Interesting Things To Do In Sofia, Bulgaria

An Overview of Sofia

Found in the geographical center of the Balkans, Sofia is the capital of Bulgaria. Long ago, the city began it’s history as a Thracian tribal settlement in the 8th-century BCE. Eventually, it was birth a center of culture, history and art that would make Sofia a landmark in the region. Much of the city is beautiful with wide streets interspaced with nationals monuments, museums and ruins. Visitors can visit sights such as the imposing Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, Borisova Gradina and the National Palace of Culture. The city is fairly condensed, making it easy to walk around. Much of Sofia’s charm is found in the countryside, especially the nearby Vitosha Mountain. Thanks to it’s urban development, ancient history and modern attractions there are many interesting things to do in Sofia.

Interesting Things To Do In Sofia, Bulgaria

St. Alexander Nevsky Cathedral

This is the most iconic building of the city, a massive cathedral built in the Neo-Byzantine style. The church houses famous relics of Alexander Nevesky, a venerated prince and military commander who protected the Russian frontier against invasions by Germans or Swedes.

Boyana Church

This church is a notoriously famous building thanks to its stunning frescoes from 1259 CE. The artworks are some of the most complete and well-preserved monuments to medieval art in all of the Balkans. The frescoes depict the life of Satin Nicholas in eighteen different scenes.

Statue of Sveta Sofia

This impressive statue was placed on display in the year 2000 to replace a statue of Lenin which had been removed 10 years prior. This tall statue displays a golden-skinned figure with outstretched arms carrying a combination of other items. The statue thought to be a melding of Sofia and Athena, both Hellenistic mythological figures. The statues holds a crown, laurel wreath and owl.

The Snail House

This is a prominently lopsided and somewhat creepy-looking house which exists in the Simeonovo Neighborhood on the outskirts of Sofia. The house was painted to look like a gigantic, brightly colored snail. Though it looks like an outlandish art piece, the Snail House is actually a residential area.

Monument to the Soviet Army

This monument is a popular gathering place located on Tsar Osvoboditel Boulevard, near Orlov Most. The monument, constructed in 1954, honors the Soviet soldiers who died during WWII.

Rila Monastery & Boyana Church

As a UNESCO World Heritage Sites, this is one of the largest and most well-known monasteries in the Eastern Orthodox Faith. The massive monastery tells the history of the spiritual and social lives of those who stayed true to their faith through the medieval era of Bulgaria. The area is also home to a church with exhibits containing cultural practices, art pieces, old weapons and tools. There are also a series of marvelous, delicate frescoes within. This is a popular day trip from Sofia.

Vitosha Boulevard Shopping Street

Often referred to as Sofia’s Champs-Élysées, this boulevard is the most famous central pedestrian street in Bulgaria. It’s home to numerous retail outlets, cafés and street performers. It cuts directly though the center of Sofia’s central urban space..

Borisova Gradina Park

This massive park is a historic forested green space with gardens, monuments, winding walking paths, an artificial lake and a statue collection. The park, thanks to it’s proximity to the city’s center, is one of the most popular recreation places in Sofia.

Seven Rila Lakes

This is an impressive series of glacial lakes located about two hours south driving from Sofia. These lakes contain a spectacular, somewhat easy walking route which takes roughly four hours to complete. Visitors can view the different lakes standing pure and blue at different elevations in the rugged terrain.

The Palace – National Art Gallery

The Palace is a national museum for Bulgarian artworks with pieces from the Middle Ages into the present era. The museum operates out of a former Royal Palace.

Boyana Waterfall

For those hiking around the Vitosha Mountain, this waterfall is a welcome landmark. There are multiple hiking paths that wander nearby to visit the whitewater stream falling over a cliff of brown stones. Vitosha Mountain is very close to Sofia’s city center, making this an easy attraction to reach.

Belogradchik Rocks

The Belogradchik Rocks are a natural landmark created from distinctly-shaped sandstone and conglomerate rock formations. The rocks reveal a variation of colors, depending on the light of day, revealing earthy tones of red, yellow and brown. The area is also known for the low fortress nearby, often called the Belogradchik Fortress. The entire area has numerous legends attributed to it. The most famous of these stories involves the legend of Madonna; a beautiful nun who falls in love with a man riding a white horse. When she falls pregnant, she’s cast out by the nunnery. But as the woman leaves, Madonna, monks, nuns and the man on horseback are turned to stone, forming the rocks.

National Museum of History

Sofia’s Museum of Natural history showcases the regions historic relevance by displaying over 650,000 relics from prehistoric times into the more recent Communist era.

National Museum of Military History

This large museum is home to a vast stockpile of preserved weapons, uniforms, medals, documents and military vehicles showcasing Bulgaria’s long history of conflict, endurance and reform. The museum has impressive military vehicles outside, including attack helicopters, jets, mobile missel launchers and artillery pieces.

Veliko Tarnovo

This is a popular day trip out of Sofia. The town of Veliko Tarnovo is perched high in the mountains. The town offers splendid hiking oppertunities during the day, picturesque dining and relaxing experiences in the traditional town center in the afternoon and a vibrant night-life thanks to the nearby University.

Socialist Art Museum

This is an interesting museum in Sofia with a controversial name. Many of the statues and artworks on the museum’s grounds display the history of Communist regimes in Bulgaria. Originally, the museum was going to be named the “Museum of Totalitarian Art.” A centerpiece for this museum is the large green field with walkways, decorated with distinctly Communist-styled statues.

National Bulgarian Archeological Museum

Located in the center of Sofia, this museum is home to numerous archeological relics. The museum is housed in a former Ottoman mosque in the city, once known as Koca Mahmut Paşa Camii.

Earth and People National Museum

This is a massive mineralogy musuem originally opened in 1987. The large venue is home to over 20,000 displays, showcasing ceramics crafted from naturally-occurring minerals to rows of precious stones from around the world.

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