What to see in a weekend in Sofia, Bulgaria

Our weekend in Sofia was a trip that took us completely by surprise, so we are extremely excited to put this travel guide together to help you experience this magical city as well. Here you will find all the information you need to plan a 2-day trip to Sofia, with tips on what to see, where to stay, and options for day trips if you have additional days in Bulgaria.

Is Sofia worth visiting?

Before we jump on the Sofia Weekend Itinerary, let me first address the question which is the elephant in the room.

When we spontaneously bought our flights to Sofia (they were very cheap and we had an extended holiday without plans yet), several people told us to keep our expectations down. We were told the city wasn’t very interesting and that we would be bored within a day (and we had booked flights to stay 4!!).

Thankfully, we didn’t care for those recommendations and went on the trip anyway, because visiting Sofia was so worth it. We traveled right at the start of spring, so you could feel the city was just getting alive after the long winter. The atmosphere was so vibrant; we were blown away from day one.

So, if there is one thing you will take home from this post, let it be this: do not let yourself get tricked by other people’s impressions. If you like eating amazing food, visiting incredible historical sites, and exploring young and alternative neighborhoods, a city break to Sofia will be exactly what you need.

Weekend in Sofia: Complete 2-day itinerary

To make your trip as efficient as possible, here we have organized the best things to see in Sofia in a perfect 2-day itinerary.

On day 1, we recommend visiting the most important attractions in Sofia’s city center.

On day 2, we will guide you on a trip through Sofia’s communist history and landmarks of those times.

Day 1 – Weekend in Sofia Itinerary

To kick off day one, start at the Serdika Station. This is one of the main metro stations in the center, and it is very easily accessible via tram, bus, subway, or foot.

Visiting Serdika Station and Ruins

Serdika was the name of the old Roman city that used to sit exactly where Sofia stands today. Back in the day, it was a common practice that once a place was conquered and destroyed, it would be buried and leveled off so a new city could be built on top.

The most amazing thing is that, once the ruins of the ancient city of Serdika were discovered, they were excavated and preserved as an open-air museum across town. The contrast between the ruins of Serdika and modern Sofia standing side by side is intriguing and incredible.

The best place to start exploring the ruins is at Serdika Station. Right outside the subway station, you will be instantly immersed in the ancient Roman ruins, which are open for free access. These ruins were discovered very recently, in 2010, during the construction of the metro line and station. We recommend taking some time to walk around and explore it by yourself – there are signs along the way explaining what the constructions used to be.

PS; If you want to keep exploring the ruins, follow along with the subterranean gallery that starts at Serdika Station.

Sveta Nedelya Church

Located only 100 meters out is Sveta Nedelya Church, one of the most important Eastern Orthodox churches in Bulgaria. The church you see today is a successor of several other churches that stood in this exact same place but have been destroyed and rebuilt at least three times.

Sveta Nedelya Church is located in the square of the same name, which is an important place in the city. The square is considered the geographical center of Sofia, so for centuries this has been a place of historical crossroads. 

Before heading to the next spot on the list, we recommend making a stop to see the Church of St George Rotunda. It is located very close to Sveta Nedelya, on the inside courtyard of the presidential building. This church dates back to the 4th century and is still operational. It is rather small compared to the massive constructions of the present day, but it is worth a visit.

PS; If you have good timing, you may even spot the change of the guards at the presidential palace.

Walk along the Vitosha Boulevard

Just across the street, you will see the main commercial street of Sofia called Vitosha Boulevard. This is the busiest street in town, especially during the summer months when people like sitting outside. 

The Vitosha Boulevard is very wide and pleasant to walk through. Here you will find a lot of bars, stores, souvenir shops, etc. Even though we found it quite touristic and ended up not eating here, there are many options of restaurants with different cuisines.

Pro tip: If you are getting hungry and ready for lunch, we recommend stopping at a place nearby called Hadjidragana Tavern. This is a very authentic Bulgarian restaurant that serves traditional dishes with an incredible atmosphere.

Ivan Vazov National Theatre

Only a 5-minute walk from Vitosha Boulevard is Sofia’s National Theatre, named after Bulgaria’s most famous author and playwright, Ivan Vazov. The theatre dates back to 1907 and is a beautiful monument. You can visit it for a play or performance if that is something you would be interested in, or simply walk by to check it out from the outside.

