Sofia

Sofia (София) is the capital of Bulgaria. It is also the biggest city in the country with about 2 million citizens (including suburbs). Today, Sofia is a dynamic European capital, distinguished by its unique combination of European and communist-style architecture as well as many beautiful Orthodox churches. Furthermore, it claims to be one of the few European capitals with beautiful scenery and a developed ski-resort so close to it, the Vitosha mountain.

Understand


Sofia was founded around 2,500 years ago. Over the centuries, it has had several names: Serdika, Sredets and the remains of the old cities can still be viewed today. Near Sofia lies Boyana church, which is one of the most valuable memorials of Bulgarian and European culture. The church has frescoes, acclaimed by specialists as the best examples of eastern medieval art from the 13th century AD. The decline of Sofia during the Turkish Ottoman Empire was followed by the rejuvenation after the Russian liberation in 1878, when Sofia was chosen as the capital of Bulgaria at the First National Constituent Assembly, and followed by a brisk and straightforward period of construction.

Tourist information

 * VisitSofia.bg, Sofia's official tourist information website. Available in several languages, including English.

By plane


Over 20 airlines operate service to/from Sofia, with direct flights to/from Athens, Paris, Vienna, London, Rome, Amsterdam, Munich, Warsaw and other European cities. There are also domestic flights from Varna and Burgas.

Along with traditional carriers, some low-cost companies serving Bulgaria are EasyJet (to/from London-Gatwick, Madrid, Manchester) and Wizz Air (to/from Paris-Beauvais, Barcelona, Brussels-Charleroi, Dortmund, Eindhoven, London-Luton, Milan-Bergamo, Rome-Fiumicino, Valencia) and RyanAir. Bulgaria Air, the national carrier operates service to/from Alicante, Amsterdam, Athens, Barcelona, Beirut, Berlin, Brussels, Bucharest, Frankfurt, Istanbul, Larnaca, London (Gatwick & Heathrow), Madrid, Málaga, Manchester, Palma de Mallorca, Paphos, Paris, Rome, Skopje, Tel Aviv, Tirana, Tripoli, Valencia, Vienna and Zürich.

Budget airlines including EasyJet, Eurowings and Wizz Air operate from Terminal 1, while the traditional carriers including Bulgaria Air but also Ryanair operate from Terminal 2. There are shops, cafes, post offices, ATMs, and money exchange offices at the airport. For more details, see the airport website.

There is a free shuttle bus operating between Terminals 1 and 2 every 15–30 minutes between 05:00 and 23:00. Outside of those hours, a free shuttle bus can be requested at the information desk or you can use Busses #84 or 184 depending on direction (see below). After midnight you might asked to book a cab for such ride.

To travel between the airport and the city centre:


 * Sofia Metro Line 4 (Yellow) operates service to the airport between 05:30 and 24:00. The stop is next to Terminal 2 (leave the building and go east). The journey to the city centre takes 20–30 minutes. The journey to the central bus station takes approximately 35 minutes and a transfer is required. A single ticket costs 1.60 лв. You no longer need an extra ticket for each piece of large luggage. You can also buy a day ticket for all modes of public transport for 4 лв. The access gates as well as some ticket vending machines also accept credit cards and payment apps such as Apple Pay.
 * Public Busses #84 and 184 operates service between both terminals and the city centre. The journey takes 30–40 minutes. Tickets can be purchased from news stands or ticket machines in the airport as well as by contactless payment aboard. A single ticket costs 1.60 лв. An extra ticker for large luggage is no longer needed. The bus makes a stop at Orlov Most (Sofia University metro station), where you can transfer to the metro.
 * Taxi service from the airport is regulated. OK Supertrans AD is the only contracted taxi operator from the airport. It is best to request a taxi either from the taxi stand to the right when you leave the arrivals area or the taxi office right adjacent to the exit from the baggage reclaim. Beware of touts offering taxi service as well as non-contracted taxis with the fake "OK" logo which usually wait in front of the terminal instead on the official taxi rank besides it. A taxi to the city center will cost approximately 15 лв. The regulated taxi fare is: initial fee of 0.70 лв, price per km 0.79 лв in the day or 0.90 лв at night, price per minute of stay of 0.22 лв, price for ordering a taxi via phone of 0.50 лв. You can also use the Ridenow Taxi app.

