Sofia
Bulgaria · Sofia City · 550 m
Description
Sofia (София) is the capital of Bulgaria and one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in Europe, laid out beneath the Vitosha massif that rises straight out of its southern suburbs. Layers of the city stand within a few hundred metres of each other, the Roman street level of Serdica under the metro concourse, a fourth century rotunda in a ministry courtyard, an Ottoman mosque, a synagogue and the gold-domed Alexander Nevsky cathedral. Yellow cobbles run past the parliament and the National Theatre. Broad parks, mineral springs and a lift onto Vitosha make the city unusually green for its size.
Length of stay
Recommended length of stay: 2 to 5 days (optimal 3 days)
Travel season
Best time to visit: May – June or September – October
- Jan
- Feb
- Mar
- Apr
- May
- Jun
- Jul
- Aug
- Sep
- Oct
- Nov
- Dec
Highlights
- Alexander Nevsky Cathedral
- Vitosha Mountain and the Boyana lift
- Serdica Roman ruins and the Rotunda of Saint George
- Boyana Church (UNESCO World Heritage)
- Vitosha Boulevard and the yellow cobbles
- National Museum of History
- Saint Sofia Church and its necropolis
- Banya Bashi Mosque and the mineral baths
- Central Market Hall and the Sofia Synagogue
- National Palace of Culture and its park
- Borisova Gradina park
- National Art Gallery in the former royal palace
- Museum of Socialist Art
- Russian Church of Saint Nicholas
- Zhenski Pazar market
- Skiing and hiking on Vitosha (December - September)
- Dragalevtsi Monastery(Day trip)
- Sofia's craft beer and mehana scene
Getting there
- Airports:
- SOF
- Train stations:
- Sofia