Sofia journey information: How to spend 48 hours in Bulgaria’s capital

While the Balkans are rising in recognition, the distribution of vacationers isn’t precisely even, with coastal locations in nations like Croatia and Montenegro seeing the majority of tourists.

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But with Bulgaria within the highlight following their Eurovision win, that may be about to vary.

The competitors itself shall be hosted by Burgas on the Black Sea, however there are many different cities price visiting, like Plovdiv, Europe’s oldest constantly inhabited metropolis, or Varna, the hometown of Eurovision winner Dara.

The most evident start line for a visit across the nation is, after all, the capital Sofia.

Once often known as Serdica, the town was conquered by the Romans round 29 BC, changing into an important metropolis within the area – Constantine the Great even thought-about making it the Byzantine Empire’s capital over Constantinople.

That historical past is absolutely on show alongside its postwar structure and extra fashionable historical past.

If a winter go to is on the playing cards, Sofia is well-known for its snowboarding, whereas these seeking to chill out can head to one of many public baths which use mineral-rich spring waters.

Things to see and do in Sofia

Wander round Ancient Serdica

Sofia is a metropolis the place outdated meets new fairly actually. At Serdica Metro Station, you may step off the practice and inside moments be wandering round historic Roman ruins.

Aside from the metro station, there are numerous archeological websites scattered by the centre of the town, together with the stays of the japanese gate close to the National Assembly and the remnants of an amphitheatre within the basement of the Arena di Serdica resort.

Step contained in the Saint George Rotunda

One of those archeological websites is house to the Saint George Rotunda, which dates again to the 4th century.

Inside, you’ll discover Byzantine and Bulgarian medieval frescoes painted all through the centuries, and whereas the church was transformed right into a mosque throughout the Ottoman rule within the sixteenth century, because the nineteenth century it has been returned to its unique perform as a church.

Visit the homes of worship within the Square of Tolerance

Outside Saint Sofia Church you’ll discover a copy of the Edict of Serdica, the primary to legalise Christianity within the Eastern Roman Empire in 311.

It’s becoming, then, that that is just some minutes’ stroll away from the so-called Square of Tolerance, the place you’ll discover St. Alexander Nevsky Cathedral (Bulgarian Orthodox), Banya Bashi Mosque (Sunni Islam), Cathedral of St Joseph (Roman Catholic) and the Sofia Synagogue (Orthodox Judaism).

As with any home of worship, be sure you costume appropriately if you wish to go inside any of the buildings.

Explore Sofia’s solely UNESCO World Heritage Site

On the subject of church buildings, Boyana Church on the outskirts of the town is a must-visit, having been added to UNESCO’s World Heritage Sites checklist in 1979.

Praised as being “one of the most complete and perfectly preserved monuments of east European medieval art”, the complicated features a Tenth-century church, a Thirteenth-century church and a 3rd constructed within the nineteenth century.

The frescoes contained in the second church are the spotlight as “one of the most important collections of medieval paintings”.

Hike Vitosha Mountain

From Boyana Church, you gained’t be too distant from the mountaineering trails of Vitosha Mountain.

The Visit Sofia website has particulars of a few of the routes, together with one which takes you from Boyana Church as much as Boyana Waterfall, however there are longer choices, too.

Go on a avenue artwork tour

Sofia’s streets are coated in murals, and when you head to one of many metropolis’s vacationer data places of work you’ll have the ability to seize a map with particulars of the place yow will discover all of them.

There’s fairly a number of in a carpark close to Serdica metro station, however my favorite must be the St. George and the dragon mural close to the Arte Sofia Hotel.

Or discover the town’s post-war structure

While a lot of the town’s prime sights date again to antiquity, it’s also possible to uncover its communist period on a strolling tour of its post-war structure.

There’s a free map obtainable to obtain on the Visit Sofia website which takes you off-the-beaten-path to resorts, housing blocks and different buildings constructed throughout this time.

Love it or hate it, brutalism had a big impact on the town’s skyline in these years.

Browse the products on the Women’s Market

First established in 1878, the Women’s Market, or Zhenski Pazar, is the oldest open-air market within the metropolis.

Here, you’ll have the ability to seize recent produce, spices, native sweets and clothes.

There’s a board explaining the historical past of the market which options pictures by the many years, however I couldn’t see any rationalization as to why it’s referred to as the Women’s Market. According to the Bulgarian News Agency, the title dates again to the Ottoman period, when ladies have been solely allowed to go to the native village market or ones meant purely for ladies’s wants.

Explore Sofia’s craft beer scene

Bulgaria’s craft beer scene is booming, and there’s no higher place to discover it than Sofia.

On my go to, I went on a crawl across the metropolis’s prime bars: You can discover out the place I went, and observe alongside your self, right here.

Where to eat and drink in Sofia

Bulgarian meals hasn’t fairly hit the mainstream but, so a go to to Sofia might be your first encounter with it.

Manastirska Magernitsa Restaurant is a superb place to dip your toe within the waters. Found inside a historic home belonging to literary critic Professor Krastyo Krastev, the menu options dishes from monasteries all around the nation.

I cherished the nettle porridge with cheese (belief us on this one), however the restaurant workers are tremendous useful and can fortunately make suggestions.

While Vitosha Boulevard is Sofia’s most well-known avenue, it’s best to head to Tsar Shishman Street for much less “touristy” eateries and bars.

Next time I’ll return for…

The UNESCO-listed Rila Monastery is round two hours from Sofia, however this time round there simply wasn’t sufficient time to suit it into my itinerary.

I’d all the time fairly prefer to go mountaineering across the Rila Lakes, however that is depending on the climate – even after I visited in mid-May, the lakes have been nonetheless coated in snow.

How to get to Sofia

Sofia’s worldwide airport is served by dozens of airways, together with easyJet, Lufthansa, Ryanair and Wizz Air, with the latter two having bases right here.

The airport connects to the town centre by metro in round 20 minutes.