Before you head in the direction of the next spot, make a stop to see the Church of St. Nicholas the Miracle-Maker, also known as the Russian Church. This church is very different from anything else you will see in Sofia. With its beautiful golden domes, it draws the attention of people passing through the busy Tzar Osvoboditel street.

Curiosity: In the crypt of St Nicholas the Miracle-Maker is buried the former Bishop Serafin. If you come inside to visit it, you may see locals dropping hand-written messages in a box that stands next to the tomb. The reason they do this is that Bishop Serafin is revered as a saint believed to make prayers and wishes come true.

Visit the Alexander Nevsky Cathedral

What better way of ending this first day of exploring than by visiting the most iconic monument of Sofia?

Alexander Nevsky Cathedral is the main postcard of Sofia and a place you must include on your weekend itinerary in Sofia. The church was built to honor the Russian soldiers who freed Bulgaria from the Ottomans in 1877, and it is named after a Russian prince from the 13th century.

The cathedral was finished in 1912 and was built during a time when Bulgaria had an incredible boom in trading. The design and construction of the building are just proof of that, as the marble came from Munich, the metals from Berlin, and the mosaics from Venice.

One interesting fact about the Alexander Nevsky Cathedral is that it changed its name during WWI because Russia and Bulgaria belonged to different fighting sides. During that time, it was called the Sts. Cyril and Methodius Cathedral.

The Alexander Nevsky Cathedral is free to visit if you don’t take pictures (there is an additional fee if you do), and it opens every day from 7h-19h.

Finish your day exploring the amazing food scene in Sofia

To wrap up this first day visiting Sofia, we recommend walking around the neighborhood called Sredets. This was our favorite area of town, with an amazing mix of residential buildings, local restaurants, and cozy food trucks.

If you would like to go for an evening drink with a view of the Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, we recommend going to the rooftop bar at Sense Hotel Sofia. The drinks are not cheap, but the price you pay includes one of the most incredible views of the Cathedral.

Day 2 – Weekend in Sofia Itinerary

The second day of this weekend’s itinerary in Sofia will focus on two very important aspects of the city: the religious part and the communist past. We will start with the former, so head to Serdika Station again (we will guide you through a different path today, don’t worry).

Sofia’s Square of Tolerance

Whether you are a religious person or not, you will still be able to recognize how impressive it is to have four different churches representing four religions standing in the same square, almost in sight of each other. I cannot think of anywhere else in the world where this exists.

Sofia’s Square of Tolerance sends a very important message to the visitors and to the world. This place has been in peace for a very long time, and the last time there were conflicts, they were caused by political reasons. The followers of any of the four religions just want a place where they can go and be in touch with their faith.

Even not being a very religious person myself, I was very touched to see the proximity of these four buildings, and how peaceful everything is. It is on purpose that we recommend visiting the Square of Tolerance on the second day of your Weekend in Sofia – since Sunday is a typically busy day of prayers and you will be able to feel the atmosphere for yourself.

Let us guide you through the four pillars of the Square of Tolerance.

Sofia Synagogue

Sofia Synagogue is a majestic and impressive building, currently holding the title of being the 3rd largest synagogue in Europe. It is possible to visit its interior outside of prayer times, but unfortunately, it was closed during our visit.

Banya Bashi Mosque

Within sight of the synagogue is the only Muslim mosque in Sofia called Banya Bashi.

The mosque is located right behind the Serdika ruins visited the day before, and it is a beautiful building. The mosque was originally built in the 16th century while Sofia was still under Ottoman rule. It is possible to visit the interior of the mosque outside of prayer times, provided that you are dressed accordingly.

St Joseph’s Cathedral, a Roman Catholic church

The third pillar of the Square of Tolerance is a catholic cathedral, located in the back street at the ruins of the old Serdika gate. St. Joseph’s Cathedral is the most modern of the four. The building you see today was inaugurated in 2006 after the previous one had been destroyed during bomb raids in 1944.

The fourth pillar that closes the Square of Tolerance is the Eastern Orthodox church of Sveta Nedelya we showed you on Day 1 of this Sofia Weekend Itinerary.

Visit the Mineral Baths and Sofia History Museum

Within the same block of Serdika Station, let’s now continue exploring the best things to do in Sofia by visiting the old Central Mineral Baths. Even though people still call it that, the place no longer operates as such. Sofia’s public baths were closed in 1986.

Not only Sofia but also Serdika was known for centuries for its mineral waters (which some believed to have healing powers). If you visit the site today, you will probably see some locals filling up their water bottles in the mineral fountains, which are entirely free.

