← All Trips
Adventure Awaits

Bulgaria & Romania

April 1–17, 2026 • 17 Days • 2 Travelers Anthony & Jennifer

Route Map

BULGARIA ROMANIA Sofia Apr 2-5, 15-17 Plovdiv Apr 5-8 Bucharest Apr 8-11 Brașov Apr 11-13 V. Tarnovo Apr 13-15 Bulgaria stops Romania stops

Day by Day

Apr 1
Wednesday
✈ Travel Day
Minneapolis → Sofia
Depart MSP 3:50pm → Arrive SOF 2:00pm (+1 day)
Via Amsterdam (AMS) • 14h 10m total
Confirmation: HWR5FJ
Apr 2–5
Wed–Sat
🇧🇬 Sofia, Bulgaria
Hotel Via Serdika 📍
April 2–5 • 3 nights
🎭 Confirmed Event
Madama Butterfly
Sofia Opera and Ballet • Apr 4 @ 7:00pm
Row 2, Seats 34 & 36 • Order #1196706
🚂
Sofia → Plovdiv
📅 Saturday, April 5
~150 km • 2.5 hrs by train • Direct, runs every 3 hrs • ~$6-8
Book at bdz.bg • Opens 5-30 days before
🚂 Train
Apr 5–8
Sat–Tue
🇧🇬 Plovdiv, Bulgaria
Plovdiv City Center Hotel 📍
April 5–8 • 3 nights
🚗
Plovdiv → Bucharest
📅 Tuesday, April 8
~300 km • ~5 hrs driving • Crosses Danube at Ruse border
🔑 Top Rent a Car • toprentacar.bg
🚗 Rental
Apr 8–11
Tue–Fri
🇷🇴 Bucharest, Romania
AIASTAY Bucharest River Apartments 📍
April 8–11 • 3 nights
Deluxe Queen Studio with River View
Self check-in from 4pm • Code sent day-of
Confirmation: 6700699169
🍷 Confirmed Event
Romanian Wine Tasting at Corks
Thu, Apr 9 @ 1:00pm • 1.5 hrs • 2 adults
Strada Băcani 1 • Ref: GYG2Q9VMRVW8
🚂
Bucharest → Brașov
📅 Friday, April 11
~170 km • 2.5 hrs by train • 13+ daily departures • ~$12-17 • Scenic Carpathians!
Book at cfrcalatori.ro • Opens 30 days before
🚂 Train
Apr 11–13
Fri–Sun
🇷🇴 Brașov, Romania
Casa Cranta 📍
April 11–13 • 2 nights
Superior Double Room, upper floors
Confirmation: 6827214060 • PIN: 6432
🚂
Brașov → Bucharest
📅 Sunday, April 13 (morning)
~170 km • ~2.5 hrs by train
Book at cfrcalatori.ro • Frequent departures
🚂 Train
🚐
Bucharest → Veliko Tarnovo
📅 Sunday, April 13 (afternoon)
~200 km • ~3 hrs by private driver • Crosses at Ruse border
Book at daytrip.com • Optional stops: Ivanovo, Basarbovo
🚐 Daytrip
Apr 13–15
Sun–Tue
🇧🇬 Veliko Tarnovo
Tarnovo Studios Old Town 📍
April 13–15 • 2 nights
Studio with Balcony • Mountain & river views
Confirmation: 5886732898 • PIN: 0209
🚂
Veliko Tarnovo → Sofia
📅 Tuesday, April 15
~220 km • ~4 hrs by train • Direct available via Gorna Oryahovitsa
Book at bdz.bg • Opens 5-30 days before
🚂 Train
Apr 15–17
Tue–Thu
🇧🇬 Sofia (Return)
The Pearl Downtown 📍
April 15–17 • 2 nights
One-Bedroom Deluxe Apartment • Balcony
Confirmation: 6949329906 • PIN: 7037
Apr 17
Thursday
✈ Travel Day
Sofia → Minneapolis
Depart SOF 7:00am → Arrive MSP 2:50pm (same day)
Via Amsterdam (AMS) • 15h 50m total
Confirmation: HWR5FJ
Total Duration
17 Days
Confirmed
15 Nights
Accommodations
6 Properties
Destinations
6 Cities
🚂 Transport Plan

🚂 Trains (4 legs): Sofia→Plovdiv (bdz.bg), Bucharest→Brașov (cfrcalatori.ro, ~2.5 hrs), Brașov→Bucharest (cfrcalatori.ro, ~2.5 hrs), Veliko Tarnovo→Sofia (bdz.bg, ~3.5 hrs).

