Sofia

A laid-back big city with an ancient past. 
There's more to Sofia than meets the eye.

Sofia is a compact city with an impressive historical center. All the highlights of the city are close together, so it's easy to explore on foot. Sofia feels like a big city, but you’ll also find a nice mix of neighborhoods. Each district feels distinct and cozy. That variety extends to the sights as well. There’s so much to see in Sofia, from grand churches to Habsburg-influenced buildings with stunning designs. There's also the occasional archeological site from the city's ancient incarnation as Serdica. Sofia may seem inscrutable at first, but that just means there’s more to discover. It’s the perfect destination for people who like to find something unique around every corner while taking in beautiful architecture. Sofia is a lovely place to wander off the beaten path. You'll find fun surprises down every winding street.

Besides the sights, which range from historic to quirky, Sofia offers a vibrant dining scene. There's more than enough cutting-edge cafes and restaurants to enjoy. The food and drink are reasonably priced and the local cuisine is hearty. Meat lovers are in luck. But diners who prefer lighter fare needn’t worry. There are also plenty of Bulgarian recipes featuring fresh vegetables. Be sure to explore outside of the city when you visit. There are many excellent day trips from Sofia and places to stay overnight, including Plovdiv and Rila. Sofia will open up the region to you. You’ll have a wonderful time enjoying this atmospheric destination, its cuisine, history and culture. Sofia is a lovely city and a highlight of travel in Bulgaria.

Popular Tour Itineraries Featuring Sofia

Name: JayWay Travel Sofia Bulgaria Tour Packages
Brand: JayWay Travel
Rating: 4.90 (4 reviews)

Spend some time in Sofia on a tour that takes in other cities in Bulgaria and neighboring countries. Our vacation packages including Sofia and other destinations throughout Bulgaria and Europe hassle-free. We take care of getting you from place to place, accommodation, excursions and activities.

Orthodox Cultures of The Balkans

Belgrade, Sofia, Skopje

10 Days

from$2,350 pp^*

Best of Bulgaria & Romania in 11 Days

Sofia, Plovdiv, Bucharest, Brasov, Sibiu, Bucharest

11 Days

from$2,675 pp^*

The Best of Bulgaria: From Sofia to the Coast and Back

Sofia, Plovdiv, Sozopol, Varna, Veliko Tarnovo, Sofia

11 Days

from$2,675 pp^*

Romania & Bulgaria: Capitals, Coast & Countryside

Sibiu, Brasov, Bucharest, Veliko Tarnovo, Varna, Plovdiv, Sofia

14 Days

from$3,400 pp^*

UNESCO Heritage in Romania & Bulgaria

Sofia, Plovdiv, Varna, Bucharest, Danube Delta, Brasov, Gura Humorului...

20 Days

from$5,550 pp^*

* Starting price is per person, based on double occupancy in 3 star accommodation, in the most affordable month an itinerary is offered. Airfare to Europe is not included.

Click on your choice of itinerary, select number of travelers in your party, month of travel, and desired star level of accommodation to get an approximate price. Submit the enquiry form with any additional details and we can start planning your customized trip.

What I love about Sofia

Olivia

Trip Planner

When I think about Sofia, I can’t help but remember the fabulous traditional cuisine and local wines at Shtastlivetsa Restaurant. No matter how many other good places I’ve tried, I keep coming back here whenever I'm in town. As for the city itself, my favorite thing is to walk from the Atanas Burov Square, admire the surrounding palaces, cut through the Royal Garden, go around the Nevski Cathedral, and stop on a bench in the little park in front of Sofia University.

Where to stay in Sofia

When traveling with us, you don't need to worry that your hotel won't live up to its star rating. All of the accommodation options we offer in Sofia have been hand-picked and provide the perfect base for exploring this city. We can offer options from a nice B&B to luxury hotels providing the city's best views (one even has Roman ruins in its foyer). Once we start preparing your customized itinerary we will present our recommended options for you to select from.

