Bulgaria rewards the curious. From Thracian tombs and Roman streets to medieval monasteries and rose valleys, this crossroads of Europe and Asia has been settled since antiquity and still hums with creative energy. You’ll feel it in Sofia’s café culture and Plovdiv’s artist-run ateliers, hear it in folk songs, and taste it in shopska salad, grilled kebapche, and honeyed banitsa.

For a one-week trip, focus on two stars: Sofia, the capital spread beneath Vitosha Mountain; and Plovdiv, one of Europe’s oldest continuously inhabited cities. Add a full-day pilgrimage to UNESCO-listed Rila Monastery and the jewel-box frescoes of Boyana Church. You’ll walk Roman streets, climb Ottoman-era hilltops, and clink glasses of local Mavrud wine at sunset.

Practical notes: Bulgaria uses the lev (BGN) and the Cyrillic alphabet; English is widely understood in city centers. Taxis are inexpensive; the Sofia Metro is clean and efficient. Dress modestly (covered shoulders and knees) for monasteries and churches. Tipping 10% is appreciated, and portions are generous—share where you can.

Sofia

Sofia layers Roman Serdica, medieval churches, socialist-era architecture, and a young creative scene into an easy-to-walk center. Golden domes glint above the Alexander Nevsky Cathedral; mineral springs burble near the Central Baths; and Vitosha Mountain forms a constant, photogenic backdrop.

Top sights include the Rotunda of St. George (4th century), the Largo and ancient Serdica ruins, the Ivan Vazov National Theatre, and the National Archaeological Museum. Coffee is serious here—third-wave roasters punctuate boulevards—and dinners stretch late with salads, grilled meats, and rakia.

• Stay near the Cathedral or along Vitosha Boulevard for walkability. Browse stays on VRBO Sofia or Hotels.com Sofia.
• Specific Sofia picks: Design-forward Sense Hotel Sofia (rooftop views), family-friendly Novotel Sofia near The Mall, and budget-favorite Hostel Mostel Sofia.
• Arriving by air from Europe? Compare fares on Omio Flights (Europe). Coming from outside Europe? Search Kiwi.com Flights. In-country trains are on Omio Trains or Trip.com Trains.

Day 1: Arrive in Sofia, Golden Domes and First Tastes

Afternoon: Land in Sofia and ride the M4 metro to Serdika (about 25 minutes). Check in, then stretch your legs along pedestrianized Vitosha Boulevard for mountain views and street performers. Pop into the 4th-century Rotunda of St. George tucked among modern buildings—its brick dome whispers Roman Serdica.

Evening: Dinner at Moma Bulgarian Food & Wine for shopska salad, clay-pot kavarma, and rustic interiors featuring folk embroidery. Alternatively, Made in Blue serves seasonal Bulgarian-meets-Mediterranean plates in a lovingly restored townhouse. Cap the night at Sense Rooftop Bar for skyline cocktails or slip into One More Bar for craft drinks in a leafy courtyard.

Day 2: Sofia Icons, Coffee Culture, and Folklore Night

Morning: Espresso and a warm banitsa at Mekitsa & Coffee or Fabrika Daga (Rainbow Factory). Walk a classic loop: Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, St. Sofia Basilica, the Russian Church, and the National Assembly square. If you love design, consider the expert-led tour below:

Optional activity: Architectural Sofia: Private Tour with a Local Expert — a focused look at Sofia’s styles from medieval to modern.

Afternoon: Lunch at plant-forward Sun Moon for hearty salads, soups, and sourdough. Explore the ancient city at Serdica’s exposed ruins, then step into the Sofia History Museum inside the old Mineral Baths. Coffee at DABOV Specialty Coffee or Chucky’s Coffee House.

Evening: Experience dinner with music and dance on the panoramic night tour below—an engaging way to see Sofia lit up and taste regional dishes:

Sofia by Night Panoramic Private Tour with Dinner, Folklore Show

Day 3: UNESCO Day—Rila Monastery and Boyana Church

Book an early start to visit Bulgaria’s crown jewels: the frescoed Boyana Church and the mountain-ringed Rila Monastery. This full-day excursion includes guiding and efficient transport:

Rila Monastery and Boyana Church Full-Day Tour

Tip: Shoulders and knees must be covered at both sites. Back in Sofia, dine at retro-styled Raketa Rakia Bar for grilled meats and a tasting flight of fruit brandies, then try Bar Petak for inventive cocktails.

Plovdiv

Set on seven hills with layers of Thracian, Roman, Byzantine, and Bulgarian heritage, Plovdiv is all about texture: cobbled lanes, painted 19th-century mansions, and gallery-filled Kapana (“The Trap”) district. Its Roman Theater is still in use; sunsets from Nebet Tepe glow over the Maritsa River.

