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Traditional Bulgarian

Customs and traditions in Bulgaria.

October 9, 2023
brunch and breakfast in sofia
Published by Free Sofia Tour at October 9, 2023
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5 Best Breakfast & Brunch Places in Sofia

Surprisingly for such a large city, Sofia’s breakfast and brunch scene was rather limited. Until recently. For many years local “grab and go” pastries (like banitsa) have been the dominant breakfast option for most locals. Fortunately, over the past decade we’ve seen several wonderful breakfast & brunch establishments open in the city center.  In this article, we’ll explore some of the best breakfast and brunch places in Sofia that cater to a variety of tastes and preferences. Sweet and Salty Bakery Cafe This cozy bakery in the heart of Sofia (right next to the Vitosha Boulevard) offers a wide variety of both Bulgarian and foreign brunch and breakfast classics such as fried french toast with filling, Bulgarian donuts or the traditional banitsa. Of course, you will also find favorites like eggs benedict, avocado toast, homemade granola and much more. Oh, and did we mention irresistible dessert options?  Sofiyska Banitsa This one is for the lovers of those oldschool Bulgarian grab and go “banitsa” places. Don’t get tricked by the dodgy […]
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September 20, 2023
best traditional restaurants in sofia (2)
Published by Free Sofia Tour at September 20, 2023
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5 Best Traditional Bulgarian Restaurants in Sofia

Sofia, the vibrant capital of Bulgaria, is a city that boasts a rich culinary tradition. A tradition deeply rooted in its history and culture. Bulgarian cuisine is a delightful blend of flavors and techniques, influenced by a variety of cultures that have left their mark on the region over centuries. If you’re visiting Sofia and want to savor the best of traditional Bulgarian cuisine, you’re in for a treat. In this article, we’ll explore some of the best traditional Bulgarian restaurants in Sofia that offer a taste of the country’s culinary heritage. MANASTIRSKA MAGERNITSA In Manastirska Magernitsa you will find a wide range of authentic cuisine options with recipes gathered from monasteries around the country, hence its name which means “monastery canteen”. This culinary journey will take place in a beautiful ethnic house from the last century, with rural and “old Sofia” interior. The slogan of Manastirska Magernitsa is “Before the bread we are all equal!”. Therefore, guests are welcomed with homemade bread and Bulgarian hospitality!  MOMA – Bulgarian Food […]
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August 7, 2020
bulgarian souvenirs
Published by Free Sofia Tour at August 7, 2020
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7 Best Bulgarian Souvenirs

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, […]
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March 30, 2020
rakia
Published by Free Sofia Tour at March 30, 2020
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Rakia – Bulgaria’s Most Popular Traditional Alcoholic Drink

If you have just arrived in Bulgaria and are still curious to taste the vast variety of authentic Bulgarian meals and drinks, undoubtedly the most traditional and emblematic alcoholic beverage to start your night with is the local rakia. There has hardly been a single guest of Sofia to remain neutral after the first sip. Both locals and internationals either fall in love with rakia or cannot stand the strong taste and smell of the spirits. A common Bulgarian joke – and for some elderly people even a fundamental belief – states that 30-40 ml rakia a day have a preventive effect against different viruses, including the coronavirus. While we cannot guarantee that we believe that giving it a try is essential to your trip to Bulgaria. Rakia – How is it made and what on Earth is it? Largely compared to a fruit brandy, rakia is produced out of large quantities of smashed fruits in a barrel. Then, sugar and water are added. It takes a few weeks for […]
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June 26, 2018
bulgarian food
Published by Free Sofia Tour at June 26, 2018
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Bulgarian Food | What to eat in Bulgaria | Traditional Dishes

If you are a passionate traveler, a large part of your foreign cultural exploration is undoubtedly food… or in this case – Bulgarian food. One cannot truly understand the life of the other if they don’t mix things up with the local cuisine. You haven’t been to Bulgaria unless you’ve tried Bulgarian food Spicing up your trip with new flavors is a must and Bulgaria is the country where it can get real messy, saucy, cheesy, steaming hot in a clay pot or simply delicious! Bulgaria is a country that will never leave you hungry for two reasons.  Firstly, there is the wealth of food for all tastes and secondly, Bulgarians are the kind of people that will always make sure your plate has been filled at least 3 times, and your belt loosened by at least 2 holes. Banitsa Undoubtedly, our number one dish is banitsa. This queen of Bulgarian specialties is a pastry usually stuffed with cheese but there are plenty of other versions for the adventurous type […]
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June 18, 2018
bulgarian wine
Published by Free Sofia Tour at June 18, 2018
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Bulgarian Wine – History, Local Sorts, Must-Trys, Wine Regions

