Self-Drive Bulgaria: Discover the Best Destinations at Your Own Pace

Breakfast and half day private city tour of Sofia with local tour guide - visit St. Alexander Nevski Memorial Cathedral ( entrance ), St. Sofia 6th c basilica ( entrance ), the Parliament square, National Theatre and the Old City Garden, the ex. Royal Palace ( National Art Gallery ), St. George 4th c Rotunda, the Presidency and Arena di Serdica ruins. 

Free afternoon for own discoveries and overnight at the same hotel.

Morning car delivery to your hotel. Departure south to Rila Mountain National Park and Rila Monastery – the largest monastery in Bulgaria, included in UNESCO list in 1983. Visit the monastery`s main yard and church, free time for lunch and departure to Bansko museum town, located at the foothills or Pirin Mountain National Park, included in UNESCO list. Possible visit of the old town of Bansko – or walking/ hiking outside the town. Overnight at a hotel. 

Or Bansko – Dobrinishte – Belitsa – Bansko

Day dedicated to southwestern Bulgaria. Possible visit with the car to Melnik museum town ( the smallest town in Bulgaria ) – close to the Greek border and surrounded by sandstone pyramids in which wine cellars were dug, check the picturesque village of Rojena and the 9th c Rojen Monastery. 

Another option for the day is to go with the car to the nearby town of Dobrinishte ( 6 km ) and take the lift to Gotse Delchev hut ( 1894 m ) and Bezbog hut ( 2227 m ), and walk in the area to Popovo lake, Bezbog peak, Polejan peak or other locations. Not far from Bansko you can visit Dobursko village ( 20 km ) with the famous church of "St. St. Theodore Tyron and Theodore Stratilat ", as well as Belitsa town ( 20 km ) with the park of the Dancing Bears. Return to Bansko for 2nd overnight.

Departure to Plovdiv – the 2nd largest city in Bulgaria, European Capital of Culture in 2019. 

En route possible stop to Velingrad spa town and visit of Kleptuza – the largest karst lake in Bulgaria. Upon arrival in Plovdiv – visit the Old Plovdiv historical reserve, awarded golden medal by UNESCO for its architecture, walk along the longest pedestrian street in the world, enjoy some time in Kapana – the artistic neighbourhood of Plovdiv, the remains of the Roman Forum, Stadium, Djumaya Mosque Square, the Ancient Amphitheatre and Kuyumdzhioglu House with its 130 windows ( Ethnographic museum ), the Natuonal revival houses complex, the Old Pharmacy, the churches in the Old town.

Overnight at your hotel.  

Breakfast and some free time in Plovdiv before continuing to the north to further explore Central Bulgaria. En route stop at Damascena ethnographic complex to visit its rose distillery, rose gardens, taste some rose products. 

Arrival in Kazanluk – the centre of rose oil extraction in Bulgaria. According to The Ultimate Visual Encyclopedia, Bulgaria is one of the major suppliers of rose oil in the world and Kazanluk's rose gardens are the largest rose gardens in the whole world. Kazanluk is known as well as the center of the Valley of the Thracian kings. Possible visit of the regional museum of Kazanluk, Kazanluk Thracian Tomb ( UNESCO site, copy ), Ostrusha or Goliama Kosmatka Thracian tomb. 

Check in at your hotel, overnight.

Today we will enjoy a scenic travel via Shipka mountain pass of the Balkan Mountains. Possible visit of Shipka memorial church not far from Kazanluk. In the region of Garborovo you will be able to visit Etura open air ethnographic complex ( which has several small restaurants for lunch ) and the Museum of Humor and Satire in Gabrovo. En route you can stop to Dryanovo Monastery as well. Arrival in Veliko Turnovo and check in at your hotel. Meet your local tour guide in front of Tsarevets Royal hill with the Citadel, enjoy explanation for the medieval history and the capital city of the Second Bulgarian empire, as well as legends of Tsars and Crusaders. Early evening walk to Samovodska Charshia street of traditional crafts, workshops, small cafes and galleries as well as Gurko Street, facing Yantra river. Overnight.

Morning to enjoy the place, possible visit of Arbanassi museum village ( 10 km ), Transfiguration Monastery or Liaskovski Monastery nearby. After lunch – proceed to Sofia. Arrival, check in at your hotel and drop off the car to a representative of the rent-a-car company. 

Breakfast and departure.