Tours of Bulgaria include the capital, Sofia; Plovdiv, with its Roman and Ottoman heritage; and Veliko Tarnovo, the medieval capital. This page lists itineraries that include Bulgaria; some also combine it with Romania, Greece, or Serbia.
Sofia’s landmark is Alexander Nevsky Cathedral. The Roman-era ruins of Serdica, the Rotunda of St. George, and the Ottoman-era Banya Bashi Mosque are all within walking distance of one another in the city center. Vitosha Boulevard is the city’s main shopping and café street.
Plovdiv is considered one of Europe’s oldest continuously inhabited cities; its old town, with a Roman theatre and stadium, the Dzhumaya Mosque and colourful houses, can be explored on foot. Veliko Tarnovo is the medieval Bulgarian capital, nestled in a bend of the Yantra River; Tsarevets Fortress on the hill is the city’s landmark. Tours that combine Bulgaria with Romania pass through this area.
Bulgaria features in three types of itineraries: short tours to Sofia and Plovdiv; Bulgaria–Romania tours combining Bucharest, Sinaia and Bran; and Bulgaria–Greece itineraries that include Thessaloniki and Kavala. On major Balkan tours by bus, Bulgaria is the country used to travel from Türkiye to Serbia.
Bulgaria is a Schengen member, and Turkish citizens need a visa to visit. The first entry with a Schengen visa must be made through the country that issued the visa. If the tour itinerary includes only Bulgaria, a Bulgarian visa is required; if it includes multiple Schengen countries, you need a visa from the country where you will stay the longest.
Bulgaria has used the euro since January 1, 2026. Programs that include Bulgaria last between 1 and 7 nights; prices per person start at around 1,000 euros.
The Rila Monastery, about two hours south of Sofia, is Bulgaria’s most important Orthodox monastery and a UNESCO World Heritage Site; it is known for its striped arches and fresco-covered church. The Rila and Pirin Mountains become ski destinations in winter: Bansko and Borovets are the most popular international ski destinations among travelers from Türkiye. In summer, hiking to the Seven Rila Lakes is included in nature itineraries.
On Bulgaria's Black Sea coast, Varna and Burgas are major port cities; the historic Nessebar Peninsula is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, known for its Byzantine-era churches. Golden Sands and Sunny Beach are popular summer resort areas. In summer itineraries, the coast is added to tours of Sofia and Plovdiv.
Spring and autumn are the best seasons for city breaks. The seaside season runs from June to September, while the ski season lasts from mid-December to the end of March. Edirne Kapıkule is the main border crossing for traveling by road to Bulgaria.
There are direct flights from Türkiye to Sofia; bus itineraries cross the border at the Kapıkule border gate in Edirne. The drive between Sofia and Plovdiv takes about two hours via the motorway. Waiting times at the border may be longer during holidays and vacation periods.
Yes. Bulgaria is a Schengen member; Turkish citizens must obtain a Schengen visa.
Euro from January 1, 2026.
Yes; itineraries combining Sofia, Veliko Tarnovo, Bucharest, and Bran are included in this list.
Short itineraries are 1–3 nights; those combined with Romania or Greece are 3–7 nights.