Sofia Bulgaria – Best things to do in One Day

If you only have one day in Sofia, the capital of Bulgaria, here is a quick guide of the best things to do and how to make the most of your time there.

About Sofia

Sofia’s location in the central Balkans was always at a crossroads. In its long history, the settlement was frequently raided or conquered. In Roman times it was called Serdica, a name derived from a Celtic tribe. A few years ago, during work at a metro station, excavators found a large area of ancient ruins. They are now on display next to Serdica Metro Station. Below the three glass domes lies a very accessible glimpse into the past.

Top 5 things to do in Sofia, Bulgaria

Here is the best of Sofia, Bulgaria, you can see in one day:

1. The Russian Church

The Russian Church (Sveti Nikolay Chudotvorets) is also called Saint Nicholas who has a reputation as a miracle maker. I don’t know about that, but the five golden domes building would surely fit well in a fairy tale. It was my favorite thing to do in Sofia, although it isn’t necessarily Bulgarian.

2. The Nevski Cathedral – The symbol of Sofia, Bulgaria

St. Alexander Nevsky Cathedral is one the biggest Eastern Orthodox churches – it can hold 10000 people inside. It is open daily from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. The cathedral is also the symbol of Sofia. Seen from behind, it resembles a crinoline dress.

Very close to the cathedral, the church of St. Sofia is the one that gave its name to the city.

3. Free Sofia Tours – The best way to discover Sofia, Bulgaria

Sofia Free Guided Tour runs four times every day from April to October and three times a day in the off-season. They have knowledgeable and engaging guides, so the free walking tour seems the best way to find out a little about the city and see the major landmarks in just 2 hours. They also organize a few other more specific tours, very reasonably priced. More details here.

4. The Rotunda

The Romans built the Rotunda in the 4th century AD as a temple. Over the centuries, it served as a church and a mosque for a while. Now, St. George Church is open to the public from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. every day.

During communism, the Rotunda was surrounded by large buildings to discourage the religious practice. Now, it stands hidden in a large courtyard between the Presidency, the Ministry of Education, and a luxury hotel.

Behind the Rotunda, you can also see Roman ruins of the ancient settlement of Serdica.

5. The Central Mineral Baths

The building served as Public Baths with two separate wings for men and women until 1986, taking advantage of the natural hot springs in the area. Today, it is Sofia’s History Museum, but you can still see locals filling their bottles with mineral water from the springs.

The Museum is open Tuesday to Sunday, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and the admission fee is 6 leva.

Other things to do in Sofia, Bulgaria

Central Sofia Market Hall (Tsentralni Hali) is one of the oldest market buildings in Sofia. It isn’t a traditional market anymore. Besides food shops, you can also find souvenir shops or ready-to-eat food.

Banya Bashi Mosque is the only working mosque remaining in Sofia. You can visit the mosque outside of prayer times (13:30, 15:30, and 20:45).

These were my top 5 things to do in Sofia, Bulgaria. Of course, Sofia is a large city, and there is much more to explore. However, a large part of the city was built during the communist period and isn’t very interesting in style or architecture.

Where to stay in Sofia, Bulgaria

Sofia is one of the most affordable capitals in Europe. You can rent an apartment for about 40 euros, and a double room in a good hotel is around 70 euros per night. I always use booking.com to find the best accommodations.

Try to stay in the city center, because it is very walkable.

What to eat

There are plenty of good places to eat, whether you prefer la try local food or crave a burger.

Traditional Bulgarian food absorbed a lot from its neighbors: Greece and Turkey. Bulgarians usually have a salad, followed by a main dish, or if they are in a group, they share some different appetizers first. The simplest choice for a meal is a Shopska Salad followed by any meat dish.

If you’re aiming for urban food, try a Skaptobara burger. I found them a while ago in Plovdiv and liked their burgers. Their restaurant in Sofia also has a good selection of craft beers if you’re into that.

From the bakeries, try a typical pastry called banitsa. It is basically a cheese pie, and it goes perfectly with ayran (a yogurt drink popular in this part of the world).

Actually, food in Sofia (or Bulgaria for that matter) should be on the list of things to do and explore, because it’s really good.

One of the locals’ favorite walks is the pedestrian Vitosha Boulevard. You can stop for a coffee or a drink and take in the atmosphere.

Useful tips

Parking in central Sofia

Parking can be a challenge in Sofia’s central area. There are 2 street parking zones: the blue and the green one. Each has a time limit: 2 hours in the blue zone and 4 hours in the green one. You can pay for a voucher you display on your car’s board or by SMS, but only if you have a Bulgarian SIM card. The fee is 2 leva/hour for the blue zone and 1 lev/hour for the green zone.

Day trips from Sofia

If you have more than one day, Sofia is a good base to explore the rest of the region. The most popular day trips are to Rila Monastery, Rila Lakes, hiking on Mt. Vitosha, or exploring the Oldest city in Europe – Plovdiv. However, I would recommend staying in Plovdiv for a few days.

Veliko Tarnovo is another city you should visit in Bulgaria. It’s about 200km to the north of Sofia, and it is the prettiest city in Bulgaria.

Disclosure

Some of the above may be affiliate links. This means that if you click on a link and make a purchase, I earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. However, I only recommend companies, activities, or products that I use myself. Thank you for your support in keeping my blog live!