Guidebook for Sofia
Parks & Nature
Zaimov Park
You can go for a walk or a jog, have a coffee or a beer.
Doctor's Garden is a nice small park, surrounded by some cafes and bars. You will find there private spots, ancient ruins and two different playgrounds.
60 locals recommend
Doctors' Garden
Doctor's Garden is a nice small park, surrounded by some cafes and bars. You will find there private spots, ancient ruins and two different playgrounds.
The Palace Garden is also host to a bar with a nice location on the back of the Palace.
Tsarska Gradina
1 ul. BudapeshtaThe Palace Garden is also host to a bar with a nice location on the back of the Palace.
A nice secluded park surrounding the Military Academy, recently also opened to public.
8 locals recommend
Park Voenna Akademiya
A nice secluded park surrounding the Military Academy, recently also opened to public.
The botanic garden of Sofia University, located just across the street from the apartment. Nice to walk around during all seasons.
Ботаническа градина
49 ulitsa "Moskovska"The botanic garden of Sofia University, located just across the street from the apartment. Nice to walk around during all seasons.
Vitosha mountain is located just 20 minutes from downtown Sofia. You can hike in summer and ski in the winter. Lovely views from top of the mountain. Very recommendable.
105 locals recommend
Vitosha
ulitsa "Detski mir"Vitosha mountain is located just 20 minutes from downtown Sofia. You can hike in summer and ski in the winter. Lovely views from top of the mountain. Very recommendable.
Sightseeing
Built in Neo-Byzantine style, Alexander Nevsky serves as the cathedral church of the Patriarch of Bulgaria. It is one of the largest Eastern Orthodox cathedrals in the world, as well as one of Sofia's symbols. You will hear outstanding chorus music during the Sunday Mass. There is a remarkable museum of Bulgarian icons inside the cathedral crypt.
369 locals recommend
St. Alexander Nevski Cathedral
ploshtad "Sveti Aleksandar Nevski"Built in Neo-Byzantine style, Alexander Nevsky serves as the cathedral church of the Patriarch of Bulgaria. It is one of the largest Eastern Orthodox cathedrals in the world, as well as one of Sofia's symbols. You will hear outstanding chorus music during the Sunday Mass. There is a remarkable museum of Bulgarian icons inside the cathedral crypt.
Saint Sofia Church is the second oldest church in the Bulgarian capital Sofia, dating to the 6th century. In the 14th century, the church gave its name to the city, previously known as Sredets. A good example of Byzantine architecture.
80 locals recommend
St. Sophia Church
2 ul. "Paris"Saint Sofia Church is the second oldest church in the Bulgarian capital Sofia, dating to the 6th century. In the 14th century, the church gave its name to the city, previously known as Sredets. A good example of Byzantine architecture.
The beautiful russian church has lovely icons to enjoy.
104 locals recommend
Russian Church "Sveti Nikolay Mirlikiiski"
3 bul. "Tsar Osvoboditel"The beautiful russian church has lovely icons to enjoy.
You could combine your visit here with a visit to Vitosha National Park,as the church is located in the skirts of Vitosha Mountain. The church has frescoes from three centuries: 10th, 13th and 19th.
102 locals recommend
Boyana Church Museum
3 ul. "Boyansko ezero"You could combine your visit here with a visit to Vitosha National Park,as the church is located in the skirts of Vitosha Mountain. The church has frescoes from three centuries: 10th, 13th and 19th.
This lovely little church is inside a House square. Especially in the evening its nice illuminated, also inside some candles are lighted. Old frescoes.
74 locals recommend
The Rotunda Church of St George
2 bul. Kniaz Aleksandar DondukovThis lovely little church is inside a House square. Especially in the evening its nice illuminated, also inside some candles are lighted. Old frescoes.
This church has been destroyed and renovated several times along its 1000 years of existence. It is very beautiful, and can be seen in the same day as the Synagogue, the Mosque and the Central Market, for its proximity.
