Bulgaria Rose Festival Kazanlak - Private Guided Tour

Rose Festival Parade Tickets & Seating Options

The Rose Parade in Kazanlak takes place during the first weekend of June. Brill Travel can organise reserved seating for the parade as a supplement.

• Regular reserved seating: 20 € per person
• VIP reserved seating: 30 € per person
• To book parade seats or request a private group, send an inquiry via the contact form on the website.

Itinerary - Rose Festival Tour 04 - 08.06.2026

5 day/4 night tour: 

04 June 2026 /Day 1: Sofia

At first, our guide will meet you at Sofia International Airport and assist with your transfer to the hotel. After check-in and a brief opportunity to freshen up, you will enjoy a short orientation tour of the city and the immediate surrounding of your hotel. The remainder of the day is at leisure, allowing time to recover from any jet lag.

Accommodation in Sofia at Hotel Niky, 3*  or similar, 2 nights.

05 June 2026/Day 2: Sofia

In the morning, enjoy a sightseeing tour of Sofia, a city with more than 7,000 years of history. Begin with a walking tour that includes the 4th-century St George Rotunda, a remarkable example of Roman architecture. You will also visit the St Sophia Basilica, dating from the 4th–6th centuries, which gave the city its name. Certainly, the walking tour concludes with the golden-domed Alexander Nevsky Memorial Cathedral, renowned for its magnificent interior.  Then, the tour continues with panoramic sightseeing of the University of Sofia, the National Assembly, the Banya Bashi Mosque and the National Palace of Culture.

Finally, you will then stop at the State Laboratory “Bulgarian Rose” for a short presentation on the quality of Bulgarian essential oils, their producers, and leading organic essential-oil companies. In the afternoon, visit the Botanical Rose Gardens at Sofia University and enjoy the diverse collection of rose varieties cultivated there.

Accommodation in Sofia 

06 June 2026/Day 3: Sofia - Kalofer - Karlovo - Kazanlak - Stara Zagora

After breakfast, continue east towards the Rose Valley. Drive via Karlovo to the village of Tarnicheni, near Kalofer. Here, surely, you will visit a local distillery and attend a presentation on the distillation of rose oil. Meet local producers and sample the aromas of the natural oils produced here, including rose oil, lavender oil and others.

06 June 2026 In the afternoon

Consequently, continue to Kazanlak to visit the Rose Museum. This small but fascinating collection tells the story of rose production and explains the industry standards established by Bulgarian producers centuries ago.

Time permitting, you will visit an additional rose-oil distillery in Kazanlak before continuing to Stara Zagora for dinner and an overnight stay.

B, Accommodation in Stara Zagora  at a 3* hotel  La Roca or similar

07 June 2026/Day 4: Kazanlak - THE ROSE FESTIVAL IN KAZANLAK & Plovdiv

Start your day with an early breakfast at the hotel. Then, drive to the iconic rose fields of Kazanlak for an immersive rose harvesting experience. Next, continue to the village of Skobelevo. There, visit the “Damascena” Ethnographic Complex- featurinf lush rose gardens and a working distillery. Afterward, join traditional rose picking alongside locals dressed in colourful traditional costumes.

Around midday, proceed to Kazanlak. Here, you can attend the vibrant Bulgaria Rose Festival 2026 street parade (optional) or enjoy free time in the town center. Meanwhile, explore the finest local rose products or sample regional wines at the ROSÉ Wine Festival.

Bulgaria Rose Festival tour proceeds to Plovdiv

In the afternoon,your Bulgaria Rose Festival tour proceeds to Bulgaria’s second-largest city, Plovdiv (approximately 1.5 hours’ drive). Situated in the Thracian Plain with the River Maritsa flowing through it, Plovdiv is the oldest continuously inhabited city in Europe, built upon six hills- its origins dating back more than 5,000 years.

Finally, head to Old Plovdiv on Trimontium Hill.  Truly, this neighborhood showcases the finest examples of Bulgarian National Revival architecture. You will enjoy a brief walking tour of the historic center and visit the Roman Theatre - one of the best-preserved ancient theatres in the world.

B, Accommodation in Plovdiv at 3* hotel Expo or similar.

08 June 2026/ Day 5: Plovdiv - Sofia Airport

After breakfast, during the morning, continue exploring  Plovdiv's highlights. Visit the Old Town, Roman Stadium, Byzantine and mediaeval fortifications, and the 15th-century mosque. Then,stroll along the narrow-cobbled streets and soak in the calm, timeless atmosphere of this historic city.

In the early afternoon, depart for Sofia. A smooth two-hour drop-off transfer takes you to Sofia Airport, where your Kazanlak Rose Valley tour concludes.