Backpacking Bulgaria Itinerary + Map
TL;DR
1 week Bulgaria itinerary for Sofia, Plovdiv, Rila, and Belogradchik. With detailed instructions on how to reach every place by public transport.
We have travelled Bulgaria with public transport to compile this comprehensive travel itinerary for you.
As 7 days in Bulgaria is not a lot of time, we focus on western Bulgaria in our backpacking route.
Bulgaria Itinerary
Bulgaria 1 Week Itinerary Map
Quick Note
We have travelled Bulgaria by public transport only. You can save A LOT of time by going on tours instead.
Here are the best Sofia tours to save time and effort:
Travel Guides
The Best Sofia Bulgaria Tours to Save Time and Effort
A Sofia tour can safe time, effort, and even money!
Carina
Day 1: Seven Rila Lakes / Panichishte
Panichishte is a resort in Rila Mountain. At 1350 meters above sea level, it lies on the border of Rila National Park.
Things to Do in Panichishte
- The hike to the Seven Rila Lakes is one of the best hikes we have ever done. The landscape is stunning and seems to get better with every turn and every new lake you discover. Don't be fooled by reports online that the lift makes this hike easy. It certainly makes it easier (and is a lifesaver for unathletic people like us) but it doesn't make it easy. You still have to conquer around 600 vertical meters (1970 ft) to reach the viewpoint with all seven lakes in a row. Two words of warning: There is absolutely no shade on the trail and you can only buy food next to the lift. If you don't mind drinking from springs you can refill your water bottle along the path.
- We decided to stay at a mountain hut close to the base station of the lift and it was nice to stay on the mountain to do some additional hiking. Our favourite was an easy hike past the 7 Rila Lakes lift station towards Zekiritsa.
- The town of Saparewa Banja is known for its mineral springs (Banja meaning bath). They even have a geyser in the town centre. They offer a plethora of spas in all price ranges.
Where We Stayed at the Seven Rila Lakes
The Malka Yurta Hut has the perfect location to start your Seven Rila Lakes hike as it’s super close to the base station of the lift as well as reachable by car/taxi.
How to Get to the Seven Rila Lakes by Public Transport
To get to the Rila Lakes, you have to go to Dupniza first. This is fairly easy. We found buses from and to Sofia run often, indeed much more often than listed online.
International buses from Thessaloniki also stop here, so this can easily be your first activity in Bulgaria.
From Dupniza, you have to take a bus to Sapareva Banya. After asking around with little success and even more confusion we saw the bus to Sapareva Banya go by and made a run for it so we have no idea about the schedule or the exact route. From here, we took a taxi to our mountain hut.
Day 2 & 3: Sofia
Sofia is a lively, loud and trafficky capital. It's the beating heart of Bulgaria.
There are plenty of things to do in Sofia articles online so we just introduce our favourites:
Things to Do in Sofia
- Go on a free walking tour. We went with Free Sofia Tour and loved it.
- Vitosha Boulevard. The pedestrian street leads from the National Palace of Culture to the Largo with many cafes, bars and restaurants along the way.
- The Largo with its Socialist Classicism architecture is interesting but don't forget to explore the hidden gems in the area. One level underground, you can find the Sveta Petka church and the ruins of Serdica (Sofia's Roman name).
- Tucked away in one of the Socialist buildings, you can find the Saint George Rotunda church.
- Speaking of churches, of curse you shouldn't miss Alexander Nevsky Cathedral.
- The women's market is a must to try traditional products like yoghurt and to buy local fruits and vegetables.
- At the Hadjidragana Tavern, you can try traditional Bulgarian dishes like tarator or shopska salad.
- There is also a modern side to Sofia cuisine. The Sense Hotel has a rooftop bar with a great view.
- Ul. Tsar Ivan Shishman and the surrounding area is a food lover's paradise: Here, you can find everything, including instagrammable places like Made in Blue.
Where We Stayed in Sofia
We liked the vibe at Hostel Mostel. It's cheap, they have a kitchen, the location is great, and it’s easy to meet other travellers.
How to Get to Sofia by Public Transport
It's easy to catch international buses from neighbouring countries like Serbia, Greece, Romania, or North Macedonia. You can either walk to the centre or take one of the trams, which run very frequently.
