Popular Cities Sofia

Sights of the city

The city's unique sights tell the story of Sofia and give the city a very special flair. Visit the Alexander Nevsky Cathedral or let yourself be enchanted by the creative works of street art.

Ivan Vazov National Theatre

The Ivan Vazov National Theatre is located in the centre of Sofia and stands out impressively among the countless green spaces. From the outside, the building is clad in a red façade and framed by white columns and stucco. After a fire in 1923 and attacks on Sofia during the Second World War as well as in the 1970s, conversions and extensions took place. Together with further renovations of the façade in 2007, the National Theatre today appears in its unique splendour. The building's original style has been preserved over the years.

Today, the National Theatre, named after the writer of the same name, Ivan Vazov, is known as the most important theatre in the country. It is therefore not surprising that around 600 performances take place season after season. Culture lovers in particular love listening to the wonderful performances.

Alexander Nevsky Cathedral

Let yourself be enchanted by the appearance of the Alexander Nevsky Cathedral and visit the landmark of Sofia. This cathedral is unique and is considered the largest Orthodox church in Bulgaria! The creamy white façade, adorned with light green and gold-coloured domes, makes this building one of the most beautiful architectural wonders of the city.

The Alexander Nevsky Cathedral is just a few minutes' walk from the Ivan Vazov National Theatre and, due to its size, is already recognisable from afar. But the cathedral is not only impressive from the outside, but also from the inside. The cathedral's five naves are adorned with gold and marble and appear unique thanks to the various mosaic artworks. The cathedral is open daily between 7 am and 7 pm and can be visited free of charge. Of course, there is also the option of paid guided tours to learn more about the cathedral.

Street Art

Do you love beautiful paintings and want to get to know Bulgarian culture through unique works of art? Then you should look for street art in the city's numerous districts and keep your eyes open to discover the diverse artworks. A particularly large number of artworks can be found on the street called Ul. Tsar Shishman. You should also visit the Serdika metro station in the centre to admire other artworks, such as those by Salvador Dalí. But you don't have to find all these wonderful works entirely on your own. You can take the opportunity to admire all these works without unknowingly missing any artworks by taking a guided tour.

Central Mineral Baths

However, the unique city of Sofia is not only special because of its artworks, but also because of the history of its thermal and mineral springs. A well-known remnant is the Central Mineral Baths, located in the centre of Sofia and now home to a museum. A thermal spring already rose at exactly this spot in Roman times. This was later also used in the Middle Ages, and an oriental hammam (a place of traditional bathing culture) was created.

And how did today's Central Mineral Baths come about? They were built in 1913 and had a swimming and thermal bath until 1986. Today, however, the Central Mineral Baths are a Bulgarian cultural monument and museum, which impresses above all with its oriental appearance.

South Park

Would you like to get to know a quiet corner of the city and let the impressions of the city sink in? Then you should visit the beautiful South Park. The extensive paths and cycle paths invite you to explore this green spot in the middle of the city in more detail. The smell of coffee and sweet treats also fills the air, practically luring you to visit the cafés at South Park.

Are you travelling to Sofia with your family? That's no problem at all, as South Park also offers activities for the little ones. Take advantage of the various playgrounds while you enjoy your delicious coffee to go and watch the joy light up in your children's eyes.

Serdica: The Roman city

Would you like to find out even more about the history of Bulgaria's capital? Then you should take a look at the remnants from Roman times and let yourself be enchanted by their grandeur. Discover the evidence of the former Roman city of Serdica, the former name of Sofia. The Serdika metro station is located right in the historic city centre, where you can discover these Roman remnants. You should definitely visit the underpass of the metro station, where display cases present various objects such as urns and pots from that era.

Banya Bashi Mosque

Alongside the many churches, the Banya Bashi Mosque is the city's only active mosque and is located in the immediate vicinity of the Central Mineral Baths. At the same time, this mosque is one of the oldest Muslim houses of worship in all of Europe and one of the most important buildings from the Ottoman rule over Sofia. This unique mosque was built in 1567, based on plans by the architect Mimar Sinan. Please note that as a tourist, you can only visit the mosque outside the five prayer times. In addition, you should respect tradition, and women should only enter the mosque wearing a headscarf.

