Sofia

History

Sofia was founded around 2,500 years ago. Over the centuries, it has been given several names — Serdika, Sredets and the remains of the old cities can still be viewed today.
Near Sofia lies Boyana church, which is one of the most valuable memorials of Bulgarian and European culture. The church has frescoes, acclaimed by specialists as the best examples of eastern medieval art from the 13th century AD.
The decline of Sofia during the Turkish 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.

By plane

• Sofia AirportIt is the busiest airport in Bulgaria, with annual passenger traffic of approximately 4 million.

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.
Along with traditional carriers, some low-cost companies traveling to 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 - Tegel, Brussels, Bucharest - Otopeni, Frankfurt, Istanbul IST, Kiev - Boryspil, Larnaca, London - Gatwick, London - Heathrow, Madrid, Málaga, Manchester, Moscow - Sheremetyevo, Palma de Mallorca, Paphos, Paris - Charles de Gaulle, Rome - Fiumicino, Skopje, Tel Aviv, Tirana, Tripoli, Valencia, Vienna, Zürich.
There are domestic flights to/from Varna and Burgas.
Budget airlines including EasyJet, Eurowings and Wizz Air operate from Terminal 1, while the traditional carriers including Bulgaria Air operate from Terminal 2.
There are shops, cafes, post offices, ATMs, and money exchange offices at the airport. For more details, see the airport website.
There is a free shuttle bus operating between the terminals every 30 minutes between 07:00 and 19:00. Outside of those hours, a free shuttle bus can be requested at the information desk or you can use Bus #84 (see below). After midnight you might asked to book a cab for such ride.
To travel between the airport and the city centre:

• The signs for the metro station are only on the floor (follow the red line in direction of the arrows - turn left as you exit arrivals then exit the building briefly).
• Sofia Metro Line 1 (Red) operates service to the airport between 05:30 and 24:00. The stop is next to Terminal 2 (leave the building and go east). 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 1.60 lev. You 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 lev.
• Public Bus #84 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. A single ticket costs 1.60 lev. If you are travelling with luggage bigger than 60х40х40 cm, you will need to punch an additional ticket for each item or possibly pay a fine of 20 lev. The bus makes a stop at Orlov Most (Sofia University metro station), where you can transfer to the metro.
• Taxi service from the airport is regulated. OK Supertrans AD is the contracted taxi operator from the airport. It is best to request a taxi either from the taxi stand or the taxi office. Beware of touts offering taxi service as well as fake taxis with the fake "OK" logo! A taxi to the city center will cost approximately 15 lev. The regulated taxi fare is: initial fee of 0.70 lev, price per km 0.79 lev in the day or 0.90 lev at night, price per minute of stay of 0.22 lev, price for ordering a taxi via phone of 0.50 lev.

By bus

Central bus station

Sofia Central Bus Station (Centralna Avtogara/Централна автогара) is in the north part of the city centre and is within walking distance to the central attractions. Schedules and fares are available in Bulgarian online.
Eurolines Bulgaria is the largest operator of international buses to/from Bulgaria. Buses operate to/from Belgrade (5 hours, €23) and other cities in Serbia, Vienna (15.5 hours, €59) and other cities in Austria, Paris (36 hours, €120) and other cities in France, Berlin (28 hours, €110) and other cities in Germany, Budapest (11-13 hours, €48), and Prague (21 hours, €63).
MATPU 96 is the largest operator of buses in Bulgaria. The schedule is available in Bulgarian online. Buses operate several times per day to/from Skopje (5½ hours, €15).

Other bus stations

There are 3 smaller bus stations that serve only local destinations. The bus to Samokov operates from the south station (near Жолио Кюри Metro Station, also on the route of Bus #84 from the airport).

By train

From Romania, a train runs daily from Bucharest at noon, taking ten hours; the return train leaves Sofia at 09:00. June to Sept this is a through-train, Oct-May you have to change at Rousse ("Ruse") on the border. There's no longer an overnight train.
From Greece, a train runs daily from Thessaloniki at 07:00 reaching Sofia by 14:20; the return train leaves Sofia at 15:00 to reach Thessaloniki (shown on departure boards as "Solon") for 22:20. You need to stay there overnight for connections to & from Athens, Piraeus and the ferries to the Greek islands.
From Turkey, a sleeper train departs Istanbul Halkali at 21:40, running via Edirne, Kapikule on the border where you get out for passport control, and Plovdiv, to reach Sofia by 09:00. The eastbound train leaves Sofia at 21:00 to reach Istanbul for 07:40. Second class single fare is €20, plus supplement of €10 for couchette or €15 for a sleeper berth.
From Serbia, from mid-June to mid-Sept a direct train runs daily between Belgrade Topcider and Sofia, taking ten hours. However the Budapest-Belgrade line is disrupted throughout 2019 for engineering works, so it is difficult to reach Bulgaria from western Europe by train.
Within Bulgaria, trains run to Sofia from all the major cities, including the seaside resorts of Burgas and Varna.
The main railway station, (Bulgarian: Централна железопътна гара София, Tsentralna zhelezopatna gara Sofiya) or Tsentralna Gara is on the northern end of the city centre. The station can be somewhat confusing. Domestic departures go from the main terminal and that is where you can buy tickets for domestic travel. If you want to travel to an international destination, use ticket windows 14-17. They speak some English and to book a ticket, you will need your passport. They take credit cards. Platforms can be accessed from the main floor down the escalators at the far left corner. Platform numbering is somewhat confusing: Roman numerals indicate the platform number (I to VI), and Arabic numerals (1 to 12) indicate the actual track. Each platform is divided into East and West. Departures and arrivals are indicated on reliable electronic panels, but, beware, they indicate the track number, not the platform! In any case, leaving by train is mostly recommended if you want to travel overnight to destinations on the Black Sea, since trains for Varna and Burgas will leave late in the evening and get you there in the early morning (a couchette to Varna is 16 leva).
Timetables can be found at the website of Bulgarian State Railways.

