Visit Sofia: what are the best things to do and see in the capital of Bulgaria?
The Bulgarian capital, Sofia, is pleasantly relaxed but often overlooked by tourists directly on the coast or ski resorts. They're missing something special. Sofia is not a great metropolis, but it is a young and modern city. The old buildings meet the recent buildings: the bulb churches, Ottoman mosques and rebel monuments of the Red Army share the horizon with large shopping centres and five-star hotels. The architecture of some greyish blocks gives a Soviet shade to Sofia, but it is also a surprisingly green city. Large parks and well-kept gardens offer a welcome stay in the busy streets of the city, and the ski slopes and hiking trails of Mount Vitosha are only a short bus ride from the city centre. With some of the most beautiful museums, galleries, restaurants and attractions in Bulgaria, Sofia can convince you to stay more than a day or two. A significant asset: the city is one of the cheapest in Europe .
Here is a list of ideas from best things to do in Sofia :
1. Alexandre-Nevski Cathedral
Wikimedia – Antoine Taveneaux
It is simply one of the largest Orthodox cathedrals in the world. The huge golden domes of the Alexander Nevski Cathedral are a unique element in the city centre of Sofia. It took 30 years to build the cathedral which today serves as the main place of worship for the Bulgarian Orthodox Church. It is richly decorated in a neo-byzantine style and impresses by its imposing proportions. The crypt of the Alexander Nevski Cathedral houses a very important collection of orthodox icons that really worth the detour. And if you're looking for communist memories, the open-air chip market right next to the cathedral is a place to go.
2. The Monument to the Soviet Army
Credit – reddit.com
In recent years, Monument to the Soviet army (just next to the underground station “University of Sofia”) made the big titles of the international press following the many metamorphosis that he suffered by anonymous Bulgarian street artists. In 2011, a bas-relief of the monument, composed of statues of liberating soldiers , is completely diverted and covered with paint so that they appear as characters of comics Americans, including Superman superheroes and Captain America. Other graffiti were made during the years that followed as in 2012, where the faces of the soldiers of the same bas-relief are decorated with so-called Guy Fawkes masks, associated with the Anonymous movement. On 23 February 2014, the day of the Red Army, the monument is covered by the colours of the flag of Ukraine and an inscription “Glory to Ukraine”, in sign of support for the people of Ukraine. It is therefore a monument to see his own eyes. Maybe it will be different when you see it.
3. The Church of Boyana
Flickr – Elena Chochkova
In the Bojana district , it is strongly recommended to visit the famous Boyana Church dating from the Middle Ages. This little church near the city is actually the only listed site to the UNESCO World Heritage in Sofia. And we understand why... The church consists of three buildings which are considered by Unesco as “the most perfect and best preserved of medieval art of Eastern Europe”. We're mostly coming for her. frescoes , whose most famous date from the 13th century, and are absolutely magnificent and realistic.
4. The National Museum of History
Flickr – vintagedept
Stay in the Bojana area to visit largest museum in Bulgaria (but also the most elaborate), the National Museum of History. Installed in a former government residence (take bus 64 to Boyana from Hladilnika ), it covers all the periods of Bulgarian history, from paleolithic to modern times. Keep your eye open to admire the incredibly detailed treasures Thraces of gold, especially the Treasure of Panagyurichté with its gold glassware in the form of humans and animals. On the last Monday of each month, the entrance to the museum is free of charge. Otherwise, the entrance costs 10 Bulgarian levs (5€) for an adult.
5. Hiking or skiing in Vitocha
Flickr – podoboq
How many capitals in the world have a nature-sized mountain directly accessible at the foot of their suburbs? Not only does it Vitocha is an integral part of Sofia’s landscape, but it is also an attractive destination for nature lovers. The mountainous massif allows summer to leave for example for a trek on the mountain Černi vrTubeh (Pic Noir, 2290 m), or river The Golden Bridges (Zlatnite Mostove). In winter , you will prefer the resort of Aleko to enjoy the quality ski slopes. But no matter what the season, Vitosha Natural Park (the oldest in the Balkans) is really to explore during your visit to Sofia. Of course, if you don’t have time for this, you can at least admire it long.
