Best of Bulgaria - 5 Days

Get to know the highlights of Sofia including the gold-domed Alexander Nevski Cathedral, the onion-shaped church of st. Nicolas, the church of St. Sophia which gave the name of the city, the monument of Tsar Liberator, The Rotunda of St. George, which is the best preserved Byzantine building in the country, the medieval chapel of St. Petka, Ottoman- time mosques, the ruins of ancient Roman Serdica and some more. You will visit one of Sofia's newest museums housed in the city former public baths - the History Museum of Sofia.

After breakfast we drive to Rila mountains (the highest on the Balkan Peninsula) to see one of the nine UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Bulgaria - The Rila monastery. It is definitely a must see for every visitor of the country. Nestled amidst the centuries old forests of Rila National Park, this monastery is a sanctuary of Bulgarian literature and spiritual life. Founded in the middle of the 10th century by St. Ivan of Rila it played a key role in preserving Bulgarian culture and language during the centuries. See the monastery church with its amazing frescoes painted by the most famous Bulgarian finest artists from 19th c. In the afternoon proceed to Plovdiv. Overnight. /B/

Plovdiv is Bulgaria’s second largest city, declared European capital of culture for 2019. This is a city with millennium old history, contemporary to Troy and Mycenae. It has preserved ruins from Roman, Ottoman and Bulgarian Revival period. See the Roman Forum and Stadium as well as the Roman theatre dating back to the 2nd AD. Visit two of Plovdiv finest museums - The Ethnographic Museum, The house of Hindliyan, Old Pharmacy or an Art Gallery. Walk along the tiny cobbled streets of the old town surrounded by beautiful Revival houses and churches. After lunch, continue to Veliko Tarnovo via Kazanlak and The Valley of Roses. Arrive in Veliko Tarnovo. Overnight. /B/

Explore the medieval capital of Bulgaria. Visit the most famous market street - Samovodska Charshiya where people used to sell their home-produced goods. Visit Tsarevets stronghold - a residence of the Bulgarian Kings and Patriarch during the Middle Ages. Drive to nearby village of Arbanassi founded in the 15th c. by Bulgarians, Greeks and Albanians. The town is well known for its rich history and large number of historical monuments. Among the most attractive landmarks are the “Konstancalieva house” from the 17th c., the church of “Nativity of Christ” with its well preserved murals depicting over 2000 Old and New Testimonial scenes. Drive back to Sofia for an overnight. /B/

Morning free at leisure. Departure transfer to Sofia airport for your flight back home /B/