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Sofia
Free tour
5466 ratings
5.0

FREE SOFIA TOUR

The free English and Spanish language sightseeing walking tour of Bulgaria’s capital (organized by the 365 Association) expects its guests every single day, all year round. Free Sofia Tour covers Sofia’s most famous landmarks and is led by enthusiastic local guides. The best attraction in Sofia according to TripAdvisor users. Approved by Tourist Service Municipal Company at Sofia City Municipality. Every tour is both fun and educational, the perfect introduction to the city and its thousands of years of history.

You can join us with or without reservation. Guaranteed departure. Booking is not mandatory. 

EN Flag Tours in English

Every Day @ 11AM & 2PM

ES Flag Tours in Spanish

Every Day @11AM

Еvery Friday & Saturday @11AM & 6PM

Highlights

What will we visit on this tour?
*The route is indicative and may vary.
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Meeting point
Sofia City Court (Palace of Justice)
Our guides are waiting ONLY in front of the two lion statues in front of the Sofia City Court (Palace of Justice). Other providers might operate in the area.
1
Sveta Nedelya Church
If you miss us on the first stop, you will find us next to the Sveta Nedelya Church with the green dome. You should be able to see it if you are standing in front of the Sofia City Court.
2
Coat of Arms of Sofia
The city's coat of arms includes Sofia's four main symbols. On our tour, you will learn their significance.
3
Statue of Sofia
When it was first erected in 2000, this statue sparked some controversy. Learn why.
4
Church of St. Petka
St Petka of the Saddlers is a medieval Bulgarian Orthodox church. This small and unexpected gem in the very heart of the city is partially dug into the ground. Find out why.
5
Largo Square Roman Ruins
One of Sofia's new archeological sites fascinates with its vast area and well-preserved ruins of the ancient city of Serdica.
6
Banya Bashi Mosque
The city's only functioning mosque dates back to the 16th century. It's one of the few remaining landmarks in Sofia from the 500-year-long Ottoman rule over the Bulgarian territories.
7
Sofia Synagogue
The Sofia Synagogue is the largest synagogue on the Balkan peninsula and one of the largest in Europe. On this tour you will also learn about the fascinating story of the Bulgarian Jewish Community.
8
Former Public Bath / Museum of Sofia
This stunningly beautiful building was once Sofia's Central Public Bath. Today, it houses the Sofia History Museum.
9
Mineral Water
Sofia's mineral waters are one of the city's best-kept secrets. Try it and experience its healing powers!
10
Council of Ministers
This huge building is part of the larger central ensemble of Stalin-style buildings from the 1950s. It is also where the prime minister of Bulgaria works.
11
Former Communist Party Headquarters / Parliament
Also known as "the party house," this was the most influential building in the country during Bulgaria's controversial communist past. Currently, it is temporarily housing the Bulgarian National Assembly (Parliament).
12
Presidency
Two guards in 19th-century uniforms guard Bulgaria's Presidential Palace. If you're there at the right time, you might even witness the ceremony of changing the guards.
13
St George Rotunda
St George Rotunda is Sofia's oldest building. It's a hidden gem surrounded by massive buildings. You might miss it if you're not paying attention.
14
City Garden
We will walk around Sofia's oldest park, which was once the king's private garden.
15
National Theater Ivan Vazov
This stunning building is home to Bulgaria's most authoritative theatre stage.
16
National Gallery (Former Royal Palace)
You'll probably never guess that this building was once the Royal Palace. Today, it houses the National Art Gallery and the National Ethnographic Museum.
17
Russian Church
It was initially built as the official church of the Russian Embassy, which used to be next to it. Over the years, it became one of the most recognizable buildings in Sofia.
18
St. Sophia Basilica
It is one of the most (if not the) most important buildings in the history of Sofia. This church gave our city its name - Sofia.
19
End: St. Alexander Nevsky Cathedral
As our final stop, we've saved what you usually see on every single postcard of Sofia - The St. Alexander Nevsky Cathedral.
Show 16 more steps

Who is this for?

The idea of the Free Sofia Tour is to show the city to individual travellers and small groups. If you are an organized group of ten people (10+), please contact us at least 24 hrs in advance, and we will arrange a tailor-made private tour for you. Otherwise, our guides will refuse your participation in the free walking tour.

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Price

We believe that everyone has the right to a quality tour, regardless of their budget. At the end of the free tour, you are the ones who can value the service. The only way we keep going every single day is through the donations of our guests. We don’t have any other funding. That’s how we cover all our expenses (incl company service fees for each guest, government taxes, and insurance).

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13+ Years of Experience

With more than 13 years of experience and thousands of positive reviews, Free Sofia Tour (by the 365 Association) is the #1 thing to do in Sofia, according to TripAdvisor users and other popular online outlets.

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Guides

We have a team of local, professional, licensed tour guides with extensive training and experience, ready to provide the best possible experience for you while sharing their love for the city.

Tour Reviews

5466 ratings
5.0
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superam
Derby, UK
FABULOUS WALKING Tour
Kris was great. Humorous and informative. A super way to spend an afternoon in Sofia. Highly recommended and would be enjoyed by adults children or aliens.
Jan 2024
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Sugandha G
London, UK
Free Sofia Walking Tour
My husband and I did the Free Sofia Walking Tour with Ivo and we thought he was fantastic! One of the best guides we have had. Ivo was very knowledgeable, approachable and his passion and love for his city was evident. We learnt a lot of Sofia and Bulgaria's history and enjoyed hearing about the city of "layers and contrasts". We would recommend this tour.
Sep 2023
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Jackie B
Best walking tour in my life!
My guide Johan/Juan was hands down the BEST tour guide I’ve ever had on a walking tour- I’ve done 20+ in different cities. The way he talks about the history of his country is so captivating. He could talk about a leaf on the ground and I would listen. His energy is seriously amazing. He definitely made my experience in Sofia better. Stops were all interesting and his explanation was just always full of energy and life- bringing the past to life. Cannot recommend this tour enough!!
Oct 2023
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Maria Sassetti
Great experience!
Tommy was absolutely great! The tour was very insightful and dynamic. We felt that we learnt a lot in 2 hours about Bulgarian culture and history
Sep 2023

What should I know?

Our free walking tours run all year round, no matter the weather conditions (incl weekends, national holidays, Christmas, Easter, etc). You can join us even without a booking! Just show up on the spot! We’ll be there!

Accessibility

Please read more in our FAQ section before you book a tour.

Minimum Attendees

Guaranteed departure. No minimum number of attendees.

Additional Costs

The tour does not require the payment of entrance fees or additional expenses.

Payment Methods

Cash only.

Tour Details

When: Every Day
Duration: 2h
Languages: English, Spanish
Book your tour now
Book your tour now

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