Top Bucharest activities
Top Bucharest landmarks
Beyond Bucharest
Bucharest trip ideas

Northern Bulgaria from Bucharest - Day Trip to Veliko Tarnovo

2 Reviews 5.00 out of 5 stars Based on 2 traveler reviews collected by Cool Destinations and TripAdvisor | Recommended by 100% of reviewers | Bucharest, Romania

Loading Options
Don't miss out!
On average, this is booked 27 (0) days in advance.

10 to 14 hours (approx.)
Hotel pickup offered
Mobile ticket
Offered in: English

Overview

We offer you a well balanced round trip from Bucharest to the northern part of Bulgaria, with a little bit of everything incuded: breathtaking scenery, two UNESCO sites, amazing ruins, historical places, monuments, awe inspiring churches and the best look-out points.

What's Included

  • Air-conditioned vehicle
  • Your own dedicated professional tour-guide (driving)
  • Photo/video fees at museums/attractions (if any)
  • Meals
  • Personal insurance
See 3 moreSee 6 more

Meeting and Pickup

Pickup point

What To Expect

Book Online

Our secure website provides real-time availability, and free, no-hassle cancellations up to 24 hours before your tour begins.
Read more

Safe & secure • Easy breezy • Hassle-free

Rock-hewn Churches of Ivanovo

Morning pick-up from your accommodation in Bucharest. Head south, toward the Bulgarian border. We cross the Danube river on the Friendship Bridge, not far from the Bulgarian town of Ruse. Ruse is the gateway to the Rusenski Lom, a twisting canyon where medieval monks turned caves near Ivanovo into a rock-cut complex of monasteries. In the 14th century a large community of monks lived here. At the peak of the monastery complex, the number of churches was about 40, while the other premises were around 300, most of which are not preserved today. Only the Tsurkvata cave has been kept as a museum and is filled with vivid New Testament frescoes. If Ivanovo rock-hewn church is closed, we visit instead the Rock Monastery of St. Dimitar Basarbovski. Built into a sheer cliff, this is the only still functioning rock monastery in Bulgaria. The iconfilled church founded in the 15th century and named after the holy man and healer Dimitar of Basarbovo, is reached by a zig-zagging stone staircase.
Read more

1 hour 30 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Tsarevets

Reach Veliko Tarnovo. Visit Tsarevets fortress, Veliko Tarnovo's highlight attraction. With only pedestrian access one can peacefully wander around the ancient ruins, walk along the fortress walls, with views onto the surrounding hills of Sveta Gora, Momina Krepost and the overgrown Trapezitsa, at the foot of which is the picturesque old artisan’s quarter of Assenova Mahala. The main sites of the fortress are clearly identified and the visitor can follow a gentle path around. One can see the Execution Rock at the northern end of the fortress, Baldwin’s tower, the ruins of the tsar palace and on top of the hill, where once the Patriarch’s complex stood, the restored patriarchal church of the Ascension, with its stark modern interior and the dramatic murals painted by Teofan Sokerov in 1985. The murals depict the history of Bulgaria from the Second Bulgarian Kingdom (1185) onward and on the floor is a symbolic tombstone with the names of the Bulgarian Kings.
Read more

2 hours • Admission Ticket Free

Samovodska Charshiya Complex

The ethnographic complex "Samovodska charshia" in Veliko Tarnovo is one of the main attractions of the city and consists of restored Renaissance-style buildings with high stone walls, houses with balconies overhanging over the street and small workshops. The quarter was developed during the second half of the 19th century, when the town began to grow. The two narrow cobblestone streets become the economic centre of the city with many commercial shops. One of the streets starts from the small square, known nowadays as the Samovodski pazar (market). In the past the villagers from the surrounding villages use to gather here and to offer their agricultural products. Gradually, around the newly formed market, the local merchants started to open stores, workshops and inns.
Read more

1 hour • Admission Ticket Free

Konstantsalieva House

After lunch, we visit the village of Arbanasi, a perfect example of the Bulgarian Revival architectural style. The house-museum "Konstantsalieva kashta" was built at the end of 17th century and was reconstructed several times. It is an example of the unique Arbanasi architectural style - solid house-fortress surrounded by high stone walls. Nowadays the house is turned into an ethnographic museum where they show on display an exhibition about the lifestyle of people from Arbanassi in the 19th century.
Read more

