Reisgids voor Sofia | ArrivalGuides.com

SofiaGuide was updated: 2026-03-18

Sofia could be likened to a Sleeping Beauty rousing from her slumbers, reawakening to share her charm with the rest of the world. With relics from Roman times to the Soviet era, a vibrant cultural and entertainment scene, and breathtaking views of the Vitosha mountain massif, Sofia is ready to reclaim her rightful place as one of the leading lights on the European sky.

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Facts

Population:	Approximately 1,3 million (2025)
Currency:	Bulgaria officially adopted the euro on 1 January 2026.
Emergency Numbers:	Emergency: 112 Fire Brigade: 160 Police: 166
Newspapers:	Duma: www.duma.bg Trud: www.trud.bg 24 Chasa: www.24chasa.bg
Website:	www.visitsofia.bg/en »
Opening Hours:	Most shops are open from 10am until 8pm on weekdays and between 11am and 7pm on weekends. Big shopping malls are normally open from 10am to 10pm.
Tourist Information:	Tourist Information Centre 1 Sveta Nedelya Square, Sofia July through September: Mon–Fri 8am–8pm. Sat & Sun 10am–6pm. October through December: Mon–Fri 9am–5:30pm Closed on weekends and Public Holidays +359 88 333 9332

Do & See

The central downtown district is where you will find the major sights of Sofia’s long history, with traces of Roman, Byzantine, and Soviet presence. This is also the city's business and commercial heart, where the major shopping avenues and entertainment areas are located.

Aleksandar Nevski Memorial Church

This is the most popular tourist attraction in Sofia. The beautiful orthodox cathedral was built in 1912 and took 30 years to complete. The cathedral was created in honour of the Russians soldiers that died in the Russo-Turkish war and holds up to 10,000 people.

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Russian Church of St Nicholas

This gorgeous Russian Orthodox church is located in central Sofia. It was built by Russia after the liberation of Bulgaria. The grave of Saint Archbishop Seraphim is located under the main floor - believers still visit for pilgrimages, leaving notes with wishes and prayers.

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Rotunda of St George

Encircled within a courtyard of modern dwelling buildings, Rotunda of St George is the oldest preserved structure in the city, which has also been declared a UNESCO World Heritage site. The beautiful cupola holds a fourteenth-century portrait of Christ surrounded by four angels.

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Ethnographic Museum

Here you can view excellent displays of folk art and crafts. The museum has several different collections of items such as traditional clothing, copper objects, woodcarving, ceramics, and more. It is a rather compact space, but the guide provides comprehensive information about the exhibits.

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Sofia Art Gallery

The Sofia Art Gallery holds an excellent collection of Bulgarian art. The collections include both past masters and contemporary artists. Housed in what formerly used to be a palace, the space showcases works of celebrated artists such as Tsanko Lavrenov and Vladimir Dimitrov-Maistor.

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Boyana Church

Boyana Church is the oldest Orthodox church in Sofia. This medieval construction, set in a green area at the foot of the mountains, was added to the list of UNESCO World Heritage sites due to its renaissance-style frescoes. In the church you can see 89 scenes with 240 human images.

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