Luxury Design Hotel

This is a superb design hotel with a great wellness center and an excellent rooftop bar featuring the best views of the city, the mountain and more.

Heritage Design Hotel

Don't miss the Roman ruins in the foyer of this spacious hotel. Some rooms have balconies with great city views.

Elegant Boutique Hotel

This boutique four-star hotel features comfortable rooms within walking distance of a park and the city's main attractions.

Things to do in Sofia

Besides the fascinating stories of Sofia's long history, the city also provides an excellent base for further exploration of the country, with a combined day trip to two of Bulgaria's UNESCO World Heritage Sites, Rila Monastery and Boyana Church being one of the best sellers in our selection. When we send you your customized itinerary you will be able to choose additional excursions to include in your vacation package or consider for adding later.

Koprivshtitsa & Starosel: History, Culture and Wine Tasting Private Tour

Veliko Tarnovo and Arbanassi Private Day Trip

Traditional Bulgarian Dinner and Wine Tasting Private Tour

Rila and Boyana Private Day Tour (UNESCO Heritage)

Rose Valley and Koprivshtitsa Private Tour

Glowing Reviews from Our Guests

4.9 / 5

Average of our Guest's Ratings of our trip packages including Sofia, based on 4 reviews

Todd & Jennifer

Ontario

The JayWay Travel experience is customized and personalized. Each trip will be unique to you and it is a wonderful way to ensure you focus on what matters most while travelling (sights, activities, etc.) rather than booking hotels, transfers, etc. that take up so much of your time and energy.

Year : 2019
Visited : Romania, Serbia, Montenegro, Albania, Macedonia, Bulgaria
Itinerary : Bucharest, Sibiu, Belgrade, Kotor, Tirana, Ohrid, Skopje, Sofia, Burgas, Constanta
Rating :

4.6 / 5

Dale, Anne & John

Arizona

You are the kings and queens of travel!

Year : 2018
Visited : Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Montenegro, Albania, Macedonia, Bulgaria, Romania
Itinerary : Ljubljana, Rovinj, Plitvice, Sarajevo, Trogir, Hvar, Dubrovnik, Kotor, Tirana, Ohrid, Skopje, Sofia, Bucharest, Brasov, Bucharest
Rating :

5 / 5

Ranjit & Savita

Hamilton, Ontario

Local Representative was helpful, clarified any items we asked and the Europe cell phone is a good idea. We were very happy with the accommodation selection, food quality was good. The review about the selection of hotels during the planning phase really paid off. The guides were nice people, pleasant, punctual, helpful and gave us lot of information about the attractions and history of the country. We enjoyed their company. JayWay staff knew the area very well, they understood our needs and limits and provided practical suggestions for saving our time and money.

Year : 2016
Visited : Bulgaria, Romania
Itinerary : Sofia, Bucharest, Brasov, Sucevita, Sighisoara, Sibiu, Bucharest
Rating :

5 / 5

Frequently Asked Questions about travel to Sofia

How long should I stay in Sofia?

We recommend spending 2-3 days in Sofia. First, you need a full day to cover the most important attractions in the city center. For a day trip, you should definitely visit the unique, UNESCO-listed Rila Monastery and Boyana Church. Another possible day trip includes Rose Valley, the ancient Thracian tombs at Kazanluk, and the town of Koprivshtitsa, preserved in its full 19th century glory. The latter day-trip can also be done while traveling between Sofia and Bucharest, Veliko Tarnovo, or the Black Sea.

What are Sofia's must-see sights?

Everything worth visiting is around the city center. Your bucket-list should start with the Aleksander Nevski Cathedral, Bulgaria’s most impressive cathedral. Next, there’s the 6th century Byzantine-style St. Sofia Church, the Sofia Synagogue (Europe's third largest), and the Banya Bashi Mosque. As for museums and palaces, you should check everything surrounding the inner City Garden, including the National Art Museum, Theatre, Opera, and Archeological Museum, the Military Club, and Government and Presidential palaces. Last but not least, the National History Museum is a wealth of information, covering 8,000 years of history.