The capital of Bulgaria: Sofia

Discover the capital of Bulgaria Sofia.

Get to know the capital of Bulgaria, Sofia , It is something that I recommend to you before it becomes fashionable and the masses of tourists mask the charm of this city of 1,4 million inhabitants located at the foot of a beautiful mountain. This is a picturesque country and specifically the capital of Bulgaria, Sofia, leaves no one indifferent, as they say: “Either you love it or you hate it”… I love Sofia. Seriously, If you did not like it, it will be because you did not look at it well. How?, What is ugly? But what are you saying?… If it is full of impressive parks and churches, and the food, What about the restaurants?, and the prices? Okay, Okay, for tastes are travel. I will not try to convince you ...

My opinion of the city is that it is an authentic destination worth knowing, forgetting how bad you heard about the Balkan countries, but we already know that sadly bad things are only news worthy of appearing on the news… so open your mind and visit this city, not with the eyes of the typical tourist, but like those of the adventurer who seeks to discover new things and a different way of life within Europe itself.

Their people.

But let's get to the good stuff, there are many and that is why I want you to know some. For example, in this city one feels at home. Although it seems that the culture and way of life of these Eastern countries and the Spanish is very different, the truth is that it is not so much.

Shopping in Sofia

To the Bulgarians especially those from Sofia, they love to walk around their city and its great parks, go shopping and spend free time in bars and taverns chatting, and play with the children who, like in Spain, are the center of attention of the whole family. People may seem cold at first, It really is very welcoming and they are able to share with you even what they lack…

The center of Sofia.

Another reason I love Sofia is because it is so cheap., both food and clothes, gifts and others is much cheaper than in Spain, except for the big fashion firms that have a similar price, but you can find quality clothes made in Bulgaria or from Italy with a very good price, Every time I decide to travel to Bulgaria, I leave almost one suitcase free to bring me clothes and shoes from there..

The city center where the main places of interest to visit are located, shopping and restaurants is easily accessible on foot and everything is within walking distance, which brings a lot of freedom to the traveler, You can walk to all these places without having to depend on the taxi or the metro as it happens in other European capitals. Of course you can venture to take a tram or a trolleybus of the years 80 and 90 who are still operating on the regular lines of the city and have a fun time, They are old but they do not pollute…

Tram in Sofia

Sofia with its mountainous horizon

In the center of Sofia you can visit some restored ruins of the ancient city of Serdica, on which Sofía was founded. In fact, Sofia's antiquity dates back to the 4th century BC., It is not as old as Varna or Plovdiv which are ancient cities but still has an important historical legacy.

The parks of Sofia.

Sofia's parks are impressive, especially for its great extension, in fact the capital of Bulgaria Sofia is one of the cities with the most green areas in Europe, you just have to see the map of the city. Some have huge trees that you cannot explain to yourself how they could have grown so much in the middle of a city, The reason is that Sofia is the European capital that is closest to a mountainous area, being the city to 600 meters of height above sea level, just by leaving the ring road that surrounds Sofia, you will reach the Vitosha mountain, which has peaks of up to 2.290 altitude meters. The mountainous horizon to the South of Sofia is a characteristic postcard, with the roofs of the city and the snowy mountain background for several months of the year that it seems that the city is going to swallow…

Vitosha Mountains next to the capital of Bulgaria, Sofia

As a nature lover I recommend a walk in the park “Borisova Garden”, is south of the city, It is not very central but for that reason it is very quiet and also has a large area. In addition, if you have a rental car or you venture by public transport, you can visit the Vitosha mountain adjacent to the city that can be reached in just 20 minutes from the center of Sofia. It is perfect for a day of hiking, being able to return to the hotel in Sofia to rest at night. There are several places with panoramic views of the city and its forests are of great beauty at any time of year with firs and also deciduous trees. If you just choose to enjoy the views, I recommend the restaurant in “Hoof”, housed in the old cable car building with fantastic views over Sofia, there are many other typical restaurants on the slopes that go up to Vitosha, try them if you have the chance, at night they even offer shows with live folk music, walk on hot coals, etc,…

Sofia Park, with Alexander Nevsky Cathedral in the background.

Another park that is very central and easy to visit is the “Kristal Park” and also him “City Garden” which is in front of the National Theater building, a beautiful building that is also worth taking a picture in front of it. Between both parks there is only 5 minutes walking. In the months with good temperatures, it is the meeting place for many people after work and on weekends..

Sofia tourist attractions.

I could mention the main tourist sites to visit in Sofia, but I will not, for that there are many tourist guides on paper and on the internet. I will tell you about my favorite places and some places that only local people know.

Streets “Tzar Ivan Shishman” that intersects with “Count Ignatiev” they are one of my favorites, where you can find various handmade products stores, typical Bulgarian crafts in wood and clay, tabernas, picture shops and a small but interesting fruit and nut market very curious to see and useful to buy directly from the producers.

