Arbanasi

Private tours

This 12-hour excursion begins in the early morning with a pickup from your Bucharest accommodation followed by a drive to the foothills of the Balkan Mountains. Spend an enjoyable day discovering the impressive medieval settlement of Veliko Tarnovo. Veliko Tarnovo was the medieval capital of Bulgaria and is home of the Tsaravets Fortress, the strongest Bulgarian fortification of the Middle Ages. Your itinerary includes visits to the St. Dimitrie Basarabov Monastery, the only monastery in Bulgaria carved into a cliff that is still inhabited today and Arbanasi village, where the medieval architecture will transport you back a few centuries in time.

Start by meeting your local guide at your hotel, then drive south from Bucharest towards the Romanian and Bulgarian border. After crossing the Danube River and the Friendship Bridge, you will enter Bulgaria. On the way towards Veliko Tarnovo, stop for an exclusive visit of the Rock-Hewn Churches next to the village of Ivanovo. These are Bulgarian Medieval churches, chapels, and monastic cells hewn into the craggy gorge of Roussenski Lom River. Inscriptions, portraits of saints, and other restored items are from the 13th century. Then, discover Veliko Tarnovo, which was the capital of the Second Bulgarian Empire and has a long tradition in the culture of Bulgaria. The city is rich in museums and historical sites, combined with a vivacious nightlife propelled by the students in one of the largest universities in Bulgaria. Take a walk on the Artisans Street where you have the chance to pass by workshops owned by Bulgarian families for generations, preserving the old traditions. Get the chance to see a fully functional coppersmith workshop to see the production of copper plates and cups used for Turkish coffee.  Hike up the Tsarevets Hill with the remains of the castle and church of Bulgarian kings. Visit the Fortress, the Patriarchal Church, the Royal Palace, and Emperor Balduin’s Tower. Next, journey to Arbanassi and step back in time while wandering the streets lined with houses and churches dating back as far as the 16th century. Take a peek into the life of rich merchants from the 17th century while visiting the Konstantsalieva House, showing the lavish but simple lifestyle of the nobility. Next, stop for lunch in one of the many restaurants serving local food and savor the famous Bulgarian cuisine. Following this, begin the journey back to Bucharest.

Embark on a fascinating journey through Bulgarian history with a guided tour to Veliko Tarnovo departing from Sofia. Explore the city's medieval fortress, market street, and historical landmarks. Make a stop in the village of Arbanasi and enjoy a glimpse into the traditional local lifestyle. Get picked up from your hotel in Sofia to travel toward Veliko Tarnovo, the country's capital during the Second Bulgarian State. Located on hills, admire breathtaking views of the town, covered in typical houses looking down at the meandering Yantra River. Arrive at Tsarevets Fortress with remains of the royal palace, more than 400 houses, and 18 churches. Climb up to Baldwin's Tower, where Latin Emperor Baldwin I died after he was captured by Tsar Kaloyan. Gaze at the Patriarchal Cathedral of the Holy Ascension of the Lord on top of the hill. Up next, visit the Samovodska Charshia, the old market street with craft and gift shops. Have some free time for yourself and purchase lunch if you wish to. Follow the Stambolov Bridge to the impressive Asenevtsi Monument, erected in memory of the four kings who proclaimed Bulgaria's independence. Before riding back to Sofia, discover Arbanasi, a village that once was home to rich traders and craftsmen. See iconic representations of the monumental architectural style that developed here over the last few centuries.

Be collected from your accommodation in Sofia at 8:00 AM then travel three hours to Veliko Tarnovo. This town was the Bulgarian capital during the so-called Second Bulgarian Kingdom between the 12th and 14th centuries. Here, you will be able to feel the medieval spirit. Veliko Tarnovo is situated along several big hills and the river Yantra. The well-preserved fortress is remarkable. Discover some of the very old churches and see beautiful panoramic views. Bellow the fortress are some of the old merchant streets, which still present old-style crafts.  Afterward, head to the nearby small village of Arbanasi, an architectural resort, famous for its old stone houses and great places for lunch. Then return to Sofia for approximately 7:00 PM. 

This one day tour to Bulgaria starts and ends in Bucharest from any place or hotel you desire. It takes approximately 12 hours so an early start is always recommended. You will cross one of the biggest and most impressive rivers in Europe, the Danube River, that forms the border between Romania and Bulgaria. There, you will visit and learn about the Basarbovo Monastery, the traditional Bulgarian village of Arbanasi and Veliko Tarnovo, the former capital of the mighty medieval Bulgarian Empire and now probably the most beautiful Bulgarian city. On request, there are many nice restaurants that can be recommended for lunch. The tour is guided by an English-speaking, well-educated young licensed guide.

Veliko Tarnovo was the medieval capital of Bulgaria. The town flourished between the 12th and 14th century, when the territory of Bulgaria spanned over most of the Balkans. During the 5th century of Ottoman oppression, the town developed as a merchant and craftsman town with distribution channels extending into North Africa and Central Europe. Nowadays, the town has often been ranked by the media as the most beautiful and pleasant Bulgarian city to live in. Veliko Tarnovo and the nearby architectural reserve Arbanassi are included in almost every tour agency’s round-trip itinerary, while famous guidebooks define it as a must-see tourist attraction. Despite the long transfer time from Sofia (three hours) you will quickly understand why it's worth the journey. On this tour, you will see all of the major tourist highlights in Veliko Tarnovo and Arbanassi in an intriguing and educational way.  The local tour operator, Traventuria, was awarded a “Business Which Supports Biodiversity” certification by the Bulgarian Biodiversity Foundation for its “Tours with a Cause” initiative.

Travel to the foothills of the Balkan Mountains, visit Basarabov Monastery, the only monastery in Bulgaria carved in the rock, explore the medieval Veliko Tarnovo, visit the Tsaravets Fortress, a fortification from the Middle Ages, and then admire Arbanassi Village, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Begin your day trip by leaving Bucharest for Veliko Tarnovo, crossing the Danube River, which separates Romania from Bulgaria, and making your first stop at Basarabov Monastery, the only monastery in Bulgaria carved in the rock and inhabited since its establishment. Not far from Basarabov Monastery is the charming medieval city of Veliko Tarnovo, often referred to as the "City of the Tsars". You will walk on the cobbled streets in the historical quarter of Samovodskata Charshiya, and up on the hill, you will discover the fortress of Tsarevets, settled in the 4th century and surrounded by thick walls and the strongest Bulgarian fortification from the Middle Ages. Veliko Tarnovo was often compared to Rome or Constantinople in greatness. The village of Arbanassi, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, will be your final stop before returning to Bucharest. Arbanasi has experienced strong Greek cultural influence for centuries, with traditional houses that are large and heavily fortified and orthodox churches dating back to the 17th and 18th centuries with stone walls and thick gates. Walk through its quiet and picturesque streets and admire all of this.