Free Sofia Tour’s Tips and Tricks
More info about your stay in Sofia and in Bulgaria. Practical advice (inside tips & tricks) about anything from more sightseeing to exchanging money.
November 25, 2022
It’s tiiime! The holiday season is upon us. And we are here with the most extensive list of festive Christmas locations ever compiled, including Christmas markets, charity bazaars, ice-skating rinks, holiday shopping options, and more! Get ready for your Christmas in Sofia! December in Sofia Now we have to be honest. Sofia isn’t known for being a holiday destination, nor for its wonderful decorations or a dominant festive atmosphere. If anything, the lack of holiday spirit in the air has become somewhat synonymous with the city. However, this year, it seems like things are changing. There is a noticeable increase in Christmas-themed locations and winter activities in the city. So, if you’ve chosen Sofia for your holiday city escape, you are in for a treat! And we are surely hoping for some snow to add to the festive mood! Christmas Markets in Sofia Who doesn’t love the Christmas markets and a cup of mulled wine? This winter we have plenty of options to choose from. Buying gifts, and enjoying tasty […]
October 27, 2022
Sofia is famous for its abundance of hot and cold mineral water springs. Having said that, you will find it surprising that currently there aren’t any operating public baths in the actual city. The good news is that a couple of weeks ago, in the town of Bankya (only 17km away from Sofia), the newly refurbished bathhouse finally reopened to visitors. Needless to say, we couldn’t be happier. The historic bath in Bankya The construction of the building began in 1907. It first opened to visitors back in 1911. This bath is a prime example of the architectural traditions of public baths created at the beginning of the 20th century in Bulgaria. Designed by German architect Professor Carl Hocheder, this elegant building was widely known as The Royal Bath, as it dates back to the reign of Tsar Ferdinand. After a looong time of being abandoned, the bath reopened to the public on September 30th, 2022. You can finally see it in its full glory after a complete renovation, done […]
November 22, 2021
Visiting Sofia for just one day and want to make the most of it? We are here to help. Needless to say, 24 hours are not enough but you can actually cover most of the essentials if you follow our plan strictly. 1. Start your day the Bulgarian way Once you wake up it’s time for some breakfast. The most “local” way to begin your day is with some banitsa and ayran. Banitsa is a local pastry with white cheese. Ayran is a cold yoghurt drink that is most often paired together with some banitsa. Both are considered street food and are usually consumed while standing or walking. However, if you prefer to have a longer and more relaxed morning we recommend starting your day at one of our favorite breakfast places in town – the Sweet & Salty Bakery Cafe, Mekitsa & Coffee or the Rainbow Factory. 2. Explore the main landmarks Fortunately for everybody with a tight schedule, Sofia’s historical center is very compact. You can explore it […]
June 28, 2021
We’ve already covered the more traditional ways of getting around Bulgaria’s capital with our Sofia Public Transport Guide and Guide to Sofia Metro. Today, we are looking at some of the more innovative, alternative, and eco-friendly ways to move around Sofia. This is especially important considering the city’s heavy traffic and air pollution issues. Renting a scooter – Hobo You might be familiar with this concept from other cities. Scooters have grown in popularity over the past decade. There are now a couple of companies offering rent-a-scooter services in Sofia. However, we are keen on the Bulgarian micro-mobility startup Hobo. With its user-friendly app and conveniently located scooters around the city, it’s the perfect way to get around the central part of the city and its neighboring areas. Needless to say, they are also quite fun and easy to use without requiring too much physical effort. You can also use them on the bike lanes. Parking zones for scooters are available in various locations in the city center. A ride […]
April 29, 2021