However, the water that comes from the fountains has a very strong sulphur taste, with that recognisable egg-like flavour. I encourage you to taste it for yourself but don’t throw away your water bottle for that.

The main building is Sofia’s History Museum. If you are interested in learning more about the city’s history, I would say this is the museum to go to. It holds the most comprehensive collection, dating back centuries of Sofia’s history along with impressive artifacts.

Check out the Former Communist Party Headquarters

One of the most impressive buildings near Serdika Station is the former Communist Party Headquarters (marked on Google Maps as the Parliament of Bulgaria). It is a majestic building, with typical architecture of communist times. Back in the day, the red star stood at the top, where you will now see the flag of Bulgaria.

Nowadays, the building is used by the National Assembly of Sofia.

Across the street, you will see the Presidential Palace of Bulgaria, another impressive building. We recommend walking a bit around it so you can see the dressed-up guards.

National Palace of Culture

One building that is a great example of communist architecture in Bulgaria is the National Palace of Culture. The monument is located in a park that is very popular among locals, and a great place to stroll around in the afternoon. You will see many families, people, skateboarding, tourists, and more.

Even though the building’s architecture clearly resembles the style that was typical during the communist regime, the National Palace of Culture has been a bit controversial as it was built to celebrate Bulgaria’s 1300th anniversary. However, during those times, nationalism was strongly discouraged. With this, we end our 2-day itinerary in Sofia for the weekend. We recommend going for an evening drink in the area and exploring the night scene in Sofia if that is your kind of thing.

PS; Parties in Sofia don’t start until midnight.

The best day-trip options from Sofia

If you will have more days in Bulgaria, there are many incredible places you can visit on day trips from Sofia. Here is a short list of our most recommended day trips:

• Plovdiv: The second most visited city in Bulgaria, Plovdiv certainly lives up to the hype and surprised us a lot.
• Hike to the Seven Rila Lakes: We originally planned this trip with the desire to visit the Rila Lakes, as it seems to be an incredibly beautiful location. However, since we went in May right after strong snowstorms, the hiking season had not started yet. But hey, it’s a reason to come back, right? If you will be in Bulgaria during the summer, we strongly recommend taking a trip to the Rila Lakes.
• Rila Monastery: Located right by the Rila Mountains, this monastery is worth a visit. There are many tours that combine both the mountains and the monastery in one day.
• Devetaki Cave: Another natural site that got us wishing for better weather. We were dying to visit this spot.
• The Black Sea: One of the most popular trips from Sofia is to the Black Sea, passing through Plovdiv on the way. (This one will take you more than a day)

How many days do you need to visit Sofia?

We recommend staying at least two days in Sofia if you want to explore the city’s attractions with time and by foot. The city center is quite compact, you are able to see a lot within a day if you are in a hurry, but you probably won’t have time to enter any church or museum in such a short time.

In our opinion, Sofia is the perfect destination for a weekend trip because you will have plenty to see to fill up the 2-day itinerary in Sofia, and you will have the extra time to get to know and enjoy the lively food scene. Sofia is very young and interesting, it would be a pity to visit it in a rush.

However, if you plan on visiting some of the other destinations in Bulgaria, we recommend extending your trip, depending on how many additional places you will want to check out.

How to get to Sofia?

As the capital of the country, Sofia is a very well-connected city and you have several options for getting there. Here are the main ones:

How to get to Sofia by plane

Getting to Sofia by plane is very easy from most European destinations because many low-cost airlines have flights to the city. We flew with Ryanair from Croatia, but you can also check with Wizzair, Easyjet, and many other airlines. We always use Skyscanner to find the best flight deals.

Sofia’s international airport is located inside the town and is directly connected to the subway, which makes the life of every visitor very easy. Once you arrive, make sure to withdraw some cash (Bulgaria does not use the Euro, their currency is the Bulgarian lev (BGN)) and head to the subway station. Each single-use ticket for the subway costs 1,60 BGN. Within a 45-minute ride, you will arrive at Serdika Station, at the heart of town.

PS; The ticket for the tram or bus is different from the metro one.

How to get to Sofia by bus?

If you will be coming to Sofia from a neighboring country such as Romania, Macedonia, or Serbia, traveling by bus may be a good option for you. Bus tickets are usually very affordable and the main bus station in Sofia is also easily accessible via public transport.

For traveling to Sofia by bus, we recommend checking the routes and prices with Omio, the company we mostly use when traveling around Europe.

