Sofia

Understand

The city has had several names over the past 2,500 years: the Romans called it Serdika when they took it from a Thracian tribe with a similar name, the Slavs called it Sredets when they integrated it into the first Bulgarian Empire, and the Ottomans called it Sofia, the Greek word for "wisdom", when they made it their base for the Balkans. You can still find remnants from each of these societies in parts of the city. People first came here for the hot water springs that still flow abundantly in the centre of the city. Many of the later Roman emperors took a liking to these thermal baths, and developed the city into a regional capital; Emperor Constantine even considered building his imperial capital here instead of Constantinople. From there, Sofia has had ups and downs; sacked by the Huns, then a fortress for the first Bulgarians, then sieged and rebuilt by the Ottomans. The decline of Sofia towards the end of the Ottoman Empire was followed by the rejuvenation after the Russian liberation in 1878, when Sofia was chosen as the capital of Bulgaria at the First National Constituent Assembly, and followed by a brisk and straightforward period of construction. During the Second World War, thousands of buildings were destroyed or damaged by bombing campaigns, until the Soviet Red Army occupied Sofia and established a Communist government, which constructed Stalinist Gothic public buildings and concrete tower blocks. Newer construction has led to glass-fronted office buildings and top-class residential neighbourhoods.

Tourist information VisitSofia.bg, Sofia's official tourist information website. Available in several languages, including English. 1 Main tourist information centre, 22 Tsar Osvoboditel Blvd (in the underpass of Sofia University, under the intersection south of the main building), ☏ +359 2 491 83 44. M-F 09:30 – 18:00. (updated Jun 2024) 2 Tourist information centre (the Largo), Nezavisimost Sqr (in the pedestrian underpass/entrance to the Serdika II metro station), ☏ +359 2 49 49 315. M–F 09:30–18:00. (updated Jun 2024) 3 Tourist information kiosk (Chitalnyata (The Reading Room)) (kiosk in the City Garden, the small park in front of the National Theatre), ☏ +359 885 921 620. 10:00 – 20:00 (every day). A small reading room/library in a glass kiosk that also serves as a tourist information point. (You can get a library membership by donating at least one book, but the books are only in Bulgarian.) (updated Jun 2024)

Getting there

By plane 1 Sofia Airport (Летище "Васил Левски" - София SOF IATA) (9 km east of the city center). It is the busiest airport in Bulgaria, with annual passenger traffic of approximately 4 million. (updated Jul 2025) Over 20 airlines operate service to/from Sofia, with direct flights to/from Athens, Paris, Vienna, London, Rome, Amsterdam, Munich, Warsaw and other European cities. There are also domestic flights from Varna and Burgas. Along with traditional carriers, some low-cost companies serving Bulgaria are EasyJet (to/from London-Gatwick, Madrid, Manchester) and Wizz Air (to/from Paris-Beauvais, Barcelona, Brussels-Charleroi, Dortmund, Eindhoven, London-Luton, Milan-Bergamo, Rome-Fiumicino, Valencia) and RyanAir. Bulgaria Air, the national carrier operates service to/from Alicante, Amsterdam, Athens, Barcelona, Beirut, Berlin, Brussels, Bucharest, Frankfurt, Istanbul, Larnaca, London (Gatwick & Heathrow), Madrid, Málaga, Manchester, Palma de Mallorca, Paphos, Paris, Rome, Skopje, Tel Aviv, Tirana, Tripoli, Valencia, Vienna and Zürich. Budget airlines including EasyJet, Eurowings and Wizz Air operate from Terminal 1, while the traditional carriers including Bulgaria Air but also Ryanair operate from Terminal 2. There is a free shuttle bus operating between Terminals 1 and 2 every 15–30 minutes between 05:00 and 23:00. Outside of those hours, a free shuttle bus can be requested at the information desk or you can use Busses #84 or 184 depending on direction (see below). After midnight you might asked to book a cab for such ride. There are shops, cafes, post offices, ATMs, and money exchange offices at the airport. To travel between the airport and the city centre:

