BG
Sofia
Bulgaria’s capital at the foot of Vitosha mountain, with Roman ruins, golden domes and low prices
Bulgaria’s capital at the foot of Vitosha mountain, with Roman ruins, golden domes and low prices
Sofia’s main pedestrian street, lined with cafés and shops, with views of Vitosha mountain at its southern end. Nearby are the National Palace of Culture and the city’s parks.
Photo: Bin im Garten, CC BY-SA 3.0
A 4th-century Roman brick rotunda, considered the oldest building in Sofia, standing among Roman ruins in a courtyard behind the Presidency. Inside are medieval frescoes.
Look for the Roman Serdica ruins around the Serdika metro station too.
Photo: Bjoertvedt, CC BY-SA 4.0
A small medieval church at the foot of Vitosha, listed by UNESCO in 1979 for its 1259 frescoes, which are among the most important in eastern Europe. Visits are limited to short timed slots.
Photo: Ivano Giambattista, CC0
The mountain overlooking the city is a nature park with hiking trails, the “stone rivers” at Zlatni Mostove and Cherni Vrah (2,290m), its highest peak. In winter there is a small ski area.
Check the weather; conditions change fast at altitude.
Photo: Gitanes232, CC0
Bulgaria’s best-known monastery, a UNESCO site, lies in the Rila mountains about two hours south of Sofia. Its striped arcades surround a richly painted 19th-century church.
Most visitors go on a day tour or by car.
Photo: Mark Ahsmann, CC BY-SA 4.0
Try banitsa (filo pastry with cheese) for breakfast, shopska salad, grilled kebapche and kyufte, cold tarator soup in summer, and Bulgarian yoghurt and wine.
Mehanas (traditional taverns) serve hearty food at low prices; the streets around Vitosha Boulevard and Oborishte have modern restaurants and cafés.
Sofia Airport (SOF) is about 10km east of the centre; metro line 1 runs from Terminal 2 to the city in around 20 minutes. The metro and trams cover the centre well.
Bulgaria is in the Schengen area. EU citizens need only an ID card; citizens of the UK, US, Canada, Australia and many other countries can visit visa-free for up to 90 days in any 180-day period, with biometric registration under the EU Entry/Exit System. Check current rules before you travel.
Bulgaria has used the euro since 1 January 2026. Sofia is one of the cheapest capitals in the EU for food, transport and hotels.
City sights, the mountain and Rila.
See Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, the Rotunda of St George, the Serdica ruins and the Banya Bashi Mosque, then walk Vitosha Boulevard.
Visit Boyana Church, then hike on Vitosha or take the lift up the mountain.
Take a day trip to the Rila Monastery in the mountains south of the city.
🛂 Entry rules: EES and ETIAS
Bulgaria is in the Schengen area, which has two EU border systems for non-EU visitors.
EES (in force): since 10 April 2026 the EU’s Entry/Exit System registers non-EU visitors’ passport details, fingerprints and a photo the first time they enter the Schengen area, replacing passport stamps. Allow extra time at the border on your first trip; later crossings are quicker. EU, EEA and Swiss citizens are not registered.
ETIAS (not yet running): a €20 online travel authorisation for visitors who don’t need a visa, such as UK, US, Canadian and Australian citizens. It hasn’t started and no start date has been confirmed, so nobody can apply yet; ignore websites that offer to “pre-register” you for a fee.
Visa-free visitors can stay up to 90 days in any 180-day period across the whole Schengen area, not per country.
Official information: EU: Travel to Europe (EES & ETIAS) · Reviewed September 2026
Traditionally Bulgarians shake the head for “yes” and nod for “no”; confirm with words.
Use ride-hailing apps or reputable taxi companies, and check that the meter is on.
Free public mineral springs near the Central Baths are used by locals to fill bottles.
Watch your belongings on crowded trams and at markets.
Quick answers for planning time in Sofia.
The euro, since 1 January 2026; it replaced the Bulgarian lev.
Yes, Bulgaria became a full member of Schengen in January 2025.
About two hours by car to the south, in the Rila mountains.
Take metro line 1 from Terminal 2, or a taxi or ride-hailing car.
May, June, September and October; summers are hot and winters cold, with skiing on Vitosha.
Offline maps help in the mountains; Google Maps covers Sofia’s public transport.
Free
Bulgarian uses the Cyrillic alphabet; a camera translation app helps with signs and menus.
Free
Planning a wider trip? Our Bulgaria travel guide covers getting there, costs, when to go and more.