By bus
Eurolines Bulgaria is the largest operator of international buses to/from Bulgaria. Buses operate to/from Belgrade (5 hr, ) and other cities in Serbia, Vienna (15½ hr, ) and other cities in Austria, Paris (36 hr, ) and other cities in France, Berlin (28 hr, ) and other cities in Germany, Budapest (11-13 hr, ), and Prague (21 hr, ).

MATPU 96 is the largest operator of buses in Bulgaria. The schedule is available in Bulgarian and English online. Buses operate several times per day from Skopje (5½ hr, ).

Another company running between Skopje and Sofia is Kaleia Travel with two departure per day, 07:00 and 17:30 (both ways). Ticket booth no. 10 in the main terminal building. 40 лв.



Three smaller bus stations serve national and local lines:

By train
Sofia is perhaps the largest railway hub in the country. A list of all the available daily trains would resemble a description of Bulgaria's railway network. Nevertheless:

A major line through North Bulgaria connects Sofia to Varna on the Black Sea coast (8-8½ hr, sleeper cars available on overnight trains). It passes through Shumen (about 7 hr), Targovishte (6½ hr) and Pleven (3-3¾ hr). Off the line, Ruse (about 7 hr) and Veliko Tarnovo (5-6½ hr) require changing at Gorna Oryahovitsa. In the North-West, Vidin (5-6½ hr) and Vratsa (2-3 hr) require changing at Mezdra. The line crosses the Balkan Mountains through the scenic Iskar Gorge, about an hour away from Sofia, so keep your camera ready.

South of the Balkan Mountains, another major line connects Sofia with Plovdiv (2½-3 hr) and with Burgas on the Black Sea (7-8 hr, sleeper cars on late trains). There's also the smaller Sub-Balkan Line which runs below the southern slopes of the mountains, through the Sub-Balkan Valleys. The network ensures direct trains from Yambol (6-6½ hr), Stara Zagora (5 hr), Svilengrad by the Greek/Turkish border (5 hr), and Pazardzhik (2-2½ hr).

Another line descends south from Sofia towards the Greek border, with direct trains from Pernik (40 min), Kyustendil by the North Macedonian Border (3 hr), Blagoevgrad (2-3 hr), Sandanski, and Petrich (4 hr). Further timetables can be found on the BDZ website (in English).

There are several train stations and stops in Sofia, but of interest to travellers are mostly two. Since May 2024, due to track renovations, most trains to destinations in Northern Bulgaria arrive at/depart from Sofia North station. This most notably affects some of the "tourist trains" to Varna (a couple direct ones remain). Nevertheless, it's still possible to buy tickets for those destinations at Sofia Central, as there are shuttle trains from Sofia Central to Sofia North, and you'll have to change trains there. Renovations are expected to last about a year.



International
From Romania, a train runs daily from Bucharest at noon, taking ten hours; the return train leaves Sofia at 09:00. June to Sept this is a through-train, Oct-May you have to change at Ruse on the border. There's no longer an overnight train.

From Turkey, a sleeper train departs Istanbul Halkalı at 21:40, running via Edirne, Kapikule on the border where you get out for passport control, and Plovdiv, to reach Sofia by 09:00. The eastbound train leaves Sofia at 18:30 to reach Istanbul for 05:40. Fares are quoted in euros: in 2022 you pay for the basic single from Istanbul. Add for a couchette,  for a bed in a shared 2-person cabin or  for the entire cabin.

By car
The motorway network in Bulgaria is still under construction.

Access to Bulgaria's capital is via several entry points:


 * From the north (Vidin) & south (Thessaloniki) via E79.
 * From the east - via Thrace Highway E80/A1.
 * From the west - from the Bulgarian-Serbian border point of Kalotina.

