Top Sofia Food & Drink

Admire the sights of Sofia by night before dinner and a folklore show on this evening tour. Take a panoramic drive around Bulgaria’s capital to see its illuminated highlights, including the floodlit Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, National Palace of Culture, and more. Then, savor a 3-course Bulgarian dinner complemented with a live folklore show of traditional local music and dance. Dinner, show, air-conditioned transport, and central hotel pickup and drop-off included.

This private tour of World Heritage–listed Rila Monastery includes a tasting at Medi Valley, a classic winery with locally produced wines. Travel in the comfort of your private vehicle to the country’s largest monastery, where your own personal guide points out 19th-century paintings depicting the Bulgarian Renaissance. Admire the beauty of the Rila mountains en route to the winery, where you’ll sample five different wines and learn more about the region.

Feel like a Sofia local on this 3-hour afternoon city and food walking tour. Check out historical highlights such as the National Theater and King’s Palace, and see the Rotunda St. George, Banya Bashi Mosque, Synagogue, and St. Nedelya Church. Stop on route to taste ‘shopska’ salad and an ‘ayryan’ yogurt drink; shop for culinary goodies at the Central Hali Market; and finish with tastings of Bulgarian wine and cold meats at a traditional restaurant.

Mingle with fellow travelers from all over the world on this action-packed pub crawl. Discover Sofia’s hippest nightlife hotspots with an insider guide as you explore the Bulgarian capital with new friends. Tours include complimentary wine, beer, or liquor shots at each of five different locations, plus free dance club admission on weekends.

1. The incredible history: Plovdiv is on the 8th place for oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world. Inhabited since 4,000 B.C., beginning with a Neolithic settlement, Plovdiv has been conquered many times throughout the years by the Thracians, the Greeks and the Romans. Plovdiv contains 13 cultural layers. Krichim residence is an architectural and natural landmark. It preserves the memory of the royal family and the authentic nature of the beginning of the last century. 2. We offer personalized, educational tours! 3. It’s a European city of culture for 2019 4. Know more about Bulgarian culture

Appreciating the diversity of Balkan culture can be difficult, especially with limited time in the region. Explore Macedonian culture on a day tour to Skopje from Sofia, and tick off another Balkan capital in just one day. Travel the distance with ease via private vehicle, and discover landmarks including the Skopje Fortress, Memorial House of Mother Teresa, and Old Bazaar, with insights provided by your guide.

Immerse yourself in the beguiling beauty of two of Bulgaria’s most spectacular sights on a full-day trip from Sofia. Admire the natural splendor of rural Bulgaria as you travel to the Rila Monastery, a sacred structure cradled by the dense pine forests of the mountains. Delve into the history of the medieval landmark and browse the intriguing exhibitions of the on-site museum. Continue to Boyana Church to gaze at the fascinating pre-Renaissance frescoes that decorate the walls within. Please note, entrance fees are not included on this tour.

Grab your passport and head over the border to Serbia on this full-day tour of Nis from Sofia. Learn about the turbulent history of former Yugoslavia as you visit the Nis concentration camp; visit city sights including the Roman ruins of Mediana, the Skull Tower, and the Nisava riverfront; and sample delicious Serbian cuisine with lunch (own expense) at a local grill house.

Reaching the Seven Rila Lakes by public transport typically involves two buses, a shuttle and most of your day. Take the pain out of transportation—while maintaining total independence—with this cost-effective shared transfer. Visit both these beautiful glacial lakes and the Rila Monastery, a UNESCO World Heritage site, with ample time for hiking.

Lovers of landscapes will adore this guided, small-group tour to the rocky vistas around Belogradchik town. Travel through the Balkan Mountains to Belogradchik, then admire the spectacular rock formations and ancient fortress. Enjoy the stalagmites and stalactites of Venetsa Cave and—if there’s time—see the towering Vratsata Gorge before your guide returns you to your hotel.

Forget planning routes, researching sites, and boning up on history. See all Sofia’s key attractions and learn the stories behind them too on this great-value small-group walking tour: perfect for history buffs. Sights include the ruins of the Roman-era east gate, the 4th-century Rotunda of St. George, the Byzantine St. Sofia Basilica, the Ivan Vazov National Theater, and the Cathedral Saint Alexander Nevsky.

Make the most of your time in the Balkans on this full-day tour to Skopje, the capital of neighboring North Macedonia. Travel the distance easily with included round-trip transportation from your Sofia hotel and enjoy more time to immerse yourself in the diverse city. Benefit from the personalized insights and attention of your small-group guide as you take in landmarks such as the Old Bazaar, Stone Bridge, and Mother Teresa Memorial House.

Designed with foodies in mind, this off-the-beaten-path market tour visits three essential Sofia markets: Flea Market, Zhenski Pazar Women’s Market, and the covered market known as Central Market Hall. Alongside your guide and a small group, enjoy access that would be impossible to achieve independently and savor tastings of classic Bulgarian fare at a range of venues.