Sofia Metro Line 4 (Yellow) operates service to the airport between 05:30 and 24:00. The stop is a few metres outside of Terminal 2; follow signs for "Subway" until you leave the southeast corner of the building. The journey to the city centre takes 20–30 minutes. The journey to the central bus station takes approximately 35 minutes and a transfer is required. A single ticket costs 0.80 €. You no longer need an extra ticket for each piece of large luggage. You can also buy a day ticket for all modes of public transport for 4 лв. The access gates as well as some ticket vending machines also accept credit cards and payment apps such as Apple Pay. Public Busses #84 and 184 operates service between both terminals and the city centre. The journey takes 30–40 minutes. Tickets can be purchased from news stands or ticket machines in the airport as well as by contactless payment aboard. A single tick

Getting around

By public transport

Sofia has a well-developed, cheap, and efficient public transport system that consists of buses, trolleybuses, trams, and subway lines. The transport network can be confusing for visitors who do not know it well, but there is a journey planner.

The price of a single metro ticket is 0.80€, while a bus/tram/trolleybus ticket is 0.80€ (transfers within 30min) and 1.10€ (transfers within 60min). There are also daily travel cards (2€). If you are staying for 4 or more days, or 3+ days and arriving directly in the city centre, you can also buy a 3-day ticket on an electronic card from the public transport offices (not from metro stations or at the airport). Fare inspectors ambush and board buses and trams in groups (and their attitude is generally not friendly at all), sometimes accompanied by police, and make no exceptions. The fine is 40 лв. Tickets can be purchased using contactless bank cards and payment apps such as Apple and Google Pay, which might be the easiest solution for foreign visitors. In the metro, the ticket gates have a contactless symbol indicating the location of the reader (it's on the left side, not the right). On buses and trams, there are blue electronic readers with the same contactless symbol. Contactless purchases will be capped to the cost of the daily travel pass. Paper tickets and daily cards can be bought at most newspaper stands especially ones adjacent to public transport stops, and from the driver. Validate your card/ticket as soon as you get on the bus/tram/trolleybus. The day ticket needs to be shown to the person at the ticket office before every metro trip, as they are supposed to check the date stamp (manually applied at the time of sale) before activating the ticket barriers to accept it.

There are 15 tram lines, 9 trolley lines, 93 bus lines and 4 metro lines. Some of the buses cover the area outside the city centre including neighboring villages. Useful routes include:

bus #84 from both terminals of the airport to the center from the train/bus station to Orlov most - bus #213 or #214 or tram #1, #7 and #18 to Vitosha Street and Sv. Nedelya Square #1, #6, #7 to the National Palace of Culture #18 to Slaveykov square #6 to Macedonia square. The public transport operates from 05:00–23:00, plus four night lines:

N1 (zh.k. Lyulin 0650) to Mladost 4 0669) N2 (Obelya quarter 0874 to zh.k. Studentski grad 1694) N3 (zh.k. Levski G 2430 to zh.k. Ovcha Kupel 2 0684) N4 (zh.k. Druzhba-2 0612 to zh.k. Gotse Delchev 0600)

On foot Streets have adequate tiled pavements, especially in the city centre. Howeve

See

In the administrative center of Sofia, the streets are paved with specific yellow bricks. They were laid in the beginning of the 20th century, purportedly as a present to the Bulgarian Tsar Ferdinand for his wedding from the Austria-Hungarian royal family (though many historians consider it a vanity project of Sofia's mayor). They are not a great material for wet weather, but they continue to add colorful flair.

Museums 1 Sofia History Museum (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. 10 лв. (updated Mar 2025) 2 National Museum of Military History, 92 Cherkovna Str., ☏ +359 2 946 18 05, fax: +359 2 946 18 06, [email protected]. 10:00-18:00. Huge outdoor display of Warsaw Pact tanks, planes, APCs and other equipment, and indoor displays on the Bulgarian military history going back several centuries. Adults 8 лв. (updated Jan 2025) 3 Institute of Ethnology and Folklore Studies with Ethnographic Museum, 6A Moskovska Str, ☏ +359 2 988 41 91, fax: +359 2 980 11 62, [email protected]. Has a permanent collection of traditional Bulgarian costumes and a changing exhibition. 4 Earth and Man National Museum (Национален музей), 4 Cherni Vruh Blvd, ☏ +359 2 865 66 39, fax: +359 2 866 14 57, [email protected]. 10:00-18:00. 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. 2 лв. 5 National Museum of History (Национален исторически музей), 16 Vitoshko lale str. (ул. Витошко лале 16) (Take trolley #2 to the roundabout at the end of the bus line. Cross the busy Okolovrustino Shosse (ring road) and walk through the trees. The museum is not visible from the road, nor are there any signs.), ☏ +359 2 955 42 80, fax: +359 2 955 76 02, [email protected]. 09:30-18:00. 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. 10 лв, 1 лв for students. 6 National Institute of Archaeology and Museum, 2 Saborna Str., ☏ +359 2 988 24 06, fax: +359 2 988 24 05, aim-bas@