By car

The motorway network in Bulgaria is still under construction.
Access to Bulgaria's capital is via several entry points:

• From the north (Vidin) & south (Thessaloniki) via E79.
• From the east - via Thrace Highway E80/A1.
• From the west - from the Bulgarian-Serbian border point of Kalotina.

The following motorways heading for Sofia are already in service:

• A1 connects Sofia to Burgas and the Black Sea coast, as well as Istanbul.
• A2 ends about 80 km from each city; the rest of the route is a regular 2-lane road. Extensions into the cities are planned.
• A3 is planned to be from Sofia to Thessaloniki, about 2/3 of the route is already in service.

Coming from North Macedonia, via Kyustendil the roads are relatively good but driving within speed limits would avoid you much hassle caused either by traffic police, or road conditions. From Central Europe you can drive almost the whole length on highways (via Slovenia-Croatia-Serbia or Hungary-Serbia), with only the last 100 km between Niš in Southern Serbia and Sofia being heavily trafficked mountain roads around the Nishava ravine in not the best shape.

By public transport

Sofia has a well-developed, cheap, and efficient public transport system that consists of buses, trolleys, trams, subway line. The transport network can be confusing for visitors who do not know it well. The public transport operates from 05:00 to about 23:00. Taxis are the only transport option in the night.
The price of a single ticket is 1.60 lev only paid in the local currency cash. There are also 10-ticket carnets for one passenger (12 lev), and daily travel cards (4 lev). Tickets and daily cards can be bought at most newspaper stands especially ones adjacent to public transport stops. If you can't find any, you can almost always buy tickets from the driver, though not guaranteed. Punch a ticket immediately after you enter the vehicle. The inspectors rarely understand English and you might have problems with them if you travel without a ticket or if you forget to punch it. 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 lev (which is the inspector's price of a ticket for your current trip, so you can use your unvalidated ticket on another bus.)
If you are traveling with a large suitcase, it also requires a ticket. 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. 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) for 10 lev + 2 lev card fee.
There are 15 tram lines, 9 trolley lines, 93 bus lines and 2 metro lines. Some of the buses cover the area outside the city center including neighboring villages. Useful routes are 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 or #6 to Macedonia square.
The subway in Sofia is still under construction and more lines will be available in the next years. There are two lines - one that crosses from the western edge of town (Lyulin, Obelya) through the city center, the southeast (Mladost) and the airport, and a second one, that crosses from the northwestern neighborhoods (Obelya, Nadezhda), through the central train and bus stations and the city center, to the southern part of the city (Khladilnika) - although it is a bit silly because trains operate two routes which each involve a combination of both lines. This may become more confusing as the system expands.

On foot

Streets have adequate tiled pavements, especially in the city centre. However, they are frequently uneven and potholed, and walking is further made difficult by parked cars, street vendors and cafes. Except for areas in the very centre, pavements rarely have slopes for wheelchair access or designated lanes for bicycle riders. Pedestrian crossings are numerous and are relatively respected by drivers. Use pedestrian underpasses to cross large intersections, though avoid ones in the suburbs as these are usually derelict.

By mini-bus

Mini-buses (marshrutki) stop if you just wave a hand and usually are fast way to go somewhere without need to change the car. You pay to the driver when you get on the car. Prices are 1.50 lev. You must tell the driver if and when you want to get off.

By taxi

Taxis in Sofia are yellow. Taxis can be caught on the streets or can be ordered by phone, they arrive fast and are reliable. A drive inside Sofia will rarely exceed 10 lev and a trip from the airport to the city center 8-15 lev.
There are many companies offering taxi services, some of them are OK Supertrans taxi (973 2121), €1 Taxi, "962-22-26", Yellow Taxi (91119) and Radio CV Taxi (91263) with fares around 0.80 lev/km. Some taxi companies have smartphone apps available that allow you to register and order taxis to your specific address in real time, thus eliminating the risk of falling prey to scams. As of June 2017, Yellow Taxi has the most user-friendly app for foreigners.
There are some taxis trying to imitate the most popular ones but with outrageous prices (up to 5.90 lev/km) so check before you board, these taxis usually hang around hotels and tourist spots picking on unsuspecting customers, The general rule is that if a taxi driver comes to you and offers you a drive, never accept it because they will try to rip you off.
Taxi drivers may not stop if you hail them on the street and often don't have much change, so plan accordingly (or leave tips!)

By car

Renting a car is possible, but not necessarily a good idea if your plans are restricted to visiting only Sofia and not travelling elsewhere in the country. Driving here can be strenuous for those with less experience behind the wheel - be prepared for traffic jams and disorganized traffic. Those of you who plan on visiting more of the country can rent a car from a local company (much cheaper than the big brands) or use a broker () as some of the local companies do not even have websites.
If you need to park your car, you are recommended to do it in a paid guarded lot. Parking in the center is difficult and you may be parked illegally without knowing it; foreign license plates may attract unwelcome attention of Bulgarian police and of criminals. Even if there are other cars parked in the area, double check that there are no signs or pavement markings prohibiting it. Parking in the central city area on working days is paid , it is divided in a so-called Blue Zone ("Синя зона") - 2 lev per hour, and a Green Zone ("Зелена зона") - 1 lev per hour. If you have a Bulgarian mobile number, you can also pay by SMS - send the vehicle registration plate number to "1302" for the "Green zone" or 1303 for the "Blue zone". This will charge parking for an hour through your phone bill. Five minutes before the prepaid time is up you will receive a warning sms. You can either send another message for another hour or move your car.
Pay attention to trams or buses stopping in the middle of the road. If you see a stopped tram or bus on your left, you must stop and let the passengers get on/off, according to the Bulgarian traffic code. Failing to stop in this manner may be very dangerous.
If you drive out of the city (or enter the country by road) you must have a toll sticker - vignette ("vinetka" in Bulgarian). Buy it right away at the border or before leaving Sofia from any fuel station. The price is 8 euro and the sticker is valid for one week (one-month, €15, and one-year, €50, vignettes are also available). You must place it on the front window, in the bottom right corner. The fine, if you forget the sticker, is about 200 lev.
Driving with your lights on is compulsory, day and night, all year long.

By bicycle

Sofia is one of the greenest capitals in Europe, with the big park zones ideal for biking. Slow traffic in downtown is perfect for cycling. On a bike you will save time and will enjoy sport activity. Sofia also has a few bike paths around the downtown area and in districts such as Mladost, Nadezhda, Hipodruma. Be careful as many cars double park and may open doors without noticing you. Rent a bike) Bike rental operates 10:00-20:00 (April to November). Discover Sofia by bike map or joint to an experienced bike guide.

Sofia is one of the oldest cities in Europe and has ancient ruins throughout the city center.
In the administrative center of Sofia, the streets are covered with a specific yellow pavement. It was laid in the beginning of the 20th century and were a present to the Bulgarian Tsar Ferdinand for his wedding from the Austria-Hungarian royal family.

Mineral springs

Sofia was founded because of the quality of its mineral waters. In the city, there are 7 independent mineral water springs. One of the springs is in the central area of the city and is accessible for everybody - cross the square behind the mosque, next to TSUM (the intersection of Iskar and Ekzarh Yosif streets).

• Sofia Public Mineral BathsIt is an old building of interest. It was renovated and is now a museum of the history of Sofia.

Museums

• National Museum of Military History

  phone: +359 2 946 18 05
  address: 92 Cherkovna Str.

• Institute of Ethnology and Folklore Studies with Ethnographic Museum

  phone: +359 2 988 41 91
  address: 6A Moskovska Str.
  Has a permanent collection of traditional Bulgarian costumes and a changing exhibition.

• Earth and Man National Museum

  phone: +359 2 865 66 39
  address: 4 Cherni Vruh Blvd
  Has the biggest collection of gigantic minerals in the World.

• National Museum of History

  phone: +359 2 955 42 80
  address: 16 Vitoshko lale str. (ул. Витошко лале 16)
  The National Museum of History (Национален исторически музей) in the Rezidentsia Boyana in Sofia contains more than 650,000 exhibits and is one of the largest history museums on the Balkans, so be prepared to spend several hours. The aim of the museum is to provide a comprehensive view on Bulgarian history from the prehistory to present, in as broad of a European context as possible. One main attraction are golden or silver mugs and jewellery that date from Thracian (around 4th century BC) and roman periods. About half of the exhibits have English captions.

• National Institute of Archaeology and Museum

  phone: +359 2 988 24 06
  address: 2 Saborna Str.

• National Polytechnic Museum

  phone: +359 2 831 30 04
  address: 66 Opalchenska Str.

• National Museum of Natural History

  phone: +359 2 987 41 95
  address: 1, Tzar Osvoboditel Blvd
  Has four floors of everything from rocks and minerals to insects and stuffed bison. It is a nice way to spend a rainy afternoon.

