Bulgaria for Archaeologists: Ancient History, written in Gold
Bulgaria for Archaeologists Tour - This tour explores Bulgaria’s exceptionally rich cultural and historical heritage. In fact, Bulgaria for Archaeologist Tour is designed for both professional and amateur archaeologists. Of course, artifacts and monuments from different periods frequently generate major scholarly interest. In other words, you will visit the country’s most important museums and archaeological sites, accompanied by expert archaeologist-lecturers.
Day 1 - Friday: Sofia
Welcome to Sofia. Firstly, upon arrival, your guide will meet you at the airport and assist with a transfer to your centrally located hotel. So, you will enjoy a brief panoramic orientation tour of the city. Then, check in and spend the remainder of the day at leisure, to relax and recover from your journey.
Overnight: 4★ modern, centrally located hotel (3 nights).
T, Overnight in a 4* modern, centrally located hotel for 3 nights.
Day 2 - Saturday: Sofia
In the morning, begin exploring Sofia’s past, starting with the National Archaeological Museum, which houses artifacts of outstanding European and global significance. Next, a short walk takes you to the 4th-century Church of St George (Rotunda), and then through the Western Gate of Serdica - to the archaeological complex of Serdica.
Ancient Sophia
In fact, excavations between 2010 and 2012 revealed a remarkable late-antique heritage, including exceptionally rare wooden elements of Roman earth-and-timber dwellings from the 1st century AD. Most importantly, the cultural layers here are six meters deep, spanning the 1st to 19th centuries.
Then, your walking tour continues to the 6th-century Basilica of St Sophia, which gave the city its name. Finally, you will visit the recently opened underground archaeological level of the basilica. In particular, the ancient burial complex of Roman Serdica (3rd–5th century CE), together with the remains of earlier churches, early Christian mosaics - they all reflect the artistic and spiritual traditions that evolved from the Late Roman into the Byzantine period.
B, Overnight in Sophia.
Day 3 - Sunday: Sofia
Following breakfast, your guide will introduce you to the treasures of the National Museum of History, home to one of Europe’s richest collections of ancient gold and archaeological artifacts. Then, visit the Boyana Church, famous for its 13th-century frescoes and listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Really, the 240 human figures form one of the most important ensembles of Mediaeval painting in Europe.
The remainder of the day is at leisure.
B, Overnight in Sophia.
Day 4 - Monday: SOFIA – Rila Monastery – PLOVDIV (350 km, Travel Time- 6 hrs )
First - breakfast,then-depart Sofia for the Rila Monastery, set amid dramatic forested slopes and granite cliffs. Founded in the 10th century, Rila monastery has been Bulgaria’s most important spiritual and cultural centre for centuries, and also a UNESCO site. Visit the monastery complex and its museum, then continue to Plovdiv.
On arrival, begin exploring Plovdiv's archaeological heritage at the ancient Forum of Philippopolis, the Roman Odeon, and the Roman mosaics at the Trakart Cultural Centre.
B, Overnight in Plovdiv (3* hotel).
Day 5 - Tuesday: PLOVDIV – Alexandrovo – PLOVDIV (240 km, Travel Time 3 hrs )
Start the day with a visit to the Archaeological Museum and the Bishop’s Basilica, famous for its mosaics. Then stroll through the National Revival quarter, with its 19th-century Bulgarian Renaissance houses, churches, and the impressive Ancient Theatre. Usually, in summer, visitors attend culture performances here at the Ancient Theatre. Also visit the restored 14th-century Dzhumaya Mosque and the partly excavated Roman Stadium.
Day 5 of Bulgaria for Archaeologists: Ancient History, written in Gold Tour
In the afternoon, visit the Thracian Tomb of Alexandrovo (4th century BC), famous for its unique painted decoration.
Surely, Plovdiv’s artistic life is also vibrant: the city was European Capital of Culture in 2019. At leisure, explore art galleries in the Old Town or enjoy a concert and street performers in the restored 19th-century Kapana district. Check the culture events calendar for details.
