Private Day Trip to Bulgaria and Veliko Tarnovo from Bucharest
Description
One day trip from Bucharest to explore the UNESCO Site - Veliko Tarnovo - from the Bulgarian land and walk through history itself.
Tour Options
Itinerary
Your private day trip from Bucharest will begin in the morning when your tour guide will pick you up from your hotel in Bucharest, or from any other requested location inside the city. You will head south towards Bulgaria, crossing the Danube River, the second largest river in Europe. At approximately 100 km from the Romanian border, you will find the charismatic city of Veliko Tarnovo, a UNESCO heritage site with a tremendous cultural and historic value. Once you step through the gates of the medieval town, you will feel like you traveled back in time. You will find palaces, a fortress, houses with unique architectural style, museums, monasteries - all part of the region's history. Walking on the cobbled streets, the guide will tell you more about the history of the town which used to be the Capital of the Second Bulgarian Empire.
Your Bulgaria day trip will continue with the Tsarevets Fortress, surrounded by thick walls, up on the hill. The market consists of two streets bordered by shops, craftsmen's workshops, and inns. You can buy souvenirs from this center which recreates the atmosphere of the first decades of the 20th century.
When you will return to Bucharest, you will stop near the village of Arbanassi, known especially for the mural paintings in the churches and we will visit the Nativity Church.
Highlights
What's included
Pickup Locations & Times
We pick up from any hotel in Bucharest
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
- Not recommended for pregnant travelers
- Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- May be operated by a multi-lingual guide
- Children must be accompanied by an adult
Reviews(35)
A great tour across the Danube into Bulgaria with Michael! We visited the old town of Arbanasi seeing interesting homes, the church with so many detailed paintings that are remarkably well preserved. Then we drove to Veliko Tarnovo walking to the castle then onto the church with a panoramic view of the city. Finally we had time for lunch and a visit to the city before heading back. Michael was very professional and knowledgeable and he even brought cherries from his own cherry tree for us! What a treat! Highly recommend!!!
Thank you so much for your wonderful review. We are delighted to hear that you enjoyed discovering Arbanasi and Veliko Tarnovo, from the beautifully preserved painted church to the panoramic views and time to explore the city. We especially appreciate your kind words about Michael. His professionalism, knowledge, and thoughtful gesture of bringing cherries from his own tree clearly made the day even more memorable. Thank you again for your recommendation. We will be very happy to share your lovely feedback with Michael!
Michael, the tour guide was absolutely amazing! He was one of the best tour guides I have ever had. He was knowledgeable about the history of both Romania and Bulgaria, and was more than happy to answer any questions I had. He went above and beyond to make sure the day was perfect. I would highly recommend!
Thank you so much for your wonderful feedback! We’re delighted to hear that Michael made such a strong impression and helped create a perfect day for you. His passion for the history of Romania and Bulgaria, along with his dedication to guests, truly sets him apart. We’ll make sure he receives your kind words. We really appreciate your recommendation and hope to welcome you back for more adventures!
Floren was excellent. It was a long drive but he kept us well informed. Veliko Tarnovo was beautiful. The town was charm. We lunched over looking the valley. Spectacular.
Thank you for sharing your experience! We’re so glad Florin made the long drive enjoyable with his knowledge and insights. Veliko Tarnovo is such a gem — full of charm and history — and it sounds like your lunch with a view over the valley was the perfect highlight. We hope you’ll join us again for more spectacular journeys!
Great guide - very knowledgeable and experienced. Would highly recommend. Although it’s a longish drive, well worth it to see a slice of Bulgaria.
Thank you for your kind words! We’re glad you enjoyed the trip and found the journey into Bulgaria worthwhile. It’s always a pleasure when a knowledgeable guide can make the road feel shorter and the experience richer. We appreciate the recommendation and hope to welcome you back for more cross-border adventures!
We recently enjoyed a fabulous day in Bulgaria, driven and accompanied by Narci who is a very friendly, personable and enthusiastic guide and a fountain of knowledge. Despite the rain, we greatly enjoyed the visit to the Rock Monastery St. Dimitar Basarbovski and later Tsarevets Fortress. A fair level of fitness is mandatory as the venues require a lot of walking and stair climbing. Had a delicious lunch in a nearby town and then made the drive back across the magnificent Friendship Bridge into Bucharest. A great day out with lovely Narci and a terrific bunch of other tourists.
Thank you so much for your wonderful review! We're delighted to hear you had such a memorable day exploring Bulgaria, even with a bit of rain. Marcel truly is a fantastic guide—friendly, passionate, and full of insight—and we’re thrilled he helped make the experience so enjoyable. The Rock Monastery and Tsarevets Fortress are such special places, and we're glad you appreciated them (stairs and all!). It’s great to know the group energy and lunch added to the day as well. We’d love to welcome you back for another adventure soon—maybe with a bit more sunshine next time!
Fantastic guide, very knowledgeable on a lot of things from history to current day politics, from agriculture to all sorts
Thank you for the great feedback! We're so happy to hear that you enjoyed the tour and found your guide to be such a well-rounded source of knowledge. It’s always our goal to offer not just beautiful sights, but meaningful context too—from history to everyday life in Romania and neighboring countries. Hope to welcome you back for more soon!
Emil was a nice entertaining guide. Had a great drive from Bucharest across the border to Veliko Tarnovo. Nice lunch at the Green Man restaurant. Interesting visit of the ruins, the city and its surroundings. I would recommend Rolandia Tours to anyone interested to take a tour around Romania and/or Bulgaria
Thank you for your wonderful feedback! We're delighted Emil made your journey from Bucharest to Veliko Tarnovo enjoyable and informative. Your recommendation of our tours means a lot to us, and we look forward to curating more exceptional tours for you. Best regards, The Rolandia Team
Wonderful place. The church of the nativity in Arbanasse is a must-see. The guide, Claudia, was excellent. Overall very pleasant trip
Thank you for your kind review! We’re really happy to hear that you enjoyed the visit and that the Church of the Nativity in Arbanasi made such a strong impression. Claudia will be very glad to hear your kind words. It was a pleasure having you with us!
The fortress was very interesting but we were most impressed by our guide Claudia’s knowledge of the fortress and country of Bulgaria and Romania! She was early for our pick up and was so lovely and personable always keeping our interest and comfort at the forefront! Claudia is an exceptional guide!
We wanted to pick a destination that is doable within a day and it is different from a big town experience.