• House-Museum of Ivan Vazov

• Museum of Sport

  phone: +359 2 930 07 61
  address: 1A Bulgaria Blvd

• Museum of Paleontology and historical geology

  phone: +359 2 930 82 00
  address: 15 Tzar Osvoboditel Blvd

• National Literature Museum

  phone: +359 2 988 24 93
  address: 138 G. S. Rakovski Str., floor 2

• National Agricultural Museum

  phone: +359 2 929 67 53
  address: 30 Suhodolska Str.

• National Ecclesiastical History-Archeological Museum

  phone: +359 2 988 13 43
  address: 19 Sveta Nedelya Sq.

Galleries

• Museum of Socialist Art

• National Art Gallery

  phone: +359 2 980 00 93
  address: 1 Batenberg Sq.
  Has old Bulgarian art, icons, etc. Also includes collections of the former National Gallery for Foreign Art, which are exhibited along with the 19th- and 20th-century collections of the National Art Gallery at National Gallery Square 500 (Kvadrat 500 in Bulgarian), which is at 1, 19th February St., St Alexander Nevsky Sq. and is open 10:00-18:00 Tuesday-Sunday and closed Mondays and holidays.

• Sofia City Art Gallery

  phone: +359 2 987 2181
  address: 1 General Gurko St

Churches

• St. Aleksander Nevski CathedralOne of the largest orthodox churches worldwide and the largest in the Balkan Peninsula.

• Boyana Church

  phone: +359 2 959 09 39
  address: 1-3 Boyansko Ezero Str.
  This small 14th-century church and garden is on the UNESCO World Heritage List. The church contains some very well preserved murals. Entrance is 10 lev, or 2 lev for students, however only 8 people are permitted inside at once, for a maximum of 10 minutes. During busy periods you may have to wait up to or over an hour, yet the queue is self-policed so be prepared to stand outside doing nothing for a while and don't forget who arrived after you! This is at the foot of Vitosha mountain and is a good starting point for day trips in the mountain, including a 1-2 hour hike to Boyana Waterfall and/or Lake (the lake is nothing special, and the paths to the waterfall are not well-defined and occasionally involve climbing up bare rock - there is an easier route and a difficult route which has gradients of up to 1:1).

• Church of St. George

• Hagia Sophia Church

  address: 2 Paris str.
  It is across the square and to the right from the Aleksandar Nevski Cathedral. It was built in the 6th century over an even older church. It is a witness of the whole Bulgarian history and is a valued cultural monument. In the 14th century it gave its name to the city of Sofia. It was destroyed several times and during the Ottoman rule it was used as a mosque.

• Catholic cathedral St. Joseph

  phone: +359 2 9815548
  address: 125, Knjaz Boris I
  Holy Masses: Sa 17:30 & Su 10:30 in Bulgarian; 12:00 in Latin; 18:00 Bulgarian

• Saint Nedelya

• St. Nicholas Orthodox Church

Other places of worship

• Banya Bashi Mosque

• Sofia SynagogueOne of the largest in Europe.

Historical buildings

• Amphitheatre of Serdica

• Battenberg MausoleumThe mausoleum and final resting place of Prince Alexander I of Bulgaria (1857–1893), the first Head of State of modern Bulgaria.

• Knyaz Battenberg's Palace

Monuments

• Monument to Vasil LevskiIt commemorates the hanging of Bulgarian national hero and major revolutionary figure Vasil Levski in the city on 18 February 1873.

• Monument to the Tsar LiberatorRepresenting the power of freedom and across from it are the National Assembly and the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences.

• Monument to the Unknown SoldierAcross from Aleksandar Nevski cathedral; on the side of Hagia Sofia's Church.

• Tsar Samuil MonumentA statue of the Bulgarian warlord and tsar Samuil, who ruled Bulgaria between 997 and 1014.

• Russian MonumentAn obelisk built by the Russians.

Open spaces

• Largo3 buildings of Socialist Classicism architecture.

• Prince Alexander of Battenberg SquareThe largest square in Sofia. Includes the National Art Gallery.

• Petko R. Slaveykov SquareA famous square, real Sofia center with a monument of writers father and son Slaveykov. It`s a biggest open-air book market in the Balkans.There are round benches and street musicians act very often.

• Patriarh Evtimiy SquareA popular meeting place.

• Park National Palace of Culture

Parks and gardens

• Borisova Gradina (Boris Garden)The oldest and best known park in the city. Includes the Ariana Lake.

• City GardenIt's the oldest and most central public garden, in existence since 1872.

• Sofia Zoo

  address: 1 Srebarna Str.

• Yuzhen Park (South Park)A nice park in the south-east part of the city, although a bit too crowded on weekends. Vibrant with open area cafes, entertainment for children and grown-ups, and a few ponds with ducks.

• Oborishte Park

  address: Yanko Sakazov blvd
  A park near the center of the city with places to eat and drink. Also known as "Zaimov Park".

