Sofia is an ideal place for a weekend break. We went to Sofia for a long weekend, spending two days in the city and a third day on a tour to Rila Monastery, stopping en route at Boyana Church. The Monastery, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is around 70 miles south of Sofia. It is quite spectacular, so I thoroughly recommend making room in your itinerary to go and see it. However, when it comes to Sofia itself, here is my pick of the top 10 things to do.
How to get to Sofia
We flew to Sofia Airport, which is about 6 miles east of Sofia. From here, it is a 26 minute trip into the city on the Metro (Line M4). Tickets cost 2 Lev (about 90 pence).
Getting Around Sofia
Most of Sofia’s attractions are close enough together to be visited on foot. To reach those which are further out of town, we took the Metro. On the final day, we took a full day guided tour to Rila. There are plenty of options for trips to Rila; we went with Traventuria, which costs 30 Euros for transport only or 35 Euros for the tour option. The bus departs from Aleksander Nevski Cathedral at 9 am, returning at approximately 5 pm.
Where to stay in Sofia
We stayed at the Arena di Serdica Boutique Hotel. This isn’t where we booked; we had a reservation at another hotel further out of town with a pool. But when we arrived, our intended hotel had a problem and moved us. The Arena di Serdica is a very nice, centrally located hotel. It doesn’t have a pool – when builders started digging the hotel’s foundations, they discovered Roman remains, which have been excavated and incorporated into the hotel’s design.
It’s quite unique staying in a hotel with its own Roman ruins. And it is a very nice hotel. Although I’m not sure about the weird modern art draped across the ancient amphitheatre…
Sofia: Top 10 Things to do
| 1 | Visit Sveti Nikolai Russian Church |
| 2 | Watch the Changing of the Guard at the Presidency |
| 3 | Admire the stunning Alexksander Nevski Cathedral |
| 4 | Marvel at the 1700 year old St George Rotunda Church |
| 5 | See iconic socialist art at the Museum of Socialist Art |
| 6 | Wander round Borisova Gradina |
| 7 | View Saint Sofia Monument |
| 8 | Go shopping at the Central Department Store |
| 9 | Take a stroll along Vitosha Boulevard |
| 10 | Visit the National Palace of Culture |
No 1 – Visit Sveti Nikolai Russian Church
The Sveti Nikolai Russian Church is set in pretty gardens, with its glistening golden onion domes. The church dates back to 1907, when it was built by the Russian Embassy for the Russian community in Sofia.
No 2 – Watch the Changing of the Guard at the Presidency
Next up, the Presidency. Architecturally, there’s not much to see at the President‘s Building; security is tight and you can’t get particularly close. But it’s definitely worth coming here on the hour to see the Changing of the Guard. It’s like military theatre.
The guards change hourly, at 5 minutes to the hour. If you want the full pomp and ceremony, this happens on the first Wednesday of the month at 12:00 when you can see the official changing of the guards complete with music, shouting and weapon brandishing.
No 3 – Admire the stunning Alexksander Nevski Cathedral
The number one tourist destination in Sofia is, of course, the Aleksander Nevski Cathedral. This enormous 19th century cathedral is synonymous with the city of Sofia and is quite a sight on a sunny day with the light reflecting off its many domes. The church was built between 1882 and 1912, in a neo-Byzantine style, to remember the 200,000 Russian soldiers who died fighting for Bulgaria’s independence during the Russo-Turkish War.
If there isn’t a service in progress, you can visit the equally impressive interior, adorned with frescoes and plenty of gold.
No 4 – Marvel at the 1700 year old St George Rotunda Church
One last church; Saint George Rotunda Church. Built in the 4th Century as a Roman Bath, this tiny church is Sofia’s oldest preserved building.
No 5 – See iconic socialist art at the Museum of Socialist Art
After the fall of communism in Bulgaria, officials wondered what to do with various sculptures and art work which depicted communist ideals and were in evidence across the city. The answer was to take it all down and dump it in a garden; now the fascinating Museum of Art from the Socialist Period.
It entails a metro ride out to the suburbs. The M4 Line to G.M. Dimitrov gets you to within a 10 minute walk of the museum. It’s not the easiest place to find. However, in amongst a range of modern office buildings, you will spot an enormous red star which indicates you have located the museum.
Here, you can wander round the garden full of Lenin busts, red stars and all manner of other sculptures. There’s also an art gallery.
The Museum is open from Tuesday to Sunday between 10 am and 6 pm. Entry costs 6 lev (around £0.50) or 2 lev on Thursdays.
No 6 – Wander round Borisova Gradina
Return to the Metro and head a couple of stops back towards town, alighting at Vasil Levski Stadium for the next on the list on this morning’s socialist sculpture extravaganza. This one is located in the Borisova Gradina; a large area of parkland, with plenty of gardens and statues as well as various cafes and bars for refreshments along the way.
The Mound of Brotherhood
The Mound of Brotherhood.isn’t signposted, or maintained, but we finally find it behind the trees covered in graffiti;
The mound is home to a 42 metre high socialist realist obelisk flanked by working class heroes and gun toting communists.
No 7 – View Saint Sofia Monument
Catch the Metro back to Serdika for the next stop; the Saint Sofia Monument which sits in the middle of a traffic island. This statue of Saint Sofia, after whom the city is named, sits atop a 24 metre column. She replaces the previous occupant; Lenin. It’s quite difficult to photograph the statue as (1) it involves looking up at the sun and (2) avoiding getting run over is an issue.
No 8 – Go shopping at the Central Department Store (TZUM)
Next, a quick detour to the Central Department Store. This ornate building, constructed in the 1950s, was communist Bulgaria’s flagship store with 120,000 visitors a day.
No 9 – Stroll along Vitosha Boulevard
Take a stroll along the kilometre long stretch of Vitosha Boulevard, which is lined with shops and street cafes towards the National Palace of Culture.
No 10 – Visit the National Palace of Culture
The National Palace of Culture is another icon of the communist era. This octagonal (in my opinion) concrete monstrosity, built in the 80s, houses a concert hall, conference centre and cafes. It is reached via a fountain lined park; Ploshtad Bulgaria.
I hope you found the above information useful. For more top picks from other destinations in the 50+ countries we have visited, check out my full Top 10 Things To Do list here.
Other blogs about Bulgaria
- Trip taken: June 2016
- Updated: March 2024
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