Don't have a lot of time in Bulgaria but want to see the essential highlights of the country like the cities of Sofia and Plovdiv as well as other places in the countryside, all in 5 days? You are in the right place.
With this itinerary, you will find all the information you need to plan a great trip to Bulgaria, like the best places to visit, where to stay, how to get around, and so much more.
Without further ado, here is the ultimate 5-day backpacking itinerary for Bulgaria. Let's begin by looking at all the places we will be visiting in this itinerary with the map below:
- 5 Days Backpacking Bulgaria Itinerary Map
- 5 Days Backpacking Bulgaria Itinerary
- When to Visit Bulgaria?
- How to Get to Bulgaria?
- How to Get Around Bulgaria?
- How Much Money Do I Need for 5 days in Bulgaria?
- Is it Safe in Bulgaria?
- Which tourist SIM card is best for Bulgaria?
- What to Pack for Bulgaria?
- Further Reading for Bulgaria
5 Days Backpacking Bulgaria Itinerary Map
| ☀️ Day 1-2: | Sofia |
| ☀️ Day 3: | Rila Monastery and/or Rila Lakes |
| ☀️ Day 4-5: | Plovdiv |
| ☀️ Day 6: | Sofia |
5 Days Backpacking Bulgaria Itinerary
Day 1 - 2: Sofia (4 nights)
Our itinerary begins in Sofia, the capital city of Bulgaria, home to some of the most beautiful and unique-looking architecture in the Balkans as well as some of the liveliest cities out there with vibrant streets, hip cafes, and bustling markets waiting for you to explore.
And there is no better place to start exploring Sofia than at one of the most famous landmarks of all, St. Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, an impressive Orthodox cathedral considered to be one of the most beautiful cathedrals in the region, standing over 53 meters high.
The cathedral is best known for its perfect blend of Neo-Byzantine and Neo-Classical architectural styles featuring a striking gold-domed roof at the top of layers of green-domed ones, stacking on top of each other, creating a cascade, and it is standing prominently in a vast spacious square allowing us to appreciate it in all its glory.
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The interior is also quite impressive with its massive arched hall, with walls adorned with stunning frescoes depicting scenes from the Bible, as well as images of important saints and martyrs, painted in these vibrant colors all across the central hall.
Although the interior could use a little more maintenance, the sheer scale of it all still blew me away. It is truly, one of the most beautiful cathedrals in the country!
Not too far from St. Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, you will find the Church of St Paraskeva, a massive unique-looking church built in the early 20th Century with a similar architectural style to the St. Alexander Nevsky Cathedral but smaller and with a little twist. A great place to drop by before we continue on our journey.
Another unique-looking church to see in Sofia is the Church of St. Nicholas the Miracle-Maker, a Russian Orthodox church built in the early 20th Century in a beautiful Russian Revival architectural style, which is unlike the other churches with large domed designs you see elsewhere. This church features 5 striking spires with iconic golden domes at the top which stands out from all the architecture around it, so be sure to check it out.
Next up, you can visit St. George Rotunda Church, a well-preserved 9th Century church, one of the oldest structures you can find in the city which goes to show just how old the city really is.
The church is situated within a larger archaeological site which encompasses a range of ancient structures. Behind the apse of the church, you can see the remnants of an old Roman street with a well-preserved drainage system as well as foundations of a large basilica, and some smaller buildings, so be sure to spend some time and stroll around the area before we continue on.
I hope you are not getting tired of churches yet because there is another impressive church in the city that you should also check out. Sveta Nedelya Church is an Eastern Orthodox cathedral originally built in the 10th Century but it had been destroyed and renovated so many times throughout history, it is hard to keep count.
Inside, you will find yourself in a large domed hall surrounded by colorful murals and frescoes. Every inch of this church's interior is painted with depictions of religious scenes and figures in amazing detail which is quite a sight to behold.
After you are done visiting all the churches, you can spend the rest of the day relaxing, strolling along Bulevar Vitosha, a bustling pedestrian street lined with posh stores, restaurants, and bars you can indulge yourself in.
For those who are into nightlife, Sofia has a ton of hidden pubs and bars across the city. If you are interested in exploring these bars, I highly recommend you check out this pub crawl walking tour which will take you to 4 hidden gems around the city. A great way to see what Sofia has to offer for night owls among us.
On your second day in Sofia, you can take it a little slow and go for a stroll around City Garden, a beautiful scenic park with fountains, park benches, and greeneries, surrounded by some of the prettiest European-style buildings in the city.
You can walk around the park, check out its fountain, and admire the beauty of Ivan Vazov National Theater, a beautiful and imposing neoclassical theater, that is on full display here. You will also find many locals enjoying each other's company, playing chess, sharing books in the small public library here, and sitting and relaxing and one of the many cafes around the park.
After a nice morning stroll, you can then visit Sofia's Regional History Museum, a fascinating museum that will allow you to learn more about the rich and diverse history of Sofia and the region.
The museum is also housed in this beautiful 19th-century neoclassical building that used to be Sofia Central Public Mineral Baths, which is a tourist attraction in itself.
You can also go on a walking tour if you which to dive even deeper into the history of this awesome city or if you want to learn more about the communist era of Sofia and see some of the brutalist-style buildings from that era, be sure to check out this organized walking tour.
After the museum, you can then spend the rest of the day hanging out around the National Palace of Culture, one of the most popular places for locals to hang out, especially on the weekends thanks to its spacious public areas.
This place is the mother of all Brutalist-style buildings and is considered to be the largest multifunctional conference and exhibition center in Southeast Europe. That is cool and all but what attracts me the most about this place is its beautiful park in front of it and the lively atmosphere the locals bring with them as they hang out around the trees and fountains, socializing with one another. I love the vibe here.
There is also a cafe at the National Palace of Culture with outdoor seating areas where you can sit back, relax, and enjoy the lively atmosphere of Sofia as you sip a coffee. After that, you can spend the rest of the day relaxing at your accommodation and preparing for a full-day trip to Rila Monastery the next day.
Getting from Sofia to Rila Monastery
To get from Sofia to Rila Monastery, we are going to have to rely on organized tours to visit Rila Monastery and other places around the area as day trips. Here are a selection of tours that will take you here and back in one day as well as to other places depending on what you want to do:
Rila Monastery and Boyana Church tour is recommended for those who want to have a lot of time at Rila Monastery and you prefer a guided tour over self-guiding yourself around the tourist attractions. The tour will also take you to Boyana Church on the outskirts of Sofia.
If you prefer nature, you can also go on the 7 Rila Lakes and Rila Monastery tour which will take you to Panichishte in the beautiful Rila National Park, get on a cable car up the mountain, and spend 5 hours hiking, strolling, and admiring the views of the glacier lakes from a different perspective before visiting Rila Monastery.
Day 3: Rila Monastery and/or Rila Lakes (Day Trip)
After spending 2 days exploring all the tourist attractions in Sofia, it is time to go off into the countryside and visit some of the best tourist attractions around the capital city.
One of the most important tourist attractions that you have to visit when you travel to Bulgaria is Rila Monastery, one of the most sacred Orthodox monasteries that attract more than 900,000 believers, pilgrims, and tourists from across the world each year.
Nestled in between the rolling mountains of Rila at an elevation of 1,147 m (3,763 ft) above sea level, covering more than 8.7 ha (940,000 sq ft), the monastery is considered to be the largest temple in the entire country.
Despite its impressive scenery and exotic location, the monastery is actually best known for its incredibly detailed and colorful frescoes and murals that cover both the inside and outside of the monastery.
It is one of the most beautiful frescoes I've ever seen in my life. Starting off right at the entrance of the monastery, you will be met with entire walls of the monastery covered in colorful murals from left to right, from top to bottom. The more you stare at it, the more detail you see.