As Sofia is the capital, it's also a traffic hub. Of course, there are many international flights.
Day 4 & 5: Belogradchik
Belogradchik is famous for two things: The medieval Belogradchik Fortress and the Belogradchik Rocks.
Things to Do in Belogradchik
- The Belogradchik Fortress, also known as Kaleto, is located on the north slopes of the Balkan Mountains. It is unique because it uses the Belogradchik Rocks as a base for three separate fortified yards. Make sure to visit the viewpoint we marked on the map for some great views of the fortress.
- When you take the footpath back to town we marked on the map, you will walk amongst the Belogradchik Rocks (keep your eyes open for caves!). The Belogradchik Rocks are a group of strangely shaped red sandstone and conglomerate rock formations. Just let your imagination run wild – some of the rocks are shaped like animals or humans. At the end of the path, you will find an amazing viewpoint with the Belogradchik letters.
- If you decide to stay longer, there are other highlights in this area like the Magura Cave. The prehistoric wall paintings of Magura are considered the most significant works of art of the European Post-Paleolithic era.
Where We Stayed in Belogradchik
As of today there is no hostel in Belogradchik so we treated ourselves to a hotel. We stayed at the Family Hotel The Rocks which is right next to the bus station. They have delicious cheap local food and are super helpful organizing taxis and storing luggage.
How to Get from Sofia to Belogradchik by Public Transport
Don't listen to people when they tell you, you can only reach Belogradchik on a tour. You have to spend 1 or 2 nights in town if you do it by public transport but it's possible. There is one direct bus per day from Sofia to Belogradchik at 4:30 p.m.. Unfortunately, that's too late to visit the fortress on the same day.
It's easy to visit the fortress on the next day and afterwards take the train back from the nearest train station in Oreshec.
You can also spend another night in Belogradchik and take the direct bus back to Sofia at 6 a.m.. If you're lucky to visit on a Sunday, the direct bus back runs at 3 p.m.. Steph by Step wrote a great detailed guide.
Day 6 & 7: Plovdiv
With the longest pedestrian street in Europe and less traffic than Sofia, it's a lot quieter. It was the European Capital of Culture in 2019 and it's easy to see why. With a history of more than eight millennia, there is a lot to explore.
Things to Do in Plovdiv
- Go on a free walking tour.
- Check out the Roman ruins in Plovdiv. You can visit the Roman theatre and the Roman forum of Philippopolis on the main pedestrian street for free but there is also a big amphitheatre in the old town.
- Plovdiv old town is worth a visit with its many churches like St. Konstantin and Elena Church and alleys to explore and wander around. You can visit many of the luscious baroque buildings like the ethnographic museum or the Hindliyan house which is so richly decorated it even possesses a fountain with rose water instead of just plain water.
- Nebet Tepe Hill offers great views of Plovdiv with its seven hills (although not all of them are present anymore).
- The new part of Plovdiv has a lot to offer as well. It's beautiful to stroll up and down the main pedestrian street from the main square all the way to the river.
- The real highlight of the new town is Kapana. During the day you'll find some of the best street art you've ever seen but this area truly comes alive at night. There are so many bars and restaurants that we couldn't possibly list them all.
- Our favourite breakfast spot in town, Mekitsa and Coffee, is located on the main pedestrian street.
- You can get amazing traditional food, a cold beer and a view at Rahat Tepe – make sure to get their Patatnik which gets served in a huge iron pan.
- In Kapana go to Cat and Mouse Beer Bar as well as DeGUSTOstation wine bar.
Where We Stayed in Plovdiv
We stayed at Pijama Hostel. The location is unbeatable. The beds have power outlets and curtains. The only downside is that there are only two bathrooms for the small hostel.
How to Get from Sofia to Plovdiv by Public Transport
To get from Belogradchik to Plovdiv, you first have to get back to Sofia.
It's easy enough to get to Plovdiv from Sofia: Just go to the main bus or train station and take the next mode of transport you fancy – during the day they run often and they are very cheap (we paid 5 € for our last-minute train ticket).
In Plovdiv, you can either take a pleasant walk to the city centre (you reach the main square in about 20 minutes) or you can take one of the many buses. They are only 1 BGN (0,50 €) and run every couple of minutes – we found the information on google maps concerning lines, routes and times to be very accurate.
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