4 Historic Towns in
4 Days around Bulgaria

Private tour to Melnik, Plovdiv,
Koprivshtitsa, and Veliko Tarnovo

  • Available year-round from January to December
  • Rila Monastery and Valley of Roses included
  • English-speaking guide and comfortable private car

Price: 1270 EUR (1-3 people) | 1970 EUR (4-7 people)

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Hop on a four-day road trip around Bulgaria with us and explore the ancient Veliko Tarnovo, Melnik—the Capital of Wine, Plovdiv – the European Capital of Culture, and Koprivshtitsa – a classic Bulgarian mountain town famous for its folk music and preserved architecture.

You’ll also see some of Bulgaria’s most important natural and ancient human sites. Tour the beautiful Valley of the Roses, monasteries, and more.

Tour Details

  • Itinerary: Sofia – Rila Monastery – Melnik – Plovdiv – Koprivshtitsa – Kazanlak – Etar Ethnographic Complex – Veliko Tarnovo – Sofia
  • Duration: 4 days / 3 nights
  • Start/end point: Sofia, Bulgaria
  • Best period: January – December
  • Tour language: English
  • Price for 1-3 people: 1270 EUR in a car 
  • Price for 4-7 people: 1970 EUR in a minivan 
  • Transportation: private car or minivan
  • Tour type: Historical and cultural
  • Top attractions: Rila Monastery, Plovdiv Old Town, the Ancient theatre of Philippopolis, the first Bulgarian school from 1843, the Russian memorial church, Thracian tombs, Etar Ethnographic Complex, Tsarevets Fortress.

Highlights

  • Explore the largest Orthodox monastery in Bulgaria, with a guided tour of its stunning frescoes, church, and museum.
  • Taste local specialties like “mekitsa” and regional wines in Melnik.
  • Stroll through the picturesque Old Town of Plovdiv, with its cobblestone streets, ancient ruins, and colorful Revival-period houses.
  • Experience the Rose Valley in Kazanlak, with options to explore a rose oil distillery (in the summer season) or visit the Thracian tombs.
  • Enjoy a relaxing stay at a SPA hotel.
  • Know more about the traditional Bulgarian culture at the Etar Ethnographic Complex, an open-air museum showcasing crafts and historic architecture.
  • Tour Veliko Tarnovo, the old capital of Bulgaria, and the Tsarevets Fortress, offering breathtaking views of the valley.

 

4 Days in Bulgaria Itinerary

This is an example itinerary. You can add or remove days based on your preferences – spend a weekend or a whole week in Bulgaria, it’s up to you. This can also be a self-guided tour that includes only transportation and an English-speaking driver who will take you from place to place. You will have the freedom to explore the locations on your own. Share your travel ideas with us and we will do our best to build the best itinerary for your group.

Day Highlights Overnight
Day 1 Transfer from Sofia to Melnik with a stop at the Rila Monastery, optional wine-tasting Melnik
Day 2 Transfer to Plovdiv, walking city tour Plovdiv
Day 3 Visit Koprivshtitsa and the Valley of Roses and Thracian Kings Kazanlak
Day 4 Explore the Etar Ethnographic Complex, Veliko Tarnovo, and transfer back to Sofia  

See the full tour program

DAY 1: RILA MONASTERY AND MELNIK

Trip to Rila Monastery
Depart from Sofia in the morning after breakfast
→ Transfer to the Rila Monastery (2 hours)
→ Guided tour of the monastery complex
Visit the Rila Monastery church and museum and taste the delicious monastery “Mekitsa”
→ Stop for lunch (Optional) in a restaurant famous with the fresh fish or continue directly to Melnik
→ Transfer to Melnik (the smallest city in Bulgaria a.k.a. The Bulgarian Capital of Wine)
Sightseeing and wine tasting in local winery (optional)Overnight in Melnik

DAY 2: PLOVDIV

Trip to Plovdiv→ Transfer to Plovdiv, The European Capital of Culture (4 hours)
→ Walking city tour of Plovdiv (1.5-2 hours)
Visit The Old Town (dating from the 19th century); the exterior of the Ethnographic museum; Balabanov house; the Ancient theatre of Philippopolis; the Ancient stadium of Philipopolis; the St. Constantin and Elena church; the Djumaya Mosque and square; the famous main pedestrian street; “The Trap” neighbourhood and Nebet Tepe.
→ Afternoon at leisure

