Sofia Tourist Places to Visit in Sofia, Bulgarian, Europe

Sofia Tourist Places to Visit in Sofia, Bulgarian, Europe

Sofia is the capital as well as largest city of Bulgaria situated in the western part of the country at 42°42′ N 23°20′ E. It is recognized as a Beta−city by the Globalization and World Cities Research Network. Sofia is home to most of the major business centers, universities and cultural institutions of the country.

Geography of Sofia:

Sofia lies at the foot of Mount Vitosha at an elevation of 580 meters. The city of Sofia covers an area of 492 sq. km. and the urban area occupies 1,344 sq. km.

History of Sofia:

Sofia was earlier known as Serdica which was derived from Serdi named after Celtic tribe and the founders of the town, founded in the 5th century BC. The current name comes from the popular Holy Sophia Church which is the 2^nd oldest church in Sofia. Until 1879, Sofia was a small settlement; it geared up towards development becoming a capital of Bulgaria.

How to reach Sofia?

Sofia hosts most important airport of the country, called Sofia Airport which is situated 5 km away from the downtown Sofia and handles flights to Rome, London, Madrid, Moscow, Frankfurt, Berlin, Amsterdam, Athens and other major European cities.

The major airlines that serve Sofia Airport include Bulgaria Air, EasyJet, Wizz Air, Air France and British Airways.

Sofia Central Bus Station is the prime bus station situated near the heart of the city and it operates buses to Macedonia, Istanbul, Vienna, Belgrade and Nis other than domestic locations.

Sofia is connected by train to international cities like Moscow Vienna, Belgrade, Istanbul, Bucharest and Kiev.

Metro train, bus, marshrutki, taxi and rental car options for local travel.

Culture, Food and Shopping in Sofia:

Sofia is the administrative as well as cultural capital of Bulgaria housing plenty of renowned museum, theatres, churches, universities and libraries.

The major shopping centers in Sofia include:

The Mall
Mall of Sofia
TZUM
SkyCity Mall

List of the prominent food corners in Sofia is:

Restaurant Petleto 2
Panorama Restaurant
Supa Star
La Tribuna Restaurant & Garden

What to do in Sofia?

Arena Cinema
Sofia Bike Tour
Sofia Hike Tour
Custom City Tour of Sofia

Tourist Attractions in Sofia:

The Alexander Nevsky Cathedral:

Being an identity of Sofia, the Alexander Nevsky Cathedral is the top tourist destination as well as one of the largest Eastern Orthodox cathedrals in the globe. The cathedral covers an area of 3,170 square meters with a capacity of 10,000 persons inside. It was built in 1912 in Neo-Byzantine architectural style.

National Art Gallery:

The National Art Gallery possesses a 50,000 pieces of artworks of the many renowned Bulgarians, especially authors. It was established in 1934 and presently, it is placed on Battenberg Square. It is open from 10:30 to 18:00 and the entrance fee is 4 leva.

Ivan Vazov National Theatre:

Ivan Vazov National Theatre is located in the heart of the city on Dyakon Ignatii Street and is the main cultural centre of Sofia hosting regular classical performances, frequented by art lovers from all around the Europe.

List of other places of interest in Sofia includes:

Sofia University
National Assembly of Bulgaria
National Palace of Culture
Cyril and Methodius National Library
National Museum of Military History
Bulgarian Academy of Sciences
Earth and Man National Museum
National Museum of History
National Museum of Natural History
National Gallery for Foreign Art
Alexander Nevsky Cathedral
Hagia Sophia Church
Nicholas Orthodox Church
Banya Bashi Mosque
Battenberg Mausoleum

Best time to visit Sofia:

Sofia experiences a humid continental climate receiving an average rainfall of 587 mm. From July to September will be the ideal time to enjoy your holidays in Sofia.

Accommodation options in Sofia:

Sofia is home to around 300 well known accommodation centers categorized as hotels, BB and Inns, lodges, hostels, guest houses and holiday apartments. Hostels are the budget options charging around €10/night, mid range hotels- around €50/night and splurge hotels–about €75/night. Here are the reputed hotels in Sofia: