The Perfect 3-Day Itinerary for Sofia, Bulgaria
Sofia, Bulgaria, should be on your radar! It’s an affordable European destination that is criminally underrated by travelers. A scrumptious food scene, thriving art community, and riveting history make Sofia a great addition to any European itinerary.
Sofia, Bulgaria, might not rank up there with Europe’s most visited capitals, but it should. It’s got all the makings of a “traditional” European stop— think history, churches, and culture. My experience in Sofia proved it to be a criminally underrated city in Europe. It’s seriously budget-friendly and has a creative scene that made it tempting to stay longer.
I can honestly say that Sofia, Bulgaria was a very pleasant {albeit unexpected} surprise. I loved it. I arrived in the early morning hours after a restless train ride from Istanbul with very few expectations for the Bulgarian capital. Mostly, I hoped that Sofia wouldn’t be a terrible bummer after the glorious weeks I had in Turkey. Nobody wants a let down. And I’m so happy to report that it wasn’t.
I’ve put together this guide for those who might be on a time crunch and are looking to make the most of only a few short days in Sofia.
Not looking for a step-by-step itinerary? Don’t fret! This guide includes places to eat and the best things to do in Sofia apart from the
Getting to Sofia ↴
Sofia is a fantastically affordable city to get to thanks to it’s highly accessible location and the many budget travel options that exist. Flights from London cost as little as USD $13 whenever I’ve looked {don’t forget to offset your carbon emissions!}, and buses are around USD $15-20 depending on your European city of origin. The train from Istanbul to Sofia is a great choice for those looking to save a few bucks, have a wild rail experience, and for the eco-minded. Tickets cost approximately USD $20 for a doubles-sleeper carriage for the overnight journey.
Where to stay in Sofia ↴
I was a guest of Hostel Mostel during my time in Sofia. If you’re traveling on a budget and/or solo and in search of companions, Hostel Mostel is a pretty great place to be. As far as cleanliness goes, the dorm rooms are a bit hit and miss— I’ve stayed in worse and I’ve also stayed in nicer. What really stood out for me was the incredible value for money you get at Hostel Mostel. This is the first hostel I’ve ever stayed at in Europe where both breakfast and dinner are included in the price of your stay. I have had a similar experience at a hostel in Central America, but this was MAJOR for a European hostel. And, as someone always keen to save a dollar when and where it makes sense, it felt like a massive win on the budget front. Hostel Mostel, like most backpacker accommodations, offer free walking tours of the city, a pub crawl, and other community-driven activities that make making friends in the city a breeze.
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what to see + do in Sofia ↴
If you’re not keen to follow any itinerary and are just browsing for things to do in the city, I’ve made a list of the best bits of the Bulgarian capital you simply can’t miss.
free food tour with balkan bites
As if staying in a hostel that offers free breakfast and dinner isn’t cool enough, Sofia has a free food tour. Yeah, as in NO dollars. Balkan Bites free food tour is possibly the coolest food tour concept I’ve come across to date. Balkan Bites’ guides provide their guests with interesting information about the city’s eateries and Sofia in general. The cafés and restaurants included in the tour provide free samples of signature dishes to tour guests. The tours are essentially free advertising for these establishments and Balkan Bites hope that, by showcasing the best food and drink joints in the city, you’ll likely return for a full-sized meal!
During the 2-hour free food tour, you’ll be guided around Sofia to a chic wine bar, a sit-down restaurant specializing in Bulgarian cuisine, a contemporary bakery selling traditional pastries, and a beautiful apartment café with a lovely courtyard {that would make a fab co-working space}.
Snag a spot on the tour in advance by booking via Facebook or on the official site {linked below}. You can risk it and arrive 20-minutes early at the meeting point, but it is a gamble. You really don’t want to miss this unique tour but, due to the popularity, showing up a few minutes before the start time will almost guarantee you get turned away. We saw multiple people get told to try again tomorrow because they hadn’t booked— don’t be like those people. The tour runs daily at 2PM from the Crystal Garden next to the statue head {it’s giant and hard to miss}.
BOOK | Balkans Bites
free walking tour with sofia free tours
Throughout my most recent travel stint in Europe, I hit up just about every free tour offered. As a travel writer, it’s a great way to gather information and insight straight from locals. There are free tours every day at 10AM, 2PM, and 6PM that each start at the palace of Justice. Obviously, like any free tour, there is no mandatory fee for participating, but tips are what continue the guides being able to host these tours, so they are both encouraged and appreciated.
BOOK | Sofia Free Tour
free graffiti tour with sofia graffiti tour
While I do love street murals, I’ve never been one for graffiti. In Berlin, I tolerate it only because I love that city an unhealthy amount {haha}. However, my travel companion and I hopped on a free graffiti tour through Sofia to learn more about the history and culture of the city through the spray art and more about this creative outlet itself. I cannot recommend this tour enough. It was truly one of the coolest free tours I’ve ever joined. At the end of the tour, we each got to design our own “tags”, which felt like a pretty cool way to tie up everything we had learned. It runs every Friday, Saturday, Sunday, and Monday.
