When we planned our summer trip around the Balkans, we knew there’d be some cities we knew more about, and were more excited about, than others. We were actually visiting Sofia for three days, right at the end of our trip. This made sense as we could fly home from there. But spending a day in Sofia allows enough time to have a taste of the Bulgarian capital and we had so much down time on this trip that we only really spent a few hours each day in Sofia itself.
Visiting Sofia, a city we weren’t desperate to see, meant we chose a hotel with an apartment. In theory, this meant we could cook for ourselves if we wanted. There was also a swimming pool so we could have some down time at the end of a busy trip. But it turned out the hotel was terrible! It had a jacuzzi bath that we couldn’t use as it flooded the whole bathroom, a kitchen with not even a knife and fork, let alone a pan, that they said we weren’t allowed to cook in, and the pool was emptied on our second day so not usable. We raised all of this stuff with the hotel and they could not care less. Brilliant.
I think our terrible hotel affected our thoughts on visiting Sofia at the time. Looking back now, the city was much better than we felt at the end of a long trip. I’ve written this post about spending a day in Sofia. You could absolutely fit in everything we did in 24 hours or so if you were less tired than we were.
Is one day in Sofia enough?
Sofia is one of the biggest capital cities in the region, with more than a million people living there. It’s surrounded by mountains, so visiting Sofia allows you to enjoy some absolutely stunning scenery.
In terms of things to do in Sofia, it is definitely possible to see most of the main sights in the city in just one day. Spending a day in Sofia would be busy and more time would allow for a more relaxed experience, but you can cram plenty in. Getting here for a short trip is not the easiest, though.
How to get to Sofia for a one-day visit
We came into Bulgaria’s capital via bus after spending 48 hours in Skopje, but the journey was pretty long and would not have worked if we were only spending a day in Sofia. The location of Sofia, way out in the east of Europe, means it can be tricky for a day trip. Most people will be visiting Sofia for at least a few days as a result. Our bus was about three and a half hours, not terrible but too much for a day.
Sofia has direct flights from the UK and the airport is just 20 minutes out of the city on a well-run metro. Alternatively, if you’ve been in or are going to be visiting Belgrade, the bus between the cities is only four hours.
Key things to know when visiting Sofia for one day
Unlike a lot of Europe, but not untypically for the Balkans, Bulgaria still uses its own currency.
Card payments are accepted in most places. But it can be a good idea for carry some of the local currency – the Lev (BGN).
While Sofia is largely safe, be on the lookout for the usual tourist scams like being overcharged by cabs. This can happen anywhere of course so it’s general advice rather than Sofia specific.
Central areas are pretty walkable, so if you’re visiting Sofia for a short time you can get around on foot.
In Bulgaria is that locals shake their head for yes, and nod for no. This can be very confusing! Most people speak some English, but signs will be largely in the Cyrillic language, which can be tricky to navigate too. We managed, but it took a bit of brain power!
My recommended itinerary for one day in Sofia
The Balkans are one of my favourite parts of the world. While visiting Sofia was not the highlight of our 17-night trip across the region, there are plenty of things to do in Sofia to fill a day. Here are my top tips.
Start one day visiting Sofia here: Lover’s Bridge
We started our day having a look at Lover’s Bridge, which crosses Boulevard Bulgaria and offers great views of the nearby Vitosha mountain. Named for its romantic atmosphere, this is a common place for young Bulgarian couples to hang out. Find it near to the National Palace of Culture in Sofia.
Lover’s Bridge is also used as a showcase for different photo exhibitions. These rotate regularly through the year, but are always worth checking out.
Nearby is NDK square, adorned with fountains, and we spent about half an hour here, sitting with a coffee and people-watching.
Whilst Lover’s Bridge is one of the top photo opportunities in Sofia, other great views are possible from the Eagles bridge (Orlov Most), which crosses over the Perlovska river, and Lions bridge, which dates back to the 19th century.
Next, go to Serdika Metro Station
You might be wondering why a metro station makes my recommendations for things to do in Sofia. But not only is Serdika Metro Station right in the heart of the city and perfectly placed for many major sights and attractions, it is one in its own right.
This is because Serdika Metro Station is built over a 1,700-year-old archaeological site. You literally walk through the site on your way to or from a platform, with a chance to see 4th-century Roman ruins.
Coming out of Serdika Metro Station puts you right in Independence Square, close to the National Archaeological Museum. Within a couple of minutes’ walk, Serdika Metro Station is near four major religious sites: St. George Rotunda, which dates back to the 4th century, St. Nedelya Church, the Sofia Synagogue, and the 16th-century Banya Bashi Mosque.
St. George Rotunda is actually the oldest building in Sofia. There are frescos inside that are well worth seeing while visiting Sofia.
The best viewpoint when spending one day in Sofia
The National Palace of Culture (NDK) Terrace is probably the best photo spot in the whole of the city. If you’ve gone to Lover’s Bridge, this is close enough to hit when spending a day in Sofia. Views of the Vitosha mountain are sublime on clear days, so make time for photos here.
Sofia also has plenty of great rooftop bars that act as viewpoints for the city, so check them out too.
Don’t miss Alexander Nevsky Cathedral when visiting Sofia
Alexander Nevsky Cathedral is one of the world’s largest churches, of its type, of anywhere in the world. Unfortunately, when we were visiting Sofia, the cathedral was undergoing renovations. It happens! But the sheer scale of the building was still seriously impressive.
Entering the Alexander Nevsky Cathedral is free. However, the Orthodox tradition is to buy a candle and light it for a loved one who has passed away. If you are not religious, you can opt to light one for luck.
