Sofia

Historical buildings

historical buildings
Amphitheatre of Serdica
Located in the geographical center of the city under the flags of the EU.
historical buildings
Battenberg Mausoleum

The mausoleum and final resting place of Prince Alexander I of Bulgaria 1857–1893, the first Head of State of modern Bulgaria.

historical buildings
Monument to Vasil Levski

It commemorates the hanging of Bulgarian national hero and major revolutionary figure Vasil Levski in the city on 18 February 1873.

historical buildings
Monument to the Tsar Liberator

Representing the power of freedom and across from it are the National Assembly and the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences.

historical buildings
Monument to the Unknown Soldier

Across from Alexander Nevsky cathedral; on the side of Hagia Sofia's Church.

historical buildings
Knyaz Battenberg's Palace
Right in front of the city garden.
historical buildings
Sofia Public Mineral Baths

It is an old building of interest, although it is in process of renovation at the moment.

Museums

museums
National Museum of Military History
92 Cherkovna Str.
+359 2 946 18 05
10.00 to 18.00

ticket price for adults 8 leva on march-15-2012

museums
National Museum of History
16 Vitoshko lale str.
+359 2 955 42 80;
4 leva
Take trolley #2 southwest from the corner of Praga Blvd. and Patriarch Eftimi Blvd. Get off at the roundabout at the end of the bus line. Cross the busy Okolovrustino Shosse (ring road) and walk through the trees. The museum is not visible from the road, nor are there any signs.

The National Museum of History in Sofia contains more than 650,000 exhibits and is one of the largest history museums on the Balkans. The aim of the museum is to provide a comprehensive view on Bulgarian history from the prehistory to present, in as broad an European context as possible. Be prepared to spend several hours as the museum is quite large. About half of the exhibits have English captions.

museums
National Polytechnic Museum
66 Opalchenska Str.
+359 2 831 30 04
09.00 to 17.00
museums
National Museum of Natural History
1, Tzar Osvoboditel Blvd.
+ 359 2 987 41 95
10.00 to 18.00

Has four floors of everything from rocks and minerals to insects and stuffed bison. It is a nice way to spend a rainy afternoon.

museums
Museum of Sport
1A Bulgaria Blvd.
+359 2 930 07 61
09:00 to 17:00
National Stadium Vasil Levski
museums
National Institute of Archaeology and Museum
2 Saborna Str.
+359 2 988 24 06
10:00 to 18:00

ticket price for adults 10 leva on march-15-2012

museums
Earth and Man National Museum
4 Cherni Vruh Blvd.
+359 2 865 66 39
2 leva
10.00 to 18.00
museums
National Ecclesiastical History-Archeological Museum
19 Sveta Nedelya Sq.
+359 2 988 13 43
09:00 to 17:00
museums
Museum of Paleontology and historical geology
15 Tzar Osvoboditel Blvd.
+359 2 930 82 00
Inside Sofia University.
museums
National Literature Museum
138 G. S. Rakovski Str., floor 2
+359 2 988 24 93
museums
National Agricultural Museum
30 Suhodolska Str.
+359 2 929 67 53
museums
House-Museum of Ivan Vazov
On the corner of the streets G. Rakovski and Ivan Vazov.

Churches

churches
St. Alexander Nevsky Cathedral
Vasil levski bl

One of the largest orthodox churches worldwide.

churches
Boyana Church
1-3 Boyansko Ezero Str.
+359 2 959 09 39
09:00 to 17:00
Getting here is quite difficult. Take tram #9 or #10 from the stop underneath NDK (National Palace of Culture) to Hladilnika neighborhood (the last stop). Then catch bus #64. The bus stop is just 50 meters away but you better ask someone for directions because there are several different stops in the vicinity. The stop for the church is a small plaza with a few shops near the end of the #64 bus line. Ask the driver or the other passangers where to get off and then walk uphill and turn left.

This small 14th-century church and garden is on the UNESCO World Heritage List. The church contains some very well preserved murals. It is located at the foot of Vitosha mountain and is a good starting point for day trips in the mountain. Entrance is 10 Lev, or 2 Lev for students.

churches
Church of St. George
It`s situated behind the Sheraton Hotel.
churches
Hagia Sophia Church
2 Paris str.

It is located just across the square and to the right from the Alexander Nevsky Cathedral. It was built in the 6th century over an even older church. It is a witness of the whole Bulgarian history and is a valued cultural monument. In the 14th century it gave its name to the city of Sofia. It was destroyed several times and during the Ottoman rule it was used as a mosque.

churches
Catholic cathedral St. Joseph
125, Knjaz Boris I
02/9815548
next 2 Sheraton Hotel

Holy Masses: SAT 5,30pm & SUN 10,30am bulgarian; 12,00pm latin; 6pm bulgarian

Open spaces

open spaces
Borisova gradina
бул. цариградско шосе

It`s the "lungs" of the city, with the Ariana Lake

open spaces
Orlov Most

It`s a bridge over the Perlovska River in the centre of Sofia

open spaces
Sofia Zoo
1 Sreburna Str.
09:00 to 17:00
open spaces
City Garden

It`s the oldest and most central public garden, in existence since 1872.

open spaces
South Park

Yes, and it's not the cartoon series. A nice park in the south-east part of the city, although a bit to crowded on weekends.

Galleries

galleries
National Art Gallery
1 Batenberg Sq.
+359 2 980 00 93
4 leva
10:30 to 18:00

Has old Bulgarian art, icons, etc.

galleries
Sofia Art Gallery
1, Gen. Gurko Str.
+359 2 987 21 81
free
10:00 to 19:00
The entrance is from Kniaz Al. Batenberg Str.
galleries
National Gallery for Foreign Art
1 St. Aleksander Nevsky Square
+359 2 988 49 22
4 leva
11:00 to 18:00
popular attractions
Ivan Vazov National Theatre
5 Dyakon Ignatii Str.
+359 2 811 92 19
popular attractions
Central Military Club
бул. Цар Освободител 7

It`s a multi-purpose monument of culture building in the city center.

popular attractions
National Assembly of Bulgaria
2 Narodno Sabranie Sq.
+359 2 939 39
popular attractions
Sofia University
15 Tsar Osvoboditel Blvd.
+359 2 9308
popular attractions
Bulgarian Academy of Sciences
1 15 November Str.
+359 2 979 53 33
popular attractions
SS. Cyril and Methodius National Library
88 Vasil Levski Str.
+ 359 2 988 28 11
08:30 to 20:30
popular attractions
National Palace of Culture
1 Bulgaria Sq.
+359 2 916 63 00

The biggest congress center in the Balkans a massive monolithic communist-style building. If asking for directions, ask for NDK en-de-ka, as most Bulgarians refer to it by this acronym.

Sofia is one of the oldest cities in Europe with ruins spread across the city center. It was founded because of the quality of its mineral waters. In the city alone 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.

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.

other places of worship
Sofia Synagogue
09:00 to 16:30

One of the largest in Europe.