By rail
Sofia Central Station, main hub for trains across Bulgaria
Europe · Bulgaria
Sofia, Bulgaria
Golden domes and Roman ruins beneath Vitosha
Getting there
By air
Sofia Airport (SOF), ~10 km by road
Best time to visit
May to September for the city — December to March for nearby skiing
Don't miss
Alexander Nevsky Cathedral
Boyana Church
Vitosha Mountain
St George Rotunda
Things to do
Church and museum visits
Walks on Vitosha Boulevard
Hiking on Vitosha Mountain
Where to eat
What to pack
Comfortable shoes, light layers, hiking shoes for Vitosha
A quieter corner
The public mineral water fountains near the Central Mineral Baths, where locals fill bottles
Questions travellers ask
When is the best time to visit Sofia?
May to September for the city — December to March for nearby skiing. What to pack: Comfortable shoes, light layers, hiking shoes for Vitosha.
How do I get to Sofia?
Fly into Sofia Airport (SOF), ~10 km by road.
What is there to do in Sofia?
Church and museum visits, walks on Vitosha Boulevard, hiking on Vitosha Mountain. A quieter find: The public mineral water fountains near the Central Mineral Baths, where locals fill bottles.
What should I eat in Sofia?
Banitsa, shopska salad, kebapche, tarator.
About Sofia
- Mountains
- Inland
Where it is
Sofia is the capital of Bulgaria, set in a high basin in the west of the country with Vitosha Mountain rising just to the south.
History
Sofia stands on the site of the Roman city of Serdica, whose remains can still be seen in the city centre. The city was ruled by the Byzantines, Bulgarian tsars and the Ottomans before becoming the capital of Bulgaria in 1879. Its churches, mosques and synagogue stand close together in the centre.
People
Bulgarian is spoken in Sofia, the country's largest city, and visitors soon learn that a nod of the head often means no and a shake means yes.
Known for
- Alexander Nevsky Cathedral
- Roman Serdica ruins
- Vitosha Mountain on the doorstep
- Mineral springs
Did you know?
Sofia's motto is Grows but does not age, a reference to its long history.
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