Sofia
is steeped in history
Welcome to Sofia
Bulgaria's pleasingly laid-back capital is often overlooked by visitors heading to the coast or the ski resorts, but they're missing something special. Sofia is no grand metropolis, but it's a modern, youthful city, with a scattering of onion-domed churches, Ottoman mosques and stubborn Red Army monuments that lend an eclectic, exotic feel. Excavation work carried out during construction of the metro unveiled a treasure trove of Roman ruins from nearly 2000 years ago, when the city was called 'Serdica'. Away from the buildings and boulevards, vast parks and manicured gardens offer a welcome respite, and the ski slopes and hiking trails of mighty Mt Vitosha are just a short bus ride from the centre. Home to many of Bulgaria's finest museums, galleries, restaurants and clubs, Sofia may persuade you to stick around and explore further.
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Sofia activities
Sofia Rila Monastery and Boyana Church Guided Day Trip
Meet your guide near Alexander Nevsky Square in central Sofia and settle into your air-conditioned minivan. Then, relax on your roughly 2-hour journey to UNESCO-listed Rila Monastery, tucked in the pine-forested Rila Mountains in southwest Bulgaria.Enjoy the views over rural Bulgaria as you travel and hear enlightening facts about the monastery. Founded in 927 AD by hermit monk Ivan Rilski or ‘John of Rila,’ Bulgaria’s patron saint; this photogenic walled complex came to symbolize the Bulgarian national identity and is considered a masterpiece of Slav architecture for its arcaded balconies and splendid frescoes.On arrival, enjoy a guided tour of the main courtyard and five-domed church, admiring its vivid, fresco-coated colonnades as you enter. Then, head inside to gaze at the richly gilded wood-carved iconostasis, the largest in the Balkans; and the tomb of Bulgaria’s last monarch, Boris III. If you wish, you may also head inside the monastery museum (own expense) to see its priceless exhibits.After, enjoy free time to look around independently and have lunch (own expense). Perhaps fill up with some delicious mekitsi (Bulgarian donuts served with fresh buffalo yogurt) at a local bakery or visit a restaurant to enjoy specialities such as fresh local trout.Next, return to the minivan and drive back to the fringes of Sofia to visit Boyana Church, a UNESCO-listed Orthodox church famed for its medieval frescoes. After paying your entrance fee, take in the breathtaking cycles of 11th- and 13th-century murals that depict Christ, angels, saints, apostles and other religious figures, and hear how they predate the Renaissance in Florence.Having explored here, return to central Sofia, where your tour concludes with a drop-off at the original departure point.
From Sofia to Plovdiv and Koprivshtitsa Day Trip with Guide
ItineraryThis is a typical itinerary for this productStop At: St. Alexander Nevski Cathedral, Sofia, Sofia Region08:00 departure time from the parking lot in from of "La Cattedrale" restaurant.Duration: 20 minutesStop At: Municipality Koprivshtitsa10:00 - estimated arrival time in the center of Koprivshtitsa. Guided tour of the historical part of the city.Duration: 2 hoursStop At: Municipality Koprivshtitsa12:00 - Approximate departure time from Koprivshtitsa Duration: 1 hour 30 minutesStop At: Plovdiv Old Town, Plovdiv, Plovdiv Province13:30 - Approximate arrival time in the Old Town in Plovdiv. Free time for lunch.Duration: 1 hourStop At: Plovdiv Old Town, Plovdiv, Plovdiv Province14:30 - Guided tour of the Old Town in PlovdivDuration: 2 hoursStop At: Plovdiv Old Town, Plovdiv, Plovdiv Province16:30 - Free time for shopping, when the guided tour concludes.Duration: 30 minutesStop At: Plovdiv Old Town, Plovdiv, Plovdiv Province17:00 - Departure time from the Old Town in Plovdiv, heading back to SofiaDuration: 2 hoursPass By: St. Alexander Nevski Cathedral, Sofia, Sofia Region19:00 - Estimated arrival time at the starting point of the tour
Communist Walking Tour of Sofia
During the approximately 3-3.5-hour-long walking Communist Tour you will learn about the 45-year-long communist period of Bulgaria in an objective and informative way. The 365: Communist Tour welcomes its guests every Monday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday at 4 pm in front of the Palace of Justice in Sofia. The tour includes the main landmarks of communist history in the city of Sofia: former headquarters of the Bulgarian Communist Party, secret police investigation facility, destroyed mausoleum, monument of the Soviet army, National Palace of Culture, among others. During the 3-3.5-hour-long walking tour you will learn about the theory of communism, what Marxism-Leninism is, the history of communism in Bulgaria, the pros and cons of the period and the relation between the communist government and religion, industry, economy, culture and everyday life of the people.
Sofia Food Tasting and Cultural Walking Tour
Meet your expert guide and the rest of your small group in central Sofia and set off on your walking tour. Filled with elegant buildings and squares, Sofia is a dream to explore. As you stroll, discover the main landmarks, hear insights about the city’s history and culinary heritage, and enjoy three or four food stops to try delicious local specialities.Walk past the stately National Theater and admire the King’s Palace and the Presidency building. Then, stop at a cozy cafe popular with the locals. Savor some shopska — a salad made from cucumber, tomatoes, peppers and onions — complemented by some frothy, cold ayran.Continue to ‘Small Jerusalem Square,' so-named for its proximity to four religious buildings: the Christian Church of St George, St Nedelya Church, the Banya Bashi Mosque, and the Sofia Synagogue.Walk to your next food stop, the Central Market Hall (Tsentralni Hali). Delve into this covered market and view its century-old architecture as you linger at some enticing food stalls. Sample classic Bulgarian sweets including baklava — filo pastries stuffed with nuts and soaked in syrup — and deep-fried tolumbichki, and perhaps taste some rustic sausages and nuts, depending on what’s available.Finally, ride Sofia’s metro system, the newest in Europe, to your last stop, a popular Bulgarian restaurant set in four converted houses and decorated in distinct 19th-century regional styles.Head inside to sample some fruity Bulgarian wine and mezze of local meats such as lukanka (salami), babek (cured sausage), fillet Elena (dry cured meat) and pastarma (cured beef).Your tour ends at the restaurant, so you can stay on and enjoy more tasty Bulgarian fare before returning on your own.
Bulgaria and Macedonia Full-Day Tour from Sofia
ItineraryThis is a typical itinerary for this productStop At: Boyana Church, Sofia, Sofia RegionBoyana Church – UNESCO site, located on the outskirts of SofiaDuration: 1 hourStop At: Zemen Monastery, Zemen, Pernik ProvinceA Bulgarian Orthodox monasteryDuration: 30 minutesStop At: Osogovo Monastery, Kriva Palanka, Northeastern RegionHidden in the tranquility, lush forests and surrounded by Osogovo Mountain.Duration: 3 hours
Sofia Pub Crawl Tour of The Hidden Unique Bars
ItineraryThis is a typical itinerary for this productStop At: The New Sofia Pub Crawl, Sofia, Sofia RegionVisit 5 nightlife locations. Get to know new people from all over the world. Get some free drinks. Duration: 4 hours