BLOG

Travel destinations , 0 Comments Dec 16, 2023

Welcome to Sofia, one of the oldest cities in Europe. Apart from being the capital of the Republic of Bulgaria, Sofia is also the national center of economy, trade, finance and transport. Although it is located in the plain of Sofia Field, Sofia is among the cities with the highest altitude in Europe. To the south and not far from Sofia lies the mountain Vitosha, whose peak reaches 3,000 meters. Several smaller rivers flow through the city itself.

  Sofia has a long and rich history that goes back to the Neolithic era, and evidence of the presence of Ancient Rome is still visible today. The Romans built thermal baths, theaters, basilicas and amphitheaters, wide roads and villas.

The most preserved and oldest remains from the former Roman Empire are those of the church of St. George, which was built by the Romans in the 4th century AD, and is decorated with frescoes painted in several different periods between the 10th and 14th centuries. In the part of the courtyard behind the church itself, there are archaeological remains dating back to the 2nd century - another remaining evidence of Rome's rule in this area.

Decades of belonging to the communist bloc also left its mark on the city's architecture. The characteristic gray style of Soviet apartment buildings exists even today, as in almost every city of the former Eastern Bloc.

                                                                                                source: Hristo Sahatchiev

However, with Bulgaria's entry into the European Union in 2007, a lot of investment was made in the capital with the help of European funds. The infrastructure was renovated, many culturally and historically valuable buildings were restored, facades were restored in the city center, and many new, modern buildings were built.

                                                                                                source: Hristo Sahatchiev

The most famous symbol of Sofia is the memorial church of Saint Alexander Nevsky. It is the largest and most striking building in the capital of Bulgaria. Construction began in 1882, but the church was completed only in 1912. The interior space can accommodate about 5,000 people, and there are even 12 bells.

                                                                                                                                                                   source: Alexandr Bormotin

The Church of Saint Sophia, after which the city got its name. It is the oldest church that dates back to the fourth century.

Central mineral spa was built at the beginning of the 20th century on the site of Turkish baths from the time of Ottoman rule, the Central Spa is a classic example of mixed architectural styles. The spa was in operation until 1986, when it was closed due to dilapidation and the possibility of collapse. This building was renovated in 2015, but today it houses the History Museum of Sofia.

The National Theater was built in 1906 by Austrian architects. Today it is the main theater in Bulgaria. The building was conceived in a neoclassical style, with a relief depicting Apollo and the muses of art.

                                                                                                                                                                        source: Valeri Terziyski

The National Art Gallery, once the residence of King Alexander Battenberg, has the largest collection of medieval paintings in Bulgaria.

                                