The following motorways heading for Sofia are already in service:


 * A1 connects Sofia to Burgas and the Black Sea coast, as well as Istanbul.
 * A2 ends about 80 km from each city; the rest of the route is a regular 2-lane road. Extensions into the cities are planned.
 * A3 is planned to be from Sofia to Thessaloniki, about 2/3 of the route is already in service.

Coming from North Macedonia, via Kyustendil the roads are relatively good but driving within speed limits would avoid you much hassle caused either by traffic police, or road conditions. From Central Europe you can drive almost the whole length on highways (via Slovenia-Croatia-Serbia or Hungary-Serbia), with only the last 100 km between Niš in Southern Serbia and Sofia being heavily trafficked mountain roads around the Nishava ravine in not the best shape.

By public transport


Sofia has a well-developed, cheap, and efficient public transport system that consists of buses, trolleybuses, trams, and subway lines. The transport network can be confusing for visitors who do not know it well, but there is a journey planner. The public transport operates from 05:00–23:00. Night transport is back since November 1st 2023, and as of June 2024 there are three night lines: N1 (zh.k. Lyulin 0650) to Mladost 4 0669), N2 (Obelya quarter 0874 to zh.k. Studentski grad 1694), and N3 (zh.k. Levski G 2430 to zh.k. Ovcha Kupel 2 0684). Note: the four digit codes are the codes of the stops themselves.

The price of a single metro ticket is 1.60 лв only paid in the local currency cash, while a bus/tram/trolleybus ticket is 2 лв. There are also daily travel cards (4 лв). Tickets and daily cards can be bought at most newspaper stands especially ones adjacent to public transport stops. If you can't find any, you can always buy tickets from the driver. Validate your card/ticket as soon as you get on the bus/tram/trolleybus. The inspectors rarely understand English and you might have problems with them if you travel without a ticket. Inspectors ambush and board buses and trams in groups (and their attitude is generally not friendly at all), sometimes accompanied by police, and make no exceptions. The fine is 40 лв.

Tickets can also be purchased using contactless bank cards and payment apps such as Apple and Google Pay (Visit Sofia, which might be the easiest solution for foreign visitors. In the metro, the ticket gates have a contactless symbol indicating the location of the reader (it's on the left side, not the right). On buses and trams, there are blue electronic readers with the same contactless symbol. Contactless purchases will be capped to the cost of the daily travel pass. Visit Sofia states: "If you travel more than three times during the day, from 16:30 to 00:00, including a combination of ground transport, the system automatically charges a daily pass price of 4 лв, regardless of how many times you used public transport. The only condition is to use the same bank card throughout the day and for one person only."

The day ticket needs to be shown to the person at the ticket office before every metro trip, as they are supposed to check the date stamp (manually applied at the time of sale) before activating the ticket barriers to accept it. If you are staying for 4 or more days, or 3+ days and arriving directly in the city centre, you can also buy a 3-day ticket on an electronic card from the public transport offices (not from metro stations or at the airport) for 10 лв + 2 лв card fee.

There are 15 tram lines, 9 trolley lines, 93 bus lines and 4 metro lines. Some of the buses cover the area outside the city centre including neighboring villages. Useful routes are bus #84 from both terminals of the airport to the center; from the train/bus station to Orlov most - bus #213 or #214 or tram #1, #7 and #18 to Vitosha Street and Sv. Nedelya Square, #1, #6, #7 to the National Palace of Culture, #18 to Slaveykov square or #6 to Macedonia square.

On foot
Streets have adequate tiled pavements, especially in the city centre. However, they are frequently uneven and potholed, and walking is further made difficult by parked cars, street vendors and cafes. Except for areas in the very centre, pavements rarely have slopes for wheelchair access or designated lanes for bicycle riders. Pedestrian crossings are numerous and are relatively respected by drivers. Use pedestrian underpasses to cross large intersections, though avoid ones in the suburbs as these are usually derelict.

By mini-bus
Mini-buses (marshrutki) stop if you just wave a hand and are usually fast way to go somewhere without need to change the car, but they aren't common anymore. You pay to the driver when you get on the car. Prices are 1.50 лв. You must tell the driver if and when you want to get off.

By taxi
Taxis in Sofia are yellow. Taxis can be caught on the streets or can be ordered by phone, they arrive fast and are reliable. A drive inside Sofia will rarely exceed 10 лв and a trip from the airport to the city center 8-15 лв.

There are many companies offering taxi services, some of them are OK Supertrans taxi (973 2121), Taxi, "962-22-26", Yellow Taxi (91119) and Radio CV Taxi (91263) with fares around 0.80 лв/km. Some taxi companies have smartphone apps available that allow you to register and order taxis to your specific address in real time, thus eliminating the risk of falling prey to scams. As of June 2017, Yellow Taxi has the most user-friendly app for foreigners.

There are some taxis trying to imitate the most popular ones but with outrageous prices (up to 5.90 лв/km) so check before you board, these taxis usually hang around hotels and tourist spots picking on unsuspecting customers, The general rule is that if a taxi driver comes to you and offers you a drive, never accept it because they will try to rip you off.

Taxi drivers may not stop if you hail them on the street and often don't have much change, so plan accordingly (or leave tips!)

By car
Renting a car is possible, but not necessarily a good idea if your plans are restricted to visiting only Sofia and not travelling elsewhere in the country. Driving here can be strenuous for those with less experience behind the wheel - be prepared for traffic jams and disorganized traffic. Those of you who plan on visiting more of the country can rent a car from a local company (much cheaper than the big brands) or use a broker as some of the local companies do not even have websites.

If you need to park your car, you are recommended to do it in a paid guarded lot. Parking in the center is difficult and you may be parked illegally without knowing it; foreign license plates may attract unwelcome attention of Bulgarian police and of criminals. Even if there are other cars parked in the area, double check that there are no signs or pavement markings prohibiting it. Parking in the central city area on working days is paid, it is divided in a so-called Blue Zone ("Синя зона") — 2 лв per hour, and a Green Zone ("Зелена зона") — 1 лв per hour. If you have a Bulgarian mobile number, you can also pay by SMS: send the vehicle registration plate number to "1302" for the "Green zone" or 1303 for the "Blue zone". This will charge parking for an hour through your phone bill. Five minutes before the prepaid time is up you will receive a warning sms. You can either send another message for another hour or move your car.

Pay attention to trams or buses stopping in the middle of the road. If you see a stopped tram or bus on your left, you must stop and let the passengers get on/off, according to the Bulgarian traffic code. Failing to stop in this manner may be very dangerous.

Driving with your lights on is compulsory, day and night, all year long.

By bicycle
Sofia is one of the greenest capitals in Europe, with the big park zones ideal for biking. Slow traffic in downtown is perfect for cycling. On a bike you will save time and will enjoy sport activity. Sofia also has a few bike paths around the downtown area and in districts such as Mladost, Nadezhda, Hipodruma. Be careful as many cars double park and may open doors without noticing you. Rent a bike) Bike rental operates 10:00-20:00 (April to November). Discover Sofia by bike map or joint to an experienced bike guide.

See
Sofia is one of the oldest cities in Europe and has ancient ruins throughout the city center. In the administrative center of Sofia, the streets are covered with a specific yellow pavement. It was laid in the beginning of the 20th century and were a present to the Bulgarian Tsar Ferdinand for his wedding from the Austria-Hungarian royal family.

Mineral springs
Sofia was founded because of the quality of its mineral waters. In the city, there are 7 independent mineral water springs. One of the springs is in the central area of the city and is accessible for everybody - cross the square behind the mosque, next to TSUM (the intersection of Iskar and Ekzarh Yosif streets).



