Tip:Look at the cupola, it will leave you breathless. The first day of this Sofia itinerary sees you visiting some of Sofias main sites and monuments. If youre not an upmarket shopper then you can just console yourself with those arresting views of Vitosha Mountain which is capped with a dusting of snow for much of the year and framed by the streets tall buildings. There are smiles, gasps of delight, and tears of joy. The ATM story is one of my worst travel fears, good you managed to solve that! Subscribe to Baseball Events Explore Events in Nearby Cities Events in Pernik Events in Sapareva Banya Events in Kyustendil Events in Blagoevgrad Events in Velingrad Events in Bansko Things to do in & around Sofia Business Concerts Exhibitions Food & Drinks After it was unearthed it became integrated into the design of the Arena di Serdica hotel, but visitors off the street are free to look down at the ruins from the hotels specially-designed gallery. Here you will find solemn statues next to the grey concrete and edgy architecture of the cultural center mark the otherwise rather bland park. We get it - sometimes you can't plan weeks in advance, and you need to know the events this weekend NOW. You can visit and learn about all of these monuments and more on a free walking tour run by Free Sofia Tour. Save this event: Sofia Leadership: 7 Secrets for Your Success They Won't Teach You! It also sustained significant damage from a fire in 1923 but was reconstructed in 1929. 9. I also found out that myprivate room was actually located in an apartment thats about five or so minutes walk from the hostel. Were passionate about getting off the beaten path, promoting responsible tourism, supporting local economies and sharing our knowledge with other travellers! Commentdocument.getElementById("comment").setAttribute( "id", "aee2f62f668b8e9b8159f4f4b833e35f" );document.getElementById("b934630cd5").setAttribute( "id", "comment" ); Hi! I think those are great value. This museum, located a little bit outside of the city centre, has a large collection of former communist monuments, statues, and posters that is very worth browsing through. Salt Lake City Events This Weekend. Another popular place to visit is Vitosha Mountain, which is easily reached by public transport from Sofia city centre. Once at Hostel Mostel, I checked in and was pretty happy to learn that they offered a free vegetarian dinner each night, complete with a glass of beer. Save this event: Sofia Leaders: How To Get Best Employees To Stay As Long As Possible? Though the majority of the Jews in Bulgaria did eventually emigrate, there is still a presence in the capital, namely in the grand Sofia Synagogue. You post on Sofia was very interesting, as I am always eager to learn peoples first impressions of Sofia and Bulgaria. Discovered in 1953, the Lukovit Treasure dates to the time of Alexander the Greats invasion of Thrace in 400BC. Explore the history of Sofia from the Thracians and Romans to the present day. Save this event: Sofia Leaders: How to Manage the 4 Different Types of Young Employees. The Bulgarian capital has a continental climate and very much experiences all four seasons and there are definite pros and cons to whenever it is you choose to visit. Glad you found this helpful, Sebastien! As I was still recovering from a really bad cold (a.k.a. It is perfect to spend the afternoon shopping, walking and getting a coffee. Save this event: Sofia Leadership Secret: How To Motivate & Inspire Your Employees? It is safe to drink and the water is always around 35C, so you will notice a distinct cloud of steam around the taps in the cooler months. A Different Side of Bulgarias Black Sea Coast, The Perfect Bulgaria Itinerary: 5 to 10 Days (or More!). We are Steven and Jazmin, an American Jew and a Lebanese Ecuadorian. When you book a hotel or tour that we link to, we may earn a commission. Things to do in Sofia Alexander Nevsky Cathedral Free food tour with Balkan Bites The Central Mineral Baths Fill up your bottle with natural spring water Journey up Vitosha Mountain Step back in time at the Red Flat Seven Rila Lakes hike Free walking tour with Sofia Free Tours Rila Monastery Check out the street art Weekend in Sofia itinerary Dont come here expecting to learn about the socialist regime in Bulgaria, this is solely an art museum with little to no historical context provided. Required fields are marked *. 7) If youre wary of bank machines in Sofia after reading about my experience, bring cash and exchange it for the local currency, thelev, at any bank. You can into the basement and visit the remnants of this ancient church, and even seen tombs that are an estimated 15,000 years old. This makes it easy to get from the bus station to your accommodation at an affordable price. It is totally worth the fee and please remember to bring cash as they do not accept credit cards. Save this event: Plovdiv Leadership Secrets: How To Successfully Coach Your Employees? Constructed as a testament to the Red Army that liberated Sofia in 1944, this is one of the most blatantly communist monuments still standing in Sofia today. The mosque can fit 700 worshippers, and if you pass on Fridays youll notice many stragglers outside listening via the mosques external loudspeaker. I am pretty sure they would have been more helpful if you had a Bulgarian with you. The last on that list has the Valchitran and Lukovit Treasures, two breathtaking hoards of Thracian Gold. After a few trips in Bulgaria, I realized that it is better if I go there without my car. I was super bummed, the common theme of this weekend in Sofia, but set about exploring more of the city for myself. It is also conveniently located within walking distance or an easy metro ride to all of Sofias main attractions. 