After the looong and snowy winter it’s what we’ve all been anticipating for months – Spring in Sofia! The season of awakening, excitement and good mood! Sofia in spring is truly magnificent and a perfect option for an extended weekend trip or a spring getaway. The flowers are blooming and nature is coming to life. The beauty and excitement of this season is just one of the reasons why it’s the perfect time to visit the Bulgarian capital. It’s also the perfect time of year to discover some of Bulgaria’s most interesting traditions. It is indeed during spring time that Bulgarians celebrate some of their most beloved national holidays. Spring Holidays in Bulgaria March 1st – Baba Marta & Martenitsa Red and white decorations appear everywhere in Bulgaria to celebrate the end of winter and the beginning of the new cycle of life. This old and pagan tradition is so widespread in the country that it’s impossible to miss it. Vendors start selling martenitsas on the streets as early as […]
March 14, 2021
Bulgaria offers so much variety when it comes to day trips. There’s a lot to see and it is sometimes hard to prioritize. Most visitors with a 2-3 day stay in the country usually choose a trip to Plovdiv or the Rila Monastary. However, if you have more time, a trip to the Belogradchick Rocks and Fortress will surely be one to remember. History Belogradchick is a town in the North West of Bulgaria. While the region itself is economically lagging behind other regions in the country, there is something that attracts local and foreign visitors alike. And that’s the famous Belogdradchick Rocks and Fortress. Truth is, Bulgaria is not famous for its castles. However, this one is definitely among the ones worth visiting. Not only because of the fortress itself but because of the way it’s situated among the incredibly beautiful rocks. In fact, the fortress has been there in different shapes and forms for the past 2000 years. Artefacts found in the area (such as Roman coins, ceramics […]
November 18, 2020
We must admit that the citizens of Sofia are spoiled by having the Vitosha mountain so close by. There are many different ways to get there. However, today we are focusing on one of our favorites. One of the many hiking paths available is the one that takes you to the Boyana waterfall. The Boyana Neighbourhood Once a village, neighbouring the big city, today Boyana is one of the nicest and most preferred residential areas in Sofia. It is right at the foot of the Vitosha Mountain. Therefore, it is 8km away from Sofia’s city center. To access it you need to go beyond Sofia’s ring road between Dragalevtsi and Knyazhevo. There are mostly houses in Boyana owned by what would be considered as the wealthier part of the Bulgarian society. However, the area is also home to a few must sees during your trip to Sofia. By far, the most famous landmark is the Boyana Church. A UNESCO world heritage site dating back to the 10th century. Another very […]
January 24, 2020
If you have already explored Sofia and are now looking for another attractive destination across the border, your easiest shot is definitely Skopje! North Macedonia’s major city is the closest capital to Sofia, with a distance of only 245 kilometers between them. However, due to a variety of reasons, there are still no flights or railways directly linking the two cities together. With planes and trains unavailable, the only way to reach Skopje from Sofia is by car or by bus. To Skopje by BUS The bus ride between the Bulgarian and North Macedonian capitals takes approximately five hours if you are lucky enough to avoid the annoying traffic at the border checkpoints. The busses of MATPU company leave every day from the Sofia Central Bus Station at 09:30 and at 14:00. Alternatively, you can opt for Kaleia company, with its busses departing from Sofia every day at 07:00, 17:30 and midnight. Tickets can be purchased both online and on the spot prior to departure. Ticket prices are around 30BGN […]
January 6, 2020
Buzludzha, Zheravna, Belogradchik… it seems that we have a weird tradition in Bulgaria of giving famous sightseeing locations complicated names. However, one of the most famous and most complicated too is Koprivshtitsa. There are probably innumerable visitors of our country who have opted out on the option of going there because of the sheer difficulty of the name of this beautiful historic town in Central Bulgaria. Today we are taking you on a virtual journey there focusing on how to get to Koprivshtitsa and also, what to do and see there. Koprivshtitsa: Who, what, where? Koprivshtitsa is one of the most characteristic Bulgarian towns, huddled in the mountain-folds just 111 km east of Sofia. The town is a cultural and historic reserve encapsulating the atmosphere of the Bulgarian National Revival period of the 19th century. Apart from an enormous collection of ethnographic treasures, architectural monuments, national costumes, typical Bulgarian jewelry, traditional household weaves, enchanting embroidery and many works of art, the town is most famous for being one of the […]