Travel Guide Budget and Itinerary for Sofia, Bulgaria

Sofia is the capital of Bulgaria. I had the opportunity to visit this city when I was traveling around the Balkans. It's an interesting city with a number of things to do. 

Learn more about my trip. 

Travel Guide Budget and Itinerary for Sofia

I wasn't expecting much from Sofia, but after my trip I was pleasantly surprised. There's plenty to see, do and experience. Sofia is the capital of Bulgaria. A Thracian tribe called the Serdi or Sardi established a settlement in the 8th century BC. The Romans conquered the community and then named it Serdica or Sardica in Greek. Different empires ruled over Sofia from the Romans to the Byzantines to the Ottomans. The Russians liberated Bulgaria from the Ottomans in he late 19th century. You can see these various influences when you explore the city. 

How to Get a Schengen Visa

Bulgaria is now part of the Schengen zone, which means Filipino passport holders and others will need to secure a visa from a Bulgarian consulate or any one of the Schengen member states. Some of the basic requirements include proof of financial capacity, travel history, a filled out form, and proof of rootedness among others.

Read more here: how to get a Schengen visa for Filipinos

How to Get to Sofia

You have some options when it comes to entering Sofia from other countries.

By Air 

Sofia Airport (SOF): This is the main international airport serving Sofia. Its IATA code is SOF.

Several airlines offer direct flights from major European hubs like London (various airports), Frankfurt, Vienna, Paris, Rome, Istanbul, and others. Check airlines like Bulgaria Air (the national carrier), Wizz Air, Ryanair, Lufthansa, Austrian Airlines, Turkish Airlines, and others. If you don't have a direct flight, Sofia Airport is well-connected to major international hubs. Common connecting cities include Frankfurt, Vienna, Istanbul, London, Amsterdam, and others.

By Train

International train connections to Sofia exist, but they are often slower and less frequent than flights, especially from distant countries. Trains typically run from Istanbul (Turkey). 

By Bus:

Eurolines coordinates coaches across Europe, and other regional bus companies might offer routes to Sofia from nearby countries (e.g., Greece, Turkey, Serbia, Romania).

Things to Do in Sofia

These are some of the things you can do and places you can include in your itinerary when you plan your budget and itinerary for Sofia.

St. Alexander Nevsky Cathedral

The St. Alexander Nevsky Cathedral is one of the most popular attractions in Sofia because of its beauty and cultural and historical significance. It's one of the biggest Orthodox churches in the world. Construction began in the late 19th century. The Bulgarians had this cathedral built to commemorate the Russian soldiers that lost their lives during the Russo-Turkish War in 1877. Its massive dome will grab your attention. The interiors are just as lovely with plenty of religious art. The cathedral used to be called Sts. Cyril and Methodious Cathedral because Russia and Bulgaria were on opposing sides during World War I. 

St. Sofia Church

Out of quite a few ancient churches in Sofia, St. Sophia Church is the oldest dating to the 4th century. The Ottomans turned the church into a mosque and added minarets during their reign. However, it was re-converted back to a church after the expulsion of the Ottomans from Bulgaria. The church has undergone numerous reconstructions over the centuries because of the damage inflicted by wars and natural disasters. 

St. Nedelya Church

This ancient church is a descendant of previous churches over several centuries. A group of communists substantially damaged the church and killed more than a hundred people in the 1920s. After a few decades since the attack, the government at the time restored the church. The design you see now dates to the 1950s. 

Vitosha Boulevard

This commercial and walking street is here visitors and locals converge to meet up, hang out, eat, and shop. The street is home to many renowned brands, some local and chain restaurants, shops, and other commercial establishments. I kept returning here after a day of sightseeing to try local food or simply just hang out and eat whatever. I met with a Bulgarian friend here during my visit. 

Regional History Museum of Sofia

Learn more about the history of Bulgaria when you visit this museum. It has plenty of exhibits and displays that discuss the country's history over the centuries. The museum is also home to some ancient relics.

 

Ancient Serdica Archaeological Complex

Sofia is one of the oldest cities in Europe. Many empires have left a lasting mark on the city. The Ancient Serdica Complex provides visitors with a glimpse of the country's storied past. You can see vestiges of walls, streets, an old church, and other artifacts. The construction of a metro led to the discovery of ancient Serdica.

Banya Bashi Mosque

The Ottomans left their mark on the city. This ancient mosque dates to the 16th century. Mimar Sinan (a renowned Ottoman architect at the time) designed this mosque. 

National Palace of Culture

The National Palace of Culture or NDK is a multifunctional conference and cultural center. It's one of the biggest in the world. It's a venue for all sorts of events such as exhibitions, concerts, and conferences just to name a few.