The inside is also as impressive as the outside, if not more so, with its impressive frescoes covering every inch of the interior that are even more beautiful.
Thanks to the smoke from the candles, the dimly lit atmosphere, and the sunlight that often shines through the small windows on the walls, creating this incredible atmospheric scene that is hard to describe how pretty it was in words. You can see the photos above to understand what I mean.
There are also several other structures you can check out while you are exploring Rila Monastery like the imposing Hrelyo's Tower and the museums scattered along the apartment complex that surrounded the monastery. You can spend hours exploring this monastery and you will still have yet to see them all.
While you are here, be sure to check out the monastery's bakery located behind the monastery, outside its walls, and try the fresh and hot Mekitsa, or fried dough with sugar sprinkled over it. It is the best Metkitsa I've tried here and it costs only 1 BGN (0.5 EUR) each!
To get to the monastery from Sofia, you are going to have to rely on an organized tour. There are several organized tours you can choose from that include visiting Rila Monastery as well as other tourist attractions depending on what you want to see.
The most popular one is the Rila Monastery and Boyana Church tour which will take you to Boyana Church, a 10th Century Eastern Orthodox church located on the outskirt of Sofia, known for its old and impressive frescoes inside. I went with this one and it was great with an informative guide and plenty of time to explore Rila Monastery.
If you prefer nature, you can also go on the 7 Rila Lakes and Rila Monastery tour which will take you to Panichishte in the beautiful Rila National Park, get on a cable car up the mountain, and spend 5 hours hiking, strolling, and admiring the views of the glacier lakes from a different perspective before visiting Rila Monastery.
This was the tour I chose initially, but the cable car was closed for maintenance the day I was there, so I had to choose the previous tour instead. If you are luckier than I am and you prefer nature, I highly recommend you go with this one. Looking for more day trips? Be sure to browse for available tours here.
Getting from Sofia to Plovdiv
To get from Sofia to Plovdiv, you can take either a bus or a train from Sofia Bus Station or Sofia Train Station respectively. For this trip, I prefer trains over buses as the trains in Bulgaria are surprisingly great with clean and well-maintained facilities and they are quite reliable, unlike trains in other countries in the Balkans, but both are great options for this trip and it will depend entirely on which modes of transportation fits your schedule most.
You can look up for train schedule on its official website and you can buy one at the ticket kiosk at the train station. There are several direct trains between the 2 cities from 6:20 AM to 10:25 PM every day. The journey should take about 2.5 hours and cost around 9.15 BGN (4.7 EUR).
For buses, you can check the schedule online and book the ticket directly here. The journey should take about 2 hours and cost around 8 EUR. A little faster than trains but also a bit more expensive.
Day 4 - 5: Plovdiv (2 nights)
After spending several nights in Sofia, it is time to move on to our next destination in the itinerary, Plovdiv, the second-largest city in Bulgaria and one of the most historically rich cities in the country dating back to ancient times and as it was inhabited by Thracians, Romans, Byzantines, Bulgarians, and Ottomans throughout the centuries.
Today, Plovdiv is a vibrant cultural and economic center, known for its well-preserved Old Town, which is home to many historical and architectural landmarks, including the Roman amphitheater, the Roman stadium, and the medieval fortress walls.
One of the most popular tourist attractions you should check out first is the Ancient Theatre of Philippopolis, a well-preserved ancient amphitheater located in the heart of Plovdiv's Old Town, built in the 2nd century AD during the Roman Empire's rule of the city, and it is believed to have been one of the largest and most magnificent theaters in the Balkans.
After you are done at the ancient theatre, you can begin exploring all the beautiful historic structures in Plovdiv's Old Town like St. Constantine & Helena Church, the Regional Ethnographic Museum, one of the most beautiful buildings here, and Balabanov's House, a traditional house turned museum, preserving the 19th Century's way of life.
Plovdiv is also well known for its creative and artistic scene and there is no better place to experience it firsthand than at Kapana, a charming arts and cultural neighborhood of Plovdiv full of street arts, art galleries, and specialty shops.
