Vrana Palace
Дворец „Врана“
The suburban summer palace of Bulgaria's last royal family, with extensive English and Japanese-style gardens open to the public on weekends.
Vrana Palace lies in the southeastern suburbs of Sofia and was the summer residence of Ferdinand I and Boris III. The palace blends Bulgarian folk elements with Art Nouveau features, and it still belongs to the family of Simeon II. The nearly 100-hectare grounds include lakes, a Japanese garden, a rose garden and rare trees, and are a favorite weekend walking spot for locals. The park is generally open only on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays. Visiting the palace interior requires a paid guided tour, while garden admission is inexpensive. It takes about 25 minutes by taxi from the city center, or you can take a bus to near Tsarigradsko Shose and walk the rest of the way.
Opening hours
Weekends and public holidays approx. 10:00–18:00 (earlier closing in winter)
Nearby sights
- Museum of Socialist Art
- National Museum of Military History
- Borisova Gradina
- Kvadrat 500 (National Gallery)
- St. Alexander Nevsky Cathedral
- Hagia Sophia Church
- Seven Saints Church
- Russian Church of St. Nicholas