15 Fun Things to Do in Sofia, Bulgaria - Not a Nomad Blog Hello, Cheryl! Drive to the Black Sea, the town of Balchik, and spend a few days there before driving back inland. The Banya Bashi Mosque is a beautiful mosque that you can enter except during prayer times. Thankfully, the monastery trip and my little photo walk through the city saved the whole weekend. Luxury: As far as we see it, there's only one option for the best hotel in town: Sense Hotel. I went to an ATM Id used just two days before, but it didnt work. Today, this monument is where people protest and even vandalized. They have a range of both dorm beds and private rooms available, and a massive breakfast and light dinner (with a beer!) The variety of items here is also mind boggling, going from 20th-century space research equipment to treasures belonging to the Odrysians who held sway in Bulgaria until they were conquered by the Romans in the 1st century. Though this tour is paid, it is an absolutely excellent way to learn about this era of Bulgarian history and is presented with great educated nuance. Many people might say that Sofia is not worth the trip but in our experience it is a great city to spend a day or two. Escorting me there, the young hostel employee asked me where I was from and got excited when I mentioned Berlin. My personal walking tour was actually pretty fun, and when I arrived back at the hostel, I was all smiles again. Anyway, back to Sofia (and Bulgaria, in general). Recommendable as taking taxis without this always ends with paying too much and/or discussions, Tip from a local: the taxi company Ok! Chief Director here is Alexander Morfov, responsible for acclaimed Bulgarian and Russian language adaptations of Don Quixote and Shakespeare plays in here and in Russia. This is when the fabulous interior frescoes were painted, depicting some 240 historical and biblical figures in a realistic style 200 years before renaissance artists were doing the same. Between tours down under and before embarking on a major tour of the USA, the American pop jazz sensation will return to Sofia with the 'Life In The Past Lane', /sofia/imagine-dragons-live-in-sofia_28552e, /sofia/scott-bradlees-postmodern-jukebox_28540e. Serdika, which was the ancient name for Sofia, sits at the historical centre of the Bulgarian capital and in the metro station, you can see the ancient remains of the former city. They have four locations across Sofia and serve a range of vegetarian and vegan-friendly dishes at affordable prices. 6. 3. End your tour of Sofias most famous monuments at perhaps the most iconic structure in the Bulgarian capital: the Alexander Nevsky Cathedral. Free Admission | More Information & RegistrationFranklin Park, 1332 I Street NW, Washington, DC 20005. It is slightly shabby, its definitely seen better times, but it is full of great people eager to show and explain the best of what this city can offer. It is also a beautiful place to visit to escape the crowds and appreciate a bit of history. 2023 The World Was Here First All rights reserved. Seeing these ruins truly puts into context just how old Sofia is and how long humans have been living in the city. Staff at banks can be very rude, especially if they dont know English and see youre a foreigner. They also have an extensive craft beer menu and include a beer suggestion with every dish. . 8) Excited about the Balkans like we are here on this blog? Ha ha! As for the ATM issue, I suggest bringing cash and changing it when there at the airport or bank. eastJet makes it pretty easy too! If I come back, will definitely let you know! The storms and winds they have been. The apartment turned out to be absolutely adorable and I had a bedroom fitting for a Disney princess. Hello travelers! If you book a tour or hotel, Ill earn a tiny commission at no extra cost to you. Tee times are almost always. Our travel recommendations are based on our personal experiences and research, written by locals and travel experts with deep familiarity with the destination. For a free food tour, try Balkan Bites. The Palace today is surrounded by a lovely park that is fantastic to spend a few chilled-out hours in. Outside the church you can still see the flagstones of a Roman street and other remnants. The bright lights, tall buildings and bustling streets of Sofia can occasionally make it seem like a concrete jungle; take a trip to Borislova Gradina Park for some fresh air and tranquility in the city center. It all makes for a refreshing afternoon amble, and if youre here on a summer evening there are free concerts to catch. Tip Start your trip with a walking tour to get to know the city, there are several available: 15 Best Things to Do in South Windsor (CT), 15 Best Things to Do in Bonita Springs (FL). Before setting out on the tour, I needed to go to a bank machine to get cash for the day. I really felt like crap), I opted to return to the hostel for dinner so I could go to bedearly and do a tour of Rila Monastery the next day. Of course, that decision meets its fair share of controversy in Bulgaria today. Popular things to do Bus Tours Day Trips Churches & Cathedrals Historical Tours Walking Tours Sacred & Religious Sites Full-day Tours Half-day Tours Points of Interest & Landmarks City Tours Private Day Trips Cultural Tours Mountain Bike Tours Culinary Tour Beer & Brewery Tours Hiking Tours 4WD Tours Nature and Wildlife Tours Winter Sports The church has five gold coated domes that make the building stand out from its surroundings. Bulgarians say their claim is valid because the larger St Sava Church and another orthodox cathedral in Bucharest have yet to be fully completed. The crypt here is open to visitors and has a big collection of icons. The Cathedral is a special place for catholics as the foundation stone was laid by the Pope John Paul II during his visit to Sofia in 2002. Inside St. Alexander Nevski has room for 10,000 people and it's the second largest cathedral in the Balkan region.