The name Kapana translates to "The Trap" in English, and it is said that the district was named this because its narrow, winding streets were easy to get lost in. For me, it is probably more to do with the awesome creative and artistic scene as well as the number of cool cafes that will more likely trap me here forever 😂.
In Kapana, you will find plenty of impressive street art with incredible character design and creative color usage strapping across the side of buildings and walls all over the neighborhood, colorizing the street with vibrant colors.
And these are real artworks, not those random graffiti tags you often find in other parts of European cities. The street art here reflects the district's artistic spirit and cultural diversity, with a wide range of styles and themes you can find here, from abstract designs and colorful murals to political statements and social commentary. If you enjoy this kind of artwork, be sure to keep an eye out as you explore Kapana.
Other notable tourist attractions in Plovdiv are the Ancient Stadium of Philipopolis, another remnant of the Roman Empire, the lively Central Square and its Roman Forum, and Sveta Marina Church, a beautiful and historic Orthodox Christian church known for its incredible wooden bell tower
After spending a day exploring Plovdiv, it is time to find a nice viewpoint to watch the sunset and there is no better place to do that than from Alyosha Monument, a massive 1950s statue of a Soviet soldier, stands at the top of Bunardzhika Hill towering over the entire city.
From the trailhead, it takes about 30 minutes to walk from Central Square and hike along its stone steps, zigzagging your way up to the top of the hill. Along the way, you will get a glimpse of what the view will be like at the top as the cityscape of Plovdiv reveals to you more and more as you ascend.
At the top, you will find the striking Brutalist-style Alyosha Monument built on top of a platform where you can walk around and appreciate the panoramic view of Plovdiv and see all the other 6 hills that make up the city. It is an incredible sight to see and definitely worth the sweat.
Right after sunset, I can go for a stroll around the beautiful Tsar Simeon Garden Park and check out the incredible light and sound show at Singing Fountains located adjacent to the park.
This beautiful attraction consists of a series of fountains that shoot water high into the air, illuminated by a dazzling array of colored lights, while synchronized with a carefully choreographed music program.
A great way to end the day in Plovdiv before we retreat back to our accommodation for the night and prepare your journey back to Sofia before heading back home.
Getting from Plovdiv to Back to Sofia
You can catch either the train or the bus back from Plovdiv Train Station or Plovdiv Bus Station respectively. Choose whichever mode of transportation that offers the best schedule for you.
You can look up for train schedule on its official website and you can buy one at the ticket kiosk at the train station. For buses, you can check the schedule online and book the ticket directly here.
Sofia (1 Night)
Now that we have completed our itinerary, you can spend your last day in Sofia, exploring the cafe culture at cozy cafes like Cafe 1920, shopping for souvenirs, and spending the night here before flying back home or continuing your journey to other neighboring countries like Turkey, Greece, or North Macedonia. Congratulations! You did it!
When to Visit Bulgaria?
The best time to visit Bulgaria is between May to September when the weather is nice and warm, great for doing outdoor activities, with a high chance of beautiful clear sky.
That said, Bulgaria does get a fair bit of tourists during the summer months between June to August, and that can drive up the price of accommodation a little bit. Not by much like other European countries but it is something to consider. If you wish to avoid the tourist crowds as well as the high season price hike, I highly recommend you stick to either late April or early October.
Although, statistically, the weather might not be as good, there are still chances of nice beautiful clear days with great weather during this period. The crowds are also getting thinner while the prices are starting to come down. Either way, as long as you stick to the recommended period, you should be good to go.
How to Get to Bulgaria?
From the US, you can fly to Sofia, the capital city of Bulgaria, via Lufthansa or Austrian Airlines often leave from big cities like New York and Chicago, which should take around 12 hours, including the transiting time in Germany or Austria respectively.
