Sofia, the Capital of Bulgaria: Is it Worth Visiting for a City Break?

Sofia, the capital of Bulgaria, is worth visiting if you enjoy historic churches, Roman ruins, museums, food and relaxed city breaks. We spent a few weeks in the city and found plenty to see, from Alexander Nevsky Cathedral and ancient Serdica to parks, markets and local restaurants.

Sofia has been Bulgaria’s capital since 1879; before that, Veliko Tarnovo held the position. The city is easy to explore on foot or by public transport, and it offers good value compared with many other European capitals.

Why Is Sofia Worth Visiting?

We thoroughly enjoyed visiting Sofia, the capital of Bulgaria, and it has many significant features.

Interesting Sites

The main reason Sofia is worth visiting is its fantastic attractions. These include many unique churches, such as Alexander Nevsky Cathedral. We also visited many ancient Roman sites, which were fascinating.

The city also has a selection of museums and galleries that cover Bulgarian history, art, and other niche topics. We found plenty of open space, including parks like the Palace of Culture.

Other activities we enjoyed in Sofia included a street art walk, a communism tour, and even a visit to a shooting range. Sofia was an epic city and kept us engaged for weeks.

Places To Dine Out

There are many pleasant restaurants in Sofia to dine out at. This list includes various Bulgarian places. We enjoyed frequent meals out while on our extended city break, including some fancy meals and others that were budget-friendly. One of my favourite places to eat out was Café Apéritif, which was very cheap and had tasty food.

Affordable Bars & Cafes

Drinking beer in the city is cheap, and Bulgarian beer is enjoyable. The centre has a wide selection of bars and cafes. I visited a range of places, from trendy bars in the central areas to neighbourhood cafes when I was out seeing the rest of the city. I particularly enjoyed those in the big parks, especially when the sun was shining.

Good Value Accommodation

We found Sofia reasonably good for accommodation, including pet-friendly places. For our first stay, we booked Peter Pan Guest House near Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, which was one of the cheaper options available at the time. It had enough space for a longer stay, including a bedroom, a lounge area, a small kitchen, and a wet-room bathroom.

When we extended our stay, we moved to Apartment August 11, another reasonably priced option within walking distance of the city centre. This had a functional kitchen and a washing machine, which was especially useful because Sofia did not seem to have self-service laundrettes.

For a short Sofia city break, I’d prioritise staying near the centre, Serdika, Vitosha Boulevard, or Alexander Nevsky Cathedral so you can walk to many sights, restaurants and transport links.

Getting Around Sofia Is Easy

The city is easy to navigate on foot or by using the extensive underground, tram, and bus network, which you can use by tapping a debit or credit card. You can also purchase various ticket options. Sofia’s public transport was easy to use, not too crowded, and seemed to run on time.

Sofia Is Well Connected

Sofia is well connected by train, bus and air. You can reach the city from other Bulgarian destinations, neighbouring countries, or via its international airport. We travelled extensively by train in Bulgaria, including changes in Sofia

Shopping in Sofia

When we visited, I needed to replace some essentials, including walking shoes. I found some excellent outdoor shops to choose from. I also enjoyed some independent shops and even a shopping mall when in the city. As we were self-catering, I shopped at local food shops and the Sofia food markets.

Nightlife

Sofia is enjoyable after dark, especially around the central streets, parks and lit-up landmarks. The city also has a good bar scene, so it’s a decent option for an evening walk or a relaxed night out.

Is Sofia Worth Visiting?

We really enjoyed our stay in Sofia and found it kept us engaged with plenty to do. We felt safe here at all times of the day and enjoyed our evening walks around the central areas. Food and drinks out were good value, and there were plenty of places to enjoy local cuisine.