There is a shop inside, offering some very interesting icons.
108 locals recommend
St. Kyriaki Cathedral Church
20 pl. "Sveta Nedelya"This church has been destroyed and renovated several times along its 1000 years of existence. It is very beautiful, and can be seen in the same day as the Synagogue, the Mosque and the Central Market, for its proximity.
There is a shop inside, offering some very interesting icons.
Very beautiful temple located right behind the Central Market Hall, decorated with Sephardic and Art Nouveau iconography and an amazing chandelier. There is also a small museum tracing history of the Jewish community.
54 locals recommend
Sofia Synagogue
16 Exarch Joseph StreetVery beautiful temple located right behind the Central Market Hall, decorated with Sephardic and Art Nouveau iconography and an amazing chandelier. There is also a small museum tracing history of the Jewish community.
Recently opened, the place offers an view of the ancient Serdica (the medieval name of Sofia) fortress. It was discovered just 15 years ago while Serdica Hotel was built.
19 locals recommend
Amphitheatre of Serdica
4 ul. BudapeshtaRecently opened, the place offers an view of the ancient Serdica (the medieval name of Sofia) fortress. It was discovered just 15 years ago while Serdica Hotel was built.
The building is nowadays home to the Museum of Sofia.
78 locals recommend
Regional History Museum - Sofia
1 Platno.„Banski"The building is nowadays home to the Museum of Sofia.
Arts & Culture
The former National Gallery for Foreign Art has reopened last spring under the new name Quadrat 500 (“Square 500”). Meanwhile it host a collection of over 42,000 art works from the National Art Gallery and the National Gallery for Foreign Art. The exhibition presents about 2,000 art works, half of which are by Bulgarian artists and the other come from Europe, Asia, Africa, and America.
53 locals recommend
National Gallery
1 ul. "19-ti fevruari"The former National Gallery for Foreign Art has reopened last spring under the new name Quadrat 500 (“Square 500”). Meanwhile it host a collection of over 42,000 art works from the National Art Gallery and the National Gallery for Foreign Art. The exhibition presents about 2,000 art works, half of which are by Bulgarian artists and the other come from Europe, Asia, Africa, and America.
Sofia City Art Gallery has good expositions, showing contemporary Bulgarian art.
24 locals recommend
Sofia City Art Gallery
Sofia City Art Gallery has good expositions, showing contemporary Bulgarian art.
The museum’s collection of new and contemporary Bulgarian art from the period since Bulgaria’s Liberation in 1878 up to the 1990s consists of more than 30 000 individual pieces of paintings, prints and sculptures. The collection of paintings by Bulgarian masters is the most comprehensive. The collection is hosted by the former Royal Palace.
178 locals recommend
National Art Gallery
1 пл. „Княз Александър I“The museum’s collection of new and contemporary Bulgarian art from the period since Bulgaria’s Liberation in 1878 up to the 1990s consists of more than 30 000 individual pieces of paintings, prints and sculptures. The collection of paintings by Bulgarian masters is the most comprehensive. The collection is hosted by the former Royal Palace.
Ivan Vazov National Theater
5 ul. "Dyakon Ignatiy"National Theater Ivan Vazov.
National Opera and Ballet
30 bul. Kniaz Aleksandar DondukovGreat for opera and ballet performances.
If you feel like going to a musical, this is the place.
6 locals recommend
The National Musical Theater
100 bul. "Vasil Levski"If you feel like going to a musical, this is the place.
Sts. Cyril and Methodius National Library
bulevard "Vasil Levski"Have a stroll and a coffee in the small garden in the backyard. There are two university bookstores inside the building.
99 locals recommend
Sofia University St. Kliment Ohridski
15 bul. "Tsar Osvoboditel"Have a stroll and a coffee in the small garden in the backyard. There are two university bookstores inside the building.