From Europe, you can find plenty of flights flying from major European hubs to Sofia International Airport (SOF) via low-cost airlines like Ryanair, Easyjet, and WizzAir that will take you to Sofia in no more than 3 hours.
From Asia, you can also fly with European airlines like Austrian Airlines and Lufthansa from any big cities in the region and it should take you about 15 - 17 hours including transit time before you arrive in Sofia.
To find a cheap flight to Bulgaria, I would recommend you use Skyscanner or Expedia to look for the cheapest route and schedule so you can compare and pick the best one.
How to Get Around Bulgaria?
By Buses: Buses are the cheapest way to get around Bulgaria. There are several buses running between big cities like Sofia and Plovdiv as well as to and from other neighboring countries like North Macedonia, Turkey, and Greece in case you are visiting Bulgaria as part of a bigger trip in the Balkans. You can check the bus schedule online and book the ticket directly here.
By Trains: You can also travel around Bulgaria by train. They have a surprisingly reliable train system with well-maintained facilities. It is a little cheaper but also a little slower than buses. I recommend you interchange your mode of transportation between trains and buses based on the available schedule that fits your trip most since both are great ways to get around the country. You can find the train schedule on its official website and you can buy one at the ticket kiosk at the train station.
By Tours: For more remote places, you might want to rely on tours to travel to places like Rila Monastery or Rila National Park which we will be visiting as a day trip from Sofia. There are plenty of other day trips you can make in North Macedonia, so be sure to check available tours here.
By Rental Cars: You can also rent a car straight from Sofia Airport and drive around Bulgaria but for this itinerary, you won't need it. If you insist, hit the link below to rent a car in Bulgaria:
How Much Money Do I Need for 5 days in Bulgaria?
From this 5-day itinerary, we can calculate approximately how much money you will be spending here as follows:
Accommodation: For 7 nights in Bulgaria, you can expect to pay around 84 EUR for accommodation, considering you are staying in budget guesthouses or hostels.
Food: For 5 days, 3 meals a day in Bulgaria, you can expect to pay around 120 EUR for food considering you eat out every day. It will be significantly cheaper if you buy your own groceries and cook yourself instead.
Transportation: For this itinerary, you can expect to pay around 10 EUR for train travel between Sofia and Plovdiv and that is it.
Activities: Depending on how much you want to do in Bulgaria, you can expect to pay approximately 65 EUR for a day trip to Rila Monastery from Sofia as well as entrance fees to tourist attractions around the country.
Total Budget for 5 days in Bulgaria: 279 EUR
Is it Safe in Bulgaria?
It is very safe in Bulgaria. I spent about a week traveling around the country independently and I didn't experience anything out of the ordinary. That said, it is always a good idea to exercise precautions by not leaving your belongings unattended, especially when in crowded places like bus or train stations, and ALWAYS keep an eye out for your belongings at all times.
Keep your hands in your pockets when entering or exiting crowded places to secure your phone and wallet. Other than that, you should be perfectly fine traveling around Bulgaria independently.
Which tourist SIM card is best for Bulgaria?
There are 3 major carriers in Bulgaria, A1, Yettel, and Vivacom, that offer prepaid sim cards tourists can buy while they are traveling in Bulgaria. That said, if you are looking for a more convenient way, I highly recommend you look into getting esims instead which is something that you can buy prior to your arrival in Bulgaria.
If you have a smartphone that supports esims, I highly recommend you take a look at these esims. They have a variety of data packages, price points, and durations for you to choose from.
The setup is fast and instant and you can buy it prior to your trip so you don't have to scramble your way to get one at the airport after a long flight. The data speed is also equivalent to what you get with a local sim card with 4G speed across the entire country.
Or if you are traveling to Bulgaria as part of a bigger Europe trip, I highly recommend you get the regional Eurolink esim which will give you access to data from over 39 countries across Europe. I have personally used this esim on my 3-months trip around Europe and it has worked wonders.
For more information on esims in Bulgaria, click here: Check Bulgaria's Available eSim.
What to Pack for Bulgaria?