Inside, the cathedral is home to a big collection of Orthodox – Europe’s biggest, it is claimed – while outside, the square hosts various stalls selling souvenirs. This is a good spot to pick one up by which to remember spending a day in Sofia.
Just over the road is Hagia Sophia Church, another significant sight, which dates back to the 6th century. You can probably guess this church is the one that lent the city its name. Hagia Sophia Church is very popular for weddings, so if you are spending a day in Sofia you might see a happy couple celebrating.
What to eat and drink when spending one day in Sofia
When we were spending a day in Sofia, our afternoon started with a free food tour with Balkan Bites. Running at 2pm local time every day of the week, the tour is a great introduction to Balkan food.
Our Balkan Bites food tour guide was friendly and funny, making sure any dietary requirements were catered for as much as possible. Expect to try samples of Burek, Baklava and more.
If you have never had it, make sure you buy Burek when visiting Sofia. A flaky filled pastry, usually featuring cheese, spinach or potato, most bakeries sell fantastic burek at very reasonable prices.
Banitsa is a bit more specific to Bulgaria and is usually eaten at breakfast time. More flaky pastry, this time commonly filled with white cheese, pumpkin, or leeks.
Mekitsa is another common breakfast food to try when visiting Sofia. Mekitsa is a bit like a doughnut, but made with yoghurt. It is often served with honey or jam to add sweetness.
Across the Balkans, we saw Ayran on menus and in shops. A yoghurt-based drink, it is something of an acquired taste, not dissimilar to Kefir.
Recommended restaurants, bars and cafes when visiting Sofia
Hadjidraganov’s Cellars is one of the best places in Sofia to enjoy traditional food and local dishes. There is often live local music to enjoy here as well.
Rainbow Factory is a hip, arty spot for lunch and serves really good coffee, maybe the best in Sofia.
A great budget option for a warming meal is Soup Me. The budget-friendly menu includes traditional Bulgarian food like Tarator and Shkembe Chorba.
As with most of the Balkans, rakia – a type of fruit brandy – is the most popular alcoholic drink. Most bars offer a range of rakia options, with Raketa Rakia Bar boasting well over 100 different varieties. Don’t attempt to try them all. Sputnik is another recommended place to go for a drink, with its space-age theme making it stand out.
We ended our day with gelato from Afreddo, which seems to be a Bulgarian chain but came highly recommended. It was delicious so add a recommendation from me, too!
Museums to enjoy when visiting Sofia
The Red Flat is definitely one of the best things to do in Sofia. A perfectly preserved apartment that offers a sense of life in communist-era Bulgaria, the museum is a highly interactive experience.
On arrival at The Red Flat, you get an audio guide that talks you through some of the items present. You can look around as much as you want. Feel yourself in the shoes of the family who lived there.
The Red Flat is small, naturally – it’s literally a tiny apartment! – but it is a very powerful experience and a must when visiting Sofia. Anyone with even a passing interest in history will be glad they made time for the museum. The Red Flat takes about 1.5 hours for the full experience.
Tickets for The Red Flat cost under 10 euros. I recommend that you book a slot in advance due to limited capacity. You can buy online, or go to the nearby shop GIFTED SOFIA – located at 24 Ivan Denkoglu St – to purchase them.
Last things to do when visiting Sofia
If you have time when spending a day in Sofia, head to Tsar Shishman Road. One of the most hip parts of the city, this is where you’ll find colourful houses, street art, and lots of bars.
Tsar Shishman Road is near to the Parliament building. Here, there is a big English-language bookshop, Elephant Bookstore, which also stocks various memorabilia, collectibles, souvenirs and other trinkets.
Best time of year for spending a day in Sofia
We were visiting Sofia in the middle of a heatwave that struck most of Europe. Temperatures were around 40C for a lot of our Balkans break. It couldn’t be helped, but the heat was really sapping when we visited.
The mercury often hits 35C or even higher in July and August, so you may not want to be spending a day in Sofia in the middle of the summer. But visiting Sofia means you will be at altitude, so it will not be as hot as in Bulgaria’s popular coastal resorts along the Black Sea, like Sunny Beach.
Sofia has a few major holidays where the city empties out and a lot of shops, bars and restaurants close their doors. Along with Christmas and Orthodox Easter, there are national Bulgarian holidays on the 1st, 6th and 24th of May, as well as the 6th of September.
This far east into Europe, the winter in Sofia is long and it can be brutally cold. Temperatures often struggle to get above freezing between December and February, so pack your biggest, warmest coat.
Go next after spending one day in Sofia
We flew home from Sofia at the end of our two-week trip across the Balkans, but a similar trip would work in reverse. Skopje, the capital of neighbouring North Macedonia, is a five-hour bus ride away via Flixbus and tickets are normally under £25.
You could also head to Belgrade in Serbia, which is around six hours away on a Flixbus. Alternatively, explore more of Bulgaria by visiting Plovdiv, which is less than three hours away by either bus or train. Plovdiv has a beautifully preserved old town and is home to the Ancient Theatre of Philippopolis.
You can even get a bus or train to Istanbul from Sofia, allowing you to cross from Europe into Asia.
Is it worth spending a day in Sofia?
Sofia was not my favourite of the capital cities I visited on a memorable Balkan break in 2023. But I loved The Red Flat, Alexander Nevsky Cathedral is stunning, and the food in Bulgaria is cheap and delicious.
For me, spending a day in Sofia is highly recommended, if tricky due to the location of the city. Just don’t stay in the hotel we did if you’re visiting Sofia for longer!
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