Bulgaria Grand Loop Self-Drive
Set off from Sofia on a loop through the mountains, the Rhodopes, the Rose Valley, and the Black Sea, returning via the old capital.
This route covers the Seven Rila Lakes, Melnik, the Rhodope Mountains, Plovdiv, the Rose Valley, the northern and southern Black Sea coasts, and Veliko Tarnovo. It is perfect for self-drive travelers with plenty of time who want to see it all. Mountain roads can be slow and the pace is relatively tight with multiple hotel changes. Buzludzha and Belogradchik in the northwest are excluded to allow more time on the Black Sea coast.
The Seven Rila Lakes chairlift operates reliably from mid-June to early October, but is closed all day on the last Monday of every month.
每日安排
第 1 天 · Arrive in Sofia and Explore the Old Town
索菲亞（亞歷山大·涅夫斯基大教堂、聖格奧爾基圓形教堂、古塞爾迪卡遺址、維托沙大街）
Pick up your rental car at the airport or take the metro into the city. Explore the center on foot; you won't need the car until tomorrow.
An electronic vignette is required for highways; confirm if it is included when picking up your car.
住宿：塞爾迪卡市中心
第 2 天 · Seven Rila Lakes Hike
Drive about 1 hour and 45 minutes to the Pionerska chairlift station. After the hike, drive 30–40 minutes to Sapareva Banya.
The chairlift does not open until 12:30 PM on Mondays. Bring a windproof jacket for the mountain.
住宿：Sapareva Banya
第 3 天 · Rila Monastery and South to Melnik
Drive about 1–1.5 hours to the monastery, then drive another 2.5 hours in the afternoon via Sandanski to Melnik.
Small wine cellars in town often accept cash only.
住宿：梅爾尼克鎮區
第 4 天 · Rozhen Monastery to Bansko
梅爾尼克（羅任修道院、梅爾尼克砂岩金字塔） → 班斯科（聖三一教堂、班斯科老城與傳統酒館）
Drive about 12 minutes to Rozhen. In the afternoon, head north via Sandanski to Bansko (approx. 2 hours).
住宿：班斯科老城
第 5 天 · Cross the Mountains into the Rhodopes
Devil's Throat Cave
Expect about 4–5 hours of mountain driving today. Drive via Dospat to the Trigrad Gorge, then head east to Shiroka Laka.
The gorge road is narrow and requires careful passing; avoid driving on mountain roads after dark.
住宿：Shiroka Laka
第 6 天 · Wonderful Bridges and Bachkovo to Plovdiv
Drive east along mountain roads to the Wonderful Bridges, continue to Bachkovo, and drive another 40 minutes to Plovdiv.
Shoulders and knees must be covered to enter the monastery. Some exhibition rooms only accept cash.
住宿：卡帕納與步行街
第 7 天 · Full Day in Plovdiv
普羅夫迪夫（普羅夫迪夫羅馬劇場、普羅夫迪夫老城、普羅夫迪夫民族誌博物館、羅馬競技場、卡帕納創意區）
Explore on foot all day and leave your car at your accommodation. The Old Town and Kapana are just a few minutes apart.
住宿：卡帕納與步行街
第 8 天 · Koprivshtitsa to the Rose Valley
索菲亞（科普里夫什蒂察） → 大特爾諾沃（卡贊勒克玫瑰谷與玫瑰博物館）
Drive north for about 2 hours to Koprivshtitsa. After lunch, drive east along the Rose Valley for about 1.5 hours to Kazanlak.
Rose picking takes place in the early morning; consider staying an extra morning during the blooming season.
住宿：Kazanlak
第 9 天 · Thracian Tomb to Sozopol
大特爾諾沃（卡贊勒克色雷斯古墓、希普卡紀念教堂） → 索佐波爾（索佐波爾老城）
Explore around Kazanlak in the morning, then drive east for about 2.5–3 hours via Burgas to Sozopol.
You will visit a replica of the Thracian Tomb; the original tomb is closed to the public.
住宿：索佐波爾老城
第 10 天 · Nessebar Old Town to Varna
內塞伯爾·陽光海灘（內塞伯爾古城、聖斯蒂芬教堂（新都主教座堂）） → 瓦爾納（海濱花園）
Drive about 1 hour to Nessebar. In the afternoon, head north along the coast for about 1.5–2 hours to Varna.
Driving is not recommended inside the Old Town; park outside and walk in.
住宿：市中心與海濱花園
第 11 天 · Cape Kaliakra and Balchik
Drive about 1.5 hours to Cape Kaliakra. On the return trip, drive 30 minutes to Balchik, then another 40 minutes back to Varna.
住宿：市中心與海濱花園
第 12 天 · Madara Rider to Veliko Tarnovo
瓦爾納（瓦爾納考古博物館、馬達拉騎士浮雕） → 大特爾諾沃（古爾科街、薩莫沃德斯卡手工藝街）
Visit museums in the morning, drive west for about 1 hour to Madara, and then continue for about 2 hours to Veliko Tarnovo.
住宿：老城與古爾科街
第 13 天 · Tsarevets Fortress and Return to Sofia
Explore the fortress on foot in the morning, then drive about 3–3.5 hours in the afternoon back to Sofia to return your car.