Looking for the best things to do in Sofia, Bulgaria? If yes, in this post a Native Bulgarian shares the top spots in Sofia for sightseeing.
Sofia in Bulgaria is one of the oldest cities in Europe and was inhabited since the 30th century BC, which is quite fascinating. At first, the city was inhabited by the Thracians who left lots of their traces all over the country. However, at a later point in time, the Romans took control over the city and it became one of the most important points on their maps.
The city was built in a very strategic location from where most of the commodities from the Middle East were brought to the Roman Empire. Its importance was so big for the Romans that even Constantine the Great wanted to make it the capital of the Byzantine Empire and usually called it the “New Rome”.
However, the Bulgarians arrived from the east around the 6th century and everything changed. Sofia was later overtaken by the Bulgarian Khans in the 8th century and it became an important province of theirs.
The Bulgarian Kingdom did not last long, as the Ottomans arrived in the city in the 13th century and besieged it. The Ottomans became the new rulers of the lands and stayed there for around 5 centuries, until the Russians came and freed the city and the country of Bulgaria.
Nowadays, the city of Sofia is one of the most historically rich cities in Europe. It is home to different cultures and religions and nationalities. This makes the city very interesting to explore, as you can find almost everything there from various cuisines to various customs.
While strolling around the city center you will witness lots of historical monuments dating back to Roman times and if you are lucky some traditional festivities.
The capital attracts the visitor with its diverse architecture spanning from ancient Byzantine architecture to Neo-Classical and today’s modern buildings. It also catches the attention with its liveliness and cheerful gardens and parks all around the city center where locals gather to drink some beer and play games.
Where to stay in Sofia?
If you have already planned on going to Sofia, it is also recommended to find a nice place where you can stay. Sofia is a city where you can find all types of accommodation and budget ones are not uncommon.
The best place to stay if you are traveling on a budget is Interhost guestrooms and apartments which is directly in the city center.
Another money-for-value option is the St. George hotel in Sofia, which is located at Sofia’s shopping street – Vitoshka. This hotel is built in an old aristocratic building and overlooks the center of the capital.
Last but not least, if budget is not an issue for you, then you should definitely go for Sense Hotel Sofia, prominent for its excellent service and amazing design!
Booking.comTop Things to do in Sofia, Bulgaria
1. Ancient Serdica Complex
Right in the heart of the capital you will find the ancient Serdica complex, which consists of the remnants of the ones great Roman city. Inside of the ancient complex there are many excavated houses, baths and a basilica dating back to the 4th century. Furthermore, the two of the main streets of the ancient city can be observed, along with its city walls.
The easiest way to get there is to catch the metro and get off at Serdica metro station. Once you are out of it you will see the open air ancient site. However, you can continue your walk back in time by exploring the ancient site under the ground. You will easily find the huge hall that is left on the left side of the excavations and pointing at the presidency.
2. “Sveta Petka Samarjiiska” Church
This tiny churh is located next to the ancient Serdica complex and is ofter overlooked by tourists. However, it hides fascinating murals on the inside that are dating back to the 15th century. The church was built over a Roman religious building and remained almost unchanged over time. An interesting fact it that it was named after Saint Petka, who was a patron of the saddlers that would come and pray in the church. Furthermore, many believe that the Bulgarian revolutionary and national hero Vasil Levski who was fighting against the Ottoman presence was buried here.
To enter the church go down its staircase on the left and keep in mind that it is open from 7:00 am until 7:00 pm in the evening.
3. Saint Nedelya Church
Originally, the church was built around the 10th century and has been a place for worship for all of the citizens of Sofia. However, over time the church has been destroyed and build over and over again, so not much has left of its artefacts from the Middle Ages. However, it is one of the most significant churches in Sofia and is attracting many believers in front of its doors.
During the Russian presence in the country, lots of royal Russians contributed to the restoration of the church after the war with the Ottomans. They gifted 8 bells to the church, which were added later when the domes of the church were finished in the 19th century. A little known fact is that a Serbian King from the 13th century has been buried in the church and his remains can still be found there.
The church is built in a Byzantine Revival architectural style and is easily distinguished by the rest of the churches in Sofia and Bulgaria. It’s interior was painted in the end of the 19th century and is depicting various religious scenes all over its walls and ceiling. The church is situated a couple of steps away from the architectural complex Serdica and is close to the shopping street of Sofia.
4. Vitoshka street
Boulevard Vitosha, or as the locals know it, Vitoshka street, is the main pedestrian and shopping street in the city of Sofia. It is known for the various clothing shops that occupy most of the area, but there are also lots of restaurants, bakeries, cafes and pubs.
Some of the best restaurants at Vitosha street are the Shtastlivetsa (The Happy Man) that offers some fine and not so traditional dishes like my favorite zucchini balls.
The interior of the restaurant is quite fascinating and resembles the interior of the modern castles. The prices in the restaurant are not that high and for less than 20 USD you can get lots of tasty food and excellent service.
If you are craving ribs and some fine draft beer you can head straight to Ribs Brothers, which is offering one of the finest pulled pork sandwiches!
However, if you would like to try some good pasta or the best sushi in town you can visit Rafy Bar and Gelato, which is one of the biggest restaurants at Vitosha boulevard.
But my most favorite spot for getting some food on the go is the Wok to Walk restaurant, which offers the best noodles in town.
Usually, if you want to get a good coffee it is better to go to Afreddo Caffeteria, which also offers the nicest ice cream in the city. It is definitely worth it and on top of that, it costs less than 5 USD.