Bridges

• Orlov MostA bridge over the Perlovska River near the centre of Sofia

• Lavov MostA bridge over the Vladayska River near the central train station.

Other sights

• National Assembly of Bulgaria

  phone: +359 2 939 39
  address: 2 Narodno Sabranie Sq.

• Sofia University

  phone: +359 2 9308
  address: 15 Tsar Osvoboditel Blvd

• Bulgarian Academy of Sciences

  phone: +359 2 979 53 33
  address: 1 15 November Str.

• Ivan Vazov National Theatre

  phone: +359 2 811 92 19
  address: 5 Dyakon Ignatiy Str.

• SS. Cyril and Methodius National Library

  phone: +359 2 988 28 11
  address: 88 Vasil Levski Str.

• National Palace of Culture

  phone: +359 2 916 63 00
  address: 1 Bulgaria Sq.
  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.

• Central Military ClubIt`s a multi-purpose monument of culture building in the city center. Also known under the name Kristal.

• Snail House

  address: Boulevard "Simeonovsko Shose 187, 1434 Simeonovo
  Novelty architecture.

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

• Sofia Opera and Ballet

  phone: +359 2 8006266
  During summer, open air shows in the evenings are offered.

• Arena CinemaOne of the biggest Bulgarian cinema multiplex. Cinemas in Sofia play all films except children's films in their original language with Bulgarian subtitles.

• Sofia Bike Tour

  phone: +359 885523630
  address: Dyacon Ignatiy, 5
  Visit the greenest capital of Europe on a bike. Every day free bike tour (12 April–November) at 11:00 and 17:00. Escape from the city and join to the bike countryside tour around Sofia. Start Point: National Theater "Ivan Vazov"

• PlaygroundsIf 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).

• Eat with a local Bulgarian Host

  phone: +359 82885950
  address: ulitsa "Krasna kitka" 5, Sofia, Bulgaria
  Experience a complete 4-course authentic Bulgarian food with a local chef at her private garden in Sofia city. Get a taste of local culture and authentic food.

• The New Sofia Pub CrawlNightly pub crawl departing at 21:00 from Crystal Garden. The guides will take you around to different local pubs and clubs tailored for the number of people participating on the crawl and the night of the week. A few of the stops give you a free drink but at others you will need to pay. During the tour you will learn about some of Sofia's history and its art scene. On a weekend, with a presumably large crowd, the crawl will tend towards clubs and larger pubs. On a weeknight, and with a smaller crowd, the crawl will stop at smaller pubs which seem to be local favorites and hidden gems which you are unlikely to stumble upon yourself. Tickets can be purchased online for 20 lev and presented on your phone.

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.
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 lev 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 Aleksandar Nevski square, in stalls just opposite the church.

• Vitosha BoulevardIt`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.

• The Mall

  address: 115 Tzarigradsko Shose Blvd
  a convenience store, Largest shopping mall in Bulgaria; contains also a Carrefour store, large Arena cinema, a lot of cafes and restaurants, etc.

• Central Sofia Market Hall

  address: Knyaginya Maria Luiza Blvd
  Has many stalls selling all kinds of food, drink and cosmetics. The second floor has various fast-food cafés.

• TZUM

  phone: +359 2 926 07 00
  address: 2, Knyaginya Maria Luiza Blvd

• Mall of Sofia

  phone: +359 2 929 33 77
  address: 101, Aleksander Stamboliyski Blvd
  Contains a Piccadilly store and a Cinema City multiplex.

• Park Center

  phone: +359 2 865 72 85
  address: 2 Arsenalski Blvd., floor 3

• SkyCity Mall

  phone: +359 2 971 02 13
  address: 52 Kosta Lulchev Str.
  Also has an entertainment center.

• Serdika Center SofiaContains a Piccadilly store.

• Sofia Outlet Center

• Bulgaria Mall

• Paradise CenterLargest shopping mall in Bulgaria; contains also a Carrefour store, large Arena cinema, a lot of cafes and restaurants, etc.

• Sofia Ring MallContains a karting track and a Cinema City multiplex.

Fast food

You can easily find take away food in Sofia. For less than 2 lev 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, jelly 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.

• Mr.Pizza

  phone: +359 2 988 82 58
  address: 44 Neofit Rilski Str.
  Popular in Sofia, get there early or reserve if you want a table in their courtyard.

• BaаlbekThis is great Arab food. Downstairs is take-away kebabs and falafels, and upstairs a small eat-in. Excellent hummus and salads, etc., and cold beer.

• Trops HouseIt`s a fast-food type of place, offering traditional Bulgarian meals and drinks. It can be found in several locations throughout the city center.

Mid to High End

• Happy's Bar and GrillHappy's is the Bulgarian equivalent of an American diner, and the Sofia representative of a nationwide chain. There are English-language menus, and the staff (all microskirted young girls, who apparently have to be smiling when they serve you) all seem to have at least some English as well. Portions are generally huge and represent a sort of "watered down" version of their traditional Bulgarian equivalents, although more Western fare is also available.