B, Overnight in Plovdiv in a 3* hotel.
Day 6 - Wednesday: PLOVDIV – Kazanlak - Stara Zagora (160 km,Travel Time 2,5 hrs)
Following breakfast, in the morning, drive to Kazanlak, the main town of the Valley of the Thracian Kings. In fact, this valley is also known as the Rose Valley. En route, visit the Thracian beehive tomb at Starosel and the Roman remains of Diocletianopolis (modern Hisarya). Actually, the remains of the Roman fortifications and baths are really impressive.
Day 6 in Kazanlak Thracian Tomb UNESCO site
Then, continue to Kazanlak to see the famous Thracian Tomb, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. In fact, the surrounding area contains dozens of Thracian burial mounds. In 2004, Professor Kitov and his team, discovered an ancient gold funerary mask here, comparable in significance to the treasures of Agamemnon and Tutankhamun. Certainly, you will visit the local museum, where this extremely precious discovery is displayed. Finally, continue to Stara Zagora, a town with remarkable archaeological heritage.
B, Overnight in Stara Zagora in a 3* hotel.
Day 7 - Thursday: Stara ZAGORA – NESEBAR (220 km,Travel Time 2 hrs)
After breakfast, start the day with a visit to the Neolithic Dwellings Museum. In fact, it is hidden under the street level of modern Stara Zagora. Again, you will see well-preserved neolithic houses from the late 7th to early 6th millennium BC, with ovens, stone grinders, pottery, idols, and house models. Obviously, you can spend hours in this small museum, admiring the pure beauty of the Neolithic art. Afterwards, visit the new Archaeological Museum, showcasing a rich collection of Roman-period artifacts from Augusta Trajana.
Day 7: Thursday Bulgaria for Archaeologists: Ancient History, Written in Gold
In the afternoon, leave Stara Zagora behind and drive east to Karanovo, only 35 km away. Here you will visit Karanovo 1, the largest settlement tell in the territory of Europe. Indeed, seven consecutive archaeological cultural strata have been found in it, reflecting the stages of development of the material culture of the prehistoric society in Thrace. Truly, the strata prove that there had been settlements in the course of 4 millennia – from the 6th millennium B.C.(early New Stone Age) to the 2nd millennium B.C.(early Bronze Age). As a result of the investigations, the Karanovo chronological system has been worked out, serving as a standard in the synchronization of the European pre-historical cultures.
Similarly, Karanovo 2 - known as “The Eastern Mound”. It displays a four-wheel warrior’s Chariot along with the remains of two horses and two dogs and a Tomb of a Thracian Nobleman from the 1st century A.D. Unfortunately, it is now closed for visitors (2023-2026).
Later in the afternoon, continue to the Black Sea coast and spend the evening in Nesebar, a UNESCO cultural heritage Site.
B, Overnight in Nesebar in a 3-4* hotel.
Day 8 - Friday: NESEBAR – Provadia - VARNA ( 180 km,Travel Time 3 hrs)
In the morning, enjoy the walking tour of ancient Mesembria. Then, visit the ancient and mediaeval fortifications, and several outstanding mediaeval basilicas. Again, enjoy this slow pace walk in cobbled streets with beautiful sea-view panoramas. In the end, you will visit the local Archaeological Museum, too.
Following the visit to the Nesebar Archaeological Museum, depart north to Varna. Then, stop over in Provadia to visit the Provadia Solnitsata, the prehistoric salt-production and urban center. Still, this prehistoric site is the oldest salt-production centre in Europe (5600–4350 BCE). Again, archaeologists uncovered a series of striking new findings and revealed ancient secrets. Above all, the 2025 excavations mark one of the most intriguing archaeological seasons at the site to date.
