Beautiful Tourist Places to Visit and Things to Do in Sofia

August 24, 2020 Mustafa Natalwala 4143 Views

Sofia is the national capital of Bulgaria located near the western end of the country. It is also historical and cultural capital of Bulgaria. Sofia is said to have over 7000 years of history and has been home to many tribes, communities, kingdoms, and empires. Remanants of its history can be found at several places to visit in Sofia. Over the years many people on Sofia travel have called it by many names. As a city, it was established by Trajan with the name Serdica. The city has been part of many empires including the likes of Odrysian kingdom, Roman Empire, Bulgarian Kingdom, Byzantine Empire, Mongol Empire, Ottoman Empire, and USSR. Many kings, scholars, poets, and historical figures used to visit Sofia. It can be considered as a strategically important location for control over the Balkans. The empires have left behind landmarks which are now Sofia tourist attractions.

Besides sightseeing, there are a few top things to do in Sofia which has attracted people to visit this Bulgarian capital. Sofia is known for its Mineral Water Hot Springs. Taking a dip at one of the public baths or at a spa is one of the best things to do in Sofia. You can either begin Sofia travel with hot springs or revisit it after exploring all the tourist attractions at the end of the day. Owing to its long and stories history there are numerous historical places to visit in Sofia.

You can begin Sofia sightseeing with the Cathedral of St. Alexandar. It is the most popular Sofia attraction. Almost any Sofia travel guide would headline with this majestic cathedral. This 1880 Cathedral is the second largest of its king in all of Balkans. The Cathedral features European and Russian styles of architecture. Another Sofia must see attraction is Rotunda of St. George. The ruins of this red bricked church used to be the spiritual heart of Serdica. The survival of this church for such a long time is almost miraculous, especially considering the number of empires which have conquered Sofia and have waged war or siege over the city. There are several other churches and cathedrals among things to see in Sofia. You will find the historical places to visit in Sofia section of this article quite long and bristle with such monuments.

Like many European cities with mountains close by; Skiing is also among top things to do in Sofia as well. Your go to Sofia attraction for skiing, sledging, and other snow activities will be Vetrovala Ski Resort. But, make sure to avoid Sofia travel around Christmas. Most of the locals are busy with the celebrations and many tourist attractions remain close for the holidays.

When you visit Sofia, be sure to spend at least one day exploring the city on foot or on bicycle. It will be a memorable walk exploring old and new neighborhoods of the Bulgarian capital. You will be able to enjoy Sofia sightseeing along with a little social interaction with the locals. There are several small outlets, cafes, restaurants, and shops with unique offerings for you to try on your walking Sofia day trip.

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Table of Contents

Best Tourist Attractions to Visit in Sofia, Bulgaria

1. St. Alexander Nevsky Cathedral

This grand cathedral dates back to 1880s and is the second largest in the Balkan region. It is the most well known monument among Sofia tourist attractions. You will need 2 to 3 hours to explore this monument entirely.

2. Mount Vitosha

This mountain is home for some of the best things to do in Sofia including skiing, snowboarding, hiking, mountaineering, camping and so on. The peak is 2,200 meters high, but you don’t need to go all the way up to enjoy the outdoor and adventure activities here. This mountain is one of the best spot for Sofia day trip and you would need to dedicate at least a day for Mount Vitosha.

3. St. George Rotunda Church

This church was first built in the 4th century and is one of the most significant historical things to see in Sofia. It was first built as Roman baths and was later converted to a church under Roman & Byzantine Empire. The church was later converted to a mosque in 1600s under the Ottoman rule. You will need about 2 hours to discover various layers of history which this monument has witnessed over the ages.

4. National Archaeological Institute and Museum

This Institute exhibits several archaeological findings collected from all over Bulgaria. Among Sofia attractions houses in this Institute are Prehistoric artifacts, medieval findings and great treasures. You will need about 2 hours to explore this National Institute of Archaeology in Sofia.

