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The Bulgarian Capital is very much a city in the process of change. Of course, there is still plenty of evidence of the old communist regime, but the city is moving away from that. Sofia is rich in history. There is so much evidence of, not only the Soviet Era but also the Greek, Roman and Ottoman occupations of the city. This ever happening change has turned Sofia into a cool and interesting city to visit. Unique buildings, art, cafés and restaurants are popping up all over the place. The city is beginning to come to life. It has a youthful population who know the type of place they want to live in. Sofia also represents excellent value for money when you compare it with most other cities in Europe. Food, alcohol and just general living here is cheap. This Sofia Travel Guide is designed to help you get the most out of your time in one of Europe’s up and coming cities.
Currency Converter – 2 Bulgarian Lev (BGN) = €1/£0.90/$1.20
Getting In
If you are travelling by air to Sofia then you will be arriving at Sofia Airport, 8km from the city. There is public transport connecting the city to the airport, the metro will get you into the city in less than 30 minutes. For the city centre, I recommend getting off at Serdika.
If you are arriving by bus or train, the Central Bus and Railway Stations are to the north of the city. They are within walking distance of most places but there is also a metro stop connected to the railway station. For transport to Sofia from one of the connecting countries, I recommend using Flixbus. In my opinion, they are the best bus company for value and reliability in Europe.
Where To Stay
Sofia surprised me, it is not as big a city as I expected. To stay right in the heart of the city, use Vitosha Street as your centre point. This is the main pedestrian walking street in the city, from there everything is in close proximity. Vitosha Street is almost directly south of the Central Railway Station. If you can find accommodation somewhere in between the two and not too far East or West, then you should find great value in a good location.
I stayed at a hostel called Hostel 123. Whilst it was perfectly adequate it was also just average. However, I heard nothing but great things about Hostel Mostel and I will be sure to stay there when I return to Sofia in the future.
When To Go
Sofia, like most of Bulgaria, gets extremely hot summers and bitterly cold winters. I found it to be a place that is better explored on a chilly day than a scorching hot one. I always find that some places just feel better when there is a chill in the air. That being said, I certainly wouldn’t recommend coming when it is at its coldest. Early spring or late autumn will give you a comfortable temperature once you are wearing the right clothing. This way you will be able to walk easily around the city.
Useful Phrases
Bulgarian is quite a hard language to read and understand. English, although not too uncommon, is certainly not guaranteed. I would recommend learning some key Bulgarian phrases before going. Click here for BulgarianPod101, a website that I found very useful.
What To Do
Free Walking Tour
Sofia has many, many historic buildings in quite a congested area. To really appreciate what you are looking at, I recommend taking the free walking tour around the city. Doing so will help you learn and appreciate the history behind the buildings and the city. Tours leave three times a day, 11 am, 2 pm and 6 pm, from outside the Palace of Justice. There is no need to register, you just need to turn up.
Balkan Bites Food Tour
Not many cities give you the opportunity to take a food tour free of charge. Fortunately the Balkan Bites Food Tour is just that. This unique tour gives you the opportunity to visit some small and independently owned restaurants around the city, tasting many delicious foods, all free of charge. For restaurants, it is an opportunity to advertise in the hope that visitors will return and purchase food during their remaining time in Sofia. The tour takes place every day from 2 pm, leaving from the Russian Church. It can be best to reserve a spot on their tour, although showing up 20 minutes beforehand is ok. Turning up any later runs the risk of the tour being full. As with the above, don’t forget to tip your tour guide!!
Alexander Nevski Cathedral
In my opinion, this cathedral is the most architecturally stunning building in Sofia. This huge Bulgarian Orthodox Cathedral is a must-see when in the city. The building is said to hold 10,000 people inside, although I’m a bit sceptical of that fact. The Cathedral was built to honour the Russian soldiers who died during the Russo-Turkish war in the late nineteenth century. Today it is one of Sofia’s main tourist attractions. Entry is free, although you will have to pay 10BGN to take photographs.
Explore Sofia’s Many Parks
Sofia is quite an open city, nowhere is more evidence of this than the huge parks throughout the city. From South Park to Park Zajmov, you won’t be short of opportunities to get close to nature. They are a great place to take a quiet stroll in and it won’t be long before you forget you are in the middle of a capital city. My favourite was Borisova Gradina, the oldest park in Sofia. This untamed park will at times make you feel like you are in a forest. If you are travelling with kids be sure to check out Kokolandia. This is a child’s adventure play centre to the south of Borisova Gradina.
Museum Hop
Sofia has quite a few impressive and important museums. If you are a lover of history or art then I recommend taking in a few of them during your time in the city. There is the National Art Gallery, the National Museum of Military History and the Museum of Socialist Art, to name a few. They all have entrance fees, which are not high in comparison with most places in the world (usually under 10BGN) and close on Mondays.
Vitosha Mountain
If you are looking for a day trip from Sofia, look no further than Vitosha Mountain which can be seen from some parts of the city. The mountain is 2,290 metres high. Luckily there are buses and cable cars that can take you to the top. Hiking is, of course, an option but be prepared, it can take between 3-4 hours to reach the summit. For an extensive guide on public transport to the top, click here.
Where To Eat
Supa Star
Getting a nice bowl of soup in Sofia is not difficult. Though to get the best bowl, you have to go to Supa Star. They serve six different soups a day with an ever-changing menu (they are said to have over 100 different soups available on rotation). Prices here are also excellent with most bowls only costing 3.50BGN. They are hugely popular, especially at peak times and you need to come early in the day to have your pick from all six. For me, there was no place better for a healthy, cheap lunch in the city.