How to get to Sofia by car?

If you will be traveling in your own vehicle, you can also come to Sofia by car. To visit the attractions in Sofia you will not need a vehicle if you are staying in an accommodation in the center, but a car may come in handy for taking day trips to other destinations in Bulgaria.

Before coming to Sofia by car, check out our guide on how it is to drive in Bulgaria, with a summary of the main things you need to know and how was our experience.

Do you still need to rent your car for Bulgaria? Get a quote with Discover Cars!

Where to stay in Sofia?

The best area to stay if you will be visiting Sofia for a weekend city break and want to visit the attractions on foot, without having to worry about public transport, is the city center. A good point of reference is the Vitosha Boulevard – anywhere close to that, you will be well located. 

We personally liked the neighborhood called Sredets. Staying around the National Palace of Culture park would also be a nice option for a place to stay in Sofia.

Here are our hotel recommendations if you need help finding where to stay in Sofia:

• Hotel Niky: If you want a central location, you can’t do any better than this one. Hotel Niky is very well-rated amongst its clients, they have breakfast included and reasonable prices.
• Rosslyn Central Park Hotel Sofia: If comfort is what you are looking for, this is the best option for you. The Rosslyn Central Park is a great option for a place to stay in Sofia and if you get a room on the top floors, you will even have a view of Sofia city center.
• Hostel Mostel: One of the most famous hostels in Sofia, this is the place I recommend the most if you will be traveling to Sofia on a budget.

Where to eat in Sofia?

One of our favorite things about our 2-day trip to Sofia was the food. We were blown away by the incredible taste and the size of the portions served in every restaurant. Trying out Bulgarian dishes was definitely one of our top things to do in Sofia. 

Here is a list of our favorite places to eat in Sofia:

• Hadjidragana Tavern – We have mentioned this place in the Day 1 description of the Sofia Weekend Itinerary, but we will include it again because it was THAT good. Everything from the decoration to the food and the service was great. We strongly recommend trying a dish called Patatnik, it is to die for. If you want to go for dinner, make reservations because they have live music and they get full.

• Raketa Rakija – This is more than a restaurant, going to Raketa Rakija is an experience. The decoration of the place features items from communist times and is simply incredible (see picture below). The menu offers several options of traditional dishes, including the Bulgarian traditional cucumber soup. Making it worth their name, alongside the food menu, you will get another menu just for their rakija selection. My favorite was their house honey rakija.
• Supa Star – I know it may seem weird to recommend a soup place as a traditional restaurant, but at Supa Star, they serve some of the best soups in town. The prices are very good too.
• Magdanoz Restaurant – Located a bit outside of the city center, we have seen the tip for this restaurant in another food blog and we are thankful to have made a note about it. The food was simple and tasty and the prices were much friendlier than in the city center.

Bulgarian traditional dishes you should eat while in Sofia

If you are dying to try some Bulgarian typical dishes during your weekend trip to Sofia, we have put together some recommendations of what to try:

• Patatnik: It was our absolute favorite dish during the entire trip
• Katuk: A creamy, sour, and salty cheese dip, usually eaten as an appetizer
• Shopska salad: A stable throughout the Balkans and also considered a national dish in Bulgaria
• Banitsa: The most popular baked goodie, filled with white cheese. You can find it anywhere, at bakeries, restaurants, and even train station stands. Sometimes it can be filled with bacon or spinach
• Tarator: The most traditional Bulgarian cucumber soup, usually eaten as a starter. (spoiler alert: it may be called soup but it is served cold)
• Meshena Skara: One of the most classic Bulgarian dishes, it means “mixed grilled” and is a meat platter made on the grill

Is Sofia safe to travel?

During our trip, we shared a lot of content through our social media and got a lot of people asking if Sofia (and Bulgaria) was safe to travel to. Since it seems to be a common doubt, we thought it is better to address it directly.

During our four days in Bulgaria, two of them being in Sofia, we have felt very safe at all times. We went out by foot, explored many different corners of the city, and hung out during the day and the night… at all times we felt safe in Sofia. We strongly recommend visiting it.

The one thing we advise is to be mindful about your belongings – as you should be anywhere in the world – as pickpockets are present everywhere.

With this, we conclude our Weekend Itinerary in Sofia. We hope you now have a better idea of the best things to see in Sofia and all the information you need to plan your trip. If you have any more questions when organizing your trip, leave it in a comment below!

Fe & Edo