Sofia is the largest city and the capital of Bulgaria, as well as the 15th largest city in the European Union with a population of 1,291,591 people (2011 Census). Sofia citizens account for 83.5% of the population of Sofia district and for 17.5% of the population of Bulgaria. Sofia is a cosmopolitan city of different nationalities and cultures. They elegantly coexist in the historic downtown, which has become a kind of open-air museum with preserved remains of ancient civilizations.
Bulgaria’s pleasingly laid-back capital is often overlooked by visitors heading to the coast or the ski resorts, but they’re missing something special. Sofia is no grand metropolis, but it’s a modern, youthful city, with a scattering of onion-domed churches, Ottoman mosques and stubborn Red Army monuments that lend an eclectic, exotic feel. Excavation work carried out during construction of the metro unveiled a treasure trove of Roman ruins from nearly 2000 years ago, when the city was called ‘Serdica’. Away from the buildings and boulevards, vast parks and manicured gardens offer a welcome respite, and the ski slopes and hiking trails of mighty Mt Vitosha are just a short bus ride from the centre. Home to many of Bulgaria’s finest museums, galleries, restaurants and clubs, Sofia may persuade you to stick around and explore further.
The following links are from the VisitSofia.bg website. Links are provided in English and Bulgarian.
Places to Eat:
In EnglishIn Bulgarian
Things to Do:
In EnglishIn Bulgarian
Local Museums
In EnglishIn Bulgarian