Do

Sofia Bike Tour, Dyacon Ignatiy, 5 (Start Point: National Theater "Ivan Vazov".), ☏ +359 885523630. April–November. 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. Playgrounds. 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). Football – The men's national football team plays at Vasil Levski stadium (capacity 43,000) 1 km southeast of city centre. Five city clubs play in First League, Bulgaria's top tier: CSKA Sofia play at Bulgarian Army Stadium (capacity 23,000) just south of the national stadium. CSKA 1948 were formed in 2016 after a bust-up at CSKA Sofia. They play at Stadion Bistritsa (capacity 2500) 15 km south, and shared with Septemvri in the Second League. Levski Sofia play at Stadion Georgi Asparuhov (capacity 25,000, aka Vivacom stadium) 3 km east of the centre. Slavia Sofia play at Alexander Shalamanov Stadium (capacity 25,500) 4 km southwest. Lokomotiv 1929 play at Stadion Lokomotiv (capacity 17,500) 4 km north.

Theatre and performing arts

1 Sofia Opera and Ballet, ☏ +359 2 8006266, [email protected]. During summer, open air shows in the evenings are offered. 2 Arena Cinema. One of the biggest Bulgarian cinema multiplex. Cinemas in Sofia play all films except children's films in their original language with Bulgarian subtitles. 3 Ivan Vazov National Theatre, 5 Dyakon Ignatiy Str, ☏ +359 2 811 92 19, fax: +359 2 987 70 66, [email protected]. 4 National Palace of Culture, 1 Bulgaria Sq, ☏ +359 2 916 63 00, fax: +359 2 865 70 53. 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. 5 Central Military Club. It`s a multi-purpose monument of culture building in the city center. Also known under the name Kristal.

Vitosha

A magnificent landmark mountain very popular with the locals and rising just south of the capital. It is easily accessible by public transportation, bus 63 (from stop Tsar Boris III) or 66 (from Metrostantsiya Vitosha metro stop), or b

Buy

It is strongly advisable to skip exchange offices on the street and use exclusively banks for exchanging money. Some exchange stalls will try to scam you by buying your currency at very unfavorable rates. See Bulgaria#Money for exchange rates.) It's also possible to change money at a good rate in casinos if you play there. Ignore anyone on the street wanting to change money; you will get an awful exchange rate, or a handful of fake banknotes. ATMs are widely available and accept all major credit cards (Visa, MasterCard, Amex, Diner's, etc.), although you have to check your daily limit with your bank. ATMs will let you withdraw at most 400 лв in one go, but if your card limit allows it, you can make two or more withdrawals. Credit cards are widely accepted in larger stores and supermarkets, but in small souvenir shops or restaurants you will definitely need to carry some cash. Souvenirs can be bought many small shops in the subways in front of the old Party House and in the metro station at the Largo. The Ethnographic Museum has a small shop tightly crammed with souvenirs of all kinds from all over Bulgaria (on the right, just as you enter the main entrance). Antiques and souvenirs can also be found in Alexander Nevsky square, in stalls just opposite the church.