BOOK | Sofia Graffiti Tour
visit the red flat
If you’re interested in Communist history or are fascinated by life “behind the Iron Curtain” like I am, you absolutely cannot miss the Red Flat. For me, it’s a legitimate can’t miss for those visiting Sofia. The Communist era in Bulgaria was not that long ago in terms of history.
The entry is a steep 18 lev entry, but both my travel companion and I agreed it more than delivered. The Red Flat is such a cool concept. Designed to look like an average family home during the Communist Era, the details of its interior is impeccably thought out. Brands, foods, photos, and furniture that all culminates in a story you listen to through a headset about a fictional family to paint a more realistic picture of what life was like during this time. The items in the house are described in detail, connected to history, and given cultural significance.
It was a bit tricky to find. Or, rather, you feel a bit like you are entering a real home because you grab your ticket from the Gifted store and then walk around the corner to an apartment building and up to the flat. Those who have been on a Sofia Free Tour in the same day receive a small discount, so hold onto your flyers.
BOOK | Red Flat Sofia
check out Saint Alexander Nevsky Cathedral
This Orthodox Cathedral with its gold-covered domes is a can’t miss for visitors to the city simply due to its size. It is one of the main symbols of the city and, while the inside didn’t really “wow” me like the outside, it is one of the great religious houses of Sofia.
stay hydrated with natural spring water
Cross the road from the Central Mineral Baths and you’ll find an open square full of fountains with locals filling up water bottles and buckets. The water tastes quite sulphur-y, but it’s free to the public, which is seen as a pretty progressive move. I didn’t add the baths themselves as a “thing to do”, because the mineral baths have been closed to the public for a number of years. Someday, hopefully, I’ll be able to visit and update this guide with a review of the steamy mineral water.
pop into the reading room
Located in the main square’s park is a tiny glass conservatory that is actually an unassuming reading room. Books are free to read inside the room or are up for exchange. Unfortunately for us, there were hardly any in English, but it’s a great spot for those who can read Slavic languages.
do some sustainable shopping at Mental Syndicate
Mental Syndicate is an absolute pain to find, but totally worth it if you’re interested in finding a travel backpack. The bags are created with repurposed canvas and are all made by hand. Some designs are hand-painted and feature beautiful buckles. They also sell aprons and jackets made from the canvas material!
grab a book at Elephant Bookstore
We spent a cool half hour inside looking at all the books we wish would have fit in our backpacks. There were also vintage posters, framed prints of graphic designs I would have filled my non-existent house with, and just about every classic novel a lit-nerd like me breathes for. Elephant bookstore is located right across the street from the wine bar highlighted on the Balkan Bites tour…if only I like wine…
learn about Bulgaria at the National History Museum
The National History Museum is steeping with artifacts, memorabilia, and information about Bulgaria’s long history and rich culture.
peep the statue of Saint Sophia
Erected in 2000, the massive Statue of Sophia is a landmark symbol of the city, much like Alexander Nevsky Cathedral. There used to be a statue of Lenin in this same location, but it was replace by what many argue is a statue representing the ancient goddess of wisdom.
spend golden hour at The Summer Stage in Borisova Gradina Park
The Borisova Gradina Park is an outdoor venues that hosts classical concerts, festivals, and outdoor film screenings all summer long. Bring a picnic and enjoy live music and performances.
where to eat + grab coffee in Sofia ↴
Another surprise in Sofia was the foodie scene and the number of cool cafés there were to be found. There was traditional Bulgarian food and vegan takes on classics, meaning something for everyone.
best places to eat in Sofia
Lavanda Restaurant | I only found this gem thanks to the Balkan Bites food tour. The restaurant was once a local home with a reputation for Gatsby-like parties in the 1920s that was shut down during the Communist regime. Today, it’s been turned into a multi-level eatery with a beautiful garden space and plenty of room for co-working. The food is delicious and the space itself is stunningly decorated. Truly interior goals.
Rainbow Factory | The homemade cookies and sweets here are so good and the coffee is amazing.
Garafa Wine Shop | This light and bright store on a bustling street is the perfect spot to sip wine and people-watch. Here you can try wines from all over the country. Unfortunately, I’m a beer girl, so the wine didn’t excite me as much as other places. But the atmosphere and the open windows made me really, really wish I was a wine drinker.
Mekitsa and Coffee | This little café with upstairs seating is great for mekitsa, a fried dough sprinkled with icing sugar. Modern takes on the classic include indulgent Nutella and whipped cream. They also do coffee and hot chocolates.
Boom Burgers | Hip Hop and R&B are the inspiration for this burger eatery. Great playlist in the background of this restaurant, decked out in photos of Tupac, Biggie, and other rap legends. The vegetarian burger is to die for.
+tova | This place is equal parts art exhibit and café. I highly recommend it to people who are looking for an artsy environment to enjoy their morning coffee or breakfast.
Hadjidragana Tavern (also called Hadzhidraganovite Izbi) | This old-school tavern serves up plum wine and traditional Bulgarian cuisine. Pop in here for a hearty dinner {think lots of red meat and carbs} or to grab a drink and enjoy the live music often featured in the evenings.
