Buzludzha Monument and the Socialist Museum Small-group tour
Description
In this one day tour, you will have the chance to get acquainted with the communist period (socialistic period) in Bulgaria. The socialistic republic of Bulgaria existed from 1946 until 1989. This is one of the most controversial parts of modern history. But one thing is for sure - like any other political system, communism (socialism) bequeathed us both things that we would like to forget and others that we can admire.
Tour Options
Itinerary
Our trip will start with pick up from your hotel at 09:30. First, we will visit the Museum of Socialist Art in Sofia. There we will have the chance to see over 70 works of monumental sculpture, exhibited in a park covering 7,500 sq.m. On a special pedestal, the large five-pointed star that once crowned the former Party House in the center of Sofia is on display. If the day of your trip is Monday we are replacing the museum with another astonishing Communist monument- the Bells Park. It was constructed in 1979 by the daughter of the last Communist leader of Bulgaria by the initiative called "The flag of peace". Children from both sides of The Iron curtain were meeting each other and making bells which are presented in the park.
When we finish our walk in the museum we will continue the trip to our next destination - Buzludzha monument, which is one of the most notable from the socialist period After approximately a 3-hour scenic drive we will reach Buzludzha monument. It was erected in 1981 to commemorate socialism. Work on the monument began in 1974 and was undertaken by units of the Bulgarian Army assisted by numerous artisans responsible for the large statues and murals. After the government’s fall from power in 1989, the site was abandoned and left open to vandalism.
Highlights
What's included
Pickup Locations & Times
You will be picked up from your accommodation in Sofia
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Specialized infant seats are available
- Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
- Children must be accompanied by an adult
- We understand your concerns in relation to COVID 19, therefore we've taken the needed measures for you to feel safe. All our guides and drivers go through regular medical checks, wear masks during the tours and in each vehicle, we have a disinfectant spray. Furthermore due to the situation nowadays we organize tours only for small groups (up to 7 persons) and we have the option for private tours.
Reviews(28)
What an amazing experience, I’m so glad I did it. Kiko was the best guide ever, so knowledgeable and always ready to answer my question. 10/10 without doubts.
Fabulous tour! Ivan was a great guide and driver! Super happy and very relaxed! Had a super day! The sun even came out on cue!
Overall an amazing day. The Soviet art museum was pretty neat but the real amazing part of the tour was Buzludzha. An absolute jaw dropping building surrounded by jaw dropping views. My guide was really cool - no one else was on the tour so it was like a private tour which was cool. Overall 10/10 would recommend of you love brutalism.
Fantastic experience, helpful and friendly guide and that answered all our curiosities. At the summit it snowed a lot, we arrived during a blizzard but the difficult climb was worth the experience!
Dear traveler, Thank you for your review. For us is a pleasure to have such adventurous people as clients. Our team wishes you many more wonderful experiences!
The monuments were definitely worth seeing. It was a Monday and the museum was closed, so we stopped by the Thracian tombs instead. Maria, our tour guide, was very knowledgeable. Highly recommend this tour, just note that it's 3 hours of driving each way. It was a rainy day when I went, so being able to see the countryside from the car worked out well.
Everything was perfect. The museum of socialist art is only an exhibition of statues from the communist period and a film-documentary about some moments from that same time. It's really interesting if you're attracted to this kind of historical question. As for the Buzludzha Monument, it was amazing! The place is amazing and imposing, and the view around is just beautiful. As for Todor as a guide, he is very good and friendly. He was punctual in picking me up, drives properly and is someone attentive to any request to buy food, water or go to the bathroom. He is also a person who knows too much about history, it was very enriching to talk to him. 100% recommended!!
The guide was very knowledgeable about the history of Bulgaria and was also very friendly. Couldn’t recommend this trip enough!
Daniel the tour guide was great, making really interesting conversation providing up close stories of the politics and culture at play overtime. Definitely worth seeing the monument if you are interested in architecture, engineering or communism especially because it might not survive too much longer. It is a long drive though.
I really wanted to enjoy this day trip, but the reality is that I received no educational value from it - at all. Our tour guide was as nice as could be, so it doesn’t feel good to be critical, but his accent made learning anything from him unbearably difficult. My friend and I took this trip on a rainy day, which wasn’t ideal. But, the weather was less of a drawback than our guide’s difficult accent. The trip was advertised on TripAdvisor as having a 9:30am pickup and starting with a trip to the Museum of Socialist Art. Well, it ended up having an 8am pickup and we went straight to the Buzludzha Monument. Patrons should know in advance what their accurate itinerary will be, so I didn’t appreciate this discrepancy. It was a long journey to the Buzludzha Monument and one with little educational commentary. We were told that the commentary would commence once we reached the monument, but it was honestly so difficult to understand that it provided no value to us. The lunch stop was affordable and delicious, so that was appreciated. I also really appreciated that our guide waited as we watched the ~25-minute film at the Museum of Socialist Art. The “museum” was more of an exhibition of art, but it was still enjoyable — especially the outdoor portion. To summarize, our guide was patient and kind, but English-speaking tourists expect more clarity when it comes to the accent of their guide. I’d be lying if I said I was 100% satisfied with how the day went.
For anyone interested in Brutalist architecture, I cannot recommend this tour highly enough - it's an absolute must-do! The tour guide was exceptional. Despite being the only participant, the tour went ahead and benefited from the guide's extensive knowledge. He shared fascinating insights about communism, daily life of Bulgarian citizens, and the rich cultural heritage of the country. As the Museum of Communist Arts was closed on the day of my trip, my guide quickly adapted the itinerary and we visited The Bells Monument instead. An unexpected highlight was our ride through the Valley of the Thracian Kings. I learned about Bulgaria's oldest civilization and had the opportunity to see their ancient burial grounds. A surprising fact I discovered was that Spartacus, the famous gladiator, was actually of Thracian origin - essentially Bulgarian! The tour seamlessly blended architectural marvels, historical insights, and natural beauty. From the imposing Buzludzha monument to the lush Bulgarian landscapes, every moment was captivating.