Farmers
Farmers serve really good sandwiches and burgers. They offer good food using fresh ingredients for a low price. I had a chargrilled chicken sandwich served on a ciabatta bun. It was delicious and cost just 4.50BGN. The burger though seemed to be the most popular choice for customers and in fairness, they looked incredible!!
Avtentichno
This restaurant has all the makings of a great meal out but without the high prices. Great food in a lovely setting, dinner at Avtentichno is a must when in Sofia. I ordered the grilled ribs which came with fries. My girlfriend got the pork meatballs and both were excellent. They also have a huge wine and beer selection. The two main courses came to a total of 22BGN, a steal even by Sofia’s standards.
Garden House Pizza Stand
Buying Pizza by the slice was surprisingly popular in Sofia. Every street seemed to have at least one place selling it. The best however is sold outside the Garden House restaurant at the end of Vitosha Boulevard, across from NDK Park. They serve the biggest, thickest and most delicious slice for just 2.50BGN. You will get a choice from two pizzas there, the toppings on offer will all depend on what has just been freshly cooked and put out.
Ale House
You could eat a meal at Ale House for as little as 15BGN per person. Though, to really get the most out of a meal here it’s best to forget the budget. A meal at Ale House is also better shared, the bigger the group the better. They serve a whole host of different Bulgarian foods. Sharing as many dishes as possible gives you the opportunity to try more dishes. I went in a group of 4 and got an avocado and kidney bean salad, onion rings, a chicken clay plate, wild boar and mixed fried potatoes, before finishing off with a lovely dessert each. The food was fantastic, and I was barely able to move after. Our waiter was also incredible and helped us to choose from the vast menu.
Another reason to come here is for the beer. They have a great selection of bottled and draught beers available. For some added fun, taps are connected to every table, so you can pour your own beer for the price of 8.88BGN per litre. Be warned, this can rack up quite quickly! Whilst a meal here is not cheap by Sofia’s standards, it’s a great and unique place to eat and the food is delicious.
Skaptoburger
Just like its sister in Plovdiv, Skaptoburger Sofia has a delicious range of excellent burgers and wraps. The food is fresh and tasty and goes perfectly with one of the few beers they have available. A meal here is not as budget friendly as most places, with a burger and fries setting you back an average of 15BGN, but if you just want a good quality burger, this is the place to go. I did find it wasn’t quite as good as the Plovdiv establishment, but it was still tasty. Vegan and Vegetarian options are also available.
What To Avoid
Taxis
Taxis are known around Sofia to try their best to get every last penny they can from tourists. Meters go unused on nearly every occasion so a price must be negotiated in advance. Sofia has enough public transport to get you around the city, so there is very rarely a need to take them. But if needs must, do your research or ask a local how much the journey is expected to cost.
Tip – A taxi from the airport to the city centre should cost 20BGN.
Buying Drinking Water
In Bulgaria, it is perfectly healthy to drink tap water. Although bottled water is cheap, refilling your bottle is even cheaper and of course, much better for the environment. If you are out and about, make your way to the mineral water springs to refill there. There are quite a few dotted around the city including beside TZUM shopping centre just north of Vitosha Street.
Sofia, even with its historic past is a city of the future. Things are changing there and the city is growing into a vibrant, cultural major hub that can rival many cities across Europe. There is no doubt that Sofia will stay true to its past, the buildings and monuments will remain but the streets around them are on their way to becoming a lot fresher and cooler. For this reason alone, a visit to Sofia is worth it. Seeing this change happen is very interesting. It might not be a city people are desperate to go to now, a few years down the line though, it could be a very different story. Hopefully, the city doesn’t lose its charm in the change, and for tourism’s sake, prices don’t skyrocket. If Sofia plays this right, its popularity is sure to jump over the coming years.
Whilst you are here, why not read all about Plovdiv, the European Capital of Culture for 2019. You can do so by clicking here.
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This sounds like an amazing trip.
What an incredibly thorough guide! I love post that include everything you need to know about a location all in once place. I’d love to visit Bulgaria someday. When I was very young, my gymnastics coaches were from Bulgaria and I still remember the stories our one coach would tell of her grandmother’s garden in Sofia!
terrific guide. do you know of any hotels in the area you’d recommend aside from the hostels?
Joy at http://www.thejoyousliving.com
Thank you so much!!!
I had family who came to visit while I was there, they stayed at Hotel Bon Bon. It was great value for money and everything you would expect from a standard hotel room. About a ten minute walk to the Main Street of the city. There are some a lot closer, but they looked to be in the higher price range.
Hope this helps 😁 https://www.booking.com/hotel/bg/bon-bon-sofia2.en-gb.html
Adam
Wow! This looks amazing and what a super detailed guide. This would definitely be a post I look to if I was ever to visit this place. It would help with every question I’d have. Wonderful post and wonderful photos!
Thank you so much!! It is a great city to visit and I would definitely recommend it 😁
Looks like a lovely place! Would be a perfect short break to visit this place 🙂
This is really good and the info about the free walking and food tours we will definitely use when we go in May!
Admiring the hard work you put into your blog and detailed information you provide.
It’s great to come across a blog every once in a while that isn’t the same out of date rehashed material.
Great read! I’ve bookmarked your site and I’m including your
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