Travel Guides: All Countries / Europe / Bulgaria / Sofia
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| | | Simply stunning Sofia |  | Why go on holiday to Sofia?
It's an archeological treasure with the vibe of a capital city that is conveniently compact so all the main sights can be visited on foot. It's got over 250 archaeological, historical and cultural monuments thanks to the fact it is one of the oldest settlements in Europe .
A large part of the ancient city of Serdica lies underneath modern buildings - the ancient city council is hidden under the Sheraton hotel, a number of basilicas are below the Palace of Justice, and a Roman residence with elaborate mosaics is below the Rila hotel.
How much will it cost?
A flight from London to Sofia can cost from as little as £150 but you could pay twice as much.
When should I go?
In Sofia, the daily average is 15C (59F) from May to September.
Who's it for?
City break holiday-makers, those who are fascinated by history and architecture, people who enjoy a city vibe. It's also close to ski resort , Mount Vitosha , so you could enjoy the best of both worlds.
What are the must-sees?
The neo-Byzantine gold-domed Alexander Nevski Church is steeped in history and is the finest piece of architecture in the Balkans. The five-aisle church contains icons, nearly 300 mural paintings, decorative frescoes and huge chandeliers. The interior decoration, made of Italian marble, Egyptian alabaster, Brazilian onyx, gold and mosaics embodies the spirit of the finest Eastern Orthodox traditions. Make sure you visit the Bulgarian Parliament building, built from 1884 to 1928; the nearby monument to the Liberator of Bulgaria during the Russian-Turkish was, Russian Tzar Alexander II, is also worth a look.
Also visit the Crypt, which houses a superb collection of items from the very beginnings of Bulgarian iconography (the end of the 9th C) until the end of the 19th C. All stages of the Bulgarian iconography school are represented in a collection of 1500 items.
There are countless other churches to visit, one of the prettiest is the so-called Russian Church, "St Nicholai". Its roof is covered with green jajolica tiles, which harmonise with the exquisite gold-plated domes.
Among the many buildings that are architecturally fascinating are the St.Kliment Ohridski University, the "Ivan Vazov" National Theatre and the National History Musuem, which has an excellent collection of Thracian gold treasures, assembled in 1981 to celebrate 1300 years of the Bulgarian State, and a collection of material from the National Revival period.
There's also the National Art Gallery in the western wing of the former palace, which is packed with works by prominent 19th and 20thC Bulgarian artists such as Zahari Zograph, Vladimir Dimitrov-Maistora, Tzanko Lavrenov and sculptor Andrei Nikolov.
You can even get a taste of the recent Soviet-dominated past there is the former Party House - a soulless monolith that survived the political uprising of 1990.
Mount Vitosha is south of the city. It's a skiing centre in winter but the chair-lifts are kept open in summer for sightseers. Avoid going on Sundays when it will be packed with locals.
What will I spend?
A flight from London to Sofia can cost from as little as £150 but you could pay twice as much. At time of writing, a half board one-week package to a Black Sea resort costs from £350 in midsummer..
Any special events?
Trifon Zarezan on Febuary 14 is the ancient festival of the wine growers. Vines are pruned and sprinkled with wine for a bounteous harvest.
On March 1, Bulgarians give each other martenitsi, red and white tasselled threads worn for health and happiness at the coming of spring. When wearers see their first stork of the season, they tie their martensita to the nearest tree.
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| | Fact File : Sofia |
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| | | Sofia | | Did you know?
Sofia dates back to the fourth century BC and has buildings in many architectural traditions including Greek, Roman, Byzantine and Turkish.
Language
Bulgarian with a smattering of Turkish and Romany.
Visas
UK visitors won't need a visa for a period of up to 30 days.
Getting there
Direct flights from a variety of regional UK airports and Gatwick, Heathrow, Luton and London City airports to Sofia. Ticketsw about £150 rtn. Balkan Bulgarian airlines operates flights to and from most European capitals. Check package tour prices, they may be cheaper than flight only. You can get there by bus or train from other European destinations.
Flying time from London
2 hours 30 minutes.
Getting around
You will probably find the centre more accessible by tram, bus, or trolley bus than by car due to the shortage of parking space. Public transport runs from 5am till midnight for buses and trolley buses and till 1am for trams. Tickets are for single trip and are sold at kiosks at the major stops, at newsstands or in driver's cabin. You have to punch them inside the vehicle. If you transfer you must use another. Tickets are inspected at random by conductor.
Currency
Bulgarian Leva. The currency changed in 1999 (new leva worth 1,000 times the old leva, but both still in circulation, so beware of old notes)
Costs
A flight from London to Sofia can cost from as little as £150 but you could pay twice as much. At time of writing, a half board one-week package to a Black Sea resort costs from £350 in midsummer.
Weather
Sofia has average daily temperatures above 15C from May to September, above 11C in April and October, above 5C in March and November, and below freezing in December and January.
Time difference
GMT/UTC plus two hours.
International dialling code from the UK
+3592
Voltage
220V, 50Hz.
Opening hours
Most of the restaurants are open from midday through the afternoon to 11pm or midnight. Shops are usually open on weekdays from 9 or 10 a.m. until 7 p.m. and are usually closed on Sundays. There are also many 24-hour shops. Most post offices are open on weekdays from 7 a.m. until 6 p.m. On Saturdays until 1 p.m. Banks are open on weekdays from 8 a.m. until 4 p.m.
Health - Before you go
Special precautions not required. However Bulgaria is not part of the EU, so take out good travel insurance.
Health - When you are there
Stick to private clinics if you require medical assistance. You'll need to pay in cash for treatment, but prices are reasonable unless you require medicine imported from the West.
Warnings
English tends to be widely spoken only in bigger towns and resorts.
Emergency
Police 166, ambulance 150, road assistance 146. British Embassy, 38 Vassil Levski Blvd., 1000 Sofia. Tel: (359) (2) 980 1220 and (359) (2) 9817765 (out of hours).
Customs
When Bulgarians shake their head it means 'yes' and when they nod their head it means 'no'. If in doubt ask 'da ili ne (yes or no)?.
Tipping
Tipping is expected, even in cafes, although you should check that a 10-15% service charge has not already been added to your bill.
Tourist office
Bulgarian Embassy, 186-188 Queen's Gate, London, SW7 5HL. Tel: 020 7584 9400.
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