1 hour • Admission Ticket Free

Chiesa della Nativita

This is the earliest and the most richly decorated church in the village of Arbanasi. It was built in different stages. The oldest layer of wall-paintings is from the end of XVI century.The entire interior of the church is covered with paintings of icons, this being carried out in stages – in the years 1597, 1632, 1638, 1643, 1649, 1681. In these almost nine decades arises the unique mural assembly, which has no equal in the Bulgarian lands as coverage and thematic encyclopedia. The church consists of a naos, a narthex, a gallery and a chapel dedicated to St. John the Baptist.
Read more

1 hour • Admission Ticket Free

Show 4 more stops

Additional Info

  • Confirmation will be received within 48 hours of booking, subject to availability
  • Public transportation options are available nearby
  • Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
  • Specialized infant seats are available
  • Please, make sure you owe all the necessary documents and permissions for crossing the border between Romania and Bulgaria.
  • A current, valid passport is required

Frequently Asked Questions

(7)

Q: What is the cancellation policy for the Northern Bulgaria from Bucharest – Day Trip to Veliko Tarnovo?

A: You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the tour for a full refund. For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the tour start time.If you cancel less than 24 hours before the tour start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.Any changes made less than 24 hours before the tour start time will not be accepted.Cut-off times are based on the tour local time (EEST). Read more Apr 2025

Cancellation Policy

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the tour for a full refund.

Still have questions?

We're here to help.
Activity code: C-110977P16

Reviews

5.00
2 reviews

Average 5.00 out of 5 stars based on 2 traveler reviews collected by Cool Destinations and partner sites such as Trustpilot, Viator, and TripAdvisor

5 stars
2
4 stars
0
3 stars
0
2 stars
0
1 star
0

Loading Options
Don't miss out!
On average, this is booked 27 (0) days in advance.

Similar Tours & Activities

Darkside Tour of Bucharest - small group

Bucharest has a very dark past. It's time you found out about it! Join us and dive into the city’s intriguing history, its deepest, darkest secrets. This...

3 hoursFree Cancellation
3 hoursFree Cancellation
3 hours • Free Cancellation
4.9 (141)
from
$43

Bucharest Half a Day Bike Tour

Discover Bucharest in the easiest possible way! Biking will allow you to extend the visiting perimeter and you will get a slice from each side...

3 hoursFree Cancellation
3 hoursFree Cancellation
3 hours • Free Cancellation
4.9 (343)
from
$42.82

5 Days in Bucharest / Romania - Private Tour

5 Days Tour in Romania An adventure of a lifetime, for this 5-day tour of Romania we have chosen an assortment of rich sensory experiences,...

5 daysHotel pickup offeredFree Cancellation
5 daysHotel pickup offeredFree Cancellation
5 days • Hotel pickup offered • Free Cancellation
from
$1,865.47

Bucharest-Peles, Bran Castles & Brasov: PREMIUM TOUR small group

Experience a memorable day trip from Bucharest that takes you to Romania’s most iconic sites! Start your journey in Sinaia with a tour of the...

12 hoursHotel pickup offeredFree Cancellation
12 hoursHotel pickup offeredFree Cancellation
12 hours • Hotel pickup offered • Free Cancellation
4.6 (12)
from
$92.48

Travelers Who Bought This Tour Also Bought

Bucharest Pub Crawl in the Old Town

The most popular pub crawl in Bucharest and a great way to discover the amazing nightlife of Romania along with many other people! A unique...

4 to 5 hoursFree Cancellation
4 to 5 hoursFree Cancellation
4 to 5 hours • Free Cancellation
4.9 (471)
from
$28

The Real tour of Communism

The Real Tour of Communism will take you through all of the major aspects regarding the life under communist rule in Romania which lasted officially...

3 hoursFree Cancellation
3 hoursFree Cancellation
3 hours • Free Cancellation
5.0 (712)
from
$33.49

Dracula's Castle, Peles Castle and Brasov Day Trip from Bucharest

Transylvania is perhaps one of the most popular places in the world for the legends and mysteries surrounding his paths. On this tour you will...

