Veliko Tarnovo and Arbanasi Tour from Sofia
Description
The tour includes a visit of the Bulgarian medieval capital Veliko Tarnovo and Arbanasi. Step back in time and see the town from the national revival period.
Tour Options
Itinerary
Veliko Tarnovo is one of the oldest towns in the country, as its history dates back to more than five thousand years ago, which is proven by archaeological excavations. The upsurge of Veliko Tarnovo is related to the period of the Second Bulgarian Kingdom (1185 – 1393). In 1185, the town was declared a capital of the restored Bulgarian State by the brothers Asen and Petar, who declared the end of the Byzantine dominion, which continued for 167 years. After its selection to be a capital, the town developed fast, as within the period 12th – 14th century it was the most unconquerable Bulgarian fortress, as well as the cultural and intellectual center of Bulgaria. The most significant monument of culture in Veliko Tarnovo is the medieval fortress Tsarevets, situated on the homonymous peak, surrounded on three sides by the river Yantra.
The village of Arbanassi is situated 3km to the northeast of the former capital of Bulgaria, Veliko Turnovo, perching on a high plateau overseeing the Trapezitsa and Tsarevets hills. The settlement saw its bloom in the 17-18th c. when it grew into a wealthy crafts and trade hub. It was during that period that most of its gorgeous houses were erected. The oldest houses of Arbanassi are made entirely of stone and resemble tiny models of fortresses that cannot be seen anywhere else in Bulgaria.
Highlights
What's included
Pickup Locations & Times
Pick up from any address in Sofia city
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Specialized infant seats are available
- Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
- Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Reviews(15)
Maria, our tour guide, was so knowledgeable about the history and culture of Bulgaria that it made our tour to the ancient capital come alive. This is a real quality tour.
Venezia and the driver lady were amazing! They were so punctual but never rushed me. The Mercedes was clean and the driver handled traffic efficiently. Venezia felt like a long lost friend, she was so friendly and open. She walked me through Tvarets fortress explaining the history and then we walked down to the church and grabbed lunch nearby. We then drive 10 mins to Arbanasi where I opted to see the old houses which were well laid out but it was a very short tour. Veliko Tarnavo is hard to get to so having a personal driver and guide was amazing. We chatted about history, culture, the economy, politics. It was a fascinating insight into how real modern day Bulgarians respect and preserve their valuable history. I would highly recommend this tour.
My husband and I joined another couple on a day trip to Veliko Tarnovo and Arbanasi. The other couple spoke Spanish and we only spoke English. Our guide, Filip, was amazing the entire day, and exceeded our expectations. Filip conveyed so much information about the sights, in both Spanish and English, alternating between the two languages easily so both couples felt up-to-date with understanding the history of what was in front of us. We were picked up from our hotel in Sofia in a spacious Mercedes that was very clean and comfortable. Rvi was our driver and she was very patient and careful, especially when it poured while we were in transit and other drivers were doing silly things on the road. We thoroughly recommend this day trip, for seeing the old Veliko Tarnovo palace - fortress, the colourful Church of the Nativity and an old traditional house in Arbanasi. Filip and Rvi were both friendly and extrememly considerate and professional.
I have not visited Veliko Turnovo and Arbanasi for over a decade. Last September the occasion was special - the wedding of our best man. Veliko Tarnovo surprised me with the groups of young people and tourists despite the post COVID situation. It was alive , people were very positive and smiling. We had a lovely dinner in the city center at a very nice pizzaria. The bride had made a reservation for the terrace on the second floor. We had a beautiful view of the city, the Tsaravets palace and enjoyed delicious food and very kind service. After dinner we had the opportunity to see the famous spectacle at Tsarevets called " Light and sound". It was free around 20 min. It is a very good idea that every weekend now you can see the short version for free. It was magical for me, I even shed a few tears. It was also special because my two small children aged 2 months and 2 years shared the spectacle too. The wedding was very beautiful starting with an open wedding ritual at the emblematic monument The 4 Horses. The wedding party was at one of the best hotel complexes in Arbanasi. It was a special wedding with great people and a lot of fun and dancing until dawn.
Best experience to visit the Old Capital; rich in history and beautiful avenues. Our tour guide Maria was friendly, an excellent driver and expert in this particular trip and she related not only the history but the development of modern Tarnovo.
Visiting Veliko Tărnovo church was amazing experience. Marya was our tour guide. She was very knowledgeable and thoughtful person. Highly recommended tour
Despite being more than 2 hours drive away it is very worth it. Medieval town well preserved its ruins and very nice houses. Recommended
We did Veliko Tarnovo tour with Maria. She is very friendly and knowledge about the history. Also we enjoyed along the trip with her, not only as a tour guide, she threat us like family. We recommend this tour and thanx Maria for memorable trip especialy during pandemic.
I was travelling with Zelanos Tours 3 days, on 3 different tours, in small groups - with a guide Mariya. She was brilliant, I enjoyed all her tours very much. And a big plus with Zelanos - they have guaranteed tours - even in the winter when nobody else has guaranteed departures. they do. Very much recommended.
It's an interesting visit. Our guide, Daniela, was always very friendly and gave us a lot of information.
