Free Sofia Tour's Blog
October 19, 2020
Last month we have had the honour of introducing Bulgaria’s capital to a newcomer – the new British Ambassador to Bulgaria – Mr. Rob Dixon. It was at the very beginning of his stay that he had his first walk around central Sofia. And we were there to guide him! British Ambassador Dixon explores Sofia The British Embassy in Bulgaria has shared a video of the special walk on their Facebook page. Watch the video to see what sights he visited. Free Sofia Tour guide Dimitar Dimitrov had the privilege of revealing Sofia’s fascinating history and main landmarks. He also happens to be a UK-graduate, having studied Masters in Theory and History of International Relations at the London School of Economics and Political Science. The tour included Sofia’s main landmarks with a special British twist, accentuating the story of the British-Bulgarian relations. Новият посланик на Великобритания Роб Диксън с разходка из центъра на София През първите си няколко седмици тук новият британски посланик в България Роб Диксън направи първата си […]
October 15, 2020
Over the past ten years the guides of the Free Sofia Tour have had the privilege of guiding thousands of guests from all corners of the globe around Sofia’s main landmarks. We’ve also had the chance to welcome some pretty special guests. However, few occasions can compare to a special tour with His Excellency, German ambassador Christoph Eichhorn, dedicated to Germany’s 30th Reunification Anniversary. 30 Jahre Einheit – 30th Anniversary of the German Reunification What a monumental event! Here in Sofia, as part of the celebrations a special tailor-made tour was developed to honor the occasion. It was called “The 5 B’s: Battenberg, Bauhaus, Brutalism, Berlin and Bulgaria: following the steps of the German-Bulgarian history in Sofia.” This was an exclusive one-off event, open to all those curious to learn more about this fascinating topic. This rather unusual tour route and topic sparked a huge interest among the local community. So much that we’ve had to add extra slots and a second tour guide. The tour followed the German – […]
October 12, 2020
Sofia Game Night is back! And this time, we are also part of it! About Sofia Game Night Sofia Game Night is an initiative by Goethe-Institut Bulgaria and Game Dev Summit. It focuses on the different types of games. It provides a wider perspective of what games are, what’s their impact on our society, the user experience and the pleasure that they bring. Apart from the obvious description of what a game night could be, Sofia Game Night also has a bigger vision. Its goal is to become a platform for various discussions on the social, political and economic aspects of gaming. Free Sofia Tour is part of 2020’s Game Night Over the past year we have been working on a brand new project – the developemnt of an outdoor game. A game that is both fun, competitive and educational. And we are finally ready! We are proud to announce that we will debut our newest project Sofia Treasure Hunt during the Sofia Game Night. In fact, there will be […]
August 14, 2020
Yesterday was our special day! It was on that day that Free Sofia Tour was born 10 years ago! On the 13th of August 2010 our very first tour was joined by only 1 person. Since then we have walked around Sofia’s main landmarks thousands of times and have welcomed guests from every corner of the globe excited to explore what Bulgaria’s capital has to offer. When our initiative started Sofia was a city that was rarely visited and was largely out of most people’s travelling lists. Over the past 10 years we saw that changing and we hope that our tours played a small part in the process of opening up the city to foreign visitors and spreading the word about its rich history, beautiful landmarks and incredible potential. Happy 10th Birthday! Free Sofia Tour and the 365 Association Free Sofia Tour was the beginning of the 365 Association. Over the past 10 years our incredible team took part in the development of numerous initiatives, projects, exhibitions and cultural activities […]
August 7, 2020
Bulgarians are proud of their rich historical and cultural heritage. Therefore, some of the most widespread souvenir options in Bulgaria are indeed linked to the country’s folklore and traditions. These are our suggestions for the best souvenirs you could bring back home and remember your trip to Bulgaria forever. 1. Wine Winemaking in Bulgaria dates back to the time of the ancient Thracians. With its 5 main wine regions Bulgaria is the hidden paradise for all wine-lovers. A classic gift for someone special – a bottle of Bulgarian wine. You could find good Bulgarian wine in every supermarket. For a wider variety of local wines we suggest a visit to EnjoyWine. 2. Pottery If you’ve already dined at a traditional Bulgarian restaurant during your trip to to Bulgaria you have most probably seen great local pottery. Bulgarian ceramics and pottery could be found in various types of stores all around the country. In fact, every Bulgarian household would still use those, especially when preparing traditional bulgarian dishes such as bob, […]
