Ancient Thracians, Romans, medieval Tsars, and the Ottoman Empire all left their mark on Bulgaria, a crossroads of the Balkans where mountain monasteries meet lively café culture. You’ll feel that layered history in the stones of Sofia’s Roman Serdica, in the gold-domed silhouette of Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, and among Plovdiv’s cobbled Revival-era mansions.

Beyond monuments, Bulgaria shines in the details: flaky banitsa at a morning café, peppery Shopska salad at a mehana (tavern), a glass of Melnik or Mavrud poured by a proud local. Day trips are easy—Rila Monastery is a must, and Plovdiv’s Old Town rewards slow wandering and sunset views from Nebet Tepe.

Practical notes: the currency is the Bulgarian lev (BGN); cards are widely accepted but carry some cash for markets and small cafés. Tipping 10% is appreciated. Trains are scenic but slower than buses; Omio works well for tickets across Europe. Summer and early autumn bring festivals, while winter is crisp and crowd-free.

Sofia

Bulgaria’s capital is a tapestry: Roman streets under glass panels, onion-domed churches, Ottoman-era baths turned museums, and mid-century boulevards buzzing with espresso bars. Sofia is compact, green, and walkable, with Vitosha Mountain looming to the south like a promise of weekend trails.

Top sights include Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, the Rotunda of St. George (4th century), Largo’s socialist-era architecture, the National Archaeological Museum, and the yellow-cobblestoned Tsar Osvoboditel Boulevard. Food-wise, Sofia swings from rustic taverns and rakia bars to inventive modern Bulgarian kitchens.

• Where to stay (Sofia):
  • Boutique design: Sense Hotel Sofia (rooftop views near the cathedral).
  • Modern comfort: Novotel Sofia (easy access to the metro and mall).
  • Budget favorite: Hostel Mostel Sofia (social, central, great value).
  • Browse more options: VRBO Sofia | Hotels.com Sofia
• Getting there: For international flights from within Europe, compare routes on Omio (Flights). If you’re flying from outside Europe, check Trip.com (Flights) and Kiwi.com for competitive fares.
• Local transport: From Sofia Airport to the center, the M4 metro is ~30 minutes (about 2–3 BGN). Official taxis into town are ~20–25 BGN depending on traffic.

Day 1: Arrive in Sofia, golden domes and first bites

Afternoon: Land in Sofia and check into your hotel. Stretch your legs with a gentle loop: Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, Saint Sofia Basilica, and the art nouveau National Theater Ivan Vazov in the City Garden. Pop into the Rotunda of St. George to glimpse 4th-century frescoes tucked behind modern blocks.

Evening: Start with an aperitif at One More Bar in the leafy Doctor’s Garden area. For dinner, try Moma Bulgarian Food & Wine (bright folk motifs and homestyle classics like kavarma stew) or Cosmos (elegant, modern Bulgarian—reserve ahead). Craving something more casual? Raketa Rakia Bar pairs dozens of fruit brandies with shopska salad and grilled kebapche. Gelato at Confetti seals the night.

Day 2: Sofia’s historic core and food culture

Morning: Coffee at Drekka Specialty Coffee or Chucky’s Coffee House—both roast seriously good beans. Then join this Guided Walking Tour of Sofia, a great primer on the city’s layers and legends (meeting point: National Theater): Guided Walking Tour of Sofia.

Afternoon: Lunch at Made in Blue, a sky-blue townhouse with seasonal Bulgarian produce done thoughtfully. Visit the Regional History Museum (the former Central Mineral Baths) and peer into the exposed Roman ruins at Serdica. Swing by the Women’s Market (Zhenski Pazar) for spices, honey, and rose products.

Evening: Book a table at The Little Things, a quirky multi-room home serving comforting Bulgarian recipes. Nightcap: Rakia tasting flight at Raketa or a Bulgarian craft beer at Kanaal.

Day 3: Full-day UNESCO tour—Rila Monastery and Boyana Church

Swap the city for alpine air on a classic day trip combining Sofia’s medieval jewel with Bulgaria’s most famous monastery. Important dress code at Rila: covered shoulders and knees inside the monastery complex.

Tour: From Sofia: Rila Monastery & Boyana Church Day Tour (small-group minibus; typically 8–10 hours). Enjoy Boyana’s astonishing 13th-century frescoes before continuing to Rila’s striped arcades and vivid icons.

Lunch options near Rila include hearty bean soup, grilled trout, and shkembe chorba at simple mehanas. Back in Sofia, keep dinner light—try a salad and flatbread at SkaraBar, or share small plates at Cosmos’s bar.