1 Vitosha Boulevard. 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. 2 The Mall, 115 Tzarigradsko Shose Blvd (Many bus lines stop at THE MALL. Choose between bus no. 1, 3, 5, 6, 76, 84, 114, 204, 213, 214, 284, 305, 306, 313 and 604.). 10:00 to 22:00. a convenience store, Largest shopping mall in Bulgaria; contains also a Carrefour store, large Arena cinema, a lot of cafes and restaurants, etc. 3 Central Sofia Market Hall, Knyaginya Maria Luiza Blvd (Opposite the Banya Bashi mosque.). 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.. 4 TZUM, 2, Knyaginya Maria Luiza Blvd, ☏ +359 2 926 07 00, [email protected]. 10:00 to 21:00. 5 Mall of Sofia, 101, Aleksander Stamboliyski Blvd, ☏ +359 2 929 33 77, fax: +359 2 929 33 00. Contains a Piccadilly store and a Cinema City multiplex. 6 Park Center, 2 Arsenalski Blvd., floor 3, ☏ +359 2 865 72 85, fax: +359 2 865 71 37. 7 SkyCity Mall, 52 Kosta Lulchev Str. (You can get there by tram No 20, bus No 9, and Route Taxi No 1, 19 and 21.), ☏ +359 2 971 02 13, fax: +359 2 971 01 89, [email protected]. 10:00 to 22:00. Also has an entertainment cen

Eat

Sofia is full of trendy cafes with outdoor seating in the summer and good-quality restaurants.

Fast food You can easily find take away food in Sofia. For less than 2 лв you can get a slice of pizza, a hot-dog or a sandwich. You can get more traditional Bulgarian food in bakeries, offering banitsa and other kinds of pastry. This food is often consumed with ayran or boza. Another possibility is to get a katma, which is a big pancake filled with cheese, ham, jam or chocolate.

Budget Pizzeria-type restaurants and snack bars can be found all over Sofia. Although many are very uninteresting for the traveler looking for a meal with a local flavor, some include excellent Bulgarian dishes. All these are in the city center:

1 Veselata Gozba Restaurant, ул. П.Парчевич 29. Good variety of main courses, soups, salads and desserts. The food is delicious. Family-operated restaurant (updated May 2022) 2 Gastrobar 6, ul. "Han Krum" 6. Favorite place for delicious food in a great pleasant atmosphere. You feel at home (updated May 2022) 3 Ali Baba, ул. „Алабин И. Вл.“ 52. Good place for a quick bit of kebabs and falafel. (updated May 2022) 4 Dream House, улица „Алабин И. Вл 50. Very good vegetarian restaurant. Quick service, simple and good food, good value for money. (updated May 2022) 5 Мекица и Кафе (Mekitsa and Coffee). 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! (updated May 2022) 6 DARO, ul. "Angel Kanchev" 20. A breakfast restaurant (updated May 2022)

Mid-range 7 Pizza Victoria (Ресторант VICTORIA Цар Освободител), bul. "Tsar Osvoboditel" 7. One of the best Bulgarian pizzas. (updated Aug 2022) 8 Godzila, ul. Gen. Y. V. Gurko 52 2 (Under the Sofia's sport palace with entrance from Gen. Gurko street.), [email protected]. Godzila's first restaurant opened in 1999 in the sea capital of Bulgaria, Varna . There you can try some fresh salads, juicy barbecue, delicious pizza and various other dishes. The menus are also written in English and the staff speaks English as well. There are traditional Bulgarian cuisine and Western cuisine as well. (updated Aug 2022) 9 Pod Lipite, ul. "Elin Pelin" 1. Very good traditional food. Reservation is required. (updated Aug 2022) 10 Motto, 18 Aksakov str. (Motto is on the street right behind the Radisson hotel, and then two blocks East (turn to the right on the first small street behind the Radisson if y

Drink & nightlife

Mineral springs

Sofia was founded here because of the quality of its mineral waters. In the city, there are 7 independent mineral water springs. Top off your water bottles here!

At the Sofia History Museum, there is a tap in a corner of the façade, and a larger cluster of mineral water drinking fountains just across the small street to the north (left when facing the building).

Cafés Onda Coffee Break, ☏ +359 2 980 49 40, fax: +359 2 980 19 39, [email protected]. Pchela Sweet Shop. Nedelya Sweet Shop, ☏ +359 88 560 08 30. Art Club since 1991, 6 Tsar Ivan Asen II Str.. International chains Costa Coffee and Starbucks have several locations across the city

Bars JJ Murphys Irish pub. (updated Dec 2025) The Cocktail Bar. Tasty cocktails, crowded in the evenings, has a summer garden (it is actually in a small park, which becomes occupied by the customers) (updated Dec 2025) Bar 5L. 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). (updated Dec 2025)

