century orthodox churches with stone walls and thick gates.

Embark on a guided day trip from Bucharest and discover the neighboring nation of Bulgaria. Cross the southern border and explore three notable sites with your private guide and gain an insight into Bulgarian culture and history. Start with pickup by minivan in Bucharest and travel south to cross into Bulgaria. Make the first stop of the day at the Basarabovo Monastery, located just beyond the border with Romania. Visit this Bulgarian Orthodox cave monastery, which is the only active one of its kind in the country. Continue to the town of Veliko Tarnovo, which was the capital of the Bulgarian Empire between 1185-1393. You can enjoy some time to relax and sample some local Bulgarian cuisine. Stroll through the narrow streets and admire the rows of houses perched one above the other. Explore the medieval Tsarevets Fortress which is perched on a hill overlooking the city. Admire the stunning views of the region as you learn about the history of the site with your guide. Finally, travel a short distance north to the village of Arbanasi. Be enchanted by the Bulgarian Revival architecture of the village upon arrival. Walk through its quiet streets and see many 17th and 18th centuries churches built in a distinctive style. See houses with impressive stone facades, thick walls, and wooden window frames, with the entire village being declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. After exploring the village, relax on the journey back into Romania, with drop-off in Bucharest.