Sofia and Boyana Church Tour with a Private Local Guide

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Discover the Bulgarian capital with our half-day Sofia and Boyana Church tour. Your local guide will lead you through Sofia’s most iconic landmarks as well as its hidden gems—places you wouldn’t find on your own, including markets, bars, viewpoints, and more.

Tour Details

Meeting point: At your convenience (hotel, central location, or other)
Tour Duration: 4-5 hours
Best period: Year-round (suitable for all seasons)
Price: 190 EUR for 1-3 people (For larger groups, please contact us for a custom offer)
Transportation: Private transfer to Boyana Church included
Tour Type: Historical, cultural, and local insights tour

Highlights

Discover Sofia’s most famous landmarks
Learn about Sofia’s rich history
Explore the local life
Personalized insights and tips: Get tailored recommendations on where to dine, shop, exchange currency, and enjoy Sofia’s nightlife from a local expert who knows the city inside and out.

The red-brick Rotunda of St. George in Sofia, Bulgaria, surrounded by ancient ruins and modern buildings in the city center.

Historic Boyana Church surrounded by trees, showcasing its unique medieval brick architecture and intricate arch details.

Fountain in front of Ivan Vazov National Theatre in Sofia, Bulgaria, with people enjoying the park on a sunny day.

The streets of Sofia

Winter view of Sofia, Bulgaria with Vitosha Mountain in the background. Snow-covered peaks visible above the city.

Includes

Pick up from your accommodation
Private transfer to Boyana Church
Licensed tour guide (Guides available in many languages)

Excludes

Food and drinks
Tips and gratuities: Although not mandatory, tipping is customary and greatly appreciated for excellent service. We recommend leaving a gratuity as a token of appreciation for your guide’s knowledge and hospitality.
Entrance fees: The cost of entrance tickets to Boyana Church and other sites will be calculated based on the number of people in your group. These fees will be payable on-site.
Personal expenses

Benefits

Flexible meeting time and place, tailored to fit your schedule.
Private tour for a more personalized experience
Photo and Coffee Breaks at your leisure
Flexible Itinerary: The tour can be adjusted to suit your preferences. You can choose to start with the walking tour of Sofia and finish with a visit to Boyana Church, or vice versa, based on your schedule and interests.
Special Requests Welcome: Have a particular site or attraction in mind? Whether it’s a specific church, museum, or a local market, just let your guide know. We can tailor the tour to include your must-see destinations.
Family-Friendly: This tour is ideal for families. The itinerary can be adapted to suit the needs of travelers of all ages, and there are plenty of opportunities for rest stops, snacks, and photo moments.

Good to Know

Wear Comfortable Clothing and Footwear: Sofia’s streets and historical sites often require a bit of walking, so comfortable shoes and weather-appropriate clothing are highly recommended to ensure an enjoyable experience.
Weather Considerations: The tour operates year-round, so be sure to check the weather forecast before you go. During the summer, sunscreen and a hat are advisable, while in colder months, layers and a warm jacket are essential.
Stay Hydrated: Especially during the warmer months, it’s a good idea to bring a bottle of water to stay hydrated throughout the tour.
Tour Pace: You set the pace for the tour, so feel free to take breaks whenever you need them. Your guide is happy to accommodate stops for coffee, snacks, or a quick rest.

Tour Itinerary

Our team member will come to pick you up at your accommodation in Sofia and start the tour from there. You will begin the tour with a visit to the Boyana church, located on the outskirts of Vitosha mountain.

After Exploring the UNESCO landmark you will go back to Sofia city center and visit the historical part of the city on foot.

During the guided walking tour of Sofia, you will see:

St. Nedelya Square and St. Nedelya church – The Monument of Sofia – St. Petka Church The Council of Ministers – The Rotunda “Saint George” – The Presidency – The National Archaeology Museum (Entering is possible upon request) – The National Bank of Bulgaria – Knyaz Alexander Battenberg Square – The Royal palace and the city garden – The National Theater – The Russian church – The Monument of the “Unknown soldier” – The Alexander Nevski Memorial Church – Vitoshka str. (the pedestrian street of Sofia)

Throughout the walking tour, you will set the pace. Depending on your interests, you can spend as much time as you’d like at each of the city’s sights. You might choose to explore the charming little streets of the Bulgarian capital or focus more on the city’s famous churches and monuments. Additionally, whenever you wish, you can take short coffee breaks or visit souvenir shops before continuing with your Sofia city tour.

At some point on the tour, you can stop for lunch at a traditional Bulgarian restaurant (meal not included). Your private Bulgaria guide will also offer helpful tips about nightlife spots, the best shops with reasonable prices, where to exchange money without commission, what to explore outside the city, and the best transportation options in Sofia, Bulgaria, or other Balkan countries.

Info about Sofia

Sofia lies on important crossroads which have contributed to its development as an important center and a site steeped in history. In antiquity, roads passed through it to link the Adriatic and the mid Europe with the areas around the Black Sea, the Aegean Sea, and reached as far as the Middle East. The area of Sofia was a busy hub of diverse activities, and it has remained the country’s most renowned center for trade, culture, and tourism.

Several small river cross the city, and the larger Iskar river flows past its east complexes. The abundance of mineral and thermal springs is an indubitable attraction for fans of spa vacations and restorative chillout. The number of springs totals 15, and the total flow rate of all springs is 130 liters per second. Added to the plentiful water sources are the artificial lakes and dams built in the last 60 years.

Sofia is also heaven for park lovers. The Borisova Garden, centrally located, is a great place for spending periods of chillout, and for families with children it is a veritable heaven, with artificial lakes, playgrounds, greenery and welcoming alleys. There are also the West, North, and South Parks, and besides verdant hospitality they also offer unique age old trees that are specially protected.

The nearby Vitosha mountain is Sofia’s most embellishing nature pearl. It has had the statute of a nature park since the year 2000. There is the Bistrishko Branishte biospheric reserve included in UNESCO’s “Man and Biosphere” program. Another reserve in the Vitosha area is Torfeno Branishte, or Turf Reserve. The Pancharevo lake, a center for aquatic activities, abuts several parks where sports facilities, rest homes, and plentiful eateries offer convenience. The parks inside the city and those in its vicinity are true paradise spots.

Other tours of Sofia we provide:

Tour of Sofia and Boyana Church

See top landmarks of the Bulgarian capital in 5 hours

Tour Details

Highlights

Includes

Excludes

Benefits

Good to Know

Tour Itinerary

Info about Sofia