Sofia

Sightseeing Walking Tours

The tour departs early in the morning in front of Alexander Nevski. Your first stop will be the great UNESCO Boyana Church located on the outskirts of Sofia consisting of three buildings. The eastern church was built in the 10th-century, then enlarged at the beginning of the 13th by Sebastocrator Kaloyan, who ordered a second two-story building to be erected next to it. After exploring it, head to Rila Monastery, where you will admire the impressive architecture, frescoes and learn about the history of the monastery from your guide. During the guided tour in the inner yard and the monastery museum, discover the most precious pieces that are kept from the past and all the facts and stories about the largest Bulgarian monastery complex. After your monastery tour, enjoy about 2.5 hours of free time for food and shopping.

Explore Sofia’s hidden nightlife gems on a 4-hour pub crawl. Meet people at some of the favorite hangouts in the city. If you’re a solo traveler this is a great way to socialize with locals and meet travelers from all around the world. The guides are a unique part of this experience. They’ll take the time to get to know you and at the end of the night you’ll have made some new friends. Enjoy a free beer at the first stop, then proceed to a second bar where you can enjoy an alcoholic dessert with anything you buy. Enjoy another free beer on tap at the third stop and then free admission to the club selected for the night.

Discover the main landmarks of communist history in the city of Sofia. Start your tour by passing by the former headquarters of the Bulgarian Communist Party. Continue on to see buildings such as the secret police investigation facility and the destroyed mausoleum. Head on towards the monument of the Soviet army and the National Palace of Culture. During the 3-hour-long walking tour, learn about the theory of communism and what Marxism-Leninism is. Find out about the history of communism in Bulgaria, the pros and cons of the period, and the relation between the communist government and religion, industry, economy, culture and everyday life of the people. End the tour with a fresh perspective on the city and a new insight into the country's communist past. 

Journey through almost 10,000 years of history on a guided walking tour of Sofia, and learn how the city sits on land that has been settled over the centuries by Thracians, Romans, Huns and more. Marvel at its well-preserved monuments and outstanding sights, such as the East Gate of the Serdika ruins from Roman times. Walk through the underpass connecting the Presidential Palace and Ministerial Council to encounter shops selling traditional souvenirs and rosewater. Experience the city's laid-back charm as you explore streets scattered with mosques and impressive onion-domed churches.

You are about the hunt down the graffiti and street art of Sofia on your own or with your friends. Follow the paths of the urban art and get know featured artists and the stories behind the walls! Your tour wil start at Statue of Sofia and end up near by. While exploring the artsy and a bit hidden central part of Sofia, you will learn about the styles of graffiti, where is the difference to street art and who are the most influential artists on the streets. During the walk you will have a chance to feel the unique vibe of Sofia while trying to escape from the big boulevards. Along the way we will see graffiti walls, murals, street art, created by Bulgarian and International artists and learn about the process and stories behind each piece. Who knows, we might even get lucky and catch an artist at work..... or you will start your street art career.

Depart Sofia in the morning for a full-day excursion to Plovdiv, the second-largest city in Bulgaria and one of the oldest towns in the world. Learn about the history of Plovidiv, dating back to Troya and Mycenae. During a 2 to 3-hour walk in the old town, discover the history and the culture of the 7,000-year-old settlement from its Roman, Byzantine, and Ottoman periods to the present day. Admire the museums, churches, historic monuments, revival period houses, souvenir shops and cobblestone streets. See the Ethnographic Museum and the well-preserved ruins of the ancient Roman Theater.

Cross the border from Bulgaria and enjoy a day trip in Macedonia. Dive into the past as you explore Skopje's historic neighborhoods and see its attractions. Learn about the history of the Macedonians as you walk through the new part of the city, rebuilt during the Skopje 2013 project. After your visit to Skopje, head to Matka Canyon to take a break in nature. Your day trip begins with an 8:00 AM pickup from your accommodation in Sofia. Drive for approximately 3.5 hours and reach Skopje. During your drive learn about the history of the region from the Bulgarian point of view. Arrive in Skopje and have a 2-hour guided tour of the city from a local Macedonian guide. Learn about Yugoslavia and have the chance to compare the two historic perspectives of the region provided to you on this trip. During your guided tour of Skopje visit Skopje Fortress, Sultan Murat Mosque, and the Old Bazaar. Have the chance to see the caravanserais from the Ottoman period when Skopje was one of the main trade centers in the Balkans. Visit the new neo-classical Macedonia Square and be impressed by the statue of Alexander the Great and his father Phillip II. Continue on to the Mother Teresa Memorial House. In the house museum, learn about Mother Teresa's life story. Afterward, conclude your walking tour of Skopje at Macedonia Gate. Head to Matka Canyon where you will have approximately 1.5-hours to admire the beauty of nature. Have the chance to enjoy a boat trip inside the canyon and pass by one of the deepest underwater caves in the world. At about 4:00 PM, meet with the rest of the group and depart back to Sofia. On the drive back, discuss your day's impressions and ask your guide any remaining questions you may have. Unfortunately, the day trip's itinerary will not allow you to have free time for lunch in Skopje. It is recommended to take some fast food during the walking tour or bring some sandwiches with you. You can buy food from a petrol station before arriving in the city.