National Academy of Arts
1 Shipka StreetUnion of Bulgarian Artists - Shipka 6
6 Shipka StreetArcheological Museum
площад „Атанас Буров“Essentials
CASAVINO Заимов
48 bul. "Yanko Sakazov"Very good wine selection, all sorts of bulgarian and imported wines.
bul. "Yanko Sakazov" 18
18 bulevard "Yanko Sakazov"McClean
A very good dry cleaning.
Butcher Месарница
27А ul. "General Yosif V. Gourko"Best meat around.
Sun and Moon is a vegetarian restaurant and good old style bakery, excellent breads. Extremely nice music playlists, made by the owner, who is a talented DJ too.
34 locals recommend
Vegetarian restaurant and bakery "Sun Moon"
39 ulitsa "6-ti septemvri"Sun and Moon is a vegetarian restaurant and good old style bakery, excellent breads. Extremely nice music playlists, made by the owner, who is a talented DJ too.
Sun-moon Shop
Bread from the Sun and Moon bakery.
Jenski Pazar or Womens Market is the biggest farmers market in Sofia, worth a visit, but you have to catch the tram for a few stops.
39 locals recommend
Women's Market
bulevard "Stefan Stambolov"Jenski Pazar or Womens Market is the biggest farmers market in Sofia, worth a visit, but you have to catch the tram for a few stops.
Shopping
Bookstore Balgarski Knizhitsi
10 ul. AksakovBest selected bookstore.
A fine selection of bulgarian jewelry design, ceramics and small art objects. The facade is decorated with the Birds Project of Yana Yunakova and Rada Dicheva.
6 locals recommend
Art Gallery Testa
8 ul. "Tsar Ivan Shishman"A fine selection of bulgarian jewelry design, ceramics and small art objects. The facade is decorated with the Birds Project of Yana Yunakova and Rada Dicheva.
Зоя БГ - Смесен Магазин
22 ul. AksakovZoya offers a fine selection of bulgarian and import organic cosmetics.
Мирела Братова
4 ul. "Tsar Ivan Shishman"Magazin 10 is selling some very interesting bulgarian designer clothes and jewelry.
Galeriya Noy
4-6 ul. "Paris"Gallery Noy is offering contemporary bulgarian art and lovely icons.
Central Market Hall is hosting a variety of food and deli stalls, located in the old historical building.
73 locals recommend
Sofia's Central Market Hall
25 булевард „кн. Мария Луиза“Central Market Hall is hosting a variety of food and deli stalls, located in the old historical building.
Atanas Konstantinov is selling his jewelry brand ARTEFAKTI in this store.
Artefakti - Contemporary Jewelry Objects
22 ul. "Angel Kanchev"Atanas Konstantinov is selling his jewelry brand ARTEFAKTI in this store.
N8 by Sklada
8 ul. "Tsar Ivan Shishman"A design exposition.
Ramjuly Gallery
21 ul. "Tsar Asen"Antoaneta Ramjuly's fine art and jewelry selection in her own gallery.
Nea
29А ul. "Angel Kanchev"Adorable flower selection.
Maison Second Hand
38 ul. "Tsar Ivan Shishman"A fine second hand selection.
Sabai
63А ul. "Neofit Rilski"A very nice gallery for small art objects and jewelry.
Food Scene
Located on the premises of The Club of Architects the restaurant has the same name. A lovely garden and constant food quality.
19 locals recommend
Architect's Club Restaurant, Klub na Arhitecta
11 ul. "Krakra"Located on the premises of The Club of Architects the restaurant has the same name. A lovely garden and constant food quality.
A very good ice cream parlour. The ice cream is produced according to old italian traditions without adding any artificial ingredients and always includes fruits of the season.
8 locals recommend
Gelateria Naturale
12A ul. "Tsar Ivan Shishman"A very good ice cream parlour. The ice cream is produced according to old italian traditions without adding any artificial ingredients and always includes fruits of the season.
Entertainment & Activities
The live music club, host to some of the best jazz concerts in Sofia.
17 locals recommend
Club Studio 5
The live music club, host to some of the best jazz concerts in Sofia.