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Sofia (София) is the capital and largest city of Bulgaria, with about 2 million citizens (including suburbs). It is a dynamic European capital, distinguished by its unique combination of European and communist-style architecture as well as many beautiful Orthodox churches, including the grand Alexander Nevsky Cathedral and the medieval frescos of Boyana Church (a UNESCO World Heritage Site). Furthermore, it claims to be one of the few European capitals with beautiful scenery and a developed ski-resort so close to it, the Vitosha mountain.
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Central Mineral Baths
Museum of the history of Sofia itself, housed in the colourful old building of the Central Mineral [Water] Baths (built 1913). Exhibits include many luxurious items formerly belonging to Bulgaria's last monarchs.
The only museum in Bulgaria with 4 types of exhibitions – open air, chronological, collections and temporary exhibitions. Over 28 000 exhibits, dated from the Antiquity to the present day. The largest open air exhibition on the Balkans with over 300 pieces of military equipment. The richest collections of weapons, uniforms, decorations, art works, flags, photographs, military equipment, etc.
Has a permanent collection of traditional Bulgarian costumes and a changing exhibition.
Национален музей
A large mineralogical museum. In the main hall is the world's biggest collection of Giant Crystals, with dazzling jagged rocks the size of refrigerators.
Национален исторически музей
The National Museum of History in the Rezidentsia Boyana provide a comprehensive view on Bulgarian history from the prehistory to present, in as broad of a European context as possible. With more than 650,000 exhibits, it is one of the largest history museums on the Balkans, so be prepared to spend several hours. One main attraction are golden and silver mugs and jewellery from Thracian (around 4th century BC) and Roman periods. About half of the exhibits have English captions.
Has four floors of everything from rocks and minerals to insects and stuffed bison. It is a nice way to spend a rainy afternoon.
Half tour, half experience. Walk around a house setup like an old communist flat from the 1980s. You're allowed to touch and play with just about anything. There's an audio guide in English, Spanish and Bulgarian.
After the Soviet Union fell and Bulgaria moved on from communism, much of the country's communist artwork was eventually collected here. Outside the museum (and free to access) is a small park crammed with statues of notable communists, with every flavor of Lenin.
Has old Bulgarian art, icons, etc. Also includes collections of the former National Gallery for Foreign Art, which are exhibited along with the 19th- and 20th-century collections of the National Art Gallery at National Gallery Square 500 (Kvadrat 500 in Bulgarian), which is at 1, 19th February St., St Alexander Nevsky Sq. and is open Tu-Su 10:00-18:00 and closed Mondays and holidays.
Софийска градска художествена галерия
Свети Александър Невски, Aleksandar Nevski
The largest church in the Balkans, and one of the largest Christian churches worldwide, able to hold 5,000 worshipers. Saint Alexander Nevsky was a Russian prince, and the cathedral was built to honour the Russian soldiers who died during the Russo-Turkish War of 1877–1878, liberating Bulgaria from Ottoman rule.
църква „Света София“
It was built in the 6th century, in the same wave of construction as the Hagia Sophia in Constantinople. In 1329 it gave its name to the city. It was destroyed several times and during the Ottoman rule it was used as a mosque. It was built over an even older 4th-century church, which can be explored through its excavated crypts and tombs.
This small 11th-century church and garden is on the UNESCO World Heritage List for its well-preserved murals. The layer of fresco from 1259 shows realism and emotion evocative of the early Renaissance, but painted a century earlier. No photos are allowed inside, as the interior is dark and cramped. There is little interpretive information inside; you can hire an on-site tour guide or ask questions to the docent. Only 8 people are permitted inside at a time, for a maximum of 10 minutes. During busy periods you may have to wait for over an hour, yet the queue is self-policed so be prepared to stand outside doing nothing for a while and don't forget who arrived after you! This is at the foot of Vitosha mountain and is a good starting point for day trips in the mountain.
Holy Masses: Sa 17:30 & Su 10:30 in Bulgarian; 12:00 in Latin; 18:00 Bulgarian
Beautiful yet simple Ottoman-mosque. Built by Mimar Sinan. It's active and there is a guide inside.
One of the largest in Europe.
The mausoleum and final resting place of Prince Alexander I of Bulgaria (1857–1893), the first Head of State of modern Bulgaria.
It commemorates the hanging of Bulgarian national hero and major revolutionary figure Vasil Levski in the city on 18 February 1873.
Representing the power of freedom and across from it are the National Assembly and the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences.
Across from Alexander Nevsky cathedral; on the side of Hagia Sofia's Church.
A statue of the Bulgarian warlord and tsar Samuil, who ruled Bulgaria between 997 and 1014.
An obelisk built by the Russians.
Ларго, Independence Square
3 buildings of Socialist Classicism architecture, around what was designed to be the city's representative centre. The buildings are Council of Ministers and the TSUM department store on the north side, the National Assembly (former Communist Party headquarters) with its iconic spire on the east side, the Presidential Administration (former Council of State) and the Balkan Hotel to the south side.
The largest square in Sofia. Includes the National Art Gallery.