Nightlife The Sofia nightlife is vibrant, concentrated mostly in two areas - the city center and around Studentski grad (Студентски град/Student's town), which is the neighborhood with the university dorms. There are frequent live performances in various venues, check the freely distributed guides in various shops and restaurants like Programata (Програмата/The Program). The primary distinction between the clubs is whether the music includes chalga (чалга/folk-Turkish-Greek-Serbian influenced local genre) or not. Expect that any local acquaintances will have strong feelings whether they attend or not the chalga clubs. There are hundreds of clubs and bars, with prices from 2 лв for beer and 5 for cocktail to luxurious places charging exorbitant sums. It is better to pay with cash, as POS terminals are not widely available, especially in the cheaper places. The people start to gather after working hours for a beer, cocktail or glass of wine, moving to dinner around 20:00 and clubs and discos after 23:00. In the warm months, crowds overflow from the more popular places like Bilkova (Билкова/The Herbal) on the street. The centrally located parks and gardens like Crystal (Кристал) and Gradinkata na Narodniya (Градинката на народния/The garden of the national theater) and crowded during the summer, with drinks provided from nearby shops or cocktails in disposable cups.

Carrusel. Upscale club, hosting DJ parties and special events. Cultur

Sleep

Budget 1 Peter Pan Hostel, bul. Knyaz Aleksandar Dondukov. 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). Private €12-14. (updated Mar 2021) Levitt Hostel, 55 Vitosha Blvd shifted, ☏ +359 885640012, [email protected]. Check-in: 12:00, check-out: 11:00. 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. €10. 2 Crosspoint Sofia Hostel (КросПойнт София Хостел), #6, Parensov St (just a block away from Patriarh Evtimiy Square, and some 500 m away from the Parliament), ☏ +359 896511179, +359 888455699, [email protected]. Check-in: 12:00, check-out: 11:45. A hostel with a friendly atmosphere. Free Wi-Fi; 1m-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. €9-18. Hostel Mostel, 2A, Makedonia Blvd, ☏ +359 889223296. 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 Euros for breakfast. From €9. 3 Nightingale Hostel, 2A, Petko R. Slaveykov Square shifted (Close to the corner of Solunska Str. and Graf Ignatiev Str.), ☏ +359 877214888, +359 29801583, [email protected]. Check-in: 14:00, check-out: 12:00. 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 24hr reception desk. Laundry, pick up, meals and drinks are available. Friendly and talkative staff. A lot of info for local life. €7-12. Orient Express Hostel - Sofia, 8A Hristo Belchev Str.. This small hostel offers a variety of room options. 4 Interhost / Hello Sofia, 50A Allabin Str (On the corner with Vitosha Blvd and Allabin Str), ☏ +359 889138298,

Go next

In the region:

To the north, among the Balkan Mountains: the Iskar Gorge, picturesque Etropole, and Pravets with its golf resort and the museum of Bulgaria's last Communist dictator To the west: Bankya, a mineral springs resort known for its thermal baths, 15 km (9.3 mi) from central Sofia, almost absorbed as a suburb (e.g. accessible by public transport) To the southwest: industrial Pernik on the other side of Vitosha; further away is Kyustendil, "Bulgaria's orchard" under the Osogovo Mountain on the border To the south, under the slopes of Rila: Dupnitsa and Blagoevgrad, with the Rila Monastery, the most famous in Bulgaria and a UNESCO World Heritage Site (suitable for a day trip from Sofia) To the southeast, closer: Samokov and the mountain/ski resorts of Borovets and Malyovitsa Elsewhere in Bulgaria:

Plovdiv – Bulgaria's second most populous city, with good highway and rail connections to Sofia. Its Old Town, Roman ruins, and relaxed atmosphere make it a great day-trip. Veliko Tarnovo – A beautiful city along a winding river, the former capital of Bulgaria in the Middle Ages. Other countries:

North Macedonia, via the Gyueshevo/Deve Bair crossing by Kyustendil, 130 km (81 mi) to the southwest, towards Kriva Palanka and Kumanovo Romania, by international trains starting in Sofia - either Craiova via Vidin, or the capital Bucharest via Ruse Serbia is less than 60 km (37 mi) to the west, via the Kalotina/Gradine crossing - Dimitrovgrad, Pirot and Niš Turkey, by international train to Istanbul