• Pizza VictoriaOne of the best Bulgarian pizzas.

• GodzilaGodzila'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.

• Pod LipiteVery good traditional food. Reservation is required.

• Motto

  phone: +359 2 987 27 23
  address: 18 Aksakov str.
  This place is always fairly busy with a trendy crowd. The decor is modern and cool, and the people typically good looking. The service here is usually pretty nice, and many of the wait-staff speak English. The food is consistent and enjoyable.

• Carrera

  phone: +359 2 960 28 66
  address: 4 Golo Bardo Str.
  A fairly modern restaurant over in the Lozenetz area. The decor is well done, the service good, and the food very good. Prices are in line with the quality and style of the place. The wine selection is excellent. They also have a nice summer/winter garden area.

• Hadjidraganovite kashti

  phone: +359 (2) 931 31 48
  address: 75 Kozloduy
  Amazing restaurant just off one of Sofia's main streets. The decor is old-style Bulgarian and the food is traditional Bulgarian, plentiful and very, very tasty. Entertainment includes a Bulgarian walking band and guests are primarily locals. Staff is very friendly and most speak English. Reservations are necessary, even on weeknights.

• Mehana Karajata

  phone: +359 2 8558804
  address: Bul.Ovcha kupel and ul.Zhitnitsa crossroad
  Try Bulgarian national cuisine - in a traditional Bulgarian home atmosphere. Nicely decorated restaurant with beautiful open garden, typical folk music.

• Old Days (English version of the name)Bulgarian national cuisine.

Cafés

• Starbucks

  address: Corner of Vasil Levski Blvd & Gurko Blvd

• Onda Coffee Break

  phone: +359 2 980 49 40

• Pchela Sweet Shop

• Nedelya Sweet Shop

  phone: +359 88 560 08 30

• Costa Coffee

• Art Club since 1991

  address: 6 Tsar Ivan Asen II Str.

Bars

• JJ Murphys Irish pub
• 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)
• 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).

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 where are 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 leva 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.
• Culture Beat. Boutique cafe, bar, and nightclub, in NDK (National Palace of Culture). Great view from the terrace in the summer.
• Gramophone - contemporary music
• RocknRolla - large underground venue with rock music, on Garibaldi square
• Yalta - the biggest, oldest and most famous disco in Sofia, existing since the communist times, resident and guest DJ parties and events. EDM, house.
• Bedroom Premium Club - R&B, hip-hop, house
• Stroezha - rock and contemporary music
• Onyx - contemporary music
• Sugar - hip-hop
• Bar Dak and Bar Dak 2 - bars
• Once Upon a Time Библиотека - housed in the building of the National Library, rock.
• Club Alcohol - rock
• Mixtape 5 - huge club, next to NDK (National Palace of Culture), various events.
• Sofia Live Club - live events, in NDK
• Club Terminal 1 - big venue, mostly rock
• Club Mascara - in the building of the National Opera, contemporary music, house.
• Megami - in the Marinela hotel, chalga, upscale.
• BIAD - Rakovski streer, next to Memento, chalga.
• Club Revue - opposite of the National Assembly, chalga.
• Dada Cultural Bar - tango, salsa, live performances

• ApartmentPopular among locals as well as foreigners is the "apartamenta", some sort of private club in the second floor of a turn of the 19th century mansion where you find a series of rooms, all in different styles and wall-drawings, colourful tapestries, etc. Go to the right, get a drink in the kitchen (everything non-alcoholic is 4 lv), and just pick and choose a room which looks cozy enough (shouldn't be too hard to find one with all the couches lying around). If you love the music, there are Mac computers in most of the rooms where you can pick something out of the playlist. Have a game of chess. There is also a Cinema room, if there is nothing running just go in, pick a movie out of the list and start the projection. There is also home-made chocolate and cream and all different kinds of organic drinks like Himalayan tea or Kiwi nectar.

• LodkiteIn the huge "Borisova gradina" park near the stadium (just ask you way around) you'll find this open-air place, in an old leisure-park parcour (you know, that type of small water-channels where kid can drive around in little gondolas). The boats have gone and the channels serve as improvised sitting places (basic tables made out of wood planks put between the two sides of the channel). There are also some tables on the court and lights decorating the trees illuminate the scene. The public sound system has experimental electronic music, ambiance, progressive rock, or whatever the DJs feel like. The later it gets, the more you'll find people sitting everywhere on the floor on the trees. On warm summer nights, this place is a must-be.

• The largest discos in Sofia are concentrated in Student's town (Studentski grad) in the southern part of the city and can be reached by buses #94 (from Sofia university and Culture palace), #280 (from Sofia University, Orlov most) and #102. The last bus to Studentski grad departs from the city center at about 11:30PM (from Sofia University and Culture Palace). The entrance fee for most discos is between 1 and 5 leva (€0.5 - 2.5). Discos that can be visited there include: Avenue, Tantra, Orient 33, Jim Beam, Maskata, Stroezha.