5. St. Sophia Church

This is the oldest church of the city dating all the way back to 4th century A.D. The church has been reconstructed and built over a few times. It is one of the most important places to visit in Sofia as it has been a significant part of the city’s culture over the years. You will need about an hour to explore it.

6. Vitosha Boulevard

This pedestrian street gets a great view of Mount Vitosha and hence its name. It is one of the best routes to pick for Sofia sightseeing. The street is well known for its quaint cafes and shops. You would need about an hour for Vitosha Boulevard.

7. Boyana Church

This UNESCO World Heritage Site should not be skipped from Sofia travel guide. This quaint church was built and rebuilt in various stages. The most defining feature of this church are the beautiful frescoes in its interior. You will need about an hour to explore it.

8. National Historical Museum

This building which houses this museum used to be home to former dictator of Bulgaria, Todor Zhivkov. Today this building houses a museum which tells the story of the country. The museum has more than 65,000 items exhibited and many more saved in its archives. You will need 2 to 3 hours to explore the entire museum.

9. Ivan Vazov National Theatre

This opulent theatre was built in 1909 and is one of the most important cultural landmarks of the country. The theatre has contributed significantly to the nation’s drama and literature. You can check out any of Sofia tourist information calendar to find out events taking place at this theatre coinciding with your visit. It during the performances that this theatre comes alive. You will need 30 to 45 minutes to explore it.

10. Amphitheatre of Serdica

This amphitheater is one of the most interesting things to see in Sofia. This structure has been built, re-built, restructured and repurposed several time during its lifetime. It has been a theatre, and amphitheater, an arena, and an abandoned structure. Today it has been incorporated into the architecture of Arena di Serdica Hotel. You will need 30 to 45 minutes to explore it.

11. Sofia Central Mineral Baths

Public baths have been a part of the city’s culture for a long time. The natural springs under the city have been utilized by Romans, Ottomans and every ruler that followed. It is among the top things to do in Sofia and it is a cultural experience by itself. Keep at least an hour to enjoy here.

12. Regional History Museum

The city’s history museum is one of the fist Sofia attractions you should visit. It will help you gain perspective on all the places you explore after it. This museum tells the story of the city and exhibits some of the most important historical and cultural artifacts. You will need a couple of hours to explore it.

13. Banya Bashi Mosque

This mosque was built in 1576 under the Ottoman Empire. It was designed by Mimar Sinan, a renowned Ottoman architect. You will need 30 to 45 minutes to explore this mosque.

14. National Palace of Culture

The building was designed by Alexander Geogiev Barov and is a prime example of socialist architecture to explore during Sofia sightseeing. The palace hosts several events, exhibitions and conferences. You will need about 30 to 45 minutes to explore it.

15. Museum of Socialist Art

This museum is one of the most fascinating Sofia tourist attractions. It houses wonderful works of art pertaining to the socialist period of the country. One of the most engaging aspects is the sculpture garden of the museum. You will need about an hour to explore the Museum of Socialist Art.

16. National Art Gallery

The gallery is home to more than 50,000 pieces of exceptional art created by Bulgarian artists. The gallery exhibits works of art from historic, medieval, Bulgarian revival, modern and contemporary periods. You will need 2 to 3 hours to explore the National Art Gallery when you visit Sofia.

If you are looking for further Sofia tourist information, you can check out the section below. It is a list of numerous places to visit and best things to do in Sofia.

