Day 1: Sofia Arrival — Serdica, Cathedrals and Street Life

Arrive in Sofia and settle in. Start with the Serdica Roman ruins at the metro station — glass walkways let you stroll above 4th-century streets and baths for free. Walk to Alexander Nevsky Cathedral (free entry), the city’s iconic gold-domed landmark. Explore the crypt museum (€5) for its superb icon collection. Afternoon on Vitosha Boulevard — Sofia’s pedestrian main street — for people-watching, coffee, and the lively café culture. End the day at NDK Park where locals gather for evening performances and market stalls.

Accommodation: Central Sofia hostel or hotel (€12–50/night).

Entry: Crypt museum €5; everything else free.

Meals: Lunch at a banitsa bakery (€2–3); dinner at Moma Restaurant (€10–15).

Day 2: Vitosha Mountain Hike & Boyana Church

Morning hike on Vitosha Mountain. Take bus 66 from Hladilnika to the Simeonovo lift, ride the cable car up (€5 return), and hike the easy 2-hour trail to the Kamen del viewpoint for panoramic views over the Sofia valley. Descend and take a taxi to the nearby Boyana Church (UNESCO, €5 entry) to see its astonishing 13th-century frescoes — among the finest medieval paintings in Europe. Evening train to Plovdiv (€5, 2 hours, frequent departures until 22:00). Check into your Plovdiv accommodation and find a late dinner in Kapana.

Transport: Bus 66 (€0.80), cable car (€5 return), train to Plovdiv (€5).

Entry: Boyana Church €5 (book time slot in advance).

Accommodation: Plovdiv Old Town guesthouse (€25–45/night).

Day 3: Plovdiv — Roman Theatre, Old Town & Kapana

Start at the Ancient Roman Theatre (€5) — one of the best-preserved in the world, still hosting performances. Climb through the Old Town’s cobblestone streets to Nebet Tepe hill (free, best city views). Visit a Revival-era house museum like the Balabanov House (€3) for a glimpse into 19th-century merchant life. Afternoon in Kapana — the creative district with street art, galleries, craft beer bars, and boutique shops. Watch the sunset from the Roman Theatre’s upper tiers with the Rhodope Mountains in the distance.

Entry: Roman Theatre €5; Balabanov House €3; Kapana free.

Meals: Lunch at a Kapana garden café (€5–8); dinner at Pavaj (€10–15).

Day 4: Plovdiv Wine Tasting & Departure

Morning at the Plovdiv Ethnographic Museum (€4) housed in a stunning Revival palace. Then spend a few hours in the Old Town’s quieter lanes discovering hidden courtyards and artisan workshops. Afternoon wine tasting — join a half-day tour to the Thracian Valley wineries just outside Plovdiv (€25–35, includes transport and tastings of Mavrud and Rubin wines). Alternatively, explore the Tsar Simeon Garden and walk the main pedestrian street for last-minute shopping. Depart from Plovdiv’s train station (2 hours back to Sofia, or buses to the Black Sea coast).

Entry: Ethnographic Museum €4.

Wine tour: €25–35 per person (afternoon).

Departure: Train to Sofia (€5, 2h) or bus to Burgas/Nessebar (€8–12, 3.5h).