Veliko Tarnovo and Arbanasi day tour from Sofia with pickup





Description
Visit ¨the City of Tsars¨ with the most impressive medieval fortress in Bulgaria. Take the advantage of this small-group tour with free hotel pickup.
Tour Options
Itinerary
Travel time from Sofia to Veliko Tarnovo
The Second Bulgarian Empire's primary fortress with remains of the royal palace, more than 400 houses and 18 churches. Climb to the Baldwin's Tower and The Patriarchal Cathedral of the Holy Ascension of the Lord.
The old market street of the town with craft and gift shops
Lunch time/free time
The Asenevtsi monument was erected in memory of the four Bulgarian kings from the Asen dynasty who started an uprising against the Byzantine empire and proclaimed Bulgaria's independence.
The village was once home to rich traders and craftsmen. Nowadays it is architectural and museum complex where you can see houses that are typical representatives of the monumental architectural style that developed here over the last 3-4 centuries.
Travel time from Arbanasi to Sofia
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- To reach the highest part of the fortress travelers need to climb stairs
Reviews(18)
Ventsi was an excellent guide. He took us through an engaging history of Bulgaria and the Balkans. It was enough detail to gain a better understanding of the country and the sites around the town of Veliko Tarnovo. Highly recommended!
Everything is great. The guide was very kind and attentive. And he made the visit very enjoyable. It was truly a luxury to visit this beautiful city with his guidance.
It was a rainy day but still an amazing place to visit Perhaps worth bringing your own lunch as the cafes in VT seem a bit standoffish/ rude, but an incredible place and geography of a small picturesque town nestled among a wooded valley with a fortress in the hills and a river down below
So, I’m going to give this tour a pass but only just. Veliko Tarnovo has a few interesting sites but essentially is a tired industrial town. The fortress is impressive enough but several of the notable features are modern reconstructions, not original remains. Arbanasi is a complete anticlimax with non-descript houses that purport to be centuries old. The one exception is the Church of Nativity whose frescoes are outstanding (but can’t be photographed). The pass grade comes from our guide who was outstanding but on balance save your money for the Rila or the Belogradchik tours.
The tour to Veliko Tarnovo was an absolute highlight and a must-do for anyone visiting Bulgaria. The city itself is stunning, with its dramatic hills, winding streets, and the breathtaking Tsarevets Fortress overlooking the Yantra River. Walking through the old town felt like stepping back in time, and the history was brought to life in a really engaging way. The tour was well organized, with a great balance between guided explanations and free time to explore, take photos, and enjoy the atmosphere. Our guide was knowledgeable and passionate, sharing fascinating historical details as well as local stories that made the experience even more memorable. From the panoramic views to the charming architecture and rich medieval history, Veliko Tarnovo exceeded all expectations. I’d highly recommend this tour to anyone who enjoys culture, history, and beautiful scenery—it’s an experience you won’t forget.
Long trip but great experience. Excellent guide provided a good balanced historical information and interesting facts. I wish we would have had more time to walk around the town.
Extraordinary visit to Veliko Tarnovo, our guide and driver was Ventsislav who gave us very complete information of the city, the fortress, the pedestrian zone, places to eat, where to buy souvenirs, all excellent. Then he took us to Arbanasi, where we walked again through its streets and went to the church to see his paintings. Finally he took us to the Assen Dynasty Monument, and then returned to Sofia. Definitely a great Ventsislav guide from Multi Travel, thank you for everything
Our tour guide/driver was fantastic and took great care of us. It was raining heavily but he ensured we got the full experience and asked how much we wanted to push through all the parts of the tour given the weather - meaning he followed the desires of the group. He was on time and wrote the day before to reconfirm which I thoroughly appreciated. He was personable and a safe driver, and had great recommendations for meal and shopping. The town itself is nice and walkable (quite beautiful when you see the placement of the fortress), and the history is interesting.
Tour guide was excellent and very knowledgeable. The tour was well paced, I had no issues. Thanks for a good day. Will book with the company again
This is a beautiful and historic part of Bulgaria. The fort and the nativity of Christ are must sees. The ride went quickly because the guide ventsislav is engaging and the scenery is beautiful. Vent offers just enough info and is patient and service oriented. I traveled with him to Plovdiv as well.