Rotunda of St George

The Rotunda of St George is an extremely interesting church located in a courtyard in the centre of the city. This church was built by the Romans as early as the 4th century and is thus the oldest building in Bulgaria's capital. Today, the rotunda is one of Sofia's most important architectural monuments. The church can be visited daily from 8 am to 5 pm, and admission is free. In addition, remnants of the Roman city of Serdica can be found around the building.

Nearby attractions

If you would like to visit Bulgaria's impressive capital, you should also consider the surrounding area and plan some time for interesting day trips. The Vitosha Mountains and the Rila Mountains are particularly worth seeing. You can also travel to Plovdiv (Bulgaria's second-largest city) if you would like to get to know even more cities in this wonderful country.

Vitosha Mountains

Even while in the city, the Vitosha Mountains may catch your eye and spark your interest in exploring this beautiful nature more closely. The Vitosha mountain range is located on the outskirts of Sofia and adorns the appearance of Bulgaria's capital. But it's not just the mountains themselves that are extremely worthwhile for a day trip, but also the Vitosha Nature Park located there, which is often described as a place of relaxation.

Getting to the Vitosha Mountains is extremely straightforward and convenient. There are various providers who can take you to the wonderful mountain range by shuttle, or you can use the various bus and metro options. This way, you can easily get to your hiking adventure, which you can tackle either alone or explore as part of a tour.

But the Vitosha Mountains are not only popular during the milder months. While it comes into focus for travellers mainly as a hiking destination in spring and summer, the mountains transform into a spectacular ski resort in winter.

Rila Mountains

The Rila Mountains are another natural wonder, located around 90 km from Sofia, and are at least as interesting as the Vitosha Mountains. They are known as the highest mountain range in Bulgaria and impress with a height of 2,925 metres. As a result, the peaks of this special mountain range are covered in snow all year round.

You can also go hiking wonderfully in these mountains and consider various hiking routes. A hike around the Seven Rila Lakes is particularly worth seeing, which you can discover with a tour guide, among other options. You can also take a lift up to the mountain hut and follow a circular trail from there (3.5–5 hours). You should bear the following in mind when planning: due to the considerable height of the mountains, you should do your hikes in high summer, as the mountains may still be covered in a lot of snow during the rest of the year. In general, however, it should be pointed out that you should check the current weather forecast before every hike. Especially if fog is forecast, a trip might not turn out to be as rewarding, as the limited visibility would prevent you from enjoying the spectacular views and seeing the Seven Rila Lakes.

Also interesting: the Rila Monastery is located in the Rila Mountains and is one of the largest Orthodox monasteries in the world. Take this opportunity to see this historic monastery in its spectacular setting. The Rila Monastery has also been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1983, making it one of the country's most popular attractions.

Plovdiv

Would you like to combine your trip to Sofia with another city? Then Bulgaria's second-largest city is a wonderful choice as a further travel destination. Plovdiv is located around two hours from Sofia, has been inhabited for over 8,000 years and is thus one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in Europe. The city should be particularly appealing to those interested in history. One of the highlights is the Amphitheatre of Philippopolis, where operas and concerts still take place today. Due to Plovdiv's considerable age, the entire old town has been a listed heritage site since 1956. Other sights include the Dzhumaya Mosque and interesting street art. You will also find many other remnants of the past here.

The best time to travel

If you would like to visit Sofia, you should prefer the months of May to October for your planning. However, please note that hiking adventures in particular (such as the Rila Mountains) are primarily suited to the warm summer months. In general, however, it can be said that you can visit the city of Sofia all year round. Of course, there is also the option of combining your city trip to Sofia with a skiing holiday in the Vitosha Mountains.

The Europamaut team wishes you a pleasant trip

We wish you a pleasant trip to Bulgaria and lots of enjoyment while exploring this versatile country. You can find more information on tolls in Bulgaria in our guide. Feel free to also use our route planner to plan your trip optimally and see the suitable toll products displayed. If you have any questions, we are available at any time via email.