“The discovery of a wine is of greater moment than the discovery of a constellation” once said the famous American politician and scientist Benjamin Franklin. With this post we plan to help you discover a whole new universe. Please don’t leave Bulgaria without trying a couple of glasses of wine! History of Bulgarian Wine Bulgarians have a long history in winemaking. This is something we inherited from everybody that once inhabited our territory – Thracians, Romans, Byzantines etc. They were all famous for being good wine connoisseurs. From the archaeologists we know that the Thracians had many rituals dedicated to the God Zagreus (or Dionysus as the Greeks call him or Bacchus as the Romans know him) – the God of Wine who inspired some of their most important cults. Images associated with the harvesting of grapes and winemaking are found on pottery, murals and mosaics in residential and public buildings. Even in some tombs. At the end of the 19 century this tradition grew and developed as a professional […]
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May 8, 2018
ten lesser known churches in Sofia
Published by Free Sofia Tour at May 8, 2018
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10 Lesser Known Churches in Sofia Worth Visiting

Willing to go the extra mile and explore Sofia’s lesser known churches? If so, then this post is for you. For over 7 years we have been showing the main landmarks of Sofia to thousands of visitors from all around the world.  Our daily Free Sofia Tour takes you around all the main and most important landmarks in the center of the city. This includes the most popular temples in Sofia such as the St Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, the Russian Church, St Nedelya Church and many more. However, there’s much more to Sofia and that’s why we have created a list of some of our favorite lesser known churches in the city! 1. Church of St Paraskeva (Света Параскева – Sveta Paraskeva) Despite being the third largest church in Sofia the church of St Paraskeva is often ignored by both tourists and locals. You can find it in a quiet part of the center. It is definitely one of Sofia’s gems. The church dates back to 1930. There are residential buildings […]
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March 18, 2018
Easter in Bulgaria
Published by Free Sofia Tour at March 18, 2018
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Easter in Sofia

Happy Easter! Hi all, spring is here! This lovely season brings the great Christian celebration – Easter (in bulgarian Великден; Velikden – Great Day). Easter in Bulgaria Bulgaria being largely a Christian Orthodox country celebrates Easter according to the Julian calender instead of the Gregorian calendar, used by many western countries. Therefore, the date when Bulgarians celebrate Easter often doesn’t coincide with the one celebrated in Western Europe. Here is when Easter will be celebrated in Bulgaria. In 2024, Bulgarians will celebrate on the 5th of May. If you happen to be in Bulgaria this spring, you should know about our two most common Easter traditions –  Egg fight and the delicious sweet bread – Kozunak. In Bulgaria we don’t hide and search for the Easter eggs and we don’t have the Easter bunny compared to many Western countries. Here we color eggs on Thursday or Saturday before the holiday. The first dyed egg should always be red – a symbol of health. Usually, if you are in Sofia and want […]
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February 8, 2016
Kukeri - An old and scary Bulgarian tradition - Kukeri
Published by Free Sofia Tour at February 8, 2016
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Kukeri – An old and scary Bulgarian tradition

The unknown Kukeri carnival You have probably heard of the carnivals of Rio or Venice. If you do some research, you will undoubtedly encounter theories, attributing the origin of the carnival tradition to Roman and Greek pagan traditions. Some of them will mention a connection to Bacchus/Dionysus, a Thracian and Greek god of wine. However, what you may not know is that we also have a carnival of our own. It is dedicated to the exact same deity. We call it Kukeri and it’s one of the most ancient pagan traditions we still follow to date. When is the Kukeri carnival happening? Every year in January and February (depending on the region) in towns and villages around the country Bulgarians and foreign guests gather to enjoy this special kind of festival. The kukeri, traditionally men only, are the protagonists in this ancient mystery. They form a procession through the streets and perform ritual dances dressed in their handmade costumes. The scarier the outfit, the better, as the goal of the whole rite is to chase away the evil spirits […]
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