The Perfect One Week in Bulgaria: An Epic Itinerary (2024)
What an amazing place! I spent one week in Bulgaria in July 2023 and fell in love with the Eastern Balkan country. Despite being an EU country, it tends to be off the radar of many backpackers travelling through the Balkans.
Let me tell you, they are missing out! From the bustling capital of Sofia to the oldest city in Europe, Plovdiv; From the truly historical charm of Veliko Tarnovo all the way to the popular coastal cities of Burgas and Varna.
It really has something for everyone. Use this perfect 1-week Bulgaria Itinerary to help plan your next trip to this part of the world!
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Bulgaria Solo Travel
Bulgaria is the third biggest country in the Balkans, after Romania and Greece. It has everything – epic scenery, interesting culture & history and of course – super tasty food.
However, it’s nowhere near as popular as it’s neighbouring countries! I really don’t know why either. You’d think because of how accessible it is and how affordable it is it would be flooded with tourists!
It has started to change – more and more backpackers are exploring countries less travelled like Albania, North Macedonia and now, Bulgaria.
The Perfect One Week In Bulgaria Itinerary
Bulgaria is a big country and you could honestly spend a full month exploring the country in detail. There is only so much you can do with one week in Bulgaria, so this guide focuses on three stops. Sofia, Plovdiv & Veliko Tarnovo.
Thankfully, Bulgaria is connected through an extensive rail network and has routes between all major cities and most sizeable towns. So, if you wanted to extend your trip and head to the coast, go for it! I’ve written a guide about How To Get Around Bulgaria By Train, check it out!
Days 1-2: Sofia
What better way to start your one week in Bulgaria than the modern capital, Sofia? It’s the main hub for international flights and very accessible from neighbouring countries.
Things to do in Sofia:
But also, there are plenty of things to do here so an afternoon and one full day is enough time here before you move on to Plovdiv.
On the first afternoon in your one week in Bulgaria, you’ll be able to check out the goliath Alexander Nevsky Cathedral which is easily one of the coolest things i’ve ever seen, walk through the Serdika Excavations, see the national theatre and grab a bite to eat on the vibrant Vitosha Boulevard.
You can spend the next day taking one of the many cool day trips from Sofia! Rila Monastery as well as the Seven Rila Lakes are the two most popular ones people do!
Planning a trip to Bulgaria?
How to get to Sofia:
Sofia, being the capital, is super accessible by both land and air. Most international airports in Europe either fly directly to Sofia but if not, there’s usually an easy stopover. This makes one week in Bulgaria very achievable!
There are so many great countries around Bulgaria, so if you’re backpacking around the Balkans on a budget – you can go straight to Sofia from North Macedonia, Greece, Serbia as well as Romania! There is even a train all the way from Istanbul.
Where to stay in Sofia:
When solo travelling on a budget, hostels are always my first option. I always look for places that have a good social atmosphere too, so I can make some new international friends! That’s why I recommend Hostel Mostel Sofia – I stayed here for a few nights and it’s really social!
During my one week in Bulgaria, it was the best hostel. It’s also very clean and has a well-equipped kitchen which is great for me because i’m always looking to save money on my travels.
Days 3-5: Plovdiv
If you’re spending one week in Bulgaria, you have to go to Plovdiv. Arguably my favourite stop on this Bulgaria itinerary! Simply put, Plovdiv is a phenomenal city and worth the visit. It’s actually the oldest city in Europe too!Â
Things to do in Plovdiv:
You will be able to spend an afternoon and a full day within the city, and still have time to fit in a day trip to Asen’s Fortress on your last day!
Plovdiv is home to probably the most unique old town i’ve ever visited. The streets are bursting with colour, lined with vibrant houses that were built during the National Revival.
Those who had a bit of cash to splash really splurged and made these to show off their wealth.
Spend a good bit of time wandering the cobblestone streets of the Old Town and check out the inside of one of these houses! The Hindliyan House is the coolest one (5 BGN entrance fee).
While you’re in the Old Town, climb up to Nebet Tepe, a hill that has the best view of the entire city. This will be the best view during your one week in Bulgaria!
