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Attractions

Sightseeing in Sofia is an exaggeration of the old and new, as the ancient culture of the Thracians, Byzantines, Romans, Slavs meet with the mad rush to modernisation that occurred when the Iron Curtain fell. Thus you'll see a mixture of buildings that will delight any architecture lover, including the multi-domed Byzantine Alexandar Nevski Memorial Church, the medieval art of the Boyana Church (a UNESCO world heritage site), and the Kremlin-like Russian Church of St. Nicholas.

Like any capital city, Sofia's attractions include a wealth of museums and galleries, including the National Historical Museum, the mineralogical-focused Museum of Earth and Men, the Bulgarian National Gallery of Arts, the Ethnographical Museum, and the Sofia City Art Gallery.

There are plenty of other things to see and do in Sofia as well, including visiting the Sofia Zoological Garden, which houses over a thousand animals; the Sofia City Garden with its cafes, playgrounds and fountains; and the famous Turkish Mineral Baths.

Many interesting buildings and sights in Sofia have signs with a phone number on them. If you call this number you can listen to a three-minute recording telling you about the attraction.
You can also browse Zhenski Pazar or 'women's market', which is open to both men and women and offers fresh food, flowers and basic goods. Though there aren't many souvenirs there, it's worth the trip for the bustling atmosphere. Another busy market is the Tsentralni Hali (Central Food Halls), which are housed in an ancient Roman marketplace with archaeological finds on display along with the fresh food, coffee, wine and other treats.

Sofia is a relatively safe city in which to sightsee. Violent crime is rare, but pick pocketing is common in the city centre, as with all large metropolises.

St. Sofia Church

The St. Sofia Church is the oldest Eastern Orthodox church in the city, dating from the 4th to 6th century, and is regarded as one of the most significant examples of early Christian architecture in the Balkans. In the 14th century the church...  see full details

St George Rotunda

The rotunda church of St George is considered to be the oldest building in Sofia, dating back to the 4th century, and is situated amid the remains of the ancient Roman town of Serdica. The St George Rotunda is famous for its exquisite...  see full details

Alexander Nevsky Cathedral

One of the finest examples of 20th-century architecture in Sofia and one of the symbols of the city, the magnificent Alexander Nevsky Cathedral was built between 1882 and 1912 to honour the Russian soldiers who died fighting to liberate Bulgaria from Turkish rule in...  see full details

National Ethnographic Museum

The National Ethnographic Museum in downtown Sofia has one of the richest collections of cultural artefacts on the Balkan Peninsula, representing the traditions, arts, crafts and lifestyle of the Bulgarian people from the 17th to the 20th century. The museum contains a wealth of...  see full details

Boyana Church

The Boyana Church complex - located on the outskirts of Sofia - is a UNESCO World Heritage Centre, and one of Bulgaria's most important tourist attractions. The first of the three buildings that make up the Boyana Church complex was built in the...  see full details