Sofia Theater and Opera

“River of stones” in Vitosha mountain

The Alexander Nevski Cathedral Square is an unmissable place on your visit to the Bulgarian capital Sofia , This is no secret for tourists but it is the main postcard of the city and it deserves it because it impresses, either inside or outside, the Cathedral is impressive and has a unique style in Europe, more similar to those of Istanbul than to typical European cathedrals. Also in the park that surrounds the cathedral is another of my favorite places, a small flea market type trail, in the middle of the street, with stalls selling antiquities from the Communist era and WWII, souvenirs, decoration articles, etc. and with him several street artists sell his canvases and handcrafted golden icons. Also if you like recent history, there is the possibility of making a thematic tour around the city visiting the emblematic places of the communist period, learning history and having fun at the same time…

Antique flea market

Golden domes of the Church of Saint Nicholas

In the center of the city is the Church of San Nicolás, known as the Russian church for its style similar to those of that country and because it was built in homage to the strong relationship that both countries have historically had, but in modern times Bulgaria is already closer to the West than to Russia (Bulgaria belongs to the EU and NATO).

Where to eat.

And what about the recommendations for eating?, and what of the typical dishes to try?, well there they go:

My favorite restaurant is “Under Lipita” on elin pelin street, 1, but be careful that there are several streets with the same name in different neighborhoods and even taxi drivers are wrong, It is not a central restaurant but it is worth it because it occupies an old country-style house and its interior also has the atmosphere and decoration of a traditional Bulgarian tavern. The most important thing is that their dishes are delicious, I always order a soup, so simple but at the same time so rich thanks to all the substance that it carries and then some of its meats always on the grill., or other typical homemade dishes.

restaurant “Hadjidraganovite”

Something closer to the center is “Hadjidraganovite Kashti” unpronounceable name for the Spanish but the food is excellent, very tasty, well presented and at the same time abundant as the Bulgarians like it. The restaurant is an old restored house that maintains the traditional style inside, It is like eating in a town in the interior when we really find ourselves in the capital of the country, ideal for family or romantic dinner, never disappoints.

And on the slopes of the Vitosha mountain I recommend the restaurant “Vodenitzata”, It also has a traditional Bulgarian tavern style but being on the outskirts it has a nice garden-terrace. They also do live folk music shows and sometimes you can even see the ancestral show of walking on the embers. It is also a place to taste the traditional Bulgarian gastronomy.

Dance of fire, traditional Bulgarian ritual.

If you do not want to move from the center of Sofia, an option that will surprise you is the restaurant "Shtastlivetsa" on the pedestrian street. “Vitosha Boulevard”. In this restaurant the highlight is its stylish decoration “vintage” on tables, the bar and the general decoration of the premises, very curious to see and perfect for a romantic evening in a very nice place.

In all cases I recommend reserving a table before because they are very popular places., whether for locals or tourists, especially if it's the weekend.

What to eat.

And when ordering in restaurants there are multiple options and all very “exotic” and different from Spanish recipes despite the fact that the products they use are basically the same, meats, vegetables, cheeses of different types, etc,…. but in some delicious recipes, as soon as you try them you will want to repeat them in Spain, that's why I make your work easier and this page has the best recipes: traditional dishes of Bulgarian cuisine. My favorites are the “Tarator” in summer and the “Kavarma” or the “Cheese a la Shopski” in winter, both are served in a decorated clay pot, a joy…

Tarator

Cheese to the “Shopski”

And if you want to go out to drink an cup After dinner you can do it at a recently opened bar located in the Building of the Old Public Baths of Sofia, which is also worth seeing during the day because the building is very beautiful and houses a recently opened Museum of the History of Sofia, interesting to visit for 3 € if, as I do, you like History and ethnography. But focusing on the bar, it's very new, they do theme parties, they have cocktails and an international atmosphere. Right next to the Old Public Baths building, don't forget to visit the outdoor hot springs, where hot water comes out through several fountains with spouts that many Bulgarians collect in bottles to take away for their properties.

Building of the old bathhouse in Sofia

Banya Bashi Mosque in Sofia

Sofia, gateway to the rest of the country.

At the time of travel to Bulgaria, usually Sofia city , It is the beginning or the end of the trip because it is where the main international airport of Bulgaria is located. Therefore you can find many options to do excursions from Sofia . But keep in mind that Sofia is only one of the faces of Bulgaria and that inner Bulgaria can bring you many more surprises.. If you are thinking of doing, keep in mind that this country is the type in which urban areas are very different from rural areas., the city is oriented to the service sector while in rural areas agriculture continues to be the main activity. It can be said that the way of life in inland Bulgaria is similar to that which prevailed in Spain a few decades ago, so traveling to inland Bulgaria is like a journey back in time; you will be able to relive live the way of life of our grandparents and great-grandparents, but that facet of Bulgaria is already the subject for another article….

Authentic rural tourism, click here.