For dinner, the Kapana Art District is a trendy part of town that has no shortage of cool bars and restaurants.
How to get to Plovdiv from Sofia:
Train is the best way to get to Plovdiv – not only is it the most convenient, but it’s also the cheapest! Perfect for travelling on a budget. For the entire one week in Bulgaria, you’ll only need trains!
You can even book your tickets online with BDZ (Bulgarian State Railways), which helps a lot since Bulgarian train stations can be quite confusing!
Where to stay in Plovdiv:
Unfortunately, Plovdiv doesn’t have the best options for hostels.
But there is one that does the job. Hakuna Matata Plovdiv is where I stayed and whilst the facilities are a little tired, the volunteers are very friendly – they put on a tasty free breakfast every morning. I also met a couple of nice people here!
Plovdiv is a little off-the-beaten track, and a lot of backpackers skip it! So unless you go right in the peak season, you’re not always going to meet people!
Check out my guide to How long you really need in Plovdiv
Days 6-7: Veliko Tarnovo
Probably my favourite place in all of Bulgaria! What an amazingly unique place. I bet after spending one week in Bulgaria, you’ll fall in love too. This small but charming city was actually once the capital of the country before Sofia took that title.
It’s best known for it’s historical sights but what I loved most about it was how cool the houses on the cliff were! You see, the old town is situated on the edge of a cliff that surrounds a river which makes it one of the cooler things i’ve seen on my travels.
Things to do in Veliko Tarnovo:
As it is quite a small place, the first afternoon and the next full day here is perfect. You’ll be able to check out the famous Tsarevets Fortress, the quaint Samovodska Charshia Market, the beautiful restaurants and cafés of the gorgeous Gurko Street. Other than that you can do some church hunting! Veliko Tarnovo is full of them.
There are also heaps of day trips you can do from Veliko Tarnovo. With the time that you have left in Bulgaria, I would highly recommend checking out Arbanasi, which is a really cute village only 4km from Veliko Tarnovo and offers some stunning views of the city!
How to get to Veliko Tarnovo from Plovdiv:
As i’ve mentioned before, Bulgaria by train is the best way to do it. there is a direct line running from Plovdiv to Veliko Tarnovo and it’ll take roughly 4-5 hours. Book your ticket through BDZ (Bulgarian State Railways).
Once you arrive, you’ll either need to walk to your hostel or grab a taxi. If you decide to walk, make sure you have data or download offline maps!
Credit: Jacqueline O’Gara (Unsplash)
Where to stay in Veliko Tarnovo:
As usual, hostels are your best bet! Thankfully, Veliko Tarnovo has a couple of good ones to choose from! The best one is without a doubt Rooster Hostel which I only got to stay one night in at the end of my time in the city. It’s location is perfect, it’s very social, clean and the staff are soooo helpful.
If you need a backup, I also stayed at Hostel Mostel’s Veliko Tarnovo hostel! It was very clean, cozy, has an amazing kitchen but the only bad thing was it’s a bit of a trek to the main part of the city if you need food. It’s the closest hostel to Tsarevet’s Fortress though!
One Week in Bulgaria: My Final Thoughts
Bulgaria was a nice surprise. I didn’t know all the much before arriving in the country, but pretty much no one I spoke to had been there or even planned on going there! People would stop in Skopje and turn the other way! Let me tell you, they missed out!
You can definitely spend more time in each place to get to know them better and save money, but if you’re strapped for time – one week in Bulgaria is more than enough time to see some amazing things.
Enjoy Bulgaria!
Book Your Trip With My Favourite Resources:
Cheap Flights: I always use Skyscanner to browse for cheap flights. It offers so many options to help you find a good deal! It even allows you to search for “anywhere” if you haven’t decided where to go yet!
Accommodation: I start my hostel search with Hostelworld. Most hostels are now on this platform making it the place to find the best hostel for you.
Travel Insurance: If you can’t afford travel insurance, you can’t afford to travel. It is so important to have when travelling as it will save you from illness, injury, theft and cancellations! I always use Worldnomads when travelling on a budget as they have the best deals for me.