Sofia, the capital of Bulgaria, is a beautiful south-eastern European city with a population of 1,250,000. It’s a relatively small city, compared to other European capitals, nonetheless there is a lot to do and see when visiting. Here are a few suggestions of how to spend your time if you’re visiting Sofia for just a weekend.
There is no better way of starting your 48-hour trip than with a typical Bulgarian breakfast of banitsa and ayran. Banitsa is a type of pastry with cheese and eggs and Bulgarians can have it at any point in the day - for breakfast, lunch, dessert, or afternoon snack. If accompanied by ayran, a cold beverage of yogurt mixed with water and salt, you’ve started your day the right way.
Why not continue your day with a Free Sofia Tour ? These 2 hour walking tours take place twice a day (every day of the week), at 11am and 6pm and take you around the main centre of Sofia, explaining a little more about what you’re seeing. These tours are great as they give you an idea of what you may want to come back to later and explore further. Part of the tour goes via the popular Yellow Brick Road, where a number of important buildings and monuments are situated. A must-see during or after the tour is the gold-domed Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, which also stands as one of Sofia’s symbols. Another option for the action lovers is the Sofia Green Tour , which is a free 3 hour bike tour (if you have a bike, if not, you can rent one), which takes you to popular landmarks and green parks, accompanied by a local guide.
Soups in Sofia are definitely worth trying: there are quite a few traditional soup types which you should sample if you want to experience the culture fully. Tarator is one of them, and it is a cold soup made of yogurt, cucumbers and walnuts; another classic is Shkembe chorba, which is a tripe soup. Two very curious and tasty locations for soup tasting are Soup Me (55 Neofit Rilski Str.; +359888626525) and Supa Star (8 Tsar Ivan Shishman Str.; +359 88 844 6437).
The Museum of Socialist Art is great for art lovers, especially if you are interested in the art created in the country during socialist times. It is an affiliate of the National Art Gallery, and contains paintings and shows documentary films created between 1944 and 1989, along with a sculpture park full of statues of Bulgarian Communist Party leaders and other important figures. Busts and sculptures of Lenin, Dimitrov (a Bulgarian leader) and Stalin can be seen, as well as the red star that used to stand outside the Socialist party headquarters.
If you fancy going to a bar, listening to some live music, or busting some moves in a club, the choices are nearly countless. Some good piano bars include Sinatra (5, Arsenalski Blvd) and Camino (70, Neofit Rilski Str). Bars and clubs can be found everywhere around the center. If you’re looking for something specific, or want to check if something special is going on, the online free cultural guide - Programata , that also has listings of all bars, clubs, restaurants and cafes, will direct you the best. Hambara , a candlelit bar that is almost impossible to find, is one of Sofia’s hidden gems. In the past, customers were not allowed in unless they knew the correct password. This little bar definitely has a lot of character!
There is a lot of variety for shopaholics in Sofia. At the Zhenski Pazar (Women’s Market), which takes its name from the past when all the stalls were managed by women, you can find all types of tastes and smells. You should definitely try the homemade halva sold there, which is a traditional Balkan sweet confectionery.
Another curious market is the flea market near Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, where you will be pleasantly surprised if you’re looking for old artifacts, art, or just random items.
If you’re looking to spend the morning clothes shopping, there are plenty of shopping centers with the biggest one being the Serdika Center . Another lovely shopping location is Vitoshka Street, where along with stores and boutiques, there are countless restaurants, cafes and bars.
Two of the must-see historical sights are the Boyana Church (1-3 Boyansko Ezero Street), a UNESCO World Heritage site; and the National History Museum (16 Vitoshko Lale Street).
The Boyana Church, located at the foot of the Vitosha Mountain, is renowned for its frescoes and icon paintings. The National History Museum is the former residence of Todor Zhivkov, the last Communist leader, and thoroughly explains the country’s history. Its collections include Thracian accoutrements and the recently found medieval “vampire” skeleton.
It is a well-known fact that a culture is best explored via its cuisine and beverages. Bulgaria is particularly good for red wines: Melnik and Mavrud being some of the best ones.
Two other classic Bulgarian beverages which are a must are rakia and mastika. Rakia is a very strong alcoholic drink (normally 40% ABV), however if home-produced (which many Bulgarians tend to do), it can be much stronger. It is recommended served with a Shopska salad for a completely traditional taste.
Mastika really resembles the Greek ouzo, and is a strong anise-flavoured drink. In terms of cuisine, Bulgarian food is very diverse: rich salads, barbeques, dairy products, soups, and in terms of meat - pork, fish and chicken are the most commonly consumed.
If your curiosity has now been piqued, then keep in mind that getting to Sofia is not complicated. There are daily flights from many European cities, with budget airlines easyJet and Wizz Air offering some great deals. Sofia Airport is just on the outskirts of the city, and the best way to get to the center from either terminal is by taxi or public transport (bus).
The underground train system is planned to reach the airport and will eventually be the most comfortable form of transport, however it still has not been constructed. By bus (take bus number 84) it will take approximately 30-40 minutes to get to the center of the city.
If you choose to go by taxi, then make sure you only use the licensed ones parked straight outside the arrivals exit, and depending on your destination, it should cost around 10 EUR (approximately 20 leva). Off you go and have a nice trip!