How about shopping in Bulgaria?

If you believe that retail therapy is the best kind of therapy, then a shopping tour is for you. Experience this exclusive tour across the best fashion retails, vintage stores, premium outlets and relaxing sightseeing in Bulgaria. We will take you to high fashion stores and other stores you like to visit.

In Bulgaria you can find famous branded clothes and shoes from the last and current season. Visit shops with an unforgettable atmosphere where you will get acquainted with the best Bulgarian crafts from cuprum, ceramics, carving, and weaving. Bulgarian honey is very valuable all over the world because it is made from the unique plants that are not found anywhere else. You can try some of the 50 types of honey available. Growing roses, and extracting the pure rose oil, is a traditional industry in Bulgaria. The medicinal and cosmetic effects of rose oil are known all over the world. You will be able to buy various products from a direct manufacture. Rhodope blankets are another well-known Bulgarian product. Wool, cotton, light blankets, tablecloths, and bed sets will serve you for many years and will remind you of your trip to Bulgaria. 

Go on an exclusive shopping spree in Bulgaria’s best boutiques and shopping centers. You can take advantage of the services of a shopping expert dedicated to helping you look your best.

Program of the shopping tour

Day 1

Arrival to Sofia airport. Transfer from the airport. Your chauffeur will drive you to the center of Sofia. Check in to your centrally located 4* or 5* hotel. 

Head out for a fascinating guided walking tour of Sofia with a little culinary surprise at the end of the walking tour – lunch at typical Bulgarian restaurant “Moma”. Moma Restaurant is the new modern face of Bulgarian restaurants. Its concept combines a delightful culinary experience with authentic recipes which remind us of times past and bring us back to our roots, and a modern interior blending the beauty and purity of the Bulgarian maidens of yore, represented by the designer through various visual symbols, photos, fabrics and decors. The interior design of each dining hall of Moma Restaurant conveys a message related to the culture and traditions of maidens and young women in Bulgaria.

The evening is free for you to unwind and explore the town on your own. The main street of Sofia – Vitosha street is full of restaurants and cafes.

Day 2

Breakfast. Day for shopping.

Sofia is a great place to visit not only for sightseeing but also for shopping. The small streets hide unique stores where you can find what you are looking for at a very attractive price. That is why we suggest you to spend a day in some of the most popular shopping places here. We provide value to shoppers as well as fun and informative, interesting day out in fascinating city of Sofia. 

In Sofia you are able to visit renowned shopping centres filled with international brand-name stores and coffee bars. The first place is the Central Sofia Market Hall which is situated in the city center, near the Baths (mineral water springs) facing the mosque and the synagogue. The Market Hall is covered market since 1911 and today is an important trade center. Today people go for shopping every day for fresh product and other items. Tsum Retail Centre – an upmarket for clothing, jewelleries, perfumes and homeware shops which was previously a state department store built in 1956. Take a walk along the Area where Designer’s Clothing shops are. Graf Ignatiev Street is the common shopping street in downtown and has a lot of small boutique shops for clothes, shoes, bookstores etc. Get the taste of local food and drinks during your shopping experience and learn about the social lifestyle, tradition and culture in one of the top affordable cities in Europe.

Lunch is on your own.

Dinner at restaurant “Shtastliveca”. This is the restaurant that will make you feel at home.

Day 3

Breakfast.

Flight from Sofia Airport to Istanbul.

Accommodation in Hotel Arcadia Blue Istanbul 4*.

Coveted by empires across the centuries, straddling both Europe and Asia, Istanbul is one of the world’s great metropolises. Enjoy the best of it in just half a day and see its main highlights with some hidden gems along the way. Here are some of the top tourist attractions in Istanbul:

• Galata Tower – it rules over the Istanbul skyline, offering great views of the old city and its surroundings. The tower has been modified over the centuries, at one time being used as an observation tower to spot fires. Today, its upper reaches include a café, restaurant and a night club.
• Istanbul Archaeological Museum – one of the most important museums in Turkey, the Istanbul Archaeological Museum is actually three museums: the Archaeological Museum, the Ancient Orient Museum and the Tiled Kiosk Museum. The three museums combined contain more than 1 million objects from civilizations around the world. The museums contain thousands of precious artifacts, including the sarcophagus of Alexander the Great.
• Dolmabahce Palace – built in the 19th century using 14 tons of gold leaf, Turkey’s most glamorous palace blends traditional Ottoman architecture with the European styles of Neoclassical, Baroque and Rococo. Home to six sultans from 1856 to 1924, it also is home to the world’s largest Bohemian crystal chandelier, a gift from Queen Victoria. The Dolmabahce Palace’s setting is stunning: It was built along the Bosphorus coastline.
• Suleymaniye Mosque – it was extensively damaged over the years, including during World War I when a fire broke out while the gardens were used as a weapons depot. It was restored in the mid-20th century. The mosque is marked by four minarets, indicating it was built by a sultan. When it was built, the dome was the highest in the Ottoman Empire.
• Topkapi Palace – at one time it was an official royal residence of the Ottoman Empire sultans and seat of Turkish government, but is now a museum that is considered the largest and oldest palace in the world. Visitors can get a glimpse of the harem’s quarters, where the government worked, a collection of old weapons used by the sultans, the palace kitchens with a huge porcelain collection, and the treasury with its collection of jewels and clocks.
• Blue Mosque – built in the early 17th century, remains an active house of worship today. The mosque, built by Sultan Ahmet, takes its name from the blue tiles on the dome and the upper levels of the interior.
• Hagia Sophia – it was once a house of worship that served several religions well over the centuries. It started out as a Greek Eastern Orthodox basilica that was home to the Patriarch of Constantinople when it was built in 537. For almost six decades in the 12th century it was a Roman Catholic church. It became a mosque in 1453, remaining that way until 1931, when it was closed. It reopened as a museum in 1935. At one time, it was the largest cathedral in the world at one time, and served as the inspiration for other mosques, including the Blue Mosque, as it was such a great example of Byzantine architecture. It is most famous for its mosaics depicting various religious scenes.

Dinner at a la carte restaurant Fine Dine ISTANBUL in your hotel. The restaurant offers a view almost over the whole city. You will enjoy genuine concepts, special menus with differing themes and contemporary presentations and alternative organization opportunities. It hosts its guests with a colorful kitchen reflecting the historical mosaic of İstanbul and suitable for all kinds of creative organization is a point, where the guests cannot take their eyes off of the view.

Day 4

Breakfast. Day for shopping in Istanbul.

Istanbul can be considered as Turkey’s capital of culture and fashion and offers many shopping opportunities. The shopping variety of the city ranging from traditional and modern products makes Istanbul an attraction center for shopping lovers. As being a very big metropolis, travelers can easily find almost every world brand in the shopping malls and the districts of Istanbul. For visitors who seek unique shopping experiences, the blend of new and old worlds is a delight.

The Grand Bazaar (Kapali Carsi) and the Egyptian Bazaar/Spice Market (Misir Carsisi) are the shopping heavyweights in this neighborhood. More than 91 million visitors annually come to the Grand Bazaar. Open since 1461, it’s ridiculously large with 4,000 shops, but it is one of the greatest and oldest “malls” in the world and offers a real slice of Turkish life. 

The Nisantasi area is celebrated for its upscale boutiques touting prestige brands like Chanel and Louis Vuitton, plus a smattering of Turkish ones. 

Located in the heart of Old Istanbul, Sultanahmet’s narrow streets mingle great shopping and outstanding architecture that spans many centuries. The Arasta Bazaar has similar handmade goods as the Grand Bazaar, but on a smaller scale. 

It’s clear that residents and visitors in Şişli are serious about their shopping. Case in point: Cevahir Istanbul, one of Europe’s largest shopping-entertainment complexes, packed with nearly 350 stores. On the other side of the highway, Zorlu Center puts the world’s top luxury brands under one roof. 

Lunch and dinner are on your own. Istanbul is a melting pot of cultures. Here’s what Confito recommend to eat: simit (similar to a bagel or pretzel), köfte (turkish meatballs), döner, kumpir (a baked potato with various topics), lahmacun/pide (turkish pizza), balık ekmek (a fish sandwich), mantı (dumplings stuffed with lamb or beef and topped with yogurt sauce) etc.

Overnight.

Day 5

Breakfast at hotel Arcadia Blue.

Return flight to Sofia.

Check in to your centrally located 4* or 5* hotel.

Enjoy some free time in the afternoon to explore the capital of Bulgaria even further or relax in your hotel room.

Tonight marks your last night together and you celebrate this tour with a dinner at the hotel restaurant to share your experiences and stories over a few glasses of Bulgarian wine.

Day 6

Breakfast. Check out of hotel. Transfer to Sofia Airport. End of tour. 

Shopping tour includes:

• 3 nights in Sofia at 4* and 5* hotels
• 2 nights at Hotel Arcadia Blue Istanbul 4* or similar
• Flights Sofia-Istanbul; Istanbul-Sofia
• All mentioned transfers
• Guided tour of Sofia
• Guided tour of Istanbul
• Lunch at typical Bulgarian restaurant “Moma” in Sofia or similar
• Dinner at restaurant “Shtastliveca” in Sofia or similar
• Dinner at a la carte restaurant Fine Dine ISTANBUL in Hotel Arcadia Blue Istanbul 4* or similar
• All the mentioned meals in hotels