Visit spectacular Veliko Tarnovo, the medieval capital of Bulgaria, on an excursion from Bucharest. Travel in air-conditioned comfort to the foothills of the Balkan Mountains. Tour the historic Tsaravets Fortress and St. Dimitrie Basarabov Monastery.

About this activity

Free cancellation: Cancel up to 24 hours in advance to receive a full refund
Reserve now & pay later: Keep your travel plans flexible—book your spot and pay nothing today.
Covid-19 precautions: Special health and safety measures apply. Learn more
Duration 12 hours: Check availability to see starting times.
Skip the ticket line
Live tour guide: English
Small group: Limited to 15 participants

Highlights

Visit the St. Dimitrie Basarabov Monastery, carved into a cliff and still inhabited today
Discover Veliko Tarnovo, the medieval capital of Bulgaria and home to the strongest Bulgarian fortification of that time
Admire the medieval architecture of Arbanasi village
Discover the Tsarevets Fortress, an inescapable symbol of Veliko Tarnovo

Full description

This 12-hour excursion begins in the early morning with a pickup from your Bucharest accommodation followed by a drive to the foothills of the Balkan Mountains. Spend an enjoyable day discovering the impressive medieval settlement of Veliko Tarnovo. Veliko Tarnovo was the medieval capital of Bulgaria and is home of the Tsaravets Fortress, the strongest Bulgarian fortification of the Middle Ages. Your itinerary includes visits to the St. Dimitrie Basarabov Monastery, the only monastery in Bulgaria carved into a cliff that is still inhabited today and Arbanasi village, where the medieval architecture will transport you back a few centuries in time.

Includes

Pickup from your accommodation in Bucharest
Small group tour
Professional tour guide
Round-trip transportation

Lunch and other personal expenses
Admission tickets for Basarabov Monastery and Veliko Tarnovo Fortress (7 Eur/person)

Covid-19 precautions

Safety measures in place

All required protective equipment is provided
All areas that customers touch are frequently cleaned
You must keep social distance while in vehicles
The number of visitors is limited to reduce crowds

Traveler requirements

You must fill out a travel information form
You will receive a mandatory temperature check

Important information

Know before you go

This activity requires a minimum of 3 participants. If this number is not reached, alternatives shall be made
Children under 4-year-old cannot attend shared tours. Please contact the local partner for a private tour offer
If pick-up is not available from your accommodation you may be asked to go to a convenient meeting point

Customer reviews

Overall rating

4.7 /5

based on 101 reviews

Review summary

Guide
4.7/5
Transportation
4.8/5
Value for money
4.4/5
Safety
4.8/5

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The church built in the rock in Basarabovo is very nice and the view from the Tsarevets Fortress in Veliko Tarnovo as well. It was a very hot day, so I recommend travelers to have a lot of water with them. Postcards are too expensive, but there are a lot of cosmetics based on roses that has affordable price.

June 2, 2022

Christy was amazing. He was very patient with all the delays (caused by us travellers) and made sure we still had a very pleasant comfortable journey with ample time at every stops. He was very detailed with his explanations and a fun man to talk to. I would recommend this service for everyone and especially Christy as a guide.

April 20, 2022

We were a family traveling with a 10-year old. Our guide was Monika, she was nice and allowed us enough time to explore and buy souvenirs. The return to Romania at the border was an experience (a lot of cars waiting to pass the border). Monkia and our driver were efficient and knowledgeable and we didn't have a long wait once it was the tour group's turn to pass the borders.

August 30, 2021

From Bucharest: Full-Day Trip to Bulgaria

From Bucharest: Full-Day Trip to Bulgaria

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