Veliko Tarnovo and Arbanassi Small-Group Day Trip from Sofia

Overview

Available languages

German

English

Italian

French

Spanish

11 hours

Mobile ticket

Embark on this full-day small-group tour of Veliko Tarnovo and Arbanassi with a professional guide. You will get to discover the way of life of Bulgarian merchants and craftsmen as well as experience scenic architectural reserves. Minimum age for this tour is 6 years old.

Additional Info

Public transportation options are available nearby

Suitable for all physical fitness levels

Wear comfortable shoes for walking on cobbled streets

It is recommended that you bring sun lotion, sun glasses and a hat

Minimum age is 6 years

Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

What‘s Included

Professional guide

Transport by air-conditioned minivan

Food and drinks

Gratuities

Hotel pickup and drop-off

Entrance fees to the tourist sites (approx. 40 BGN/20 EUR)

What To Expect

Vasil Levski Monument

Departure at 07:00 from the meeting point

Admission Not Applicable

Veliko Tarnovo

Veliko Tyrnovo is a trap, which will teleport you back in time, to make you a spectator of the rise and fall of the mighty capital of the Second Bulgarian kingdom (12-14 century). By walking on the winding cobble streets, you will learn and feel how its proud population lived under the Turkish oppression, developing fabulous architectural masterpieces and established cohesive and powerful craftsmen’s guild. The legends and stories, the interesting history and picturesque location of Arbanassi and Veliko Tyrnovo had gained them numerous fanatical admirers in Bulgaria and abroad, making the region a top tourist attraction on the Balkans. The tour includes the most important sights: Tsarevets architectural and museum reserve (medieval stronghold), Samovodskata charshia (lively craftmen’s street), Assens’ monument.

3 hours • Admission Not Applicable

Options

One-way Ticket

One-way self-guided: One-way trip to Tarnovo, ideal for independent travelers continuing to Romania or western Bulgaria. No return included

Tour with smart audio

Audioguided Tour: Tour to Veliko Tarnovo with web Audioguide in EN,ES,IT,FR,DE

Express Self-Guided Tour

Express Tour with Smart Audio: Self-guided short version of the tour with return at 13:30. Explore with an online audio guide. Internet&headphones required.

Guided Tour in English

Reviews

4.46

13 reviews

Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor

Historic sightseeing, but plenty of travel time
Luis M,
Aug 20, 2025
- Review from Viator
3.00
Veliko Tarnovo was the capital of Bulgaria, and the fortress of Tsarevets attests to this. However, it is a journey that takes a long time by bus and the one that remains to visit freely the fortress (very ruined) and the city is not too much.
A good day away from Sofia
Soraya N,
Jul 18, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00
Veliko Tarnovo is quite a different place and the "Tsarevets" (fortress) is definitely worth the trip!
A wonderful and unforgetable day
Angela O,
Aug 14, 2024
- Review from Viator
5.00
The day tour to Veliko Tarnovo and Arbanassi was great, also Maria, our Guide, and Teodore, the driver, were excellent, very profissional.
3 perfect day tours with this professional company.
nilintentum reliquit,
May 13, 2024
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
Excellent schedule, communications, and comfort. Special shout out to engaging Martin (Plovdiv), passionate Hristo (Rila), super helpful Petar, and my favourite, the informative and super lovely Maria (Veliko). Thank you
PRIVATE TOUR FOR MIHAILOV FAMILY WITH RADI
mariamJ9814OG,
Sep 8, 2023
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
We had a very pleasant 5 day tour with Radi. He was very pleasant, helpful, knowledgeable and polite. He told us many interesting stories along the journey. We would recomend Radi and Traventuria without hesitation to anyone who wants a professional and fun tour of Bulgaria! Thank You Radi!!!!! From Mihailov Family
Very awkward experience
Stay56602566728,
Aug 10, 2023
- Review from Tripadvisor
1.00
We booked 3 tours. Two of them (Rila monastery & Boyana church and Plovdiv with Koprivshtitsa) were absolutely amazing. Thanks to the great drivers Peter and Marin and our great guide Maria Maneva. She made us love Bulgaria and we learnt a lot about its history and traditions. She knows so much, she even sang a song for us and taught us to dance. We had two great days with Maria as our guide. We really hope her enthusiasm is rewarded. The third tour was on Monday the 7th of August to Veliko Tarnovo. The city is very nice and the fortress is impressive. Unfortunately we had a man (with long dark hair) with a name Svet as our guide. It seemed that he didn't like his job. When we met him at the cathedral, he didn't even introduce himself. There were only 4 people in our group so we drove in a small car. While driving Svet didn't say a word. NOT A WORD in 3 hours! It was the most awkward experience we have ever had during the tours. He didn't tell a lot about Veliko Tarnovo. In fact, he couldnt answer simple questions (like: what is this statue we stopped to look at?) with more than reading the available signs. He was really more a driver than a guide. On the way back he finally started to talk, but not about Bulgaria. He talked about his personal ideas and conspiracy theories about Covid, ruining the Chinese economy, etc. It was brought up during the day that the freemasons and illuminati control the world. Awkward, uncomfortable, irritating. Not what we paid for when we wanted to learn about Bulgaria. It was our first tour in Bulgaria with Traventuria and we were so disappointed that we were going to cancel the other two tours. Luckily we didn't do it. Because the next day Maria saved the image and reputation of Traventuria.
Great price and worth a visit
Agam P,
May 4, 2023
- Review from Viator
5.00
Amazing experience, interesting history and culture. Fortresses beautiful and alot of great walking throughout the tour.
Veliko Ternovo
Alfonsina888,
Sep 30, 2020
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
We had the opportunity to travel with a great guide, Lubo, who has the sensibility, wisdom and amability to take us through the beauties of Bulgaria. We had a great moment and we would definitely recommend it, overall now during the pandemic, cause it is almost empty and you can find yourself alone watching the fresques of Arbanasi's church. We highly recommend them. Thank you Lubo !
Interesting
Jo H,
Sep 8, 2019
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
This was a very interesting and enjoyable tour that I absolutely recommend. There are many steps to climb the castle in Velike Tornovo, so it is advisable to jave good shoes. Driving time to Velike Tornovo is roughly 2h 45 minutes. Most interesting to me was the church in Arbanassi with its beautiful freskos.
Great day out
James H,
Apr 21, 2019
- Review from Viator
5.00
All good but felt at times we were expected to stop at shops and do shopping. I don't go on holiday to go souvenir hunting and would rather spend the time sightseeing