Budapest Hotel Sofia

Activities

What to do while you're here

Best things to do in Sofia, Bulgaria With all those travel tips out of the way, let’s take a look at some of the best things you can do in Sofia on your trip! 1. Take the free walking tour An excellent way to start your time in Sofia is by taking one of the free 2-hour walking tours offered by Free Sofia Walking Tour . In the Summer, Free Sofia Tour operates four times per day, at 10AM, 11AM, 2PM, and 6PM. Besides the standard sightseeing tour, they also started to offer tours in Spanish as well as a tour focusing on the history of the Jewish people in Sofia. The tour is operated by a non-profit, so it costs nothing and you are welcomed to leave a donation at the end for the tour guide. 2. Take a day trip from Sofia Bulgaria has way more to offer than just Sofia, and is especially famous for having ancient sites and stunning nature. Here are the top three things you can do as day trips from Sofia to add some variety to your trip: 7 Rila Lakes and Rila Monastery Tour from Sofia Recommended – Rila Monastery is one of the TOP sights in the whole country, and this tour not only takes you to the monastery but also shows you some of the famous Bulgarian nature. Plovdiv and Koprivshtitsa Full-Day Tour from Sofia – Plovdiv is one of the most ancient cities in Europe, and a popular day trip (just 2 hours from Sofia). This is the top rated tour you can take that includes Plovdiv. Belogradchik Rocks Full-Day Trip from Sofia – These rock formations in the Balkan Mountains were nominated for the 7 new natural wonders of the world. You can spend the whole day exploring them! 3. Check out Sofia’s former bathhouse, now museum Known as the Sofia Central Mineral Baths, this spot was once the main social spot to visit in the city. You can think of it as old-school Facebook 😉 Where all the goings-on among the locals. Some people wish the city still had a bathhouse, like the one you might know in Budapest . Today, this historic building is home to the Sofia History Museum , which has a TON of history as Sofia is such an old city. You’ll find exhibits on pre-history, antiquity, the middle ages, all the way through modern times. If you want to appreciate the history of the city, do pop in. Even a combined ticket for both permanent and temporary exhibits will set you back just 10 lv, or 5€. Sofia Central Mineral Baths 4. Enjoy the local craft beer scene There are a number of great craft beers brewed in Bulgaria, though my favorite is probably the Stolinchno Pale Ale. You can get this beer at a number of different restaurants and bars, though I can specifically recommend two excellent spots for enjoying beerin Sofia. Vitamin B – This small bar located on a side street has a huge selection of beers, as well as some spots to stand outside and enjoy the sunshine. Kanaal – Lots of nice beers on tap, and even better it has a nice little garden where you can sit outside. Super friendly staff. 5. Taste Bulgarian wines Bulgaria is also famous for its wine, as the grapes love to grow in the country’s sunny weather. Sofia has a number of different wine-tasting tours if you’d like to get some more information from an expert 😉 TIP – If you’re traveling outside of Sofia, definitely check out Starosel Winery , located near Plovdiv. You can drink wine underground in a room that looks like a Thracian temple! Even if you don’t stay there overnight, you can come enjoy the restaurant and winery during the day. I’ve been here and it was awesome. 6. Visit the Alexander Nevsky Cathedral Easily the most famous sight in the entire city, the Alexander Nevsky Cathedral is a stunning example of an Eastern Orthodox church. Come inside for a dark and intimate church experience, with stunning ceilings and incredible sculptures. You can buy a photo pass for a 10 lv, or just walk around and enjoy the interior itself. Alexander Nevsky Cathedral in Sofia 7. Walk down the main pedestrian street, Vitosha Boulevard There are so many shops and places to eat on Vitosha Boulevard, the main pedestrian street in Sofia. You can see Vitosha Mountain, the biggest mountain that overlooks Sofia. Come here to walk up and down on the street, go window shopping, stop for a beer at a cafe, and meander past different churches. 8. Go for a hike on Vitosha Mountain Speaking of Vitosha, you can take the ski lift up to the top and hike down. During the winter, it’s also possible to go skiing. You can also see the biggest waterfall on the mountain, Boyana Waterfall. There’s also a monastery located on the mountain, in case you can’t make it to Rila Monastery.