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Free Sofia Tour's Blog

April 1, 2025
Easter in Bulgaria
Published by Free Sofia Tour at April 1, 2025
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Easter in Sofia

Happy Easter! Hi all, spring is here! This lovely season brings the grand Christian celebration – Easter. Easter, known as Velikden (Великден) or “Great Day” in Bulgarian, is one of the most significant and cherished holidays in Bulgaria. If you find yourself in Sofia during this vibrant season and are considering immersing yourself in local customs, you’re in for a treat! ​ Easter in Bulgaria Bulgaria, being largely a Christian Orthodox country, celebrates Easter according to the Julian calendar instead of the Gregorian calendar, which is 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 the following years. In 2025, however, Bulgarians will celebrate Easter on the exact same day as Western Europeans—on April 20th! If you happen to be in Bulgaria this spring, you should know about our two most common Easter traditions: Egg fights and the delicious sweet bread, Kozunak. Unlike many Western countries where Easter egg […]
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March 12, 2025
Sofia Airport Terminal 2
Published by Free Sofia Tour at March 12, 2025
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How to Get from Sofia Airport to Sofia City Center

Whether you’re planning a visit to Bulgaria’s capital or simply find yourself at Sofia Airport by chance, this article provides all the information you need to travel between the airport and the city. Sofia has only one airport for commercial flights. It is located approximately 10 km from the city center, and fortunately, it is well-connected by public transport. You can take the metro or use one of the two bus lines (84 and 184). Taxis are also available in front of the Arrivals building. Sofia Airport to Sofia City Center BY METRO If you’re at Terminal 2, the Sofia Metro is by far the easiest way to reach downtown. It’s safe, fast, and convenient—we highly recommend this option. The journey to Serdika Metro Station, Sofia’s central metro hub, takes a little under 30 minutes. If you arrive at Terminal 1 and need to get to Terminal 2 (or vice versa), a free shuttle bus runs every 30 minutes. Simply follow the signs or ask for directions at the information […]
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March 6, 2025
one day in sofia
Published by Free Sofia Tour at March 6, 2025
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One Day in Sofia – What to Do in 24 Hours

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. Or, if you want to do it the old-school Bulgarian way, visit Sofiyska Banitsa for some authentic banitsa (a local pastry with […]
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November 11, 2024
christmas sofia bulgaria
Published by Free Sofia Tour at November 11, 2024
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Christmas in Sofia 2024 | Christmas Markets & Festive Holiday Locations

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 […]
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August 1, 2024
How to get to Vitosha mountain - Ultimate Guide | Free Sofia Tour
Published by Free Sofia Tour at August 1, 2024
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How to get to Vitosha mountain

Vitosha is a mountain massif and a ski resort (though a bit underdeveloped). It offers plenty of hiking options and panoramic views of Sofia. Sofia is one of the very few European capitals with such a big mountain so close to the city center. The city also happens to be one of the highest capitals in Europe. Andorra la Vella is at the top, followed by Vaduz in Liechtenstein and arguably Madrid. So the question inevitably arises – ‘How do we get to Vitosha mountain?’ Here are some options: Walking and Hiking in Vitosha This is actually how organized tourism in Sofia started. In 1895, the famous Bulgarian writer Aleko Konstantinov managed to convince around 300 people to leave the city’s ‘dusty streets’ and ‘stuffy cafes’ and take a refreshing walk from the city center to the top of the mountain — Cherni Vrah (Black Peak), at 2290 m above sea level. In front of the National Theatre, a stone marks the starting point of this interesting journey.   How […]
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January 12, 2024
Winter in Sofia
Published by Free Sofia Tour at January 12, 2024
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Winter in Sofia – Top 10 Winter Activities

We’re not gonna lie, winter in Sofia can be quite tough. However, there are plenty of things to do in the Bulgarian capital even when it’s -20°C. We want to pass this insight onto you, our lovely visitors. Keep in mind though that you might just fall in love with Sofia and decide to make it your new home! Depending on what region of the world you hail from, the moment you poke your face out from your cozy hotel/hostel/Airbnb room, it might feel like a warm spring kiss or a bone-chilling North Pole slap in the face! Either way, we’ve got you covered, and will give you our top winter picks to make your winter visit to our lovely city as enjoyable as possible! Wondering what to do in Sofia in winter? Here are our top 10 picks for winter activities in Sofia: 1. Vitosha mountain – For our adrenaline junkies  It’s all about the powder a.k.a the snow! That’s right you saw it as you were landing – our beautiful […]
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May 16, 2022
nedkov urumov 3
Published by Free Sofia Tour at May 16, 2022
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Bulgarian Modernist Architecture in Sofia – Top 8 Examples

Bulgarian modernism is one of Sofia’s best-kept secrets. It’s predominantly in the city center of Bulgaria’s capital where you’ll find prime examples of Bulgarian modernist architecture. Following WW1 and the two Balkan wars, Bulgaria saw a drastic change in the period between the two world wars. Naturally, that was also reflected in the architecture. History of Bulgarian Modernism The years between the two world wars in Bulgaria were a very dynamic period in terms of the changes in stylistic trends. The 1920s was a period of coexistence of different architectural trends such as Art Deco, echoes of Art Nouveau, and different eclectic styles. On the contrary, the beginning of the 1930s was the time of the consolidation of the new trend of the Modern Movement with its distinguishable features like the clearness of the form, functionality, lack of redundant ornamentation, horizontalism, etc. but sometimes with some elegant local taste. This was also the time of intensive growth of the urban population. As a result of that in Sofia, a great […]
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June 28, 2021
alternative transport sofia
Published by Free Sofia Tour at June 28, 2021
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Alternative Ways to Get Around Sofia

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 […]
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January 19, 2021
vitosha boulevard
Published by Free Sofia Tour at January 19, 2021
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The Vitosha Boulevard – Sofia’s main shopping street

Often referred to as Sofia’s Champs-Élysées, The Vitosha Boulevard is by far the most famous street in Bulgaria. Contrary to many “main streets” in big cosmopolitan cities, this one is equally popular among both locals and visitors. Whether for shopping, a stroll down the boulevard or just to sit down at one of the many cafes and restaurants, Vitoshka (as most Bulgarians call it) is as close as it gets to Sofia’s beating heart.  History of the Vitosha Boulevard The development of Sofia’s main street is intertwined with the development of the city itself after it was chosen as the new Bulgarian capital in the late 19th century. The street had several different names throughout the decades. Its initial name was the ottoman “Dzhebel vitosh sokagi”. It was first called Vitoshka (The Vitosha Boulevard) back in 1883. After that, however, the name was changed several times. In the early 20th century it was renamed to “General Yosif Gurko”. Later, to “Tsaritsa Joanna”. After WW2 the street was called “Joseph Stalin” […]
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