June 12, 2020
Both old legends and contemporary tips share one thing in common – the Women’s Market (also referred to as the Ladies’ Market, Ladies’ Bazaar and Zhenski Pazar) is the must-visit colorful, lively and fragrant spot in the heart of Sofia. Established right after Bulgaria’s Liberation from Ottoman rule in 1878, the Women’s market is the oldest open-air market in town. Back then Sofia had just been declared as a capital of the newborn country and the city was still much smaller than today. Today, this open-air market is at an immediate proximity to most major tourist sites such as the Square of Tolerance comprised by the four temples of the four main religions in Bulgaria. In its early days, the Women’s Market quickly became the favorite place for local people eager to buy fresh agricultural production which farmers from the villages nearby sold on more than affordable prices. A single egg would cost only 5 cents, a hen would cost 60 cents and a pig – 4-5 leva. Origins of […]
May 29, 2020
As life in Europe is slowly transitioning to the “new normal” many are itching to travel. However, a lot of us are not sure how to go about it in a post-pandemic world where the coronavirus is still very much present. Many of the travel restrictions in Europe are expected to be eased in mid-June/early July. Intercontinental travel however, is still uncertain. Covid-19 has changed the travel industry. That’s why a lot of Europeans will be looking for vacation options within the continent. Here are 5 reasons why the Bulgarian capital might just be the perfect option for your first post-pandemic trip: Bulgaria is one of the least affected countries by the pandemic One could argue why that is. Possibly a combination of safety measures applied very early on, closed borders and local discipline. Whatever the case, the local health system was not overwhelmed and many lives were spared. As of the end of May Bulgaria saw a total of less than 2500 cases and 136 deaths. These numbers also […]
May 24, 2020
Безплатните туристически обиколки на София вече и на български език! След почти 10 години ежедневни турове на английски език, Free Sofia Tour започва да провежда обиколки и на български език! За начало на инициативата избрахме датата на най-българския празник – 24-ти май. Ентусиазмът и любознателността на първите ни гости ни мотивира да надградим идеята си и да я превърнем в традиция. Free Sofia Tour на български език Безплатната туристическа обиколка на София включва всички основни забележителности в централната част на града. Сред тях са: Съдебна палата храм “Св. Неделя” статуя на София храм “Св. Петка Самарджийска” Ларгото на София Джамията “Баня Баши” Софийската синагога Централна минерална баня (днес Регионален исторически музей – София) Ротондата “Св Георги” Народен театър “Иван Вазов” Руската църква “Св. Николай Чудотворец” Базиликата “Св. София” Храм-паметник “Св. Александър Невски” Туристически обиколки на София Обиколките на български език ще се организират на събитиен принцип. Те ще бъдат водени от нашия прекрасен екип от професионални екскурзоводи, които по забавен и увлекателен начин ще ви накарат да преоткриете София. Датите […]
April 15, 2020
You might have heard that Bulgaria was once a socialist country, and a part of the Cold War Eastern Bloc. Part of the heritage from that period that foreigners seem to find most fascinating are the communist-era monuments. Here, you are in luck, since Bulgaria is one of the few countries where this cultural heritage is still well materialized by many typical artifacts from that period. The monumental architecture of the 1970’s and 1980’s is a result of a massive cultural policy of the state during the socialist period. Typically, monumental art from the last decades of the 20th century resulted in landmarks that illustrate historical events, using specific historical images. So, if you are a fan of brutalist art or are in search of unique Instagram opportunities, here’s a list of Bulgaria’s most legendary and impressive communist monuments: 1. The Memorial Home of the Bulgarian Communist Party (Buzludzha) There is an incredible amount of communist monuments still preserved in Bulgaria. However, this is by far the most famous one. […]