Things to do in Sofia

Monuments, Museums & Historical Places to Visit in Sofia

Saint Aleksandar Nevski Cathedral
Boyana Church Museum
National Museum of History
Banya Bashi Mosque
Church St. George Rotunda
National Art Gallery
Regional History Museum
Ivan Vazov National Theatre
St. Sophia Church
St Kyriaki Cathedral
Sveti Nikolay Mirlikiiski Russian Church
Sofia Synagogue
Bulgarian Archeological Museum
Dragalevski Monastery
Socialist Art Museum
National Museum of Military History
Vrana Royal Palace
Svetna Petka Ancient Monument
Tsar Osvoboditel Statue
Eagle Bridge
Lion’s Bridge
Earth and People National Museum
National Museum of Natural History
Kambanite Monument
Saint Sofia Monument
Sveti Sedmochislenitsi Chuch
Pametnik na Savetskiya Voin Monument
Kopitoto Monastery
Sofia Court House
Vassil Levski Monument
Lozen Monastery
Church of St Paraskeva Sofia
Sofia Ancient Serdica Archeological Complex
Cathedral of Saint Joseph
National Polytechnic Museum
Sofia Royal Palace
Monument of the Unknown Soldier
St. Mina Monastery
Doctor’s Memorial Monument
Battenberg Mausoleum
Urvich Fortress
St. Petka Bistrita Monastery
Church of St. Nicholas
Museum of Sport
National Agriculture Museum
Museum of Paleontology and Historical Geology
National Literature Museum
National Ecclesiastical History Archeological Museum
Central Mineral Baths

Nature & Wildlife Tourist Spots in Sofia

Mount Vitosha
Boyana Waterwall
Lake Boyana
Cherni Vrah Mountain Peak
Lake Pancharevo
Mount Kopitoto
Golden Bridges
Iskar Reservoir
Mount Lozen
Mount Lyulin
Bistrishko Branishte Nature Reserve
Lake Ariana
Torfeno Branishte Nature Reserve
Sofia Valley
Arboretum National Park
Katina Pyramids
Goylem Rezen Mountain Peak

Entertainment & Leisure Tourist Spots in Sofia

Sofia Public Mineral Baths
Sofia Tourist Information Center
National Palace of Culture
Sofia Zoo
Aleko Hut
Amphitheatre of Serdica
Muzeiko Science Museum
Sofia City Art Gallery
The Red Flag Art House
Vetrovala Ski Resort
Snail House Public Art
University Botanical Garden
Casino Sofia
Institute of Etymology and Folklore Studies
National Gallery of Foreign Art
Happy beach Viktoria
Maxi Water World
Liulin Beach
Tsarsko Selo Spa

Shopping in Sofia

Vitosha Boulevard
Sofia’s Central Market Hall
Mercato Delle Donne Market
Pirotska Street
Tsar Osvoboditel Boulevard
Bulgaria Mall
Ekzarh Yosif Street
Bazaar Iliyantsi
SkyCity Mall
Mall of Sofia
Paradise Mall
Bitaka Flea Market
The Mall
TZUM
Zhenski Pazar / Women’s Market
Tsar Shishman Street
Serdika Mall

Offbeat Places & Adventure Activities to Do in Sofia

Path of Health Hiking Trail
Golden Bridges Hiking Trail
Bistrishko Branishte Hike
Vetrovala Ski Slope

Sightseeing in Sofia

Borisova Gradina Park
South Park
Vrana Park
Kambanite Park
Sofia City Garden
Kokolandia Park
Russian Monument Square
Television Tower
Zaimov Park
Slaveykov Square
Macedonia Square
Maria Luiza Boulevard
West Park
Capital Fort
Prince Alexander of Battenberg Square
Patriarch Evtimly Square
Lover’s Bridge

Food, Dining, Restaurants, & Street Food in Sofia

Shtastliveca
Hadjidraganov’s House
Cosmos
Made in Home
Raketa Rakia Bar
Skara Bar
Nico’las 0/360
Vino Vino
Tables
Brick Cafe
Bistro Lubimoto
Cinecitta Osteria Italiana
Bagri Restaurant
Before & After
Taj Mahal
Oborishte 35
Spice House
Hadjidraganovite Izbi
Nepali Gurkha Restaurant
Ale House
Takoteka
Corso
Rainbow Cafe
Hamachi
The Little Things
Royal Thai
Bankovich
Skapto
Street Chefs

Where to Stay in Sofia?

Here we have listed Top Rated Luxurious, Mid-Range and Budget Hotels in Sofia. You can check below listed hotels for your perfect stay in Sofia.

Luxurious Hotels

Mid-Range Hotels

Budget Hotels

Custom Tours Package in Sofia

How to Reach Sofia?

By Air

The easiest means for Sofia travel is the Sofia International Airport. You can get flights from many countries in Europe as well as the Middle East. There are about 20 airlines that you can use to visit Sofia including, but not limited to, Augean Airlines, Lufthansa, Qatar Airways, Fly Dubai, Air France, Turkish Airlines, British Airways, Austrian Airlines, Bulgaria Air, and many more. You will be able to get direct flights to enjoy Sofia attractions from Athens, Moscow, Paris, Rome, Vienna, London, Kiev, Tel Aviv-Yafo, Dubai, Manchester, Warsaw, Frankfurt, Doha, Bucharest, Istanbul, Amsterdam, Odessa, Brussels, Madrid, and many more. The list is actually far too long to put down here. But, you get the gist. You can directly fly to visit Sofia for even a day trip from basically any major city in Europe and a few cities in the Middle East.

Once you get to Sofia Airport, you will have landed roughly 9 km away from the city. You have several transport options to reach the places to visit in Sofia from the airport. The Metro line is the fastest way to get from Sofia Airport to the city. The Metro is open from 5:30 in the morning till 12 at night. It will take you to the city in 20 to 30 minutes, then you can continue toward Sofia’s tourist attractions. The second option is the Public Bus, which takes you from the airport to the city center. The bus takes about 40 minutes to take you to the city center. You may begin Sofia sightseeing from the city center itself. There are a few things to see in Sofia located around this bus terminal. Finally, you have the option of getting a cab, which is the most expensive of all the three options for Sofia’s travel from the airport. A cab would take about the same time to get you to the city as the bus. But you have the convenience of choosing the place to visit in Sofia with a cab as opposed to a bus.

By Road

There are 3 alternatives for Sofia travel by road: Bus, Train, and private vehicles. You can get a bus to visit Sofia from basically anywhere in Bulgaria. Then you also have the option of international buses for Bulgaria travel operated by Eurolines Bulgaria. You can get a direct bus to visit Sofia from France, Austria, Serbia, Germany, North Macedonia, Czech Republic, and Hungary. The buses for Sofia travel operate from capital cities and major cities only. It takes only 5 to 6 hours to travel by bus from Serbia and North Macedonia. You can easily make a Sofia day trip by bus from these countries.

The second option is to travel by train, which is way quicker than a bus. The trains are great for Sofia travel from anywhere in Bulgaria. You can also get direct train from Romania and Greece to visit Sofia. The travel is fast enough to consider Sofia’s day trip from Greece and Romania as well. You will be able to cover several tourist attractions in Sofia in a day and be back on the next train.

If you are traveling by a private or rented vehicle you can take routes A1, A2, A3, and A4 for Sofia travel. Being the capital city of Bulgaria, the majority of roads connect with Sofia. If plan to drive to Bulgaria note that the road conditions can be bad in some places on the way to visit Sofia. Though you won’t have much trouble on most part. You may encounter a few aggressive drivers as well, so drive carefully during Sofia travel.

By Water

Though Bulgaria shares the coast at the Black Sea, Sofia itself is located on the opposite end of Bulgaria as the coast. So you don’t have any water routes for Sofia travel.

Image Reference

St. Alexander Nevsky Cathedral – Michael4Wien / PixaBay
Mount Vitosha – Jim Black / PixaBay
St. George Rotunda Church – teodorpk / Flickr
National Archaeological Institute and Museum – Klearchos Kapoutsis / Flickr
St. Sophia Church – Stella / Flickr
Vitosha Boulevard – teodorpk / Flickr
Boyana Church – Dan Lundberg / Flickr
National Historical Museum – Ben Kucinski / Flickr
Ivan Vazov National Theatre – Wengen / PixaBay
Amphitheatre of Serdica – Ali Eminov / Flickr
Sofia Central Mineral Baths – Ali Eminov / Flickr
Regional History Museum – BlackDaffodil / Flickr
Banya Bashi Mosque – Wepin / PixaBay
National Palace of Culture – portammare / Flickr
Museum of Socialist Art – Jenna Rose Robbins / Flickr
National Art Gallery – Wengen / PixaBay