Sofia

Bulgaria's capital, with the golden domes of Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, Roman ruins and hot springs, plus day trips to Rila Monastery and the Seven Rila Lakes.

Sofia, the capital of Bulgaria, sits in a basin about 550 m above sea level in the central Balkans, backed to the south by Mount Vitosha. Its history goes back to the Thracians and Roman Serdica. The city centre is easy to explore on foot: Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, the Church of St. Sophia and the Russian Church are clustered on the east side; to the west, the Serdica ruins, the Rotunda of St. George, the Banya Bashi Mosque and the Synagogue are only a few hundred metres apart; Vitosha Boulevard leads to the National Palace of Culture. On the southern outskirts, Boyana Church, the National Historical Museum and Mount Vitosha make for a half-day to full-day outing. Classic day trips include Rila Monastery (about 2 hours by car, easily combined with the Stob Pyramids), the Seven Rila Lakes (July–September) and the old town of Koprivshtitsa. May–September has the best weather, with daytime highs reaching 30°C in July–August; winters are cold, but you can ski on Vitosha. The metro runs directly from the airport to the city centre, and the metro and trams are cheap and convenient. Bulgaria uses the euro from 2026. Allow 3–4 days. Note that Bulgarians nod to mean "no" and shake their heads to mean "yes"; use reputable taxi companies or ride-hailing apps.

Top sights

Where to eat

Itineraries