6. Marvel at the ancient Roman heritage
Flickr – vintagedept
Sofia is one of the oldest capitals in Europe. Originally built by the Thracians, it later became an important city of the Roman Empire. The Emperor Constantine even nicknamed him “[S]a Rome”. Much of the ancient heritage of Sofia is still preserved. The most striking example is Sveta Sofia , Basilica of St. Sophia , red brick of the 6th century that gave its name to the city itself. Make sure to visit the crypt of the church to see frescoes and Roman objects.
The Rotonde Saint-Georges is even older than the church of Sainte-Sophie, even bearing the title “the oldest building in Sofia”. Dating from the 4th century, its unusual cylindrical structure is now curiously nestled in a courtyard between the Sheraton Hotel, the Ministry of Education and the presidential building.
Finally, it should be noted that even many premises do not know the existence of a Roman amphitheatre partially preserved in Sofia. The Amphitheatre of Serdica, whose remains were discovered in 2004 could accommodate about 25,000 people, and the oval arena was only 10 m less than the Colosseum of Rome, the largest in the ancient world. It is quite difficult to find the amphitheatre in the city, since most of its ruins are now mainly inside the hotel Arena di Serdica. Ask the reception and they will be happy to show you the amphitheatre for free. It’s weird to think that gladiator fights took place here while a hotel was built above.
7. Discover the Royal Splendour of Vrana Park and Palace
Credit – panoramio.com
Although founded in 1904 by King Ferdinand, Vrana park and its palace are among the most recent Sofia sites, with restricted access because the estate is the private property of the former Bulgarian royal family. However, the park was open to visitors in the summer of 2013 and while the palace is still in internal reconstruction, you can observe the building and its beautiful fountains nearby. With its botanical collection, an artificial lake with ly flowers and its alpinum (alpine garden), Vrana Park is a very suitable place for a romantic walk or not. The entrance fee (5 BGN, or €2.5) and guided tours are carried out each hour at no additional cost. Weekends, bus 505 takes you from Pont des Aigles ( Orlov most ) to the park every hour.
8. Walk along Pancharevo Lake
Wikimedia - Preslav
12 km southeast of downtown, the old village village de Pancharevo is a favorite place on the weekend for the inhabitants of Sofia. Pancharevo owes its attraction to its picturesque location between the mountains of Vitosha and Lozen and in particular for the artificial lake of Pancharevo , a privileged place for sunbathing, swimming, fishing and water sports. Sofia is relatively remote from the Black Sea, and the inhabitants humorously call Lake Pancharevo the "Son of Sofia". To go, you can take the bus 1 or 3 from metro station Tsarigradsko shose and you will reach the beaches of the lake in a short time. You can revive it path That's the lake tower. You can also visit medieval vestiges like fortress of Urvich Kokalyane village (a monastery is also found there).
9. Other things to do in Sofia
Flickr – Михал Орела
Of course, you will discover Sofia by strolling through the streets of the city. With all the other activities mentioned above, you have already made a good visit to the Bulgarian capital. But here are other ideas to visit if you stay in Sofia a little longer:
- The central baths of Sofia and their building of the early 20th century
- Shops on Vitosha Boulevard
- Nightlife in caves and typical bars
- Borisova park gradina
- A piece of the Berlin Wall
- Local gastronomy
- The National Museum of Ethnography and National Art Gallery
- The Ivan Vazov Museum
- The National Archaeological Museum
- The National Museum of Military History
Sofia: How to get there? Where to stay?
Sofia is directly connected to Paris Charles de Gaulle and Paris Beauvais airports thanks to the companies Bulgaria Air, Serbia Air and Wizz Air (low-cost). To find the cheapest flight to Sofia, do not hesitate to use the Compare Ulysses .
As we said, the cost of living in Sofia is not very high compared to that of France and even other capitals of the East. You can easily find a hostel or a hotel in one of Sofia’s quarters . To find a cheap hotel in Sofia, search this Compare hotels .
Have you visited Sofia in Bulgaria?
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