Sun Moon | Vegetarians have found paradise at this little veggie café with its good coffee, delicious sweet treats, and fantastic meatless meals. The bright colours of the café make it a fun place to grab a bite and its outdoor seating is ideal for the summer, which is when I visited coincidentally.
honourable mentions
Salted Cafe | This laptop-friendly café was mentioned in the flyer that was handed out after our Balkan Bites tour and we promptly walked across the city in the late August heat to check it out. Unfortunately, the café was closed for the summer, so we missed out on the smoothie bowls, coffee, and {free with aforementioned flyer} peanut butter protein balls. Definitely keeping it on my radar for my return visit.
suggested 3-day itinerary for Sofia ↴
If you only have 3 days in Sofia, here is what I consider to be the optimal itinerary for your time in the Bulgarian capital. I’ve added in the co-working spaces I used for any location-independent folks looking to get shit done.
day 1
Alexander Nevsky cathedral, National History Museum, + the Apartment
Arrival in Sofia | Head to Hostel Mostel for bag drop. Check-in is at 2 PM, but the staff welcomes you to drop your luggage off in the communal cabinet space near the reception until then. I came to Sofia via overnight train from Istanbul and had showered previous to my train journey. I also changed clothes in the morning when pulling up to Sofia, so I felt fairly fresh and ready to hit the town.
Breakfast at Hostel Mostel OR +tova Café | You may be able to swing a free breakfast at Hostel Mostel, but honestly, there are so many beautiful places to eat in the city, that it’s a good idea to grab something from to kickstart your day. I suggest +tova Café if you like cool art exhibits to accompany your morning coffee.
Check out Alexander Nevsky Cathedral | This only requires 10-15 minutes, but you’ll want to schedule yourself some time to walk to the cathedral and enjoy the interior and exterior details. It costs extra to take photos inside, so come with some cash, if you so choose.
National History Museum | Allow yourself about 1 hour to read about Bulgarian history and see the many artefacts contained in the National History Museum.
Lunch at Sun Moon Alabin | Sun Moon Alabin’s space is extra appealing to those who want to eat in peace without any small talk.
Head to The Apartment to catch up on some work | The Apartment is a multi-level house that’s been turned into a co-working space, café, and art studio for anyone who wants to use it. It’s free to the public, though the purchase of a drink or handmade menu item is recommended. I grabbed a Club Mate {because, Berlin}, and replied to some emails for an hour before working up an appetite and heading to dinner.
Dinner at Hostel Mostel | Since you splurged for a brekkie out this morning, enjoy the perks of free hostel dinner. Get there at the start of service though, or miss out entirely!
day 2
Balkan Bites Food Tour + Red Flat
Breakfast at Hostel Mostel | Wake up early and snag your free breakfast at the hostel reception/kitchen area. Don’t forget to bring your token with you so they know you aren’t a random someone.
Balkan Bites free food tour | Our favourite free tour in Sofia {and we went on three…}! Bring your phone so that you can mark the restaurant locations to return to later!
Lunch at Lavanda Restaurant | While the tour will supply nibbles, it likely isn’t enough to fill a person up. Head back to Lavanda, featured on the Balkan Bites tour for a place to unwind, eat {if you’re still hungry}, and get a little work done if you need it!
Visit the Red Flat | My favourite “attraction” in Sofia was the Red Flat. Definitely worth dedicating a few hours so that you can listen to the audio with real focus, study the rooms of the flat, and soak in as much trivia as possible.
Dinner at Hostel Mostel OR Hadzhidraganovite Izbi | Either option is yum, though Hostel Mostel dinners are free. I will admit, the dining area gets incredibly crowded, so you’ll want to get there at the start of service or you’ll have to squeeze in tight with other people {an introvert’s nightmare}. A traditional Bulgarian meal at
day 3
Vitosha Mountain + Sofia Graffiti Tour
Breakfast at Rainbow Factory | Delicious baked goods and some of the very best coffee in Sofia! Definitely worth checking out!
Half-day trip to Vitosha Mountain | Vitosha Mountain is approximately 30 minutes from the city center by car. The hike and national park are highly recommended by everyone we met in Sofia and by the hostel staff, but we were working on a video project and thus didn’t have time to head to the mountain.
Picnic lunch at national park/mountain | Why would anyone rush back to the city when they have nature goodness surrounding them?!
Free Graffiti Tour with Sofia Graffiti Tour | The graffiti tour {outlined above} takes approximately 2 hours and runs at 6 PM in the summer or 3 PM during the winter. You’ll finish in time for a late or early dinner, depending on when you visit.
Dinner at Boom Burgers | The graffiti tour of Sofia, unfortunately, ends after Hostel Mostel’s dinner service. Luckily, there are a million good places to eat in Sofia. I loved the vegetarian burger at Boom Burgers and highly recommend it as an alternative. The environment was so fun that we ended up sitting for hours talking, sipping our beers, and finishing off the last of our fries.
map ↴
Find everything you need for the perfect 3-day itinerary in Sofia, Bulgaria on the map below.
