Before my solo trip to Bulgaria, I knew very little about the country. As I researched more about Bulgaria, it wasn’t long until I found many things to do in Bulgaria and decided that it is a place I want to visit.
And after spending two months in the country, I can honestly say that Bulgaria is worth visiting even if you travel alone. Bulgaria has many ancient cities with a lot of history, quaint seaside towns with awesome beaches, and so much more. It is the perfect destination for any solo travellers who want to go off the beaten path.
If you are planning a trip to Bulgaria, and you’re wondering what to do and how long you should stay, then keep reading. I’ll show you exactly what to see in Bulgaria with my 5-day and 10-day Bulgaria itinerary for first-time visitors.
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Before you Plan a Trip to Bulgaria
Before taking a trip to Bulgaria, take a look at some of my travel tips for your first time in this Balkan country:
- Bulgaria is a safe country for solo female travellers. I spent almost two months in Bulgaria in all the cities mentioned in this post and had no issues.
- You can follow this Bulgaria itinerary throughout the year. However, restaurants, shops and local bed and breakfasts are only open during summer in the small towns along the Black Sea Coast. The best time to follow this Bulgaria itinerary is between June and September.
- It is possible to follow the entire Bulgaria itinerary in reverse if you prefer to start in Varna and end the trip in Sofia.
- Pack minimally so you can move around easier as my Bulgaria itinerary is relatively fast-paced. And if you are travelling by train, travel with a backpack is easier. Following my minimalist packing list template and pack a carry-on bag weighing less than 7kg.
5 and 10 days in Bulgaria: How to Get Around
There are two ways to get around Bulgaria: long-distance bus and train. Both options have similar schedules and costs. And both are affordable and “reliable” for solo independent travellers.
In this guide, I provided both train and bus options for travelling between cities. Pick and choose whichever transportation mode you prefer.
No matter which transportation option you choose, I suggest buying your ticket in person for your next leg of the journey once you arrive in a new city. i.e. when you arrive in Plovdiv, buy a bus or train ticket for Burgas.
Long-distance Bus
Many long-distance bus companies have bus routes between Sofia, Plovdiv, Burgas, Varna and other major cities and small towns across the country. Check the local bus companies for schedules and costs.
Train
Bulgarian State Railways has train routes connecting all the cities mentioned above. Check the website for train schedules and costs.
Here is what you need to know about Bulgarian State Railways:
- No significant difference between first-class and second-class seats
- It can be hot in summer (not enough or no air conditioning)
- It can be warm in the winter (too much heat)
- Even though the Bulgarian State Railway can be “reliable,” expect delays
How many days in Bulgaria for first-time visitors
If you have no limit to how long you can stay in Bulgaria, I would suggest as long as you can!
If I have to do it all over again as a first-time traveller to Bulgaria and have limited time, I would stay five days or ten days.
For a five-day Bulgaria trip, I would include Sofia as the capital city has many things to do. Plus, I would include seeing Rila Monastery in the Bulgarian countryside and Plovdiv, one of the oldest cities in Europe.
For a ten-day Bulgaria trip, I would include the original 5-day itinerary and add several places along the Black Sea including Burgas, Sozopol, Nessebar and Varna.
Best of Bulgaria in 5 and 10 days: Summary
My Bulgaria itinerary starts in the capital city, Sofia. Depending how much time you can stay in Bulgaria, here are the suggested itineraries for staying five days and ten days.
- Day 1-2: Sofia
- Day 3: Day trip to Rila Monastery or Seven Rila Lakes
- Day 4-5: Plovdiv
For 10 days in Bulgaria, follow Day 1 to 5 itinerary and add these destinations:
- Day 6: Burgas
- Day 7: Sozopol
- Day 8: Nessebar
- Day 9-10: Varna
Bulgaria Itinerary: 5 Days in Central Bulgaria
Day 1-3: Sofia and day trip (3 days)
Sofia, the capital city of Bulgaria, is known for its ancient Roman ruins, mineral springs and the biggest Orthodox Church in the Balkans. The history of the city goes back to the Roman Empire when the city was called Serdica. Moreover, Bulgaria was once a socialist republic from 1944 to 1989.
