Sofia Flights and Travel Guide

Don’t book flights to Sofia for the typical must-see checklist of tourist attractions found in other European cities. The capital of Bulgaria doesn’t have much to offer visitors by way of castles, churches and monuments, but Sofia is full of fascinating people and off-the-beaten-path gems that appeal to any kind of traveler.

Travelers eager to explore Bulgaria start with a flight to Sofia. Look away from the drab buildings and traffic-filled roadways in the city center and explore Sofia by foot. At stop at a local coffee house or sidewalk café offers more to tourists than a walk through the city center. The open-air bars and restaurants greet visitors with a savory meal and a refreshing beverage before heading off to discover the rest of Bulgaria.

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Sofia Climate

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When to Fly to Sofia

Peak Season:

Sofia is busy in summer and winter, mostly with visitors on their way to the Black Sea resorts. Hiking trails in summer and the ski slopes in winter are popular so it's wise to book Sofia flights and accommodations early. In June, the city hosts the popular Sofia Music Weeks.with a reputation for being a party town, the nightlife is exuberant around the clock and year-round. The clubs also host varied and eclectic performances from traditional Bulgarian music to punk, reggae, and metal.

Off Season:

Winter is when you are less likely to find tourists lingering in the city. If you do not mind the cold and snow, find cheap flights to Sofia during the winter months and explore the wealth of museums, galleries, and cultural entertainment.

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Getting Downtown Sofia

Regular bus service 84 runs on a frequent schedule day and night from the bus station close to Arrivals. Taxis are available, and passengers are advised to use O.K. Supertrans taxis from outside the arrivals hall; their enquiries desk is located inside the arrivals hall. Most hotels and tourist resorts run their own airport shuttles.

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Getting Around Sofia

Sofia has an extensive public transportation system with buses, trolleys, and trams going nearly everywhere in the city from early morning to late evening. Fares are inexpensive and tickets are purchased from street kiosks and sometimes from the drivers. There are discounted one-day and multiple-day tickets, which are also available at kiosks. There is a metro, but it does not provide service to tourist attractions or hotels. Taking public transportation does require a map and a willingness to ask the locals for help — some stops are well marked and others display little if any information.

Privately owned minibuses service some of the cross-town routes and are faster but more expensive than regular buses. Pay the fare to the driver when you board.

Taxis are available at stands and larger intersections. You can call for a taxi, but the dispatchers rarely speak English. The fares are reasonable and visitors are typically overcharged — make sure the meter is running. Passengers are expected to know where they are going and often need to provide directions.

Forget driving in Sofia. The traffic is awful and the public transportation and taxis will get you around town.

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Sofia Insider Information

• The main sights of the city are concentrated around Aleksander Batenberg Square, Narodno Sabranie Square and Tsar Osvoboditel Boulevard. The area is paved with yellow bricks, which were a wedding present from an Austro-Hungarian Emperor to a Bulgarian Tsar.
• If you like places of worship, Sofia is the place for you. The city has several, with the best known the Alexander Nevski Memorial Church. It was built in the early 1900s to honor the Russian soldiers who died trying to liberate Bulgaria from Ottoman rule during the War of Liberation in 1878. The interior is gorgeous with frescoes and woodcarvings by Bulgarian and Russian artists.
• Next to it is the Church of Saint Sofia. The Russian church, St. Nicholas, is beautiful with gilded domes. There are also the Orthodox Church of St. Nedelia, the Central Synagogue and Banya Bashi Mosque. Finally, St George Rotunda is said to be the oldest building in Sofia. It dates back to the 4th century. It’s a museum and is listed by UNESCO as is medieval Boyana Church, the interior of which is covered with scenes from the bible and paintings of saints.
• Zhenski pazar or “women’s market” is to be found between Slivnitsa Boulevard and Ekzarh Yosif Street on Stefan Stambolov Boulevard. A daily market selling food, flowers, clothes and more. The Tsentralni Hali (Central Food Halls) is beautiful with impressive 20th-century ironwork. It underwent a three-year renovation fairly recently and offers a modern version of the bazaar-shopping experience. A nice place to shop for foodstuffs, have a coffee and soak up the atmosphere.
• Borissovata Gradina is Sofia’s central park. The Ariana Lake, Vassil Levski National Stadium and Bulgarian Army Stadium is there. There are also open-air swimming pools. Yuzhen Park (the Southern Park) is Sofia’s second-largest park, and has several children’s playgrounds.

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Sofia Airports

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