Ivan Vazov National Theatre

This is the country's national theater and is an important city landmark. It's a striking piece of architecture. It dates to the early 1900s. 

Eat Local Food!

Sofia isn't a famous foodie destination, but I liked the dishes I had when I visited the city. I could taste the Turkish influence in the food I tried, but that's not really a bad thing. Although on the pricey side, I'd recommend Shtastlivetsa and Hadjidraganov's Houses. I love the food and the ambiance of both restaurants. Some of the dishes you might want to try include banitsa, meshana skara (mixed grill), moussaka, and Bulgarian gyuvech just to name a few.

There are other things to do and attractions to visit like art galleries, monuments, and museums scattered in different parts of the city. Discover these on your own when you plan your budget and itinerary for Sofia.

Day Trips from Sofia, Bulgaria

When planning your budget and itinerary for Sofia, you might want to consider going on a few day trips. There are a few interesting places to visit and things to do.

Rila Monastery

Rila Monastery is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is an important pilgrimage and cultural site in Bulgaria. John of Rila established the first Christian monastery in the country. It's now home to several dormitories, halls, museums, and archives. Here you'll find numerous beautiful religious mosaics and frescoes that depict various aspects of Christianity. 

Boyana Church

This ancient church is an important cultural relic of Bulgaria. It's also a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The church traces its roots to the 10th century. Sebastocrator Kaloyan ordered the construction of a second church. You'll find 13th century frescoes inside the second church.  

Seven Rila Lakes

If you love the great outdoors, you might want to consider a day hike to the Seven Rila Lakes. The hike provides spectacular mountain views. You'll get to see some of Bulgaria's most famous lakes such as Eye Lake, Tear Lake, and Kidney Lake just to name a few. The hike itself is manageable with a few rocky and steep trails. You can take a cable chair lift up and down the actual trail. You also have the option to hike up and down but that just adds extra hours to your trip. You can join a tour like I did or go DIY. It takes multiple changes and a bit of waiting (and chance) to get to the cable chair lift station by public transport. You're better off sharing a taxi in some part of the way to get to the park and back. You can combine this trip with Rila Monastery but I would recommend doing this park separately. 

Plovdiv

You might want to visit the second largest city in Bulgaria, Plovdiv. This historic city is centuries old and is home to many ancient relics. Various empires have captured Plovdiv from the Romans to the Macedonians to the Turks. You can check out the ancient Theatre of Philippopolis and get lost in the old town. You can feel a bit of the influence of all the empires that have captured the city during your visit.

Getting around Sofia

It's convenient to explore the city using public transportation. 

The Sofia Metro is a fast and reliable way to travel. It has lines M1, M2, and M3, which connect many major areas of the city, including the airport (M1) and key neighborhoods like the city center, Vitosha Boulevard, and other districts. You can buy single tickets for around 1.60 BGN, or use the "Sofia Pass" for multiple journeys.

There are also buses and trams running across Sofia. The routes are extensive, and you can easily get almost anywhere in the city by bus or tram. Same price as the metro (1.60 BGN for a one-way ticket). You can buy them at metro stations, bus stops, or from the driver.

You can also use Uber and Bolt while in the city, if you don't feel like walking. Walking is the cheapest way to get around the city. Many attractions are within walking distance from each other.

Where to Stay in Sofia

Sofia is a budget-friendly city. You can find all sorts of accommodation types within your budget. You can choose to splurge on a nice hotel or stay in an affordable hostel. I browse www.booking.com for places to stay.

Budget for Sofia

Sofia is a relatively affordable European city. It's definitely cheaper compared to Western and Northern Europe. You get good value for money in this city. You can go on a budget-friendly trip or splurge whenever you want. A budget of approximately Bulgarian Lev or BGN of 125 includes day trips to the Seven Rila Lakes, Rila Monastery, Boyana Church and Plovdiv. It also covers accommodation, food and drinks, transportation, and entrance fees. I spent more than I usually did because I ate at nicer places and joined tours. You can definitely cut back on your expenses while in Sofia. 

You can read my other posts here:

• Budget and itinerary for Belgrade
• Budget and itinerary for Sarajevo

Itinerary for Sofia

Here's a sample itinerary for Sofia:

Day 1

St. Alexander Nevsky Cathedral

St. Sofia Church

St. Nedelya Church

Ancient Serdica Archaeological Complex

Banya Bashi Mosque

National Palace of Culture

Ivan Vazov National Theatre

Day 2 

Rila Monastery

Boyana Church

Day 3

Day hike to the Seven Rila Lakes

Day 4

Day trip to Plovdiv

Day 5

Chill day to relax in your favorite cafe, restaurant, or spot in the city

You can add or remove places depending on what you want to do and how long you'll be staying in Sofia.