Come for living history and stay for the food scene. The Kapana quarter brims with studios, micro-roasters, and craft beer bars. Don’t miss the Bishop’s Basilica of Philippopolis—mosaics that shimmer with early Christian artistry—and the Old Town’s merchant houses-turned-museums.

• Base near Kapana or the Old Town for ambiance. Browse VRBO Plovdiv or Hotels.com Plovdiv.
• Restaurants to target: Pavaj (farm-to-table Bulgarian), Smokini (creative seasonal), Hemingway (classic European plates), and Rahat Tepe (grill with hilltop views).
• Bars and cafés: Cat and Mouse (craft beer), Vino Culture (Bulgarian wine by the glass), and Art News Café (artsy café-bar favored by locals).

Day 4: Sofia → Plovdiv, Kapana District, and Sunset on the Hills

Morning: Depart Sofia for Plovdiv. Trains take ~2.5–3 hours and cost roughly 15–20 BGN; buses are ~2 hours. Check schedules and book on Omio Trains or Omio Buses (reserve a morning departure).

Afternoon: Drop bags, then lunch at Pavaj—try the potato patties with yogurt dip, slow-braised pork, and seasonal salads. Wander Kapana’s murals and ateliers, then climb into the Old Town for painted National Revival mansions and cobbles polished by centuries.

Evening: Golden hour at Nebet Tepe for panoramic views. Dinner at Smokini (excellent vegetarian choices alongside meats). Nightcap at Cat and Mouse with a Bulgarian IPA or sour ale.

Day 5: Roman Plovdiv, Bishop’s Basilica, and Wine

Morning: Sweet start at Dolce Fellini (Italian-style pastries, cappuccino). Explore the Roman Theater and the Roman Stadium integrated into modern streets—one of the great visual surprises of Plovdiv. Continue to the Bishop’s Basilica of Philippopolis to see intricate early Christian mosaics.

Afternoon: Lunch at Rahat Tepe—grilled kiselo mlyako-marinated meats and homestyle bean soup with a view. Tour the Ethnographic Museum courtyard and a couple of Revival-era houses such as Balabanov House to grasp merchant life in the 1800s.

Evening: A relaxed dinner at Hemingway near the main square; their duck dishes and homemade pastas are local favorites. Sip indigenous grapes (Mavrud, Rubin) at Vino Culture, where staff can guide you through Bulgaria’s regions.

Day 6: Asen’s Fortress and Bachkovo Monastery Day Trip

Morning: Take a local bus from Plovdiv’s South Bus Station to Asenovgrad (~30 minutes), then a short taxi up to Asen’s Fortress for dramatic cliffside views and a photogenic 12th–13th century church. Pack water; steps are uneven.

Afternoon: Continue 10 km to Bachkovo Monastery, famed for its iconostasis and mountain setting. Grab a simple trout lunch in the nearby roadside grills—fresh, lemony, and fast. Return to Plovdiv by late afternoon.

Evening: Dinner at Torro Grande (lively, broad menu from steaks to sushi) or Memory Wine & Dine (comfort European and Bulgarian). For a late drink, try the spirited No Sense club.

Prefer a guided version (starting from Sofia)? Consider this small-group tour that combines Plovdiv with Asen’s Fortress and Bachkovo on a single day:

Small group tour to Plovdiv, Asen's Fortress and Bachkovo Monastery

Day 7: Plovdiv Slow Morning, Return to Sofia & Departure

Morning: Stroll the Rowing Canal (Grebna Baza) park or linger over brunch—Hemingway opens for leisurely lunches; for coffee and culture, Art News Café is a local favorite. Pick up last-minute souvenirs in Kapana: ceramics, prints, and small-batch foods.

Afternoon: Head back to Sofia by train (~2.5–3 hours) or bus (~2 hours) for your flight. Check and book on Omio Trains or Omio Buses. Flying within Europe? Compare on Omio Flights. For intercontinental departures, see Kiwi.com Flights.

Evening: If your flight is later, squeeze in one last Sofia meal at Cosmos (contemporary Balkan cuisine) near the center before heading to the airport.

Extra Ideas If You Add a Day

• Seven Rila Lakes hike: For trekkers, this full-day combo pairs alpine cirques with the monastery (summer to early autumn is best). The Seven Rila Lakes & Rila Monastery

Where to stay—quick links:

• Sofia: VRBO, Hotels.com, Sense Hotel Sofia, Novotel Sofia, Hostel Mostel Sofia
• Plovdiv: VRBO, Hotels.com

In a week you’ll have traced Bulgaria’s story from Roman amphitheaters to Renaissance mansions and mountain monasteries—plus tasted the country’s modern, creative side. With Sofia’s domes and Plovdiv’s cobbles under your feet, you’ll leave with a full camera roll and a craving for another glass of Mavrud.