As you may already know, I am an advocate of light traveling, and indeed, packing light for a journey like this is a unique art form. Here are some packing tips for your upcoming trip to Bulgaria:
- Walking/Hiking Shoes: With all the walking and possible hiking during your travel, a comfortable pair of shoes is a must. I recommend the Timberland 3-Eye Classic Boat Shoes that are my go-to pair for long strolls and hikes.
- Breathable Shirts: Given the potential for hot weather, pack a few breathable shirts for your outdoor adventures.
- Shorts/Jeans: Anticipate lots of walking during your travels? Be sure to pack some breathable shorts and a pair of Levi's jeans for when the weather cools. For women, leggings are excellent for both hot and cold climates, so consider packing some as well.
- Fleece Jacket: For colder weather, layering is the key, and a fleece jacket makes an excellent insulating layer. I recommend the Columbia Steens Mountain Fleece (for women).
- Outer Shell Jacket: An outer shell jacket is great for windy or rainy conditions. I highly recommend the Columbia Watertight Jacket (for women). It's lightweight, breathable, and even comes in a cool orange color.
- Microfiber Towel: A Microfiber towel is the ideal backpacker's towel due to its lightness, quick drying, and compressibility.
- Camera: You should also pack a good camera for your trip so that you can capture all the beautiful experiences you might have. I recommend the Sony a7R V camera together with the Sony 24-70mm f2.8 GM II lens, which is probably the highest-performance camera and lens combination you can get right now.
- Power Bank: Keep your electronics charged on the go with a 20,000+ mAh Power Bank.
- Water Bottle: The Hydro Flask Trail Water Bottle is a great insulated water bottle to have with you in cities or on hiking trails. It is lightweight and can keep your water cold or warm for more than 12 hours. It's a total game-changer.
- Universal Adapter: You'll need just one universal adapter to plug in your electronics in any country you visit.
- Packing Cubes: Packing Cubes will help you save space in your backpack and keep all your belongings organized.
- Daypack: The Langly Alpha Globetrotter is my go-to everyday camera backpack. It's large enough to carry all my travel gear, and it comes with plenty of slots and pouches. Plus, it's stylish as hell!
- Large Backpack: You will need a large backpack to carry all of your stuff. I recommend the Osprey Atmos AG 65L backpack. With excellent weight distribution and a lifetime guarantee, you can't go wrong with Osprey.
For more information on what I pack in my backpack for this trip, check out: My Packing List: 60 Travel Essentials.
Now that we have all the information we need, it's time to start planning your trip! Here are some resources to help you get going:
Are you planning to travel independently? Be sure to check out my guide on How To Plan A Backpacking Trip here.
Further Reading for Bulgaria
- Want to plan a trip to the Balkans, but not sure where to go? Here is the 31 Most Beautiful Places to Visit in the Balkans.
- For a complete itinerary to the Balkans, check out: 2 Months Backpacking Balkans Itinerary.
- Most trips in Bulgaria begin in Sofia, the beautiful capital city of Bulgaria. If you are planning to visit the city, here are the 12 Best Things to Do in Sofia.
- Plovdiv is a beautiful city, home to ancient Roman ruins, a well-preserved Old Town, and one of the most creatively and culturally thriving cities in Europe. If you are planning to visit the city, here are the 11 Best Things to Do in Plovdiv.
- Not convinced by my words? Here are 125 photos that will inspire you to visit Europe.
- To see all the articles about Bulgaria, visit the Bulgaria Travel Guide page.
- Traveling in Europe can be cheap, really cheap. These are the 12 Cheap European Countries to Visit.
- Looking for more travel guides for Europe? You can find more on my Europe Travel Guide page.
- Or if you want something more specific to the region, visit our Balkans Travel Guide, Eastern Europe Travel Guide, Western Europe Travel Guide, Southern Europe Travel Guide, or Central Europe Travel Guide pages.
- For more of my travel guides like this, visit my Destinations page.
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