Sofia, The Great Unknown Of The Balkans

When we think of vacation destinations, there are places that do not usually appear on the lists, and it is a shame, because we are missing real gems. Sofia, the capital of Bulgaria is one of the most beautiful and special places in the Balkans. We want to show it to you.

Sofia continues to preserve that “innocence” that a city has when it has not been exploited by tourism. The restaurants, the shops, the streets are still typically Bulgarian. Although it is true that more and more tourists arrive, especially by new low cost airlines that operate there. We are going to visit this great unknown of the Balkans.

Why visit Sofia?

There are many reasons why Sofia should join our plans. The first is that the flight is quite cheap, and being there is even more so. At the exchange, everything is about half the price. To give you an idea, eating costs about € 5 and a full breakfast for less than 2.5.

The second reason to visit Sofia is that it is completely different from any other European city. For example, the churches that we can find there are very peculiar due to the great Ottoman and Russian historical influence, even Greek, which made all the city’s monuments a mixture of the three cultures.

And finally, it is a city that surprises. When we think of countries like Bulgaria or Serbia, they are sometimes thought to be places without much to see or do. So leave your prejudices at home, pack your suitcase and go to Sofia, to realize that it is not like that. It is a city full of light, with people in the streets, on the terraces and full of life.

What to visit in Sofia?

Sofia is not a very big city, so it is not even necessary to take public transport to get around. Nor is it a city with hundreds of places or corners to visit, so that in a weekend or a bridge you can see it perfectly.

1. The cathedral

The great symbol of the city is the Alexander Nevsky Cathedral. It is an impressive and representative place of the Orthodox Church, being one of the largest dedicated to this religion.

It is an imposing building characterized by the green and gold of its domes. And the interior is not far behind, as it also has one of the largest and best collections of Orthodox icons.

2. The National Theater

Another place to visit is the Ivan Bazov National Theater. This is the oldest theater in Bulgaria and the most important in the capital.

The facade is especially relevant and striking, neoclassical in style. In addition, the enclave of the theater is beautiful, a beautiful park full of people in which to sit for a while to rest from the tourist route.

3. Russian Church of Sofia

Another especially striking place. Also known as St. Nicholas Church, it was built on the site of an old mosque, destroyed after the Bulgarian liberation from the Ottomans.

The building is amazing, both inside and out. Therefore, it must be a mandatory stop within our tour of the city.

4. Vitosha Boulevard

And finally, we walk through one of the liveliest places in Sofia, the true heart of the city. It is full of terraces where you can enjoy a beer or eat, as well as shops, from the most luxurious to the souvenir shops . By the way, don’t forget to buy the famous Bulgarian rose water during your visit to Bulgaria.

Where to eat in Sofia?

Eating in Sofia is very cheap. Practically no place is going to ask you more than € 6 or € 7 for lunch or dinner, about 12 or 14 leva, approximately.

The city is full of small fast food stalls, although at least once you should try typical Bulgarian food. This is characterized, like almost everything there, by the mixture of influences. Therefore, its gastronomy is a combination of Greek, Turkish and Russian cuisine.

We bring you three gastronomic recommendations, tested by the most demanding stomachs:

• For breakfast, you can go to the 2 Giraffes cafeteria. The treatment is unbeatable and the price for a full breakfast is about 5 leva (€ 2.50). All natural, artisan and freshly made.
• To try the most typical cuisine, Divaka. The food in this restaurant is incredibly rich and purely Bulgarian. Everything you try there will be delicious, but the specialty is the soup served in a bread bowl and the Divaka chicken . The price does not exceed 12 leva per person (€ 6).

• To have a drink in a different place in the heart of the city, Memento is perfect. Especially recommended are the cocktails, delicious and for just 5 or 6 leva (€ 2.50 / € 3).