Finally, continue to Varna, one of the largest Black Sea cities. In fact, Varna was founded as a Miletian colony in the 6th century BC on the site of an older Thracian settlement. And now Varna is called "the summer capital" of Bulgaria.
B, Overnight in Varna in a 3* hotel.
Day 9 - Saturday: – VARNA -Madara - Pliska – Sveshtari – RUSE ( 190 km,Travel Time 3 hrs)
After breakfast, start the sightseeing tour of Varna. Firstly, visit the Roman Thermae and the Archaeological Museum, home to the world’s oldest gold (45,000–42,000 BC). Certainly, this visit will make your day!
Later, leave Varna and the Black Sea behind and proceed to Madara. In fact, your first visit here will be to the Madara national historic and archaeological reserve. Of course, you will see the Madara Horseman - a unique bas-relief hewn into the sheer rock, included in the UNESCO List of World Heritage.
Next stop is in Pliska, the capital of the First Bulgarian Kingdom. Here in particular, you will visit the site and the small Archaeological museum before driving to Sveshtari Thracian Tombs. Actually, Sveshtari is one of the most sensational archaeological discoveries during the past three decades, dating back to the 4th-3rd century B.C. Indeed, this is the most famous Thracian tomb -built in the early 3rd century B.C. and inscribed in the List of UNESCO Cultural Heritage Sites in 1985.
Day 9: Bulgaria for Archaeologists : Ancient History, written in Gold Tour
In the late afternoon, proceed to Ruse, Bulgaria’s largest river port on the Danube. In truth, often called “Little Vienna”, Ruse attracts visitors with brilliant Neoclassical and Austrian-style architecture. Furthermore, Ruse is one of the cities with years-long European cultural traditions,too. Finally, enjoy a leisurely walking tour downtown.
B, Overnight in a 4* hotel in Ruse.
Day 10 - Sunday: RUSE – Ivanovo – Nikopolis ad Istrum - VELIKO TARNOVO (140 km,Travel Time 2 hrs)
After breakfast, begin with a visit to the Regional History Museum in Ruse, home to the Borovo Thracian Treasure (4th century BC). Later, take a leisurely walk through the city centre. Surely, Ruse is renowned for its rich architectural heritage, with elegant Art Nouveau façades, neoclassical buildings and Baroque influences reflecting its role as a major commercial and cultural hub in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
Continue to the archaeological reserve Ivanovo Rock churches (13th -14th c.), another UNESCO World Heritage site. In fact, six of the monastery churches and chapels preserve outstanding mediaeval frescoes. Again, you will visit the Church of the Holy Mother, whose mid-14th-century wall paintings, created by an anonymous Bulgarian master, are among the finest in the Balkans. Please note that reaching the church requires a climb of approximately 200 steps.
Day 10 of Bulgaria for Archaeologists: Ancient History, written in Gold Tour
En route to Veliko Tarnovo stop at Nikopolis ad Istrum archaeological site, an important Roman city. Actually, this ancient city was founded by the Roman Emperor Trajan in honour of his victories over the Dacians (AD 101 and 106) .
Later, proceed to Veliko Tarnovo for the night. And the former capital of the Second Bulgarian Kingdom (12th–14th centuries) is dramatically set on three hills overlooking the winding Yantra River.
B, Overnight in a 4* hotel in Veliko Tarnovo.
Day 11 - Monday: VELIKO TARNOVO- Pavlikeni – Sophia (260 km,Travel Time 3,5 hrs)
After breakfast, enjoy a morning sightseeing tour of Veliko Tarnovo, including a visit to Tsarevets Royal Hill. In particular, this open-air museum features royal buildings, churches, fortress walls, towers, and the beautifully restored Patriarchal Church of the Ascension.
In the afternoon, drive to Pavlikeni to visit a Roman ceramic production centre, before returning to Sofia.
B, Overnight in Sofia.
Day 12 - Tuesday: Sofia
After breakfast, transfer to the airport for your flight home.
