Booking fee
The booking fee includes the costs of booking your tickets such as charges for payment processing. It also covers the provision of our customer care center for processing your order, and all charges imposed by our suppliers.
* This tour requires at least one of the following per booking: Adult, Senior
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.
Transport
Hotel pickup and drop-off
Professional guide
Gratuities
Departure Point
Traveler pickup is offered
Pick up from any address in Sofia city
Traveler pickup
Sofia, Bulgaria
Veliko Tarnovo, Veliko Tarnovo, Bulgaria 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. 360 minutes
Arbanasi, Bulgaria 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. 60 minutes
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
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
If you cancel less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
Any changes made less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time will not be accepted.
Cut-off times are based on the experience’s local time.
Beverly_Z
22 Sep 2024
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.
Alini_C
26 Mar 2024
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.
Emmybean1
25 Jun 2023
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.
We always double-check the availability with our local partners for each booking. Even though this is usually a swift process, it can take up to 24 hours. Once this process is completed you will receive your voucher or ticket by email. If our local partner is not able to confirm your booking we will offer you the best possible alternative. If the new date and/or time doesn’t fit your itinerary, we will reimburse the full amount paid.
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