• 4km

  address: boulevard Tsarigradsko shose 111
  This place plays mostly drum&bass and dubstep music.

Budget

• Levitt Hostel

  phone: +359 885640012
  address: 55 Vitosha Blvd shifted
  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.

• Art Hostel21/A, Angel Kanchev str., provides cheap accommodation and a friendly atmosphere where tourists and locals mingle in the small basement bar. Dormitory beds start from €12 (09/2011), "The Guardian" says "Probably the coolest youth-hostel in Europe".

• Canape Connection Hostel

  phone: +359 2 441 63 73
  address: 12 A William Gladstone St
  A new generation hostel that offers chill-out atmosphere in a small charming house in the city center. The spacious canopy beds ensure your good night-rest, while the rich and healthy home-made breakfast gives you a great start in the mornings.

• Crosspoint Sofia Hostel

  phone: +359 896511179, +359 888455699
  address: #6, Parensov St
  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.

• Hostel Lavele

  phone: +359 884 08 02 83
  address: 14 Lavele St
  Cozy hostel with fantastic rooms and comfortable beds. Not a party hostel, but has a good staff that loves to help out and create a lively social atmosphere. Hidden in a small quite street. Good breakfast included in the morning including homemade yogurt and bread, filter coffee, and plenty more to fill you up. Lots of good maps and information about Sofia, including a really cheap day trip to Rila Monastery. Internet in all of the rooms.

• Hostel Mostel

  phone: +359 889223296
  address: 2A, Makedonia Blvd
  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.

• Nightingale Hostel

  phone: +359 877214888, +359 29801583
  address: 2A, Petko R. Slaveykov Square shifted
  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.

• Orient Express Hostel - Sofia8A Hristo Belchev Str. - This small hostel offers a variety of room options. From €8,5.

• Internet Hostel Sofia

  phone: +359 889138298
  address: 50A Allabin Str
  - Small but probably the most central hostel in Sofia. Very popular place with own Irish Pub: McCarthys, many room types inc. studios and apartments, one of the first hostels opened in Sofia.

• Alegra Hostel

  phone: +359 889446364
  address: Sofroniy Vrachanski street № 145
  skype: alegra.hostel VIBER: 00359889446364 Location:in the center, at a quiet street, on the first floor of a three-storey residential building, with fully independent separate entrance and a tiny courtyard. The living area occupies 80 m². 4 separate rooms, individual locks, a fully equipped kitchen (kitchen stove, dishwasher, pots, saucepans, refrigerator, porcelain food sets, coffee machine, tea, microwave oven), two bathrooms with toilet, small vestibule. Bedding: Three rooms with three single beds, three individual locking wardrobes. The fourth room is furnished with two single beds and wardrobe. Window with PVC framed windows, convector radiators for heating in each room. All doors are locked with separate keys. In each room there are table, chairs, television, free WiFi, Internet, fax and two towels for each guest. Washing machine, clothes dryer, hair dryer, ironing board, mirror, bedside lamp, non-stop hot water. The Guest House is set up to accommodate up to 11 people. Included in the price: breakfast, tea, coffee.

• 10 Coins Hostel

  phone: +359 889303592
  address: Dechko Uzunov 24, Nadezhda
  Average but friendly hostel outside of the center, Small kitchen, quiet neighborhood.

Mid-range

• Holiday Inn Sofia

  phone: +359 2 8070707
  address: 111 Aleksandar Malinov Blvd
  Modern five star hotel offering conference facilities and spa centre.

• Holiday Village DiplomatIs near Vitosha mountain and 20 min away from the city centre. Spacious rooms, large park area and friendly staff.

• Maxim HotelA hotel 5 min walking distance from the train/bus station and 5 min away in the opposite direction from downtown Sofia. It is a cute hotel with a nice bedroom and also a living/TV room, large private bathroom and includes breakfast buffet in the morning. Only negative is they do not have an elevator. Cost in slow season was €60 for 2 people, €50 for one person.

• Metropolitan Hotel Sofia

  phone: +359 2 419 19 00
  address: 64, Tsarigradsko shose Blvd
  Business 4-star hotel near airport, ideal for business and leisure.

• Red House B&B

  address: 15, Lyuben Karavelov St
  A charming B&B in the Red House cultural centre.

• Hello Sofia Guesthouse

  phone: +359 889138298
  address: 12 Stefan Stambolov Bul
  Just opened small and cozy guesthouse in the very center of Downtown, eco-friendly, offers individually designed en-suite rooms, also deluxe dormitories and studios, furnished and supplied with all natural materials and fabrics/linens, pillows by choice, free parking during the weekends, free WiFi, 40" LED HDTVs and individual PCs in some of the rooms!

• Hotel Lozenetz

  phone: +359 2 9654444
  address: 23, Sveti Naum Bul.