Parks and gardens




Do

 * Football – The men's national football team plays at Vasil Levski stadium (capacity 43,000) 1 km southeast of city centre. Five city clubs play in First League, Bulgaria's top tier:
 * CSKA Sofia play at Bulgarian Army Stadium (capacity 23,000) just south of the national stadium.
 * CSKA 1948 were formed in 2016 after a bust-up at CSKA Sofia. They play at Stadion Bistritsa (capacity 2500) 15 km south, and shared with Septemvri in the Second League.
 * Levski Sofia play at Stadion Georgi Asparuhov (capacity 25,000, aka Vivacom stadium) 3 km east of the centre.
 * Slavia Sofia play at Alexander Shalamanov Stadium (capacity 25,500) 4 km southwest.
 * Lokomotiv 1929 play at Stadion Lokomotiv (capacity 17,500) 4 km north.
 * CSKA 1948 were formed in 2016 after a bust-up at CSKA Sofia. They play at Stadion Bistritsa (capacity 2500) 15 km south, and shared with Septemvri in the Second League.
 * Levski Sofia play at Stadion Georgi Asparuhov (capacity 25,000, aka Vivacom stadium) 3 km east of the centre.
 * Slavia Sofia play at Alexander Shalamanov Stadium (capacity 25,500) 4 km southwest.
 * Lokomotiv 1929 play at Stadion Lokomotiv (capacity 17,500) 4 km north.

Vitosha
A magnificent landmark mountain very popular with the locals and rising just south of the capital. It is easily accessible by public transportation, bus 63 (from stop Tsar Boris III) or 66 (from Metrostantsiya Vitosha metro stop), or by car. Day trips in Vitosha on a sunny day are highly recommended.

In the winter, it is well suited for skiing and its proximity allows one day ski-trips; in the summer it is great for hiking. A great way to spend few days in Sofia, being on its "balcony," enjoying sunny days on the mountain with a spectacular view on the capital. So going to Sofia provide gives you a unique chance to witness the rare symbiosis of the metropolitan city with its nature park.

Great sights to see are the stone rivers (like, the largest), the and , with a magnificent view onto the metropolis.

Buy
It is strongly advisable to skip exchange offices on the street and use exclusively banks for exchanging money. Some exchange stalls will try to scam you by buying your currency at very unfavorable rates. See Bulgaria for exchange rates.) It's also possible to change money at a good rate in casinos if you play there.

ATMs are widely available and accept all major credit cards (Visa, MasterCard, Amex, Diner's, etc.), although you have to check your daily limit with your bank. ATMs will let you withdraw at most 400 лв in one go, but if your card limit allows it, you can make two or more withdrawals.

Credit cards are widely accepted in larger stores and supermarkets, but in small souvenir shops or restaurants you will definitely need to carry some cash.

Souvenirs can be bought many small shops in the subways in front of the old Party House and in the metro station at the Largo. The Ethnographic Museum has a small shop tightly crammed with souvenirs of all kinds from all over Bulgaria (on the right, just as you enter the main entrance). Antiques and souvenirs can also be found in Aleksandar Nevski square, in stalls just opposite the church.



Eat
Sofia is full of trendy cafes with outdoor seating in the summer and good-quality restaurants.

Fast food
You can easily find take away food in Sofia. For less than 2 лв you can get a slice of pizza, a hot-dog or a sandwich. You can get more traditional Bulgarian food in bakeries, offering banitsa and other kinds of pastry. This food is often consumed with ayran or boza. Another possibility is to get a katma, which is a big pancake filled with cheese, ham, jam or chocolate.

Budget
Pizzeria-type restaurants and snack bars can be found all over Sofia. Although many are very uninteresting for the traveler looking for a meal with a local flavor, some include excellent Bulgarian dishes.

All these are in the city center:

Bars

 * JJ Murphys Irish pub
 * Cocktail Bar - tasty cocktails, crowded in the evenings, has a summer garden (it is actually in a small park, which becomes occupied by the customers)
 * Bar 5L - Speakeasy (5L is a transliteration of rooster in Bulgarian). Designer cocktails in cozy atmosphere. The key, corresponding to the day of the month, unlocks the door (not sure whether they change it at midnight).

