Chat with us, powered by LiveChat City Break to Sofia & Plovdiv, Bulgaria | Escorted Tours for Solo Travelers

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What to expect

Guided Tour of Sofia

Guided Tour of Sofia

Basilica St. Sofia, Royal Palace & more

Rila Monastery Visit

Rila Monastery Visit

UNESCO-listed pilgrimage site

Plovidiv Guided Tour

Plovidiv Guided Tour

Explore 'The Trap', Old Town & beyond

Culinary Experiences

Culinary Experiences

Traditional lunch with local family

About this trip...

Discover two of Bulgaria’s most captivating cities on this relaxed cultural getaway. From Sofia’s grand boulevards and onion-domed churches to Plovdiv’s ancient theater and vibrant Old Town, this short break blends history, architecture, and authentic local flavor. With an accompanying Tour Leader, guided city walks, and a visit to the UNESCO-listed Rila Monastery, this guided group city break offers the perfect mix of heritage, insight, and easygoing exploration.
Activity Level: Activity Level Rating
What's this?

What's included?

  • Return transfers
  • Twin/double room for sole use
  • Daily breakfast at the hotel, three dinners & two lunches
  • Welcome drink
  • Guided walking city tours of Sofia and Plovdiv
  • Visit to Rila Monastery
  • Accompanying Solos Tour Leader

What's extra:

  • International flights are not included
  • Let us help you book them! Learn more.
  • Airport transfers (if we are not including as part of the package)
  • Travel insurance
  • Tips & drinks
  • Meals when not included in the itinerary
  • Activities when not included in the itinerary

Itinerary

  • Arrive in Sofia & City Tour
  • Rila Monastery
  • Sightseeing in Plovdiv
  • Departure Day
Map

What you’ll be doing

Day One: Arrive in Sofia & City Tour

Day One: Arrive in Sofia & City Tour

After landing at Sofia Airport, we’ll meet our Solos Tour Leader and local guide before transferring to our centrally located hotel. Following a short break and a welcome drink, we’ll head out on a guided walking tour of Sofia’s historic center with our fellow solo travelers. Highlights include the majestic Alexander Nevski Cathedral, Basilica St. Sofia, Parliament Square, the National Theatre, the Royal Palace, Rotunda St. George, Banya Bashi Mosque, Sofia Synagogue, and more. This evening, we’ll enjoy dinner at a modern local restaurant offering a fresh take on traditional Bulgarian cuisine.

  • Dinner included
Day Two: Rila Monastery

Day Two: Rila Monastery

After breakfast, we’ll set off to visit Rila Monastery—Bulgaria’s largest and most celebrated Eastern Orthodox monastery, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. For more than a thousand years, it has stood as the spiritual heart of the nation. Inside its fortress-like walls, spanning 8,800 square meters, you’ll find striking architecture and remarkable sacred art. The monastery’s elegant colonnades, black-red-and-white striped arches, and the golden domes of its main church—covered in vivid, apocalyptic frescoes—create a truly awe-inspiring sight. Framed by misty mountain peaks, Rila’s setting is as breathtaking as its artistry, drawing pilgrims and travelers from around the world.
After a light lunch, we'll return to Sofia where the remainder of the day is ours to explore the city at our own pace. This evening, we’ll gather again to enjoy dinner at a local restaurant.
 
  • Breakfast, lunch & dinner included
Day Three: Sightseeing in Plovdiv

Day Three: Sightseeing in Plovdiv

After breakfast at our hotel, we’ll transfer to Plovdiv, Bulgaria’s second-largest city, renowned for its remarkable ancient heritage. Before we begin our city tour, we’ll visit a local family at their charming restaurant to enjoy a traditional home-cooked lunch. Then it’s time to explore Plovdiv, often celebrated as Europe’s oldest continuously inhabited city. We’ll discover its impressive cultural and historical landmarks, including the Ancient Roman Theater, Stadium, and Odeon, followed by a stroll through the Old Town (a UNESCO-listed site). We’ll also wander through “The Trap” (Kapana)—a lively creative district filled with cozy cafés, art studios, and boutique shops.

