Travel to the foothills of the Balkan Mountains and visit Basarabov Monastery, the only monastery in Bulgaria carved into the rock. Explore the medieval town of Veliko Tarnovo, including the Tsaravets Fortress, a formidable Middle Ages fortification. Admire the charming village of Arbanassi, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Begin your day trip by departing from Bucharest and crossing the Danube River into Bulgaria. Your first stop is the rock-hewn Basarabov Monastery, continuously inhabited since its founding.
Next, explore Veliko Tarnovo, known as the “City of the Tsars.” Stroll through the cobbled streets of the Samovodskata Charshiya historical quarter, and discover the hilltop Tsaravets Fortress, established in the 4th century and considered the strongest Bulgarian fortification of the Middle Ages. Veliko Tarnovo was often compared to Rome and Constantinople in its grandeur. Your final stop before returning to Bucharest is the village of Arbanassi, influenced by Greek culture for centuries and featuring large, fortified houses and 17th- and 18th-century orthodox churches with stone walls and thick gates.