Sofia City Breaks

A guide to Sofia

Easily the largest city in Bulgaria and the nation’s capital, Sofia is a condensed, walkable city that makes sightseeing trips here that little bit easier. The city is encircled by mountains, with the Balkan Mountain range to the north and the Vitosha Mountains to the south. The atmosphere is young and energetic, self-confident and cosmopolitan. Fast developing into a modern European city, Sofia still represents the east-meets-west vibe of its past, with Ottoman mosques jostling for position with domed churches, and neo-classical Stalinist architecture leading onto tree-lined boulevards and 19th century Russian and Viennese balconied buildings. With its rich past and striking mix of architecture, Sofia makes for a fantastic Eastern European getaway.

A huge amount to see and do

There are a great many things to see and do in Sofia, many of which can be enjoyed for free or next to nothing. Visit the impressive Natzionalen Archeologicheski Musei; housed in a 15th century mosque and displaying some fantastic Thracian, Greek and Roman archaeological pieces. See some fantastic pieces of art at the National Art Gallery, located in the Tsar’s old palace, and tour the Church of St. Sofia (Tsurkva Sveta Sofia), great for photo opportunities.There is even a free walking tour of the city, great for those on a budget, which departs from the corner of the Palace of Justice (Sudebna Palata) twice a day. Those interested in an authentic Bulgarian experience will want to make a trip to one of the huge, sprawling markets that occur here; Zhenski Pazar is the largest, punting a huge range of delicious foodstuffs, shisha pipes, fake designer clothing and other goodies.

A range of accommodation options

Accommodation in Sofia ranges from the cheap and cheerful to the height of extravagance, and everything in between. Luxury trips can include the opulent Maria Luisa Hotel, housed in one of Bulgaria’s most treasured buildings and listed as one of the country’s monuments of cultural significance, and for those on a budget, the Art Hostel is hard to beat, with a friendly atmosphere and touted as ‘probably the coolest hostel in Europe’ by the Guardian. The nightlife in Sofia pulsates with an energy befitting a capital city, and there are countless bars, cafes and clubs to suit all tastes. The biggest clubs are to be found in Students' town (Studentski grad) and are generally very cheap to get into, with some of the most popular including Avenue, Tantra, Orient 33, Jeam Beam, Maskata and Stroezha.