Take a break from the crowded city streets and discover the best of Bulgarian wine on a 9-hour tour to Melnik. Comfortable transportation collects you from your Sofia hotel and takes you into the sprawling Bulgarian countryside. Upon arrival in Melnik, explore the wine cellar at an 18th-century mansion. After a bit of sightseeing in Rojen, taste some the country's best wine at Villa Melnik.

During your personal tasting experience I will guide you through the distinctive world of Bulgarian wines. Although Bulgaria has been producing wine for 5000 years it is still relatively unknown to the rest of the world. Now a rising new generation of Bulgarian boutique winemakers are devoted to the craft and bringing new attention to our country. You will taste 5 wine varieties of local grapes unique to Bulgaria, that can not be found anywhere else: Miskets, Melnik, Mavrud, Gumza and Rubin. Plus, local cheeses, artisanal bread and mineral water. The tasting is held in one of the best boutique wine shops in Sofia – Tempus Vini, which is located on an artsy street in the city center, known for its fine restaurants and boutiques. And just a few streets away from Sofia’s main pedestrian boulevard. During the tasting I can tell you about the wine regions of Bulgaria including the history and the wine culture of my beautiful country. All tastings are held in English or Bulgarian

Don’t squander your Bulgarian holiday at underwhelming tourist trap bars with overpriced drinks. Instead, experience the best of Sofia’s nightlife on a 3-hour pub crawl. Follow your party-loving guides to three of the city’s best watering holes. Throw back a welcome shot at each venue, then play Bulgarian drinking games with your new friends. End your night out with complimentary entrance to one of Sofia’s top nightclubs.

Discover Bulgarian history, cuisine, and winemaking on a full-day tour from Sofia to Plovdiv and the Thracia Valley. Spend the morning strolling through Plovdiv Old Town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, pause for a traditional Bulgarian lunch, then visit a beloved vineyard for a guided tasting and tour. This 10-hour tour includes entrance fees at the Plovdiv Roman Theater, lunch, and tastings, with pickup and drop-off at Sofia hotels.

If you want to experience more of Bulgaria in just one day, don't miss this busy sightseeing tour with stops at two UNESCO World Heritage Sites, a wine tasting, and hassle-free travel all included. Meet-up at a convenient downtown location before you're whisked to top landmarks to learn about Buglarian culture, see medieval art, and sample local varietals at a Medi Valley winery. Though entry fees and food are at your own expense, the tour's easy transportation and English-speaking guide make for a convenient, full-day adventure.

Sip your way through the Bulgarian countryside on a 9-hour wine tour from Sofia. After a scenic drive from the city, visit two distinctive wineries and sample a total of 10 different wines. Every detail of the tour, including lunch and transportation, is carefully planned to ensure you have an enriching and stress-free day away from the hustle and bustle.

Discover the heart of Sofia without even thinking about a map on this convenient, fully guided walking tour. See key landmarks from the different cultures that have occupied the city and explore St. Sofia Church, the Rotunda of St. George, and Cathedral St. Alexander Nevski. Along the way, enjoy a traditional Bulgarian pastry breakfast with a glass of “ayran” salt yoghurt drink.

Journey through Bulgaria’s history from Roman times to modern day on this full-day tour of Plovdiv and Perushtitsa from Sofia. Marvel at the ancient ruins of Plovdiv, including the Roman Stadium, Roman Forum, and Amphitheater, admire the magnificent Red Church and the Three Generations Monument in Perushtitsa; then enjoy wine tasting at a local winery. Hotel pickup and drop-off is included.

Get out of Sofia and visit a medieval monastery and a quaint town on this tour. Travel from your Sofia hotel in a comfortable vehicle and visit Rozhen Monastery, the largest in the Pirin Mountains. Take a scenic stroll through the town of Melnik and learn about its history. Sample local Bulgarian wines.

Rewind to ancient Thracian and Roman times on this full-day Hisarya and Starosel tour from Sofia, including wine tastings. Visit the village of Starosel, where excavations have revealed a Thracian temple and palace from the 5th century BC. After tasting Bulgarian wines at a winery, explore Hisarya, whose mineral springs attracted the Romans. Tour the ruins of Roman walls and tombs, before returning to Sofia. Tour includes wine tastings and Sofia hotel pickup and drop-off.

I’m a very easy-going person, a food lover and I’m interested in all kinds of arts, currently working and living in Sofia. The culinary world of my country is very rich, and our recipes for homemade desserts are extremely interesting. I want to share my experience and give you the opportunity to try some of the most delicious homemade Bulgarian pastries and desserts. For the curious sweet lovers and even for the chefs, this experience would be very interesting and memorable.