Nightlife
The Sofia nightlife is vibrant, concentrated mostly in two areas - the city center and around Studentski grad (Студентски град/Student's town), which is the neighborhood where are the university dorms. There are frequent live performances in various venues, check the freely distributed guides in various shops and restaurants like Programata (Програмата/The Program). The primary distinction between the clubs is whether the music includes chalga (чалга/folk-Turkish-Greek-Serbian influenced local genre) or not. Expect that any local acquaintances will have strong feelings whether they attend or not the chalga clubs. There are hundreds of clubs and bars, with prices from 2 лв for beer and 5 for cocktail to luxurious places charging exorbitant sums. It is better to pay with cash, as POS terminals are not widely available, especially in the cheaper places. The people start to gather after working hours for a beer, cocktail or glass of wine, moving to dinner around 20:00 and clubs and discos after 23:00.

In the warm months, crowds overflow from the more popular places like [http://sofia.zavedenia.com/471/Bilkova/#! Bilkova] (Билкова/The Herbal) on the street. The centrally located parks and gardens like Crystal (Кристал) and Gradinkata na Narodniya (Градинката на народния/The garden of the national theater) and crowded during the summer, with drinks provided from nearby shops or cocktails in disposable cups.
 * Carrusel. Upscale club, hosting DJ parties and special events.
 * Culture Beat. Boutique cafe, bar, and nightclub, in NDK (National Palace of Culture). Great view from the terrace in the summer.
 * Gramophone - contemporary music
 * RocknRolla - large underground venue with rock music, on Garibaldi square
 * Yalta - the biggest, oldest and most famous disco in Sofia, existing since the communist times, resident and guest DJ parties and events. EDM, house.
 * Bedroom Premium Club - R&B, hip-hop, house
 * Stroezha - rock and contemporary music
 * Onyx - contemporary music
 * Sugar - hip-hop
 * Bar Dak and Bar Dak 2 - bars
 * Once Upon a Time Библиотека - housed in the building of the National Library, rock.
 * Club Alcohol - rock
 * Mixtape 5 - huge club, next to NDK (National Palace of Culture), various events.
 * Sofia Live Club - live events, in NDK
 * Club Terminal 1 - big venue, mostly rock
 * Club Mascara - in the building of the National Opera, contemporary music, house.
 * Megami - in the Marinela hotel, chalga, upscale.
 * BIAD - Rakovski streer, next to Memento, chalga.
 * Club Revue - opposite of the National Assembly, chalga.
 * Dada Cultural Bar - tango, salsa, live performances
 * The largest discos in Sofia are concentrated in Student's town (Studentski grad) in the southern part of the city and can be reached by buses #94 (from Sofia university and Culture palace), #280 (from Sofia University, Orlov most) and #102. The last bus to Studentski grad departs from the city center at about 23:30 (from Sofia University and Culture Palace). The entrance fee for most discos is between 1 and 5 лв. Discos that can be visited there include: Avenue, Tantra, Orient 33, Jim Beam, Maskata, Stroezha.
 * The largest discos in Sofia are concentrated in Student's town (Studentski grad) in the southern part of the city and can be reached by buses #94 (from Sofia university and Culture palace), #280 (from Sofia University, Orlov most) and #102. The last bus to Studentski grad departs from the city center at about 23:30 (from Sofia University and Culture Palace). The entrance fee for most discos is between 1 and 5 лв. Discos that can be visited there include: Avenue, Tantra, Orient 33, Jim Beam, Maskata, Stroezha.

Splurge

 * Maria Luiza Hotel occupies an exquisite building dating back to the turn of 20th century and listed as one of Bulgaria's cultural monuments of national significance. Maria Luisa Hotel offers a combination of the standards and services found in a luxury hotel plus the privacy and independence of one's own home.

