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In this post I will cover:
- the cheapest and best value for money accomodation in Sofia
- the cheapest and tastiest food in Sofia
- the cheapest taxis/transport means in Sofia

The first thing you should know about Sofia is that its beauty is not immediately apparent. When you first get here, it is likely that amongst the first things you will notice are the ugly footpaths and pilling rubbish on the street.

Don't worry, it gets much better.

Starting with your accomodation.

I've been to 3 of the hostels here, including Art Hostel, Vitosha Hostel, and Hostel Mostel.

Without a doubt Hostel Mostel was the best value and most comfortable.

Let me break down into further detail:

Art Hostel:
Very groovy, artistic hub, with awesome breakfast and excellent location. Unfortunately their prices are a bit steep.

Vitosha Hostel:
Definitely the cheapest, however don't expect any atmosphere or to meet people. This place is more of a guest house. Good to stay here if you just want a bed for 1 night on your way to another city.

Hostel Mostel:
My favourite for the following reasons - free internet with 3 terminals (includes wifi etc), heated dorms (except for the attic, dont stay up there!!)very clean toilets and bathrooms, friendly knowledgable staff who know how to show you around, free buffet breakfast - AND - free dinner - spaghetti with tomato sauce, chilli falvouring and a beer. Not to mention the hostel itself used to be an art gallery so looks pretty groovy on inside as well! It also had a heap of other stuff but you should look at their website for that info.

Cheap and tasty food:
For cheap and tasty food you can't beat the local Chinese place (after you've tried Bulgarian food obviously), which is down a street called Stambolijski blvd (refer to free map from Hostel Mostel). You can get vegetarian noodle stir fry for like 4 leva (2 euros - bargain!) which is enough to feed two very hungry people.

There are also very filling pizza slice stands - which you can pick up for about 1-1.7 leva, don't pay more than that!

Also if you plan on cooking, you should consider buying your vegetables from the "lady's market" on the corner of Tsar Samuel and Tsar Simeon roads. Cheaper than your supermarket.

For your general needs like cheap booze, etc etc, visit the biggest super market in the center - which is in the basement of the grand Mall of Sofia (corner of Stambolijski and Opalchenska roads) - much cheaper than the corner stores and the other supermarkets in the centre.

Taxis/ transport

Although bad for the earth due to emissions, taxis are sometimes nearly the same price as catching a bus/train in Sofia. If you know the right ones to catch!

Buses/trains/trams all cost 1 leva per ride, every ride, regardless of where you are going. Problem is, if you have a big backpack on a tram, you have to buy it a ticket as well! so you end up paying 2 leva.

Don't try and ride without a ticket, the inspectors are around all the time!! If you get busted its 10 leva fine which is nothing, but its the embarrasment you may want to avoid!!

You can get a ticket froma stand near the bus stop (ticket = billet) or from the driver on the bus. Be sure you have exact amoutn if you want to do this. Trams have machines at front of tram.

There are only two taxi companies you should consider using whilst in Sofia - the rest have rigged meters!! O.K. taxi and 1263. They are the cheapest. The others will rip you off the moment they see you are a foreigner - i've heard many stories from fellow backpackers who have paid incredible amounts!!

Also be careful because there are two kinds of O.K. taxis - the ones spelt O.K. with red dots, and another group trying to trick you just called OK - without the red "." after the O and the K. Tricky tricky!!

In terms of beauty in Sofia, make sure you visit Tsar Osvoboditel blvd - it has all the beautiful buildings.

There are also aheap of clubs which are fairly cheap (or very cheap if you compare them to Western European prices!) nd the nightlife, accompanied with beautiful slavic women, make it a pretty awesome city.

Got any cheap backpacking tips of your own? share them below :)