Overnight in Plovdiv

DAY 3: KOPRIVSHTITSA AND KAZANLAK

Trip to KOprivshtitsa→ Depart from Plovdiv after breakfast
→ Transfer to Koprivshtitsa mountain village (2 hours)
→ Walking city tour of Koprivshtitsa
Visit the exterior of Dimcho Debelyanov house, Uspenie Bogorodichno Church, the first Bulgarian school from 1843, The Forestry House, the exterior of the Georgi Benkovski House, the library, the liberation square and the “First Gun” bridge.
→ Stop for lunch in traditional Bulgarian restaurant
→ Transfer to Kazanluk (The Rose Valley)(1.5 hours)
→ Visit the Russian memorial church, the Thracian tomb “Golayma Kosmatka”  or a local rose oil distillery (if you travel in late May/ June)
→ Afternoon at leisure

Overnight in SPA hotel in Kazanlak area

DAY 4: ETAR AND VELIKO TARNOVO

→ Depart after breakfast from your hotel in Kazanlak
→ Transfer to the Etar Ethnographic Complex (Traditional open air museum) (1 hours)
→ Free time to explore the beautiful traditional architecture and local arts and crafts
→ Transfer to Veliko Tarnovo (1 hour)
→ Free time for lunch
→ Visit the Tsarevets Fortress. Important landmark with views to the whole Veliko Tarnovo valley
→ Transfer back to Sofia (3 hours)

END OF THE TOUR

Let’s plan your 4-day road trip across Bulgaria

Explore four towns of historical significance and dive into Bulgarian cultural heritage.
Send us your details to receive a custom quote.

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What to Expect During The 4-Day Adventure

Cultural Immersion

Indulge in wine tastings and traditional Bulgarian cuisine for a real taste of local flavors. See historical treasures that range from ancient ruins to medieval landmarks

Local Insider Knowledge

Encounter hidden treasures off the beaten path, including small towns, local crafts, and genuine Bulgarian traditions. Enjoy curated stops at artisan shops, traditional restaurants, and scenic photo locations.

Customize the duration

If you like the 4 days itinerary but would like a different trip duration, let us know. We’ll extend it to a week, 10 days, or 2 weeks or shorten it to a weekend trip and adjust the program accordingly.

Ultimate Flexibility

Take guided tours with a local knowledgeable guide for better insights or self-guided tours for personalized adventure. Add rest days or adjust the trip plan to suit your pace and preference.

Hassle-Free Transportation

Enjoy private, air-conditioned transfers between destinations for a smooth and comfortable journey in all respects.

Options for Self-Guided Freedom

Explore independently with the convenience of a private English-speaking driver who ensures seamless transfers between destinations.

What’s Included in the Price

  • Private transfers: Travel in comfort and style in a private, air-conditioned car, SUV, or minivan.
  • Transportation costs: All costs for fuel, VAT, and parking fees are included on the route.
  • English-speaking driver and guide: A licensed local guide will take care of you during the tour.
  • Airport transfer on arrival and departure for your convenience.

What’s Not Included

  • Food and Drinks: Meals and beverages are not included.
  • Tips and Gratuities: Not obligatory, but tipping is highly welcomed.
  • Accommodation: Hotel stays are not included in the tour but we can assist you with bookings if needed.
  • Entrance Fees: The entrance fees are not covered and should be paid separately on-site.
  • Other personal Expenses.

Good to Know

  • Respectful Clothing at Rila Monastery: Shorts and skirts above the knee are not permitted inside the monastery. Since this is a holy site, dress modestly and bring a scarf or long-sleeve clothing to cover your arms if entering the church.
  • Comfortable Footwear for Exploration: Most of the historical towns in Bulgaria have cobblestone streets which can be uneven, so wearing comfortable walking shoes is a must.
  • Weather Essentials: Bring a hat, sunglasses, and sunscreen for sunny days, especially when exploring outdoor landmarks like the Rose Valley or Tsarevets Fortress. In cooler months, layer your clothing for changing temperatures throughout the day.
  • Lunch Options: Enjoy traditional Bulgarian cuisine at restaurants recommended by tour local private guide or bring snacks, sandwiches, and water for convenience.

A Word from Our Satisfied Clients

We, an extended family of 9, booked a 4-day trip including pick up and drop off at the airport. From the planning of the trip with Adriana via email that was excellent through the mini van and wonderful driver and most of all our amazing tour guide Nadia. The trip was planned very well, the places were interesting and exciting and Nadia’s English and knowledge was impeccable! Furthermore she was more than flexible accommodating our needs and wishes. We highly recommend this tour company!!

Darla, USA

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    More about Rila Monastery

    The Rila Monastery is huddled in the initial folds of the Rila mountain. Its history began centuries ago, with its founding in the tenth century. Later more buildings were added in different periods and formed the monastery complex. UNESCO distinguished the Rila Monastery by including it in the list of its precious world heritage sites, not only on account of its long history and valuable frescoes, but also because it has always been a center for education and literature. In the Revival period a school was organized in the monastery, and eminent Bulgarians have visited it in different periods.

    In the end of the 18th century a fire razed the monastery grounds, but several years later the complex was restored. Another fire devastated the complex years later, and again it was restored.

    Nowadays the Rila Monastery covers 8,800 square meters, with the buildings framing the yard in an irregular pentagon shape.

    More about Plovdiv

    Plovdiv welcomes as a city steeped in history and with a plenitude of sites demonstrating Bulgarian customs and traditions and also modern life. Its history spans millennia, and the period of the Roman empire left vestiges that testify to its past importance. The Romans appreciated the auspicious location of the settlement and built solid paved roads, temples, baths. The excavations in the modern city part reveal just a modicum of its glorious past.

    The Assumption of the Holy Mother cathedral is imposing. Legend tells of a beautiful temple that stood in the location of the present cathedral far back in the 9-10 centuries. The Archeological Museum is located in a building dating to late part of the 19th century. The archeological wealth of the whole ancient Thrace is gathered there. The Ethnographic Museum unfolds to visitors with the life of local people, trades and crafts, national clothing, and even musical instruments.

    More about Melnik

    The tiniest town, Melnik, is a pearl in the southwest Bulgaria. The proximity of Pirin is guarantee of picturesqueness, because the mountain is famed for its stern and grand mountain beauty. The altitude of the locality where Melnik lies is 437 meters. With its transient climate, passing into Mediterranean mildness, it offers comfort, with minimal rains in summer, and maximal precipitations in winter. Fans of mountain chalets have ample choices. Melnik is the starting point for trails to the Pirin chalet and the Malina chalet.

    The Rozhen monastery is near Melnik, not far even when going on foot. On the way to the monastery the curious Melnik Pyramids captivate with their uniqueness. These mounds of sandstone, rising to up to 100 meters, are unlike any other formations. But in Melnik itself there is plenty to marvel at: fascinating old style houses and opportunities to learn about wine making, a strong trade there.

    More about Veliko Tarnovo

    Veliko Turnovo has gathered centuries of history and despite its small size, with a population of just about 69,000 people, it attracts lots of enthusiastic tourists because of its numerous and precious sights which lend it a unique atmosphere. There are a number of churches, among which the Saints Forty Martyrs, a renovated church by the Yantra, enjoys lots of visitors. On the way to it visitors can go into the Tsarevets fortress, marvel at the complex built to revive past periods,  and show the grandeur of old times, and also see the remains of the Baldwin Tower where, according to legend, the captured Latin emperor Baldwin died.

    The town’s guardian is Saint Patriarch Euthymius, a Bulgarian patriarch whose statue can be seen rising near the building of the University, on the Sveta Gora hill. The university, named after the Saints Cyril and Methodius, is the second largest Bulgarian university.

    More about Koprivshtitsa

    Koprivshtitsa is in the Sofia region, famed as a mountainous town with specific architecture. The Topolnitsa river flows past it, forming a picturesque valley. The altitude is 1061 meters. Winters are cold but abound in sun. The snow cover is thick. Summers are cool owing to the northern flow along the Topolnitsa valley.

    In the past, cattle breeding and crafts were the livelihoods. Men frequently went abroad to search for work too. The work available in the locality was scarce.

    Because the architecture of the houses is unique local art, there are six museum houses which preserve the unique style and house local customs. The writer Lyuben Karavelov’s house, the poet Dimcho Debelyanov’s house, traders’ houses etc. form the bunch of museums. The cathedral church is called Assumption. The artisans’ street is curious and colorful. The stone bridge on which the first gun was fired of the April Uprising, attracts history fans.