To kick off your Bulgaria trip, explore the capital city for two days and go on a day trip on the third day to the Bulgarian countryside.
Recommended Sofia Accommodation: Book three nights in Sofia at Sense Hotel Sofia. This modern contemporary hotel has a nice rooftop bar with a view of St. Alexander Nevsky Cathedral. Plus, it is only 4-minute walk from Sofia University St Kliment Ohridski Metro Station. Check current rates and reviews: Agoda and Booking.
Day 1-2: Sofia
There are plenty of things to do in Sofia for your two days in the capital city. The majority of the attractions in the city are within walking distance.
I highlight recommend joining a free walking tour and/or a free food tour. They are both excellent introductions to Sofia and all the best Sofia food.
Plus, walk around Sofia and look for these highlights:
- Alexander Nevsky Cathedral – visit the largest Orthodox cathedral in the Balkans
- Vitosha Boulevard – stroll along the main pedestrian street in Sofia
- Ancient Serdika Complex – see ruins around the city centre
- Mehana – have a meal at a traditional Bulgarian tavern decorated in folklore decor
- Museums in Sofia – visit one of 30 museums
- Learn about Sofia’s communist past – through museums and tours
Day 3: Day trip from Sofia
On day three, see the Bulgarian countryside by joining one of two tours:
1. Rila Monastery and Boyana Church
Rila Monastery is one of Bulgaria’s nine UNESCO World Heritage Sites. It is Bulgaria’s largest Eastern Orthodox monastery, and it has some of the best colourful frescoes, iconic architectural monuments, and natural scenery.
The organized day tour includes a stop at another UNESCO site, Boyana Church, a medieval Bulgarian Orthodox Church.
2. Seven Rila Lakes and Rila Monastery
If you like the outdoors, spend the day hiking in Rila National Park and see the Seven Rila Lakes. You will have 5 hours to hike during the self-guided day hike where you can see glacial lakes in northwestern Rila Mountain between 2,100 and 2,500 meters above sea level.
This tour also includes a 1.5-hour self-tour of Rila Monastery before returning to Sofia.
Day 4-5: Plovdiv and return to Sofia (2 days)
Depart early from Sofia on day four to maximize your time in Plovdiv.
And depending on when you leave Bulgaria, take an evening bus or train back to Sofia on day five to catch your flight or stay another night in Sofia.
Recommended Plovdiv Hotel: Stay one night at Hill House Plovdiv. The hotel is located in the center of the city and is perfect for walking to all the attractions in the city. Check current rates and reviews: Agoda and Booking
Travel from Sofia to Plovdiv
BUS: Many long-distance buses travel from Sofia Central Bus Station to Plovdiv South (Yug) Bus Station, including Karat S, Vitosha Express and Arda Tur. The bus journey takes about 2 hours.
TRAIN: There are 10 direct trains daily from Sofia Central Station to Plovdiv Central Station. Take the earliest train (6:35-9:13am) if you want to spend more time in Plovdiv.
Note: Plovdiv city center is about 3km north of both train and bus stations. When you arrive in Plovdiv, take bus 7, 20 or 26 in front of the Plovdiv train station instead of walking for 28 minutes.
Day 4-5: Plovdiv
As the second largest city in Bulgaria, there are many things to see in Plovdiv. Known for its cultural, historical and natural landmarks, Plovdiv is one of the oldest cities in Europe. There are over 6,000 years of history in this small compact city.
Similar to Sofia, there are excellent free walking tours in Plovdiv. Join one so you can get to know the ancient city quickly.
Besides the tour, here are some other interesting highlights to look for:
- Old Town in Plovdiv – wander around the cobbled streets of the ancient town
- Plovdiv Roman Theatre and Ancient Stadium of Philippopolis
- Rebet Tepe and Bunardzhik Tepe – hike up one of these hills around Plovdiv
- Knyaz Alexander I – walk up and down the Main Street in Plovdiv
- Kapana District – see colourful art murals and enjoy the vibrant nightlife
Travel from Plovdiv to Sofia
BUS: Go back to Plovdiv South (Yug) Bus Station and take a 2-hour bus back to Sofia Central Bus Station. Check Karat S, Vitosha Express and Arda Tur for bus schedules and costs.