Day 4: Sofia’s art, markets, and Bulgarian wine

Morning: Breakfast at Rainbow Factory (banitsa, lutenitsa toast, house-roasted coffee). If you love 20th-century history, the Museum of Socialist Art mixes propaganda posters and statues in a quietly fascinating garden. Otherwise, browse Vitosha Boulevard’s cafés and side-street boutiques.

Afternoon: Explore Tsar Shishman Street for indie shops and street art. If you’re craving another day out of town, consider this evocative alternative showcasing Bulgaria’s Revival-era heritage: From Sofia: Koprivshtitsa and the land of the past.

Evening: Toast your last night in Sofia with a boutique tasting: Wine and Tapas Boutique Bulgarian Wine Tasting—expect Mavrud, Rubin, and local cheeses.

For dinner, try Manastirska Magernitsa—recipes gathered from monasteries across Bulgaria, served in a cozy garden setting.

Plovdiv

One of Europe’s oldest continuously inhabited cities, Plovdiv layers Thracian tombs, Roman marvels, and Bulgarian Revival mansions atop seven hills. The Old Town is a living museum, while the Kapana Creative District crackles with galleries, craft beer bars, and street art.

Highlights include the Roman Theatre (still hosting performances), the Roman Stadium tucked under the main street, the Ethnographic Museum in a lavish 19th-century house, and sunset on Nebet Tepe with the Maritsa River at your feet.

• Where to stay (Plovdiv): Elegant guesthouses fill Old Town mansions; boutique hotels cluster around Kapana for nightlife and cafés. Browse: VRBO Plovdiv | Hotels.com Plovdiv
• Getting from Sofia to Plovdiv: Morning departures are frequent. Train: ~2.5–3 hours, ~$12–15—book via Omio (Trains). Bus: ~2–2.25 hours, ~$10–14—see Omio (Buses).

Day 5: Sofia → Plovdiv, Old Town wander and sunset views

Morning: Depart Sofia after breakfast. The bus is quickest; the train is scenic. Grab a last Sofia coffee at Fabrika Daga for the road.

Afternoon: Check in, then lunch at Pavaj (seasonal Bulgarian plates; try the slow-cooked pork with lyutenitsa) in Kapana. Explore Old Town: the Ethnographic Museum’s painted ceilings, the Roman Theatre’s sweeping stone tiers, and colorful merchant houses. Pause for espresso at Monkey House in Kapana.

Evening: Climb Nebet Tepe for golden-hour cityscapes. Dinner at Smokini (modern European-Bulgarian; excellent duck and vegetarian pastas) or Rahat Tepe for rustic grills with a view. Drinks at Cat & Mouse (craft beer) or Vino Culture (great Bulgarian wine by the glass).

Day 6: Bachkovo Monastery and Asen’s Fortress, back to Kapana

Morning: Take a bus from Plovdiv South Bus Station (Avtogara Yug) to Bachkovo Monastery—about 40 minutes, roughly 6–8 BGN ($3–5), departures every 30–60 minutes. Stroll the chestnut-lined approach, admire frescoes by Zahari Zograf, and sample local nuts and honey from stalls near the gate.

Afternoon: Continue to Asen’s Fortress (short taxi or bus via Asenovgrad) for dramatic cliffside ruins and views over the Rhodope foothills. Late lunch at a nearby mehana—grilled trout, shopska salad, and homemade bread—then return to Plovdiv.

Evening: Dinner at Hemingway near the main square (tender lamb shank; well-curated wine list). Sweet finish at Dolce Fellini for Italian-style pastries. If there’s a concert at the Roman Theatre, it’s a magical setting—ask your hotel to check schedules.

Day 7: Roman Stadium, last tastes of Kapana, depart

Morning: Coffee and banitsa at Kapana Bakery before visiting the Roman Stadium (glass viewing area along the main pedestrian street) and Dzhumaya Mosque. Pick up ceramics or leather goods from Kapana’s ateliers as souvenirs.

Afternoon: Farewell lunch at Pavaj (if you missed it earlier) or Torro Grande for grilled meats and salads, then depart. If flying out of Sofia, buses and trains run ~2–2.5 hours—search options on Omio (Trains) or Omio (Buses). Intra-Europe flights can be compared on Omio (Flights); for long-haul connections from Bulgaria, check Trip.com or Kiwi.com.

Optional extras if you have more time or different seasons: Summer hikers can pair the Seven Rila Lakes with the monastery on a long day; winter brings snow sports to Borovets. If you skipped Plovdiv, there’s also a convenient day tour from Sofia: Plovdiv - Group Day Trip from Sofia.

Summary: In one week, you’ll trace Bulgaria from medieval iconography to Roman theaters and contemporary street art. Expect warm hospitality, honest food, and landscapes that linger—mountains, cobbles, and café-lined streets under big Balkan skies.