Begin your tour in front of the 5-star Grand Hotel Sofia, where you’ll meet your guide. Visit the beautiful National Theater, the former Royal Palace, and the Presidency. On this 3-hour afternoon walk your guide will take you next to the Art Club café, a favorite spot of many locals. Try the world famous shopska salad, prepared from fresh cucumbers, tomatoes, cheese, and spices, and taste traditional Bulgarian cold soup, called tarator, prepared from yogurt and cucumbers. See the Rotunda St. George, St. Nedelya Church, St. Joseph Catholic Cathedral, the Banya Bashi Mosque, and the Sofia Synagogue, all around a square known as Small Jerusalem. Visit the historic Central Hali Market that dates from the beginning of the 20th century. Taste typical sweets such as baklava and tolumbichki, or buy fresh fruits, vegetables, nuts, or sausages. Head to Europe’s newest underground and travel 1 stop to Lions' Bridge. Near the stop is a typical Bulgarian restaurant, created from 4 houses with a common garden. The restaurant features the architecture and furnishings of the 19th century, representing the 4 corners of Bulgaria. Taste fantastic Bulgarian wines together with different meze of meats, including lukanka, babek, fillet Elena, and pastarma. The tour ends at this point, but you may want to continue sampling different hot or cold appetizers, traditional dishes, and Bulgarian desserts.

The Belogradchik massif is a group of strange shaped sandstone and conglomerate rock formations, located on the slopes of the western Balkan Mountains. The rocks vary in color from primarily red to yellow and some of the rocks reach up to 200 meters in height. Many of the rocks represent fantastic shapes and are associated with interesting legends. They are often named after people or objects they are thought to resemble. The Belogradchik Rocks have been declared a Nature Landmark by the Bulgarian government and are a major tourist attraction in the region. Belogradchik Fortress is situated at a distance of 1.5 kilometers from the town of Belogradchik among the renowned rocks. It is a fortress that existed since the Roman times. In 1st – 3rd century AD the Romans built roads across the new provinces of the empire on the Balkan peninsula, as well as some fortresses to guard them. The mission of Belogradchik Fortress was to control the road from the town of Ratsiaria (nearby today’s village of Archar, in the region of Vidin). The Romans constructed the highest part of the fortress, called The Citadel. This one day tour allows you to witness one of the natural wonders of Europe and learn more about the history and culture of the picturesque Northwest of Bulgaria! The tour starts from your hotel. After a 3 hour transfer you will reach the town of Belogradchik. The tour of the town, along with the fortress and the amazing rock formations takes about 3 hours. Afterwards enjoy a transfer back to Sofia. The tour ends at your hotel.

At 9:00 AM you will be picked from your hotel/accommodation by your guide. After a short drive, you will reach Vitosha Mountain. Your destination is a meteorological tower, from which area you will have the chance to see the whole city from above. Your guide will give you a good overview of Sofia, its history and geography. Your next stop will be one of the most interesting and significant locations in Sofia – complex called “The Bells”. It is related to a Bulgarian initiative, which has started in 1979, called “The Flag of Peace”, gathering children from 135 countries, from both sides of “The Iron Curtain”. Each group had to put the unique bell from its country in this complex. After this experience, we will drive back to Sofia city center where you will start your walking tour. First stop is the National Archaeological Museum with its astonishing cultural treasures. On the way you will see the oldest building in Sofia – the Roman early Christian church St. George, dated in 4th-century. After the museum, you can have lunch in a restaurant situated in the same building, which was a Medieval mosque and enjoy the archaeological remains next to your table. Your next destination is the market area of Sofia, famous with the name “Ladies Market” where you will learn a lot for the epoch of the late 19th and early 20th century. You will pass next to a Synagogue, situated almost in front of an active mosque and Catholic Church, giving the name of the square – “The Square of tolerance. After you visit the Sofia History Museum you will walk by the Communist administrative center, St. Sofia church, Sofia University, and Alexander Nevski cathedral, where your tour ends. You can ask you guide some final question and if you need they can give you a ride back to your hotel, if it is far from the center.