Splurge

• Maria Luiza Hotel occupies an exquisite building dating back to the turn of 20th century and listed as one of Bulgaria's cultural monuments of national significance. Maria Luisa Hotel offers a combination of the standards and services found in a luxury hotel plus the privacy and independence of one's own home.

• Sheraton Sofia Hotel Balkan

  phone: +359 2 9816541
  address: 5, Sveta Nedelya Sq.
  Impressive 5-storey hotel, in classical design, houses 184 rooms, including 19 suites. All rooms are soundproof, with air condition control, direct dial phone, message alert, TV with satellite program, radio, mini bar.

• Park Inn by Radisson Sofia Hotel

  phone: +359 2 861 5700
  address: Atanas Dukov Str. 36
  Set in a building that resembles a baroque castle, this hotel offers 77 rooms and 36 one- or two-bedroom apartments.

Generally, Sofia is a very safe and walkable city, even at night. Nevertheless, you should avoid poorly lit areas and use your common sense. Avoid the area around the central Bus and Rail Station, Maria Luiza Blvd, the dark areas of the city parks and the Lions' Bridge (Lavov Most). And don't go to the Borisova garden, it is very dangerous (especially during the night). Single women and girls should be especially careful. Junkies get high in these areas, prostitutes (both female and transsexual) offer their "services", some people might want to tempt you with touts of contraband (stolen, illegal, etc.) and/or try to mug you. These areas are also frequented by the homeless and the drunk. If your hotel is in the area you'll be alright, just don't hang around it unnecessarily. Try to act like you are familiar with the area (and familiarize yourself during the day) and look like a local. It is wise to choose a hotel/hostel in a good, central location.
Pedestrians should be careful since many Bulgarian drivers do not yield right of way to those on foot.
Do not get into conflict with locals especially if they seem aggressive or drunk, particularly football fan groups who tend to be drunk and aggressive. Avoid wearing football shirts or scarves of the Sofia-based football teams, especially on match days.
Be wary of petty thieves and poorer neighborhoods, as pick pocketing and thefts are common. If you are approached by locals trying to sell stolen goods, give you directions or bother you exercise caution.
If you get in legal trouble with some of the locals, the Bulgarian police and judiciary may not protect you adequately because of corruption and nepotism.
Be careful with taxis, make sure you check the prices first before you get in (the fare is per kilometer and it should be something like 0.79 lev during the day and 0.90 lev during the night, avoid cabs that display their fare as above 1.00 lev), also make sure the cab has the driver's card on the front with his name.
Banks exchange most currency so there is usually no need to use exchange offices which often offer a poor rate, ignore entirely anyone on the street wanting to change money; you will get an awful exchange rate, or a handful of fake banknotes.

Embassies

• Armenia

  phone: +359-2 9461272, +359 2 9461273
  address: ul. "Zagorichane" 3, 1111 Geo Milev, Sofia

• Finland

  phone: +359-2-810 2110
  address: 26-28, Bacho Kiro 5th fl 1000 Sofia

• France

  phone: +359-2-965 1100
  address: 27-29, Oborishte 1504 Sofia

Sofia has a large number of free wireless hotspots in bars, restaurants, and cafés. You may find also in hotels and public areas, like "Park Zaimov". The airport has a free public wireless hotspot, and so does the central train station in Sofia.

• Vitosha is a magnificent landmark mountain rising just south of the capital. It is easily accessible by public transportation or by car and day trips in Vitosha in a sunny day are highly recommended. In the winter it is well suited for skiing and its proximity allows one day ski-trips; in the summer it is great for hiking. A great way to spend few days in Sofia, being on its "balcony," enjoying sunny days on the mountain with a spectacular view on the capital. So going to Sofia provide gives you a unique chance to witness the rare symbiosis of the metropolitan city with its nature park.
• Rila Monastery is the most famous monastery in Bulgaria, situated in the huge Rila Massive. It is a 1½-hour drive away from Sofia.
• Plovdiv is a large city in Bulgaria. It is one hour (or 2-4 hours by train - frequent connections, price 9 lev per person) drive on a good highway away from Sofia. Plovdiv lies around three hills in the otherwise totally flat Thracian plain. Its historical center, Roman remnants & relaxed feeling make it a great day-trip.
• Veliko Turnovo a beautiful city along a winding river, the former capital of Bulgaria in the Middle Ages. The original city castle and walls are reconstructed. Be sure also to visit nearby Arbanassi.
• There are also many monasteries around Sofia.
• Istanbul is reachable by night train from Sofia Central Station (D 493). The train departs at 21:00 and, as of March 24, 2017, travels as far as Halkali (27 km from Istanbul Sirkeci Terminal). From here passengers take a minibus (included in the ticket price) to Istanbul Sirkeci. Sleeper, couchette and regular seating tickets are available.

Bankya Is around 14.3 kilometres away from central Sofia and offers a range of pools and water springs and a large park near the centre of the city. You can get there by taking the 47,48 or 49 bus from the Slivnitsa metro station.
Bus fares are around 1.60 levs or you can get a all day ticket for 4 levs.