12 hoursFree Cancellation
12 hoursFree Cancellation
12 hours • Free Cancellation
4.6 (1,391)
from
$33

Bucharest Highlights Walking Tour

Discover, interact and finally learn what other things you can explore in the city. It is a tour that will help you shape a first...

2 hours 30 minutesFree Cancellation
2 hours 30 minutesFree Cancellation
2 hours 30 minutes • Free Cancellation
5.0 (670)
from
$24.16

What's Included

Activity name

  • Air-conditioned vehicle
  • Your own dedicated professional tour-guide (driving)
  • Photo/video fees at museums/attractions (if any)
  • Meals
  • Personal insurance
  • Personal expenses
  • Gratuities
  • Admission fees to museums/attractions.

Additional Info

Activity name

  • Confirmation will be received within 48 hours of booking, subject to availability
  • Public transportation options are available nearby
  • Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
  • Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
  • Specialized infant seats are available
  • Please, make sure you owe all the necessary documents and permissions for crossing the border between Romania and Bulgaria.
  • A current, valid passport is required
  • Operated by a business

Protecting you

Activity name

For your protection and stress-free bookings, use our secure platform to pay for bookings. Tours in Romania by Adrian Ene

Report Product Issue

Activity name

Language
Currency

Site Settings

Activity name

Currency

Activity name

Activity name

Free Cancellation

100% refund
No refund

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the tour for a full refund.

  • For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the tour start time.
  • If you cancel less than 24 hours before the tour start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
  • Any changes made less than 24 hours before the tour start time will not be accepted.
  • Cut-off times are based on the tour local time (EEST).
  • This tour requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund.

Sorting, ranking, and search results

Activity name

Cool Destinations wants to make your searches as relevant as possible. That's why we offer many ways to help you find the right experiences for you.

On some pages, you can select how to sort the results we display and also use filter options to see only those search results that meet your chosen preferences. You'll see explanations of what those sort options mean when you select them.

If you see a Badge of Excellence label, the award is based on average review ratings, share of bookings with a review, and number of bookings through Cool Destinations over a 12-month period.

The importance of any one factor over any other in a sort order varies, and the balance is constantly being reviewed and adjusted. We're always updating our systems and testing new ways to refine and improve your results to make them as relevant as possible to meet your needs.

Choose an option

Activity name

or

Cool Rewards Terms & Conditions

Activity name

Cool Rewards

  • Cool Rewards is a loyalty program operated by Cool Destinations. Rewards may be earned by any eligible person holding a Cool Destinations account, subject to the Cool Destinations customer Terms of Use.

Earning rewards

  • Rewards can be earned by making bookings on the Cool Destinations website. You will be able to see the value of the rewards you can earn during the booking process.
  • Earned rewards will be issued in a pending state and will move to a confirmed state 24 hours after the start time of the experience.
  • Earned rewards will be available to redeem once they are no longer in a pending state.
  • For bookings that are moved to a different travel date, the rewards will be redeemable after the amended travel date.
  • If a booking where rewards were issued is canceled, the earned rewards will not be redeemable and will be moved to a canceled state.

Redeeming rewards

  • To redeem rewards, you must be logged into your Cool Destinations account.
  • Any available rewards will be automatically applied the next time you make a booking, and their value will be deducted from your order at checkout, unless you choose not to apply them, which requires you to indicate this via the toggle switch. Bookings made using rewards are subject to the standard Cool Destinations Customer Terms of Use.
  • You will not be able to redeem only a portion of your available rewards at checkout. It is only possible to redeem all or none of your available rewards.
  • There is no minimum order value required to redeem your rewards. This means that you can pay for 100% of your order with rewards.
  • Rewards are non-transferable and cannot be redeemed for cash.
  • If rewards are redeemed against a booking that is canceled or refunded, the rewards will be reissued to your account.

Miscellaneous

  • You can check your Cool Destinations account to see the rewards you have collected at any time. You are responsible for ensuring that your rewards balance is correct.
  • We reserve the right to modify these Cool Rewards Terms and Conditions at any time, with or without notice, including the rules for earning and redeeming rewards. Any changes will be reflected in the updated Terms and Conditions.
  • We reserve the right to terminate the Cool Rewards program and cease issuing any further rewards on future bookings. All pending and available rewards balances will be honored.
  • By earning and redeeming rewards, you agree to these Terms and Conditions, as well as any subsequent changes made to them.