Bulgaria UNESCO Sites Self-Drive Holiday

Collect the rental car at Sofia airport and head to Sofia’s city centre. Depending on the timing, you can spend the rest of the day exploring the vibrant life and the cultural sites of the capital.

Start the day with a visit to the first of the UNESCO sites – Boyana Church, just15mins drive from the city centre. This significant Bulgarian cultural site was built in stages, beginning in the 10th century and finishing in the 19th century. The architecture of the building is remarkable, as it models a typical Greek floor plan, complete with ornamented facades and decorated ceramic elements. But the real treasure of the church is hidden behind its walls. The 240 masterpiece frescoes, dating back to 1259, depict Biblical figures as well as Bulgarian royalty. Continue to Veliko Tarnovo, a capital of medieval Bulgarian rulers, in a beautiful forest setting along the Yantra River. Visit the stunning Tsarevets Fortress, citadel of the Second Bulgarian Empire and then enjoy the labyrinth of small cobblestoned streets of the old town, visiting local workshops, galleries and atmospheric squares.

Start the day with a visit to the first of the UNESCO sites – Boyana Church, just15mins drive from the city centre. This significant Bulgarian cultural site was built in stages, beginning in the 10th century and finishing in the 19th century. The architecture of the building is remarkable, as it models a typical Greek floor plan, complete with ornamented facades and decorated ceramic elements. But the real treasure of the church is hidden behind its walls. The 240 masterpiece frescoes, dating back to 1259, depict Biblical figures as well as Bulgarian royalty. Continue to Veliko Tarnovo, a capital of medieval Bulgarian rulers, in a beautiful forest setting along the Yantra River. Visit the stunning Tsarevets Fortress, citadel of the Second Bulgarian Empire and then enjoy the labyrinth of small cobblestoned streets of the old town, visiting local workshops, galleries and atmospheric squares.

Driving: 235km, 3h

After breakfast, head to Ivanovo Rock Monastery (110km, 1h 30mins). This UNESCO World Heritage monastery is built inside a cave that is16m long, 4m wide and 38m above ground. It’s about a 10mins walk on a good trail through a forest to get there. Built during the 13th century by Tsars Ivan Asen II and Ivan Aleksandar, the monastery soon became a regional centre of art, culture and religion. The 14th century murals on the walls and ceilings are regarded as some of the finest in Bulgaria and depict various saints and impassioned scenes from the Last Supper. After the visit, you can continue for a walk and lunch to Ruse, one of Bulgaria’s most elegant cities (28km; 32mins). Then you continue to the Thracian tomb of Sveshtari. This incredible chamber is built of large limestone blocks and is the most well-preserved Thracian treasure in the country. Inside the burial site, historians found the body of a man, likely a Thracian ruler of the Getae tribe and his wife. The domed ceiling of the burial chamber is supported by 10 statues of women with raised hands, which is believed to be a portrayal of a ritual dance.

Driving: 272km, 4h 20min

You start the day with a short 25min drive to Srebarna Nature Reserve, a freshwater lake that is home to over a hundred bird species during migration season. These include the Dalmatian pelican, great egret, night heron, purple heron, glossy ibis and white spoonbill. In addition to bird watching, you can soak in the scenery and serenity of this place and take a stroll on one of the trails surrounding the lake. Continue to the next UNESCO site, the Madara Rider rock carving, near the city of Shumen. This impressive image has been carved into a 100m high cliff and depicts the image of a horseman with a spear, a wounded lion, fallen at the feet of the horse, and a hunting dog. You finish this long, but rewarding day in the charming Black Sea town of Nessebar.

Driving: 305km, 4h 30min

Spend the day in the UNESCO Ancient City of Nessebar site. Although nowadays it is a popular holiday spot, the remains of the city date back 3,200 years when it was inhabited by Thracians. Later, the town became a Greek colony and significantly expanded its size. The town also served the Roman Empire and became an important trade town under the name Mesembria. Bulgarians settled in the city in 812 and gave it the name it carries to this day – Nessebar. In the old town of Nessebar, you will find 23 cultural sites and monuments, including the remains of the town’s defensive wall and the ancient churches of Christ Pantocrator and St Sofia. You will also pass by many houses and buildings built between the 18th and 19th centuries in the architectural style of the Revival period.

Today you are heading to the Valley of the Thracian Rulers, so called because of the many Thracian monuments in the valley of Kazanlak. This includes the Thracian tomb of Kazanlak, dating back to the Hellenistic period. Hidden underneath a grassy mound, this burial site unearthed the remains of a man and woman, along with the skeleton of a horse. It is believed that the pair were of important, possibly royal members of the Thracian tribe. The original tomb is now sealed and protected in order to preserve the delicate and dated pictorial murals. However, an exact copy of the tomb was built nearby and is now available for visits. You will then continue to Plovdiv, otherwise known as the city of seven hills. Enjoy strolling around the cobblestone streets, admire ancient buildings, or grab a drink at one of the cozy cafes in the Kapana creative district.

Driving: 323km, 4h 10 min

Today you cross the Rhodope Mountains to arrive in Bansko, located in the foothills of Pirin National Park. As Bulgaria’s leading ski resort, it’s bustling during the ski season. However in the summer, it is much quieter and you can enjoy a leisurely walk through cobblestone old town’s streets passing by 19th century National Revival mansions and museums. After a short 35mins (17km) drive from the town you will reach Vihren Hut. From here you can do a circular hike around Banderitsa Lakes. On the way back you can make a short stop to see Baykusheva Mura, the oldest pine tree in Bulgaria at1,300 years old.

Driving: 145km, 2h 40min
Walking for the day (option 1): 7.13km, 3-4h, ↑450m ↓376m
Walking for the day (option 2): 8.37km, 4-5h, ↑523m ↓473m

Today you continue towards the serene Rila river valley and visit one of the symbols of Bulgaria – the ornate Rila Monastery. It was founded in the 10th century by a monk-hermit St John of Rila and has been the guardian of the Christian faith and Bulgarian education and culture during the five centuries of Ottoman rule. The Rila Monastery is the most important spiritual and literary centre of the Bulgarian National Revival, with an uninterrupted history until present times. Within the monastery’s walls, four levels of colourful balconies surround the large courtyard, where stands the magnificent Church of the Nativity, Bulgaria’s grandest monastery church, built between 1834 and 1837. Its outside walls are covered with vivid and detailed frescoes, created by one of the most prominent Bulgarian artists at the time. At the museum, you can see ancient items of the church, like scepters, old manuscripts, and printed books as well as the Rila cross – a double-sided crucifix carved showing 104 religious scenes and 650 miniature figures, carved out of a whole piece of wood. After admiring the monastery and its surrounding hills you continue to Sofia, where you can explore the vibrant life and the cultural sites of the capital.

Driving: 210km, 3h 20min

Drive to Sofia airport where you drop off the rental car.