Sofia Holidays

City breaks in Sofia

Sofia is Bulgaria’s capital, and it also happens to be the country’s largest city. In fact, it’s one of the oldest cities in Europe. Its history dates back thousands of years, and you can still see the ruins of a Roman settlement named Serkida – it was unearthed in 2010 when the city’s metro system was being expanded. At the other end of the scale, its modern museums, restaurants and preened green spaces add a contemporary twist.

Medieval meets modern

Over the years, the Romans, Greeks and Ottomans have all made their mark – you’ll see their pockets of influence all over the city, in everything from the architecture to the food. Churches like the Alexander Nevski Cathedral and Medieval-era Church of St George Rotunda add a touch of grandeur. And if you stroll just 30 minutes to Hadzhi Dimitar neighbourhood, you’ll see a whole different side to Sofia. Here, apartment buildings are painted with ultra-modern multicolour murals.

Parks and peaks

Sofia is lauded as one of Europe’s greenest capitals, and has the open spaces to prove it. A couple of the city’s best parks are The City Garden – with fountains at the heart of it – and roomy Borisova Garden, which lines up monuments, playgrounds, theatre stages, tennis courts and a couple of football stadiums. Further afield, an hour’s drive gets you to cloud-brushing Vitosha Mountain. It’s known for its snowy slopes in winter, so pay a visit to the ski resort at the top if you’re in town between December and April. If that’s not your thing, there are heaps of hiking trails to try in the summer.

Next-level nightlife

You might not expect it from such a historic place, but Sofia’s nightlife scene is definitely worth a shoutout. The city’s got clusters of cocktail bars and clubs that stay open all night, as well as 24-hour street food stalls that you can swing by for a later-than-midnight snack when you’re all partied out. Top tip – the best spots are in Ulita Rakovski.