A famous square, real Sofia center with a monument of writers father and son Slaveykov. It`s a biggest open-air book market in the Balkans.There are round benches and street musicians act very often.
A popular meeting place.
The oldest and best known park in the city. Includes the Ariana Lake.
It's the oldest and most central public garden, in existence since 1872.
A nice park in the south-east part of the city, although a bit too crowded on weekends. Vibrant with open area cafes, entertainment for children and grown-ups, and a few ponds with ducks.
Zaimov Park
A park near the center of the city with places to eat and drink.
Bells Park
A park with bells from every country in the world.
A bridge over the Perlovska River near the centre of Sofia
A bridge over the Vladayska River near the central train station.
A five story residential building in the shape of a giant pastel-striped snail, complete with two antennae.
Visit Sofia and the countryside around on a "free" bike tour, every day at 11:00 and 17:00. Note, for the ride you will need to rent a bicycle with the tour operators. And like always, the word "free" is a euphemism for "tips strongly appreciated". Also, this tour might in addition be a way to market their chargeable tours; always compare before committing to anything.
If you're travelling with kids, they might love playgrounds. The "rich" one is in the park that holds Vasil Levski stadium (close to the corner with Orlov Most; there are actually two playgrounds close to this corner and you'd look for the one more inside the park).
During summer, open air shows in the evenings are offered.
One of the biggest Bulgarian cinema multiplex. Cinemas in Sofia play all films except children's films in their original language with Bulgarian subtitles.
The biggest congress center in the Balkans (a massive monolithic communist-style building). If asking for directions, ask for NDK (en-de-ka), as most Bulgarians refer to it by this acronym.
It`s a multi-purpose monument of culture building in the city center. Also known under the name Kristal.
Good variety of main courses, soups, salads and desserts. The food is delicious. Family-operated restaurant
Favorite place for delicious food in a great pleasant atmosphere. You feel at home
Good place for a quick bit of kebabs and falafel.
Very good vegetarian restaurant. Quick service, simple and good food, good value for money.
Here you can have brunch and the typical Bulgarian breakfast. One of them gems of Sofia. Great, hot, fresh, on the spot mekitsa. With very friendly staff. You can go to the second floor, sit at the table against the window, munch mekitsa and sip your beverage. Good times!
A breakfast restaurant
Ресторант VICTORIA Цар Освободител
One of the best Bulgarian pizzas.
Godzila's first restaurant opened in 1999 in the sea capital of Bulgaria, Varna. Offers fresh salads, juicy barbecue, delicious pizza and various other dishes. Menus are in English and the staff speak English as well. There are traditional Bulgarian cuisine and Western cuisine as well.
Very good traditional food. Reservation is required.
This place is always fairly busy with a trendy crowd. The decor is modern and cool, and the people typically good looking. The service is usually good, and many of the staff speak English. The food is consistent and enjoyable.
Traditional Bulgarian Cuisine
Amazing restaurant just off one of Sofia's main streets. The decor is old-style Bulgarian and the food is traditional Bulgarian, plentiful and very, very tasty. Entertainment includes a Bulgarian walking band and guests are primarily locals. Staff are very friendly and most speak English. Reservations are necessary, even on weeknights.
Tasty cocktails, crowded in the evenings, has a summer garden (it is actually in a small park, which becomes occupied by the customers)
Speakeasy (5L is a transliteration of rooster in Bulgarian). Designer cocktails in cozy atmosphere. The key, corresponding to the day of the month, unlocks the door (not sure whether they change it at midnight).
Popular among locals and foreigners is the "apartamenta", some sort of private club in the second floor of a turn of the 19th-century mansion where you find a series of rooms, all in different styles and wall-drawings, colourful tapestries, etc. Go to the right, get a drink in the kitchen, and just pick and choose a room which looks cozy enough (shouldn't be too hard to find one with all the couches lying around). If you love the music, there are computers in most of the rooms where you can pick something out of the playlist. Have a game of chess. There is also a Cinema room, if there is nothing running just go in, pick a movie out of the list and start the projection. There is also home-made chocolate and cream and all different kinds of organic drinks like Himalayan tea or Kiwi nectar.
This place plays mostly drum&bass and dubstep music.
Owner-run, small hostel on the first floor of apartment building. Newly renovated. Small but clean rooms with single beds or bunk beds. Rooms come with TV, small balcony, fridge. Wifi available. No communal space or kitchen (only microwave).
Offers free unlimited high speed Internet (1000 Mbit/s) and Wi-Fi connection through the entire hostel, free coffee and tea any time of the day, free use of fully equipped kitchen, free blankets, pillows and sheets, free towels on request, free laundry (with 3 nights stay), free use of iron/ironing board, free hair dryer, free city maps, travel desk, security system + 24 hours video surveillance, designated smoking area, no curfew or lockout.
КросПойнт София Хостел
A hostel with a friendly atmosphere. Free Wi-Fi; 1-m-wide spacious and very comfortable beds; metal lockers. Offers mixed and female dorms as well as private rooms. Great young staff with an attitude working there.