Sofia city is famous for its night life, thus you would like to start your party right, get a nice cocktail at Memento, which is a café during the day and a pub during the night. It is a very nice place, especially in the summer when you can drink outside in some dim romantic light!
5. Church of Saint George
The church of Saint George is one of the oldest religious buildings in the capital of Bulgaria. It was built in the 4th century by the rule of Constantine the Great who used to live in Sofia and rule the Roman Empire from there. A very interesting fact is that the church of Saint George is the oldest Orthodox church in Eastern Europe and is also one of the most historically important churches in Bulgaria.
The church is easily distinguished by the rest of the religious buildings around, as it is covered in red square bricks that make it look more authentic. The most fascinating thing about the church is that houses 5 layers of frescoes from different periods. The original frescoes covering the walls inside the church were in Roman-Byzantine style. Then, the church was partly covered with frescoes from Bulgarian Medieval style, whereas the other layers of frescoes was depicting various prophets in religious scenes. At some point, during the Ottoman rule over the country of Bulgaria, the church was turned into a mosque and it was covered with Islamic paintings hiding the previous ones.
The easiest way to get to the church is by going to Saborna street, where you will find its entrance. It is situated in the Presidency’s garden and can be easily accessed from there.
If you are a history fan would like to know more about the city of Sofia and its past you can check the Bulgarian Archaeological Museum located in front of the Presidency. It can be visited from 10:00 am until 6:00 pm and the entrance fee is 5 USD. The visit is absolutely worth it, as it holds a huge collection of Roman and Thracian artefacts.
6. National Art Gallery and the National Ethnology Museum
The National Art Gallery is the biggest gallery of Bulgaria and holds lots of paintings of the Bulgarian royal family. In the past, the building that houses now the National Art Gallery was a Turkish residence that was used for events and meetings with important personas of the past.
The gallery has 3 floors, which are divided into different sections. On first floor are displayed the temporary exhibitions, while on the second floor are displayed the permanent exhibitions. They consist of the Bulgarian art gallery, the Royal Family gallery and the National Ethnography Museum.
If you plan to visit the National Art Gallery you will have to buy two tickets. One for the National Art Gallery and one of the National Ethnology Museum. The tickets cost 3 USD each and have to be bought from the 2 different kiosks at the entrance of the gallery.
7. Russian Church “Sveti Nikolay Mirlikiiski”
The Russian Church is one of the most beautiful and colorful churches in the city of Sofia. The church was built after the liberation of Bulgaria from the Ottoman occupation. At that time lots of Turkish religious buildings were destroyed and on their places were built churches. The Russian church was built as a gratitude to Russia for their support in the liberation process.
8. “Ivan Vazov” National Theater
The national theater is known as the oldest and most famous theater in Bulgaria. It is one of the most flamboyant buildings in Sofia and is definitely a must-see. The theater was built in the beginning of the 20th century by an Austrian architect and was named after Bulgaria’s most famous writer – Ivan Vazov, who is considered to be the patriarch of the Bulgarian literature.
In front of the theater there is a beautiful garden and a park, where you can sit and rest, or enjoy a drink at the nearest cafes.
9. Cathedral Saint Alexander Nevsky
The Alexander Nevski Cathedral is the biggest Orthodox cathedral in the southeast of Europe and the Balkans. It was built in the beginning of the 19th century in a Neo-Byzantine architectural style and since then is the symbol of the city of Sofia. An interesting fact about its domes is that they are gold-plated, which shows how important was the cathedral to the people of Bulgaria.
On the inside of the cathedral can be seen many hand-painted biblical scenes all over its walls and domes. There is also a huge altar in the middle of the church surrounded with gold and silver arches. Unfortunately, the cathedral is not well-lid and it is quite hard at times to observe it.
10. Vrana Palace
The Vrana Palace (Crow Palace) was once a residence of the Ottoman governor of Sofia who was living there. However, later it was gifted to the Bulgarian royal family, as a place for them to live. Nowadays, the palace is uninhabited and is open to the public for a small fee of 3 USD. Thus, you can roam freely around its beautiful gardens, where you will find the hinting villa of the royal family, along with their greenhouses and stables.
The Vrana Palace is a perfect place to spend some time outside of the hustle and bustle of the city and it is quite easy to reach it. To go there you have to catch bus 505 from Lion’s Bridge bus stop and buy a ticket for 0.80 USD.
11. Vitosha Mountain hiking trails
Vitosha Mountain offers a lot of hiking trails for avid hikers. One of the best hiking trails around Vitosha is the trail to the Dragalevtsi Monastery, which is a quite steep trail, but is definitely worth the effort. It takes around 2 hours of going up through a tranquil forest, which will lead you to a beautiful monastery.
To easily get to the trail you can get bus 93 and get off at the center of Dragalevtsi village and then continue straight. Another option is to get a taxi from the city center, which should not cost more than 8 USD.
Another nice hiking trail is the one to the Cherni Peak (Black peak), which leads you from Aleko hut to one of the highest peaks in Bulgaria. The easiest way to get there is to catch bus 66, which stops next to Aleko hut and from there you can go straight up the hiking trail.
Wrapping up
I hope that this curated list of top things to do, see and eat in Sofia has helped you to plan a wonderful stay in Sofia. I truly hope that you love Sofia and also explore more of my wonderful country. Bulgaria has so much to offer, you are always welcome!
This is a post by guest contributor Alexandrina from the blog Earthosea.com
Alexandrina is a travel blogger at EarthOSea with extensive travel experience in Europe. Her passions are hiking, reading and island hopping. You can follow her adventures on Facebook and Pinterest.
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