TRAIN: There are 11 direct trains daily from Plovdiv Central Station to Sofia Central Station. The train ride takes between 2hr 45 minutes (fast train) to 4hr 14 minutes (ordinary train). Try to take one of the fast trains so you can get back to Sofia and catch your plane home. Also allocate extra time as there is often a delay.
Bulgaria Itinerary: 10 Days in Central Bulgaria and Black Sea Coast
Day 1-5: Sofia, Sofia day trip, Plovdiv (5 days)
Follow the previous itinerary for days one to five.
On day five, stay the night in Plovdiv instead of returning to Sofia. Which means you need to book two nights of hotel in Plovdiv if you are continuing the itinerary.
Day 6-8: Burgas, Sozopol and Nessebar (3 days)
The second half of the Bulgaria itinerary is all about the Black Sea Coast.
It starts with a seaside town called Burgas, an excellent city as a home base for visiting other towns along the Bulgarian Black Sea coast. And then, the trip continues up the coast to Varna, the third largest city in Bulgaria.
Recommended Burgas Accommodation: Book three nights at Marina Burgas Hotel, a 3-star hotel that is conveniently located next to Burgas Beach. And the hotel is within walking distance to Burgas Station South Terminal, where you can take suburban buses to Sozopol and Nessebar and continue on the itinerary to Varna. Check current rates and reviews: Agoda and Booking
Travel from Plovdiv to Burgas
BUS: Union Ivkoni travels from Plovdiv South (Yug) Bus Station to Burgas Station South Terminal. The bus journey takes about 4.5 hours.
TRAIN: There are 3 direct trains from Plovdiv Central Station to Burgas Train Station daily. The best train to take is the one in the morning (9:18am-1:58pm).
Day 6: Burgas
Burgas is Bulgaria’s fourth largest city and gateway to the Black Sea. The city is very compact and much smaller than Plovdiv, so you can see most attractions in one day.
Here are some things to do in Burgas on day six:
- Burgas Beach and the Black Sea – first opportunity to see the Black Sea
- Sea Garden – relax in the serene park
- Lake Atanasovsko – take a dip in the pink salty water lake
- Burgas Old Town – wander around the old town and find socialist monuments
- Try Bulgarian Black Sea Coast cuisine – like Black Sea mussels, grilled and fried fish and calamari
Day 7: Sozopol
Sozopol is a small town 35km south of the port city of Burgas. It has over 7,000 years of history, and it is one of the oldest towns along the Black Sea Coast.
When you take a day trip to Sozopol from Burgas, there are some things you must do:
- Old Town Sozopol – see churches and monasteries
- Bulgarian Revival houses – see narrow medieval cobblestone streets and traditional houses
- Sozopol Archaeological Museum and Ethnographic Museum – if you enjoy museums
- Southern Fortress Wall and Tower to Cape Skamni – walk around the perimeter of the peninsula
- Sozopol Central Beach or Harmonite Beach – relax and sunbathe on one of the beaches
How to get to Sozopol from Burgas: take the Burgas Bus at Burgas Station South Terminal. Look for bus stop #5 at the back of the terminal and wait for the next bus to Sozopol. The bus ride costs 5 lev.
Day 8: Nessebar
Nessebar is another seaside town on the Bulgarian Black Sea Coast. The ancient town is 35km north of Burgas and has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Here are some suggestions on things to see during your day trip to Nessebar:
- Western Fortress Wall – wander around the ancient wall
- Preserved churches and monasteries – see frescos, decorative motifs and mosaics
- Byzantine Baths – see the remaining parts of ruins
- Church of Saint Sophia – admire the three naves, an atrium and arched windows
- Sunny Beach – end the day at the famous beach
How to get to Nessebar from Burgas: take the M-Bus or DS Bus at Burgas Station South Terminal. Look for bus stop #3 at the back of the terminal. Alight at the Old Town Nessebar bus stop. At the end of the day, take the M-Bus or DS Bus from Sunny Beach bus station back to Burgas. A single ride costs 8 lev.
