Full Day Trip to Bulgaria from Bucharest
Overview
Available languages
12 hours
Mobile ticket
Add a second country to your trip with a well paced day tour from Bucharest to northern Bulgaria, covering three distinct stops in one itinerary: Ruse, Arbanasi, and Veliko Tarnovo.
After crossing the Danube, enjoy a short stop in Ruse, including the city center pedestrian area and the Holy Trinity Cathedral Church, then continue to the traditional village of Arbanasi, known for its historic houses and local atmosphere.
The highlight of the day is Veliko Tarnovo, Bulgaria’s medieval capital, where you will visit the Tsarevets Fortress and have free time to explore and enjoy the panoramic hilltop views.
A tour leader keeps the schedule on track and shares practical context about Bulgaria between stops, making this an easy, efficient way to experience the country in one day. Timings may vary depending on border procedures and traffic.
Additional Info
Public transportation options are available nearby
Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
This activity requires a minimum of 4 participants. If this minimum is not reached, we will contact you to offer alternative dates or trips.
Please make sure you have all the necessary documents and permissions to cross the border.
Entrance fees are not included (approx. EUR 15). We recommend bringing euros in cash, as card payments may not be accepted at all locations.
Please be advised that the Giurgiu–Ruse border crossing may take longer than usual due to repair work on the bridge over the Danube. Single-lane, alternating traffic can cause delays and queues.
Children under 4 years old cannot join shared tours. Please contact us for a private tour offer.
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
What To Expect
Bucharest
The activity will start in downtown Bucharest.
Piaka Unirii
Pass by and admire the Unirii Square one of the largest public squares in Europe.
What‘s Included
Pick-up from central meeting point location
Services of a professional tour escort, offering commentary and assistance
Round-trip transportation in a comfortable vehicle
Entrance tickets
Optional Gratuities
Options
English Shared Tour
Pickup included
Reviews
350 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
Do NOT miss this...
Robin B,Mar 27, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00Do NOT miss this opportunity! Absolutely the best part of our trip. You will make friends with the group and have a shared experience of a lifetime. I had my niece and young nephew, their world view is forever enlightened. Thank you so much for the adventure.
Worth the trip
b0bbiannh,Mar 25, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00I had a great experience. We were on a small bus as we only had 8 people in the group. Everyone was respectful of timing and we left each spot as directed. I was excited to see Ruse but we were given the option to see Dimitar Monastery instead as our timing in Ruse for the season would mean most of the shops were closed. The fortress gave great views of the city. Lunch was okay. I do wish we had an extra hour to wander around the Artisan's street but appreciate it is already a long day. Overall, definitely worth the money for a quick "taste" of Bulgaria.
Great tour to northern Bulgaria
Holger N,Mar 21, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00Highly interesting excursion to Bulgaria. In particular, the fortress in Veliko Tarnovo is impressive. The guide was excellent.
Great tour of Bulgaria, and excellent guide!
Christopher M,Mar 21, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00This tour was great to get a good feel for Bulgaria and visit a beautiful fortress. The guide was top notch as well!
From Bucharest: Full-Day Trip to Bulgaria
Global47582708079,Mar 14, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Excellent day trip from Bucharest and definitely worth it. The tour was well organized, the places visited were beautiful and historically interesting, and the overall experience was smooth from start to finish. Lucian was a great guide—punctual, professional, and very knowledgeable. He explained everything clearly and shared a lot more than just the basic information about the sites. His insights into the history of both Romania and Bulgaria, as well as the cultural and language differences, made the trip especially interesting. The vehicle was very comfortable, and despite being both driver and guide, he handled the day very efficiently. The border crossing was also managed without any issues, which made things very easy for the group. Highly recommended for anyone looking for a meaningful and enjoyable day trip to Bulgaria from Bucharest.
bulgaria
moyni123,Mar 7, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00this was a fantastic day out well worth the money, also we were very lucky with our tour guide Lucian as he was very friendly very funny great English with our humour to also very knowledgeable would definitely recommend thank you for a fantastic day out
Funny & Knowledgeable
Emma K,Feb 16, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00Lucien was our tour guide today and we had a great time. He was very knowledgeable and had a great sense of humour too. We had a little wait at the bridge crossing but that was nobody’s fault. We started our morning in Ruse with a great coffee & cookie recommended by Lucien. We then moved onto the monastery followed by more recommendations for lunch in Veliko. We finished our trip with a walk up to the Fortress where we also managed to sit and enjoy the first sun of this year! We then travelled back to Bucharest accompanied by more information and humour. Thank you for a lovely day 😊
Kudos to Narcis
Roberto V,Feb 10, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00It was indeed a very pleasant experience conducted by our tour guide Narcis who certainly added more interest to our tour with his knowledge about Romania and Bulgaria. Strongly recommended
Awesome expirence
marcosalbanaz,Feb 6, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00The Expirence was aweson Lucian was a great guide, everything was perfect
Luck of the Draw
Berstor,Jan 21, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
2.00Bulgaria was beautiful and I recommend seeing it. But, the tour guide was the worst I ever had. He was perfectly nice and a good driver, but he was really a terrible guide. He told us next to nothing about the places we visited and I ended up having to use Google the whole day to look up where we were visiting and what was significant about it. Definitely not the guided tour I paid for.
From €79.00
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Operated by Gray Line Romania