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Old town of Sofia in the evening light.
Old town of Sofia in the evening light.

Sofia

Published: 26 September 2024, 09:30

Bulgaria’s
dynamic capital city

Sofia, one of Europe’s oldest cities, enchants visitors with its unique charm. The city captivates with a curiously fascinating mix of styles: Eastern Bloc architecture meets Orthodox churches, houses from the Wilhelminian era, and historic and ultra-modern buildings. At the same time, Bulgaria’s capital offers plenty of greenery and tranquillity with its numerous parks. Anyone interested in architecture can embark on a wonderful journey through time in the country’s largest city and visit remarkable, historic and religious sites without the crowds.

Sofia is considered an underrated travel destination and, therefore, an insider tip among European capitals - perfect for a long weekend or as a starting point for a tour of Bulgaria, where you can discover a diverse country with ancient monasteries, a fascinating mountain world, idyllic villages and the Black Sea.

Numbers, data, facts

  • Time difference: + one hour
  • Population: 1.2 million
  • Official language: Bulgarian
  • Currency: Bulgarian lev (BGN)

Five city views of Sofia

An imposing cathedral with light green and golden domes against a blue sky. The façade of light-coloured stone is decorated with round arches, columns and reliefs. There is a square around the cathedral where people can be seen.
Sofia’s landmark: the impressive Orthodox Alexander Nevsky Cathedral is one of the capital city’s most beautiful sights. © Worldwide Pictures/stock.adobe.com
A city view at dusk. In the foreground is a large, illuminated church with a striking green dome and several small green domes and semi-domes. The church is surrounded by trees and a deserted square. Houses can be seen in the background, and a mountain range in the distance.
Always in view: the Vitosha Mountains, which lie to the south of Sofia and provide a picturesque backdrop. In the foreground is the impressive Sveta Nedelja Cathedral. © dudlajzov/stock.adobe.com
A magnificent, elongated, historic building with a colourful façade and red roofs. It has three domes. A chimney rises in the background. In front of the building is a large rectangular fountain and some people milling around.
What looks like an oriental palace is, in fact, the former Central Mineral Baths, which now houses the Regional History Museum of Sofia. © Takashi Images/stock.adobe.com
A large, densely wooded park in the foreground, bordering an urban landscape with numerous residential buildings on the right-hand side of the picture. A mountain range can be seen in the background of the park and houses.
The city’s green lung is South Park, which is an extension of the Vitosha Mountains. In the beautiful park, you can stroll along extensive paths. © Stoyan Haytov/stock.adobe.com
A large central square paved with large rectangular stone slabs in a regular, geometric pattern. The patterns are coloured, and the dominant shade is orange. Symmetrically on either side of the square is a large building built in the socialist classicist style. In the centre is a third building of the same design with a central tower. The sky is blue with white clouds.
In the centre of Sofia, three massive government buildings stand out on Independence Square. The complex, built in the style of socialist classicism, is called Largo. © rh2010/stock.adobe.com

Monasteries, mountains and marvellous nature around Sofia

Sofia is located in the west of the country and is surrounded by impressive nature. The Vitosha Mountains, a popular destination for hiking and skiing, rise directly on the outskirts of the city. To the northeast of the capital lies the imposing Balkan Mountains, a further mountain world that makes the hearts of nature lovers and outdoor enthusiasts beat faster. The Central Balkan National Park is home to some of Europe’s oldest forests, which are home to diverse flora and fauna and where waterfalls and caves can be discovered. About seventy kilometres south of Sofia lies the Rila Mountains, home to the famous Rila Monastery, many clear mountain lakes and the highest mountain on the Balkan Peninsula, Musala, at 2,925 metres.

Bulgaria is characterised by a deeply rooted religious tradition, which is reflected in the many monasteries and churches around Sofia. The locals are known for their warm hospitality, making travellers feel welcome at all times.

Five beautiful destinations for a day trip from Sofia

A forested mountain in warm light. The top of the mountain is rocky, while the lower slopes are covered by dense forest.
They can be reached directly from Sofia by metro: the Vitosha Mountains on the outskirts of the city are best explored on foot. In winter you can go skiing. © Ongala/stock.adobe.com
The inner courtyard of a monastery. In the foreground, on a large square, is the main church with striking black and white stripes on the arches and porticoes as well as several domes. To the right of the church are richly decorated arcades. On the left of the picture is a high square defence tower. A green, wooded mountain landscape rises in the background. The sky is cloudy. A few people can be seen scattered around the courtyard.
In the centre of the Rila Mountains lies the Rila Monastery. It is one of the largest Orthodox monasteries in the world and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. © Dejan Gospodarek/stock.adobe.com
A historic monastery set in green surroundings. The buildings are made of natural stone and have slightly arched roofs, domes and ornate entrances with round arches. A cobbled square can be seen in front of them.
Troyan Monastery is a day trip destination east of Sofia. The third largest monastery in Bulgaria is located in the Cherni Osam river valley, in the Balkan Mountains. © dudlajzov/stock.adobe.com
A rock formation with towering brown rocks against a blue sky. In front of the group of rocks is a fortress wall and a green meadow. Several green trees grow between the rocks. The sky is blue.
Somewhat reminiscent of the mountains of Saxon Switzerland are the rocks and fortress of Belogradchik, the origins of which date back to the Roman Empire. © M. Schmitz/stock.adobe.com
A city with colourful houses on a sunny day. In the background on the right-hand side of the picture is a green hill on which a kind of tower with an antenna can be seen. A rocky outcrop can be seen on the left. In the far distance in the background is a mountain range that can only be vaguely recognised. The sky is bluish-purple cloudy.
Plovdiv is south of Sofia. Bulgaria’s second largest city was founded on seven hills in 341 BC and is considered Europe’s oldest city. © mehdi33300/stock.adobe.com

Sofia from BER

Aircraft shortly before touching down on the runway.

Bulgaria Air

Ryanair

Sofia Airport (SOF)

Five travel tips for …

  1. Admire the impressive architecture of the Alexander Nevsky Cathedral.
  2. Stroll along Vitosha Boulevard and go for a coffee.
  3. Marvel at the frescoes from the 13th century in the Boyana Church.
  4. Take the metro to the Vitosha Mountains and go hiking.
  5. Buy local products and souvenirs in the central market hall.

  1. Attend an Orthodox service in the Alexander Nevsky Cathedral.
  2. Watch a performance at the Ivan Vasov National Theatre.
  3. Discover street art on a guided street art tour.
  4. Visit the Regional History Museum in the Central Mineral Baths.
  5. Admire works of art by Bulgarian painters in the National Art Gallery.

  1. The skiing resort of Bansko in the Pirin Mountains in western Bulgaria.
  2. The mineral baths of Stara Zagora in the centre of the country.
  3. The fascinating historic town of Russe on the banks of the Danube.
  4. Varna and Burgas on the Black Sea coast.
  5. The deep gorges and picturesque villages of the Balkan Mountains.

Picture Source title:
© Boyan Georgiev/stock.adobe.com

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