Day 9-10: Varna and depart from Varna (2 days)
Varna is the last destination on your Bulgaria 10-day itinerary. I chose this as the last stop of the itinerary because many flights fly in and out of Varna Airport.
So for day 9, visit Golden Sands Beach and wander around Varna. And depending on when you depart on day 10, you might still have some time to see more of Varna.
Recommended Varna Accommodation: Book two nights at mOdus Hotel, a modern boutique hotel next to the Varna Sea Garden and in the city’s centre. Moreover, the hotel is only a few minutes from the bus stop to Golden Sands, Central Bus Station Varna and Varna Airport. Check current rates and reviews: Agoda and Booking
Travel from Burgas to Varna
BUS: Several buses travel from Burgas Station South Terminal to Central Bus Station Varna, including Deily, M-Bus, Travel Express and Varnabus 2000. The bus journey is about 2.5 hours.
Note: Central Bus Station Varna is northwest of the city centre. Several local buses, including Bus 409 (which can take you to and from Varna Airport), can take you to the city centre.
TRAIN: There are 5 trains from Burgas Train Station to Varna Central Train Station daily. The direct train (6:25-10:53am) takes 4hr 28 minutes. A shorter option is to take another morning train (9:05am-1pm) which takes 3hr 55 minutes, but you will have to change trains at Karnobat.
Day 9-10: Varna
Varna is a port city located in the northeast corner of Bulgaria. The seaside resort town is famous for its golden beaches, thermal springs and ancient artifacts discovered in the city.
For your last two days in Bulgaria, here are some Varna attractions to consider seeing:
- Beaches of Varna – swim, suntan, and eat by the main beach of the city
- Varna Roman Baths – see ancient ruins at this old bath
- Main pedestrian street in Varna Old Town – see the centre of the city
- Archaeological Museum of Varna – see the famous “Gold of Varna”
- Golden Sands Beach – spend the afternoon suntanning at this popular beach
Which Bulgaria itinerary are you going to follow?
If time isn’t an issue, stay in Bulgaria for as long as possible. It is one of the most underrated countries I’ve ever visited.
But if you have limited time, 5 days in Bulgaria is sufficient to see all the highlights around central Bulgaria including Sofia and Plovdiv. But if you can spend 10 days in Bulgaria, you can see the best of Bulgaria which includes the biggest cities and all the quaint towns along the Black Sea Coast.
And if you are still wondering if Bulgaria is worth visiting, perhaps take a look at my individual posts about all the cities mentioned in this itinerary. I put a lot of information on what to see, how to get around and also included hotel recommendations and food options.
I hope you found this post useful for planning your Bulgaria travel itinerary. Let me know which itinerary you will follow or if you have any questions about travelling solo in Bulgaria.
Ready to plan your trip to Bulgaria? Here are some of my go-to travel planning resources:
* Book your flight: find flight deals on Skyscanner
* Book accommodation: find the best Bulgaria accommodations on Agoda or Booking
* Buy insurance: Safetywing is my go-to provider for travel insurance, as it covers many things. I will never travel without the Nomad Insurance Package because it protects me against unforeseen events. Get a quote today.
* Order a SIM card: order a SIM card in advance and set up your mobile phone before arriving at your destination.
* Join tours: check Get Your Guide and Klook for the popular tours in Bulgaria.
Thank you for reading my solo Bulgaria itinerary
For more Bulgaria travel inspiration, check out my Bulgaria page for posts on solo travel in Bulgaria:
Bulgaria posts:
- Sofia Solo Travel: 20 best things to do in Sofia
- Where and what to eat in Sofia: 21 must-try food
- Plovdiv: 15 Best Things to Do Alone
- Burgas Travel Guide: Things to do + Getting there + Day trips
- Burgas to Sozopol day trip: 1-day itinerary
- Day trip to Nessebar and Sunny Beach in Bulgaria
- Varna Travel Guide: 9 Things to do
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Hi, my name is Queenie, and I’ve been a solo traveller for 20+ years and currently based in Hong Kong. Follow me on my adventures through Instagram and my blog!
