Rakia tasting in Bulgaria: where to go with a driver

Updated: October 29, 2026

For rakia tasting in Bulgaria, the classic destination is Troyan, the home of the country’s best-known plum rakia, about 160 km from Sofia (around 2 h 15 min). A day there combines tastings with Troyan Monastery and the crafts museum. Grape rakia is easier to find in the wine regions around Plovdiv, Melnik and the coast.

Rakia is Bulgaria’s national spirit: a fruit brandy, usually from grapes or plums, drunk slowly with salad at the start of a meal. Every region has its own, and many families still distil their own in autumn. The town of Troyan, in the Balkan mountains, gives its name to the most famous plum rakia, and the area around it is full of orchards.

Where to taste rakia

Place	From Sofia	Type of rakia	Combine with
Troyan and Oreshak	about 2 h 15 min	Plum (slivova)	Troyan Monastery, crafts museum
Plovdiv area	about 1 h 45 min	Grape (grozdova)	Wineries, old town
Melnik	about 2 h 45 min	Grape	Wine cellars, sand pyramids
Pomorie and Burgas area	about 4 h	Grape, Muscat	Wineries, coast
Sofia restaurants	in town	All kinds	Bars with long rakia lists

A day in Troyan from Sofia

Time	Plan
08:30	Pick-up in Sofia
10:45	Troyan Monastery in Oreshak: church and frescoes
12:00	National Exhibition of Crafts and Arts in Oreshak
13:00	Lunch with local rakia and Troyan pottery on the table
14:30	Troyan: Museum of Folk Crafts and Applied Arts
15:30	Rakia tasting or shop for bottles
16:15	Drive back
18:30	Back in Sofia

Troyan Monastery is one of the largest in Bulgaria, about 10 km from the town, with frescoes by Zahari Zograf. The village of Oreshak beside it hosts a large exhibition of traditional crafts, and the town museum shows Troyan’s pottery, woodwork and other crafts. Check opening hours for each before you go.

Rakia is strong, often around 40 percent alcohol or more. Taste in small sips, with food, and drink water in between; that is also how Bulgarians drink it.

How tastings work

Rakia tasting in Bulgaria is less organised than wine tasting. A few distilleries and shops in Troyan offer tastings or sell local brands; in other places you taste in restaurants with good rakia lists, or with family producers through your hotel or guesthouse. Ask ahead and do not count on a distillery tour without a booking.

A few words to know

Word	Meaning
Slivova	Plum rakia, the Troyan speciality
Grozdova	Grape rakia, the most common type
Kaysieva	Apricot rakia
Shopska salad	The usual partner for a glass of rakia
Nazdrave	Cheers; look people in the eye when you say it

Rakia is served in small glasses, often chilled in summer, and in some mountain villages warmed with honey and spices in winter. You will rarely see Bulgarians drink it as a shot; it lasts through the salad course.

When to go

• Autumn is the distilling season in villages, when you may smell the stills from the street.
• Late summer and autumn bring fruit and harvest festivals in many towns; check the local municipality’s events calendar.
• Winter works too: Troyan is reached on good roads, though the monastery area can be snowy.

Why go with a driver

Bulgaria’s drink-drive limits are strict and enforced. A rakia day, even with careful tasting, is a day when nobody should drive. A driver also links the monastery, the craft exhibitions and the town, which are spread out along the valley.

Wine instead, or as well

If you prefer wine, see private wine tours in Bulgaria, wineries near Plovdiv and wineries near Burgas. Many wineries also make a grape rakia, so you can try both on one day.

To book a rakia day, enter Sofia and Troyan in the form above, with the date and number of passengers, and add Troyan Monastery and Oreshak in the notes.