🚗 Rental car (1 leg): Plovdiv→Bucharest via Top Rent a Car (toprentacar.bg). Crosses Danube at Ruse border, ~5 hrs.

🚐 Daytrip.com (1 leg): Bucharest→Veliko Tarnovo (~3 hrs). Private driver, can add sightseeing stops (Ivanovo rock churches, Basarbovo Monastery).

Still to book: All transport (trains + Daytrip).

📄 Travel Documents
Document Details File
✈️ Flight Confirmation Delta KLM • MSP↔SOF • Conf# HWR5FJ View PDF ↗
🎭 Opera Tickets Madama Butterfly • Apr 4 @ 7pm • Row 2, Seats 34 & 36 View PDF ↗
🍷 Wine Tasting Vouchers Corks Bucharest • Apr 9 @ 1pm • Ref# GYG2Q9VMRVW8 Ticket 1 ↗ · Ticket 2 ↗
🏨 Bucharest Hotel AIASTAY • Apr 8-11 • Conf# 6700699169 —
🏨 Brașov Hotel Casa Cranta • Apr 11-13 • Conf# 6827214060 • PIN 6432 —
🏨 Veliko Tarnovo Hotel Tarnovo Studios Old Town • Apr 13-15 • Conf# 5886732898 • PIN 0209 View PDF ↗
🏨 Sofia Return Hotel The Pearl Downtown • Apr 15-17 • Conf# 6949329906 • PIN 7037 View PDF ↗
📝 Jen's Notes & Ideas

🚗 Day Trip Ideas

From Sofia:
  • Seven Rila Lakes – Stunning glacier lakes at 2,100-2,500m elevation. Main hiking route is 2.5-3 hours to the highest lake. Can book organized tour from Sofia or drive to Rila Mountains.
  • Rila Monastery – One of Bulgaria's most important cultural monuments, dating to 10th century. Incredible frescos, icons, and wood carvings. 2 hours from Sofia, shared shuttles run daily.
From Plovdiv:
  • Starosel Winery – Drink wine underground in a room that looks like a Thracian temple! Can visit for the day even without staying overnight. Restaurant and winery open during the day.
From Bucharest:
  • Peleș Castle – Stunning Neo-Renaissance castle in the Carpathians. Consider a full day trip or even overnight stay? (Train accessible)
From Brașov:
  • Bran Castle – "Dracula's Castle" – nearby and easy day trip

🏛️ City Highlights

Sofia:
  • Vitosha Boulevard – Main pedestrian street with shops, cafes, views of Vitosha Mountain. Great for walking, window shopping, stopping for a beer.
  • Alexander Nevsky Cathedral – Iconic gold-domed cathedral
  • Sofia Opera and Ballet – Surprisingly affordable (~$8 tickets!). Dress up a bit for fun. Get there early for cheap sparkling wine at the bar (~$3/glass).
Plovdiv:
  • Ancient Roman Theatre – Still hosts performances
  • Old Town – Cobblestone streets, colorful houses
  • Kapana Creative District – Artsy neighborhood with cafes and galleries
Veliko Tarnovo:
  • Tsarevets Fortress – Medieval fortress on a hill with views over the city. Former capital of Second Bulgarian Kingdom (12th-14th century).
  • Street Art Scene – Look for the painted staircases!
  • Shtastliveca Restaurant – Jen's favorite Bulgarian restaurant! Now a small chain throughout Bulgaria.
  • Handmade Crafts – Big artisan movement here, authentic Bulgarian souvenirs vs generic tourist stuff.

🍽️ Bulgarian Food to Try

Banitsa – Flaky buttery pastry with white cheese (like feta). Sometimes with bacon or spinach.
Shopska Salad – The national salad: red peppers, cucumbers, onion, parsley, shaved white cheese.
Mekitsa – Warm fried dough with jam, honey, yogurt, or powdered sugar. Like Hungarian langos.
Kebapche – Grilled pork or beef sausages, served with fries or salad.
Moussaka – Layered dish with aubergine and mincemeat.
Tarator – Cold cucumber yogurt soup, served as a starter. An acquired taste!
Bulgarian Yogurt – National treasure! Patented as a probiotic health supplement.
White Cheese – Sheep's cheese similar to feta, used in everything.