Full Day Trip to Bulgaria from Bucharest: Explore Medieval Veliko Tarnovo and Arbanasi Village

Embark on a full-day trip from Bucharest to Bulgaria and discover the medieval wonders of Veliko Tarnovo and Arbanasi Village. Visit the unique St. Dimitrie Basarabov Monastery and explore the impressive hilltop capital of Veliko Tarnovo.

Duration: 12 hours
Cancellation: 24 hours
Highlights
  • Bucharest - The journey begins in the heart of Bucharest.
  • Piaka Unirii - Stroll by and admire Unirii Square, one of Europe’s largest public squares.
  • Palace of Parliament - Observe the Palace of Parliament, renowned as the world’s largest, heaviest, and most costly administrative building.
  • University’s Square - Visit University…
What's Included
  • Pick-up from central meeting point location
  • Services of a professional tour escort, offering commentary and assistance
  • Round-trip transportation in a comfortable vehicle
What's Not Included
  • Entrance tickets
  • Optional Gratuities
Additional Information

Enhance your travel experience by adding a second country to your itinerary with a well-organized day tour from Bucharest to northern Bulgaria, featuring three unique stops: Ruse, Arbanasi, and Veliko Tarnovo.
After crossing the Danube River, enjoy a brief visit to Ruse, where you can explore the city center’s pedestrian area and the Holy Trinity…

Location
Bucharest
Cancellation Policy

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

Customer Ratings
4.5
(391 Ratings)
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Dennis_m
Jul 15, 2026
Very nice day trip - Very nice day trip from Bucharest to Bulgaria. Did it on 14/7/26 and had a really nice time. The guide was very friendly, super knowledgeable and had a good sense of humour. Especially the town of Veliko Tarnovo is beautiful; good place for a lunch and a stroll through the streets. All in all a very positive experience that I can recommend
Review provided by Viator
Carlos_g
Jul 14, 2026
You won’t regret it - The tour was almost exactly 12 hours long and we were told we were lucky with our timing. With that being said, none of the tour felt like a drag. You get to experience something that you would otherwise probably miss on your own. Rodica and Christian were very pleasant to work with.
Review provided by Viator
Godoi-dw
Jul 14, 2026
Great way to visit an extra country - Our total tour was about 12-13 hours. They go by quick. You are not rushed nor do you feel pressured to hurry up. You get a break after driving every 60-90 minutes. You’ll be amazed by how much you are able to learn and see in one day! Thanks Rodica!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Richardg_h
Jun 19, 2026
Sebastian was an... - Sebastian was an excellent guide. He was very knowledgeable and treated us with great care. We enjoyed the visits and he made sure our needs were met. Recommending this towards anyone interested in a day trip from Bucharest.
Review provided by Viator
Ritayan_b
Jun 18, 2026
Good experience of Bulgaria for a day-trip - The experience was extremely good. The pickup was on time at 7:30 am as specified while making the booking. Our guide (Adonis) drove the van very safely and was very knowledgeable regarding the places that we visited. Firstly, we visited the city of Ruse, just across the border from Romania. Then we headed to the picturesque fort of Tsarevets near the town of Veliko Tyrnovo. Afterwards, we spent some time in the town. The restaurant Adonis suggested was very nice. Once done, we did some souvenir shopping before heading back to the city of Bucharest.
Review provided by Viator
Suzan_s
Jun 16, 2026
Perfect day! - I wish I could remember the guide’s name but he was also the driver of the van and we went on June 15, 2026 if that helps. He was great! It was really a lovely day and a wonderful tour of (at least a slice) of Bulgaria. The guide also recommended the restaurant to eat at, which most of us joined him there for lunch and really had a delicious, authentic and cheap Bulgarian meal. Couldn’t recommend this tour more!!
Review provided by Viator
P8683rudaniellep
Jun 11, 2026
Great Day - Had a great day trip to Bulgaria with our tour guide, Serban. Not only did he take us everywhere included in the tour description, he also knew which bathrooms were the cleanest to use during the long drive to and from Bulgaria. Would definitely recommend this tour to people, especially if you have Serban as a guide, who has more personality than anyone I’ve met in a long time.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Piers_v
Jun 8, 2026
A very worthwhile day trip - An excellent way to spend a day sightseeing! Our guide, Narcis, had a great command of English and provided an excellent commentary and a most enjoyable day. There were 7 of us allowing everyone to get acquainted. After crossing the Danube we spent time in Ruse, before traveling south to Veliko Tarnovo, the early Capital of Bulgaria, to visit the castle and extraordinary church, then driving up to a traditional restaurant to try the local food and sample Rakia, a local type of slivovitz. I recommend eating after the castle visit not before as the peasant food is filling, and the climb to the castle quite steep and there is a lot of walking involved! Then back into town to walk around the picturesque village and shop in the artisan stores (some are tacky but most offer quality, locally handmade goods), before going north to the border and into Romania again. An odd highlight was seeing storks on their huge nests atop telegraph poles along the road. Highly recommended!
Review provided by Viator
Tamie_m
Jun 7, 2026
When in Romania go to Bulgaria for a day - This trip is long, but worth it. Rodica Canciu, our tour guide, was informative and has pictures to help one understand the trip. Within 5 minutes from her presentation, I could tell that Rodica was a teacher. She and her driver were very patient on the road and with the tourist. She gave us time to see what we needed to see and gave us good restaurant recommendations. She is very knowledgeable about the sites we saw on the tour. Though the entry price to the Nativity Church is not included in the price of the tour, the tour stopped there. I paid the entry price. I am very glad that I did, as it was my favorite site on the trip. The interior paintings are spectacular and Rodica's story of the Church is very interesting. In the town where we had lunch, I found a silversmith, a pen-and-ink artist, and a ceramist, all in their individual stores practicing their crafts. In my travels to over 50 countries, it is often difficult to find local artists still practicing their craft. I was elated to be able to speak to these craftsmen. Because the bridge over the Danube was still under construction and there was a national holiday, our return trip to Bucharest was 5+ hours long. This was the only downside of the trip, and it is my understanding that the construction will be completed soon.
Review provided by Viator
Kevan_m
Jun 18, 2026
Long day but interesting - It’s a long day . It’s all dependent on you getting over the bridge. The fortress isn’t worth it but the cathedral is harrowing.
Review provided by Viator
From $82
up to 15 guests
1 - Adult
Cancellation: Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start of your experience (local time).