Sofia sits at the foot of Vitosha Mountain in west Bulgaria, providing an incredibly scenic backdrop when exploring the city.
A long weekend is the perfect amount of time to sample what Sofia has to offer. There’s a lot of rich history and stunning architecture to experience in the city, and if you’re wondering what to do in Sofia when you arrive, then check out my itinerary below!
Day 1
Breakfast
- Grab a banitsa at any bakery for breakfast – the filo pastry stuffed with eggs, cheese and yogurt is very filling and a Bulgarian staple!
Sightseeing
- Cathedral of Saint Nedelya – Beautiful on the outside, even more beautiful on the inside, the Cathedral of Saint Nedelya is a must-see. If you want to take photos, you must pay 5BGN at the counter as you walk in.
- Rotunda Church of Saint George – Built in the 4th century as Roman baths, this church is the oldest surviving building in Sofia. For this history alone, it’s worth a visit. Note that you can’t take photos within the church.
- City Garden – The gorgeous city garden is wonderful to walk through no matter the season. A lot of care has gone in to designing and sculpting the garden, so take a moment to grab an ice cream from Sladoled and then go and see the dancing ballerina and fountains in front of the National Theatre.
- National Theatre – We didn’t catch a show (you can check the programme here), but even if you don’t, the outside of the theatre is worth seeing. The grand structure is actually Bulgaria’s national theatre, and is an important landmark.
- Vitosha Boulevard – Walk down the Vitosha Boulevard for some retail therapy. There are plenty of unique little shops, quaint cafes, and interesting bars to visit, and some of the best traditional Bulgarian restaurants are in this area as well.
- The Red Flat – If you can only do one thing in Sofia, make it The Red Flat. It’s a small museum set in a flat that transports you back to communist Bulgaria, letting you find out what life in the 1980’s was like through an interactive experience. It is incredibly interesting, and one of the best things I did when I was there!
Dinner
- Hadjidraganov’s Cellars – Yes, the Cellars of Hadjidragan is a bit of a tourist trap … but the traditional Bulgarian food is good, the atmosphere cheery, and the live folk music a fun experience. The wine list is also huge! Give it a go.
Day 2
Breakfast
- Art Club Museum – Near the City Garden, the Art Club Museum is a pretty place with an outstanding menu. Try to get seated in the courtyard (if it’s warm enough) and watch the world go by.
Sightseeing
- Cultural Complex ‘Ancient Serdika’ – History buff or not, this place is fascinating. A whole Roman complex was dug up in the 20th Century, including roads, basilicas, and an amphitheater, and you can see it all when you visit. The Ancient Serdika archaeological exhibition is open Tuesday to Sunday from 10am to 6pm, and tickets cost 6BGN.
- Sofia Zoo – Sofia Zoo has a bit of a reputation of being tired and unkempt, with small and dirty enclosures, but I think that’s a bit unfair. The zoo definitely needs some attention, but it wasn’t as bad as some other zoos I’ve been to (looking at you Warsaw Zoo). Overall I thought it was decent, with some interesting animals and exhibitions. It’s open from 9:30am to 6pm, and tickets cost only 4BGN.
- Socialist Art Museum – This small museum contains a few pieces of art that cover the history of the communist era of Bulgaria, but most interesting is the sculpture park that contains statues and sculptures from that period. It won’t take you long to go around and see everything, and the entrance fee is only 6BGN, so visit the Museum of Art from the Socialist Period between 10am and 6pm Tuesday to Sunday.
Dinner
- Бистро Любимото – Or Bistro Lubimoto, served me one of the best meals I’ve ever eaten. The waiting staff was very friendly, and recommended the herb-crusted pork loin, which was absolutely delicious. I highly recommend eating dinner here!
Day 3
Breakfast
- Rainbow Factory – It’s small and busy, so be prepared to get a takeaway, but the Rainbow Factory serves a large range of simply amazing food. I had a chicken wrap, stuffed with bacon, hummus, carrots, peppers, radish, lime, coriander and teriyaki sauce, and it was amazing.
Sightseeing
- Tsentralna Banya Park – If you had to take away your breakfast from the Rainbow Factory, this park is just around the corner, so grab a bench and eat it here. This beautiful little park is a great place to just chill for a while.
- The Palace (National Art Gallery) – There is lots of Bulgarian and foreign art pieces to discover in the National Art Gallery, and I found a couple of new favourite artworks for myself! Definitely worth a visit if you’re an art lover.
- Church of St. Nicholas the Miraclemaker – I didn’t have the chance to go inside, but the outside is beautiful.
- Patriarchal Cathedral of St. Alexander Nevsky – While the outside is grand, in all honesty, I found the Cathedral of Saint Nedelya more impressive on the inside, but you can’t really miss a visit to the Cathedral of St. Alexander Nevsky if you’re visiting Sofia.
- NDK Building/Park – The National Palace of Culture was opened in 1981 to celebrate Bulgaria’s 1300th anniversary, and occasionally hosts exhibitions you can attend. The park outside the building is equally impressive, so take the time to explore the grounds and fountains.
- Thirsty Dragon Inn – A last minute find, this medieval-like tavern pub is cute and cheerful, and great to pop into for a drink. It’s quite small, so reserve a table beforehand if you want to eat.
Dinner
- Under the Linden Trees – Another traditional Bulgarian restaurant, Under The Linden Trees has great food, friendly staff, and a charming atmosphere. The mixed grill was well presented and very nicely cooked.
Where to stay in Sofia
We stayed at the Sofia Balkan Palace, a 5-star hotel in central Sofia. It was right next to a metro station and tram stop, and within walking distance of a lot of famous sights. It’s a pricier hotel at around €140-€200 a night for a king-sized room, but well worth splashing out on for the convenience.
How to get from Sofia airport into town
The M4 metro line connects the airport to Sofia city centre at around 10-minute intervals. The trip to Serdica station at the city centre takes approx. 30 minutes.
You can purchase a single ticket using change or small notes for 1,60BGN at the ticket machine, which is good for 30 minutes of travel.
How to use public transport in Sofia
You can purchase a daily transport pass for 4BGN (€2), or three-day pass for 15BGN (€8), that covers the buses, trams, and metro. Be aware that if you have a large piece of luggage (that takes up the space of another person) you will need to buy a ticket for that as well!
If you don’t have a daily pass, you can tap your contactless card against the blue box in both trams and buses when boarding. It will cap at 4BGN (€2) if you take multiple journeys in a day.
Check out where else I’ve travelled in Europe!