Stay safe
Generally, Sofia is a very safe and walkable city, even at night. Nevertheless, you should avoid poorly lit areas and use your common sense. Avoid the area around the central Bus and Rail Station, Maria Luiza Blvd, the dark areas of the city parks and the Lions' Bridge (Lavov Most). And don't go to the Borisova garden, it is very dangerous (especially during the night). Single women and girls should be especially careful. Junkies get high in these areas, prostitutes offer their "services", some people might want to tempt you with touts of contraband (stolen, illegal, etc.) and/or try to mug you. These areas are also frequented by the homeless and the drunk. If your hotel is in the area you'll be alright, just don't hang around it unnecessarily. Try to act like you are familiar with the area (and familiarize yourself during the day) and look like a local. It is wise to choose a hotel/hostel in a good, central location.

Pedestrians should be careful since many Bulgarian drivers do not yield right of way to those on foot.

Do not get into conflict with locals especially if they seem aggressive or drunk, particularly football fan groups who tend to be drunk and aggressive. Avoid wearing football shirts or scarves of the Sofia-based football teams, especially on match days.

Be wary of petty thieves and poorer neighborhoods, as pick pocketing and thefts are common. If you are approached by locals trying to sell stolen goods, give you directions or bother you exercise caution.

If you get in legal trouble with some of the locals, the Bulgarian police and judiciary may not protect you adequately because of corruption and nepotism.

Be careful with taxis, make sure you check the prices first before you get in (the fare is per km and it should be something like 0.79 лв during the day and 0.90 лв during the night, avoid taxis that display their fare as above 1.00 лв), also make sure the taxi has the driver's card on the front with his name.

Banks exchange most currency so there is usually no need to use exchange offices which often offer a poor rate, ignore anyone on the street wanting to change money; you will get an awful exchange rate, or a handful of fake banknotes.

Embassies

 * 🇦🇲 Armenia
 * 🇨🇳 China
 * 🇩🇪 Germany
 * 🇬🇷 Greece
 * 🇫🇮 Finland
 * 🇫🇷 France
 * 🇯🇵 Japan
 * 🇮🇹 Italy
 * North Macedonia


 * 🇵🇱 Poland
 * 🇷🇴 Romania
 * 🇷🇺 Russia
 * 🇨🇭 Switzerland
 * UK

Connect
5G internet is available from all three major mobile networks (A1, Vivacom, Yettel). WiFi is widely available in public places.

Go next

 * In the region:
 * To the north, among the Balkan Mountains: the Iskar Gorge, picturesque Etropole, and Pravets with its golf resort and the museum of Bulgaria's last Communist dictator
 * To the west: Bankya, a mineral springs resort from central Sofia, almost absorbed as a suburb (e.g. accessible by public transport)
 * To the south-west: industrial Pernik on the other side of Vitosha; further away is Kyustendil, "Bulgaria's orchard" under the Osogovo Mountain on the border
 * To the south, under the slopes of Rila: Dupnitsa and Blagoevgrad, with the Rila Monastery, the most famous in Bulgaria and a (suitable for a day trip from Sofia)
 * To the south-east, closer: Samokov and the mountain/ski resorts of Borovets and Malyovitsa
 * Elsewhere in Bulgaria:
 * Plovdiv – Bulgaria's second most populous city, with good highway and rail connections to Sofia. Its Old Town, Roman ruins, and relaxed atmosphere make it a great day-trip.
 * Veliko Tarnovo – A beautiful city along a winding river, the former capital of Bulgaria in the Middle Ages.
 * Other countries:
 * North Macedonia, via the Gyueshevo/Deve Bair crossing by Kyustendil, to the south-west, towards Kriva Palanka and Kumanovo
 * Romania, by international trains starting in Sofia - either Craiova via Vidin, or the capital Bucharest via Ruse
 * Serbia is less than to the west, via the Kalotina/Gradine crossing - Dimitrovgrad, Pirot and Niš
 * Turkey, by international train to Istanbul