Late afternoon, we'll return to Sofia and our hotel. In the evening, we'll gather one last time to share a farewell dinner and celebrate the memories of our trip. 
 
  • Breakfast, lunch & dinner included
Day Four: Departure day

Day Four: Departure day

After breakfast, we’ll have some more free time to explore Sofia further before transferring to Sofia Airport.


  • Breakfast included

Accommodations

COOP Hotel

Located in the heart of Sofia, COOP Hotel offers modern elegance and easy access to the city's historic landmarks and vibrant shopping areas. Combining stylish design with exceptional service, it’s the ideal choice for your stay in Sofia. Facilities include a restaurant & bar and wellness center featuring sauna and fitness center. Rooms are comfortable and stylish, equipped with air conditioning, TV and minibar.

Dates & Prices

Departure Return Nights Price from Other Info
May 22 2026 May 25 2026 3
$1295
  

Essential Information

Transfer Time
The transfer time from Sofia Airport to our hotel takes approximately 25 min, depending on weather and traffic.
Currency
Bulgarian Lev
Gratuities
We suggest a Group Collection to cover guides, transfer drivers, and hotel staff of minimum €15.00 per person. Your Tour Leader will collect this on your behalf and distribute it accordingly, thus relieving you of the burden of who, when and how much to tip. The tipping of housekeeping will be left to your individual discretion (a small amount left in your room on departure should cover this and would be much appreciated). As is customary, ‘the hat’ will be passed around for the driver and guide on all optional excursions. For any meals that are not included in your itinerary, or taxi fares, your Tour Leader can advise of an appropriate % to add on.
Important Information
A reasonable level of fitness/mobility is required The order of the itinerary and events may be subject to change.
Dress Code
The dress code for during the day is casual. In the evenings the dress code is smart casual. Comfortable warm shoes for walking and sightseeing are recommended. 
Passports and visas

We recommend that you check passport and visa requirements for the country you are visiting at the State Department if you have a U.S. Passport. Most countries require that your passport have at least six months validity when traveling internationally, and many require that you have one to two blank visa pages for either an entry stamp or visa. As a general rule, please check that your passport has six months validity beyond your planned trip, and if not, please renew your passport with plenty of time to provide Solos with your updated passport information by the final payment due date.

Not sure what travel documents you need? Our trusted partner, sherpa°, makes it easy to check visa and entry requirements based on your destination and passport. One quick check now means smooth sailing later. Click here to learn more.

Health requirements

We recommend that you check if vaccinations are required for your destination at the CDC’s recommendations for your visited destination(s). We also recommend you purchase travel protection. A travel protection plan can often assist with medical emergencies and reimburse costs that are covered by the plan. Please verify coverage details with Solos before you travel.

 

 
Flights & Airport Transfers
Whether you'd like us to arrange your flights or prefer to book your own, we're here to make the process easy. Our team can secure flights from the location that suits you best, or provide all the arrival and departure details you'll need if booking independently.
 
Arrival & departure airport transfers are included for the majority of our trips EXCEPT our UK Breaks, regardless of if you book your own flights or if we book them for you. To learn more about flight options, payments, and transfers, click here.
Travel Insurance
We strongly recommend purchasing travel insurance before any trip — it safeguards you against unexpected issues like illness, cancellations, or lost luggage. It also protects your health and travel investment, giving you peace of mind to fully enjoy your journey. Click here. to learn more.

Rated as Excellent (4.8/5) by our customers

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Fantastic time

I’ve recently returned from my first Solos trip and had a fantastic time. I can honestly say that I enjoyed every minute, and the memories will last a lifetime.
-Patricia

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Highly Recommended

I’d highly recommend Solos to people looking to travel on their own with a group of like minded people.
-David

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Brilliant Week!

We laughed until our bellies ached. It was such a brilliant week.
-Janev

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Go for it!

I still get a bit nervous but this will be my third time with Solos and its one of the best decisions I have ever made- everyone is so friendly, just go for it!!
-Jane

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