Beautiful wooden flooring. Has a huge lounge to chill out, you can browse the net on modern computers. Some dorm rooms are en-suite, trips to Rila Monastery are run daily. €5 for breakfast.
At Famous Slaveykov Square (center of the downtown), a non-smoking eco hostel provides beds and rooms and it is a social place with air-conditioning, common/TV room and lobby area. Free of charge- breakfast, kitchen, PC and WiFi internet, lockers, maps, call a taxi, book a club, check timetables service, hot showers in renovated and sexes separated toilets and 24-hr reception desk. Laundry, pick up, meals and drinks are available. Friendly and talkative staff. A lot of info for local life.
This small hostel offers a variety of room options.
Formerly known as "Internet Hostel". Small place but very central. 3 (dorm) rooms, 1 apartment available in this location. Communal space: Small kitchen/dining area. No reception or staff on site, so announce your arrival upfront. Heating in the rooms is remote-controlled and only switched on at night times. The company operates several venues in Sofia. If you book in advance they might move you to a different location, based on availability.
VIBER: 00359889446364 Location:in the centre, at a quiet street, on the first floor of a three-storey residential building, with fully independent separate entrance and a tiny courtyard. The living area occupies 80 m². 4 separate rooms, individual locks, a fully equipped kitchen (kitchen stove, dishwasher, pots, saucepans, refrigerator, porcelain food sets, coffee machine, tea, microwave oven), two bathrooms with toilet, small vestibule. Bedding: Three rooms with three single beds, three individual locking wardrobes. The fourth room is furnished with two single beds and wardrobe. Window with PVC framed windows, convector radiators for heating in each room. All doors are locked with separate keys. In each room there are table, chairs, television, free WiFi, Internet, fax and two towels for each guest. Washing machine, clothes dryer, hair dryer, ironing board, mirror, bedside lamp, non-stop hot water. The Guest House is set up to accommodate up to 11 people. Included in the price: breakfast, tea, coffee.
Average but friendly hostel outside of the centre, Small kitchen, quiet neighbourhood.
Modern five-star hotel offering conference facilities and spa centre.
Is near Vitosha mountain and 20 min away from the city centre. Spacious rooms, large park area and friendly staff.
A hotel 5 min walking distance from the train/bus station and 5 min away in the opposite direction from downtown Sofia. It is a cute hotel with a nice bedroom and also a living/TV room, large private bathroom and includes breakfast buffet in the morning. Only negative is they do not have an elevator. Cost in slow season was €60 for 2 people, €50 for one person.
Business 4-star hotel near airport, ideal for business and leisure.
A charming B&B in the Red House cultural centre.
Just opened small and cozy guesthouse in the very center of Downtown, eco-friendly, offers individually designed en-suite rooms, also deluxe dormitories and studios, furnished and supplied with all natural materials and fabrics/linens, pillows by choice, free parking during the weekends, free WiFi, 40" LED HDTVs and individual PCs in some of the rooms!
previously branded as Sheraton
Impressive 5-storey hotel, in classical design, houses 184 rooms, including 19 suites. All rooms are soundproof, with air condition control, direct dial phone, message alert, TV with satellite program, radio, mini bar.
Set in a building that resembles a baroque castle, this hotel offers 77 rooms and 36 one- or two-bedroom apartments.
It`s the main commercial street in the centre of Sofia. Its pedestrian part is a popular place for walks. It is known as the most expensive street in Sofia.
Largest shopping mall in Bulgaria; contains also a Carrefour store, large Arena cinema, a lot of cafes and restaurants, etc.
Has many stalls selling all kinds of food, drink and cosmetics. The second floor has various fast-food cafés. As of early 2023 closed for renovations..
Contains a Piccadilly store and a Cinema City multiplex.
Also has an entertainment centre.
Contains a Piccadilly store.
Largest shopping mall in Bulgaria; contains also a Carrefour store, large Arena cinema, a lot of cafes and restaurants, etc.
Contains a karting track and a Cinema City multiplex.
By bus
Three smaller bus stations serve national and local lines:
By train
Sofia is perhaps the largest railway hub in the country. A list of all the available daily trains would resemble a description of Bulgaria's railway network. Nevertheless:
By car
The motorway network in Bulgaria is still under construction.
On foot
Streets have adequate tiled pavements, especially in the city centre. However, they are frequently uneven and potholed, and walking is further made difficult by parked cars, street vendors and cafes.
By mini-bus
Mini-buses (marshrutki) stop if you just wave a hand and are usually fast way to go somewhere without need to change the car, but they aren't common anymore.
By taxi
Taxis in Sofia are yellow. Taxis can be caught on the streets or can be ordered by phone, they arrive fast and are reliable.
By car
Renting a car is not necessarily a good idea if your plans are restricted to visiting only Sofia and not travelling elsewhere in the country.
By bicycle
Sofia is one of the greenest capitals in Europe, with the big park zones ideal for biking. Slow traffic in downtown is perfect for cycling. On a bike you will save time and will enjoy sport activity.
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Sofia · International · SOF
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