There is a Yellow Brick Road in Sofia. Really. The bricks were a wedding gift to a Bulgarian Tsar from an Austro-Hungarian Emperor and they line a road that runs through the administrative centre of the Bulgarian capital, near most of the tourist landmarks.
One of the most important landmarks is the Alexander Nevsky Cathedral. This enormous neo-Byzantine church (it is one of the largest Eastern Orthodox cathedrals in the world), all green and gold domes, was built in memory of the Russian soldiers who died wresting Bulgaria from Ottoman rule in 1878.
Between Turkish and Russian influences (Bulgaria was a contented Soviet state for 50 years) and a dash of European Union "connectedness" (since 2007), Sofia is a fascinating place to visit.
At about 7,000 years old, it is one of the oldest cities in Europe. Long before there were cheap flights to Sofia, the Thracians, Greeks, Romans, Macedonians and Turks all flocked there for its life-giving mineral springs - there are seven independent springs in the city. It's no exaggeration to say that this stylish city is one of the jewels of Eastern Europe.
Search and compare: cheap flights to Sofia
Back to top
Summers are balmy with temperatures usually in the low-20s (Celsius) and low humidity, although July and August can reach the high-20s. Winters are cold with below freezing temperatures December through February.Rain is typical any month of the year, especially in April and May. In winter, Sofia gets snow instead, most of it falling from December to February.
Back to top
Peak Season:
Sofia is busy in summer and winter, mostly with visitors on their way to the Black Sea resorts or hiking trails in summer and the ski slopes in winter. In June the city hosts the popular Sofia Music Week and cheap flights to Sofia may be harder to come by.
A party town, the nightlife is exuberant around the clock and year-round. The clubs also host varied and eclectic performances from traditional Bulgarian music to punk, reggae, and metal.
Off Season:
Winter is when you are less likely to find tourists lingering in the city, but if you do not mind the cold and snow, Sofia has a wealth of museums, galleries, and cultural entertainment.
Back to top
Regular bus service 84 runs on a frequent schedule day and night from the bus station close to Arrivals. Taxis are available, and passengers are advised to use O.K. Supertrans taxis from outside the arrivals hall; its enquiries desk is located inside the arrivals hall. Most hotels and tourist resorts run their own airport shuttles.
Back to top
Sofia has an extensive public transport system with buses, trolleys, and trams going nearly everywhere in the city from early morning to late evening. Fares are inexpensive and tickets are purchased from street kiosks and sometimes from the drivers. There are discounted one-day and multiple-day tickets, which are also available at kiosks. There is a metro, but it does not provide service to tourist attractions or hotels. Taking public transport does require a map and a willingness to ask the locals for help — some stops are well marked and others display little if any information.
Privately owned minibuses service some of the cross-town routes and are faster but more expensive than regular buses. Pay the fare to the driver when you board.
Taxis are available at stands and larger intersections. You can call for a taxi, but the dispatchers rarely speak English. The fares are reasonable and visitors are sometimes overcharged — make sure the meter is running. Passengers are expected to know where they are going and often need to provide directions.
Forget driving in Sofia. The traffic is awful and the public transport and taxis will get you around town.
Back to top
- The main sights of the city are concentrated around Aleksander Batenberg Square, Narodno Sabranie Square and Tsar Osvoboditel Boulevard. The area is paved with yellow bricks, which were a wedding present from an Austro-Hungarian Emperor to a Bulgarian Tsar.
- If you like places of worship, Sofia is the place for you. The city has several, with the best known the Alexander Nevski Memorial Church. It was built in the early 1900s to honour the Russian soldiers who died trying to liberate Bulgaria from Ottoman rule during the War of Liberation in 1878. The interior is gorgeous with frescoes and woodcarvings by Bulgarian and Russian artists.
- Next to it is the church of Saint Sofia. The Russian church, St. Nicholas, is beautiful with gilded domes. There are also the Orthodox Church of St. Nedelia, the Central Synagogue and Banya Bashi Mosque. Finally, St George Rotunda is said to be the oldest building in Sofia. It dates back to the 4th century. It’s a museum and is listed by Unesco as is medieval Boyana Church, whose interior is covered with scenes from the bible and paintings of saints.
- Zhenski pazar or “women’s market” is to be found between Slivnitsa Boulevard and Ekzarh Yosif Street on Stefan Stambolov Boulevard. A daily market selling food, flowers, clothes and more. The Tsentralni Hali (Central Food Halls) is beautiful with impressive 20th-century ironwork. It underwent a three-year renovation fairly recently and offers a modern version of the bazaar-shopping experience. A nice place to shop for foodstuffs, have a coffee and soak up the atmosphere.
- Borissovata Gradina is Sofia’s central park. The Ariana Lake, Vassil Levski National Stadium and Bulgarian Army Stadium is there. There are also open-air swimming pools. Yuzhen Park (the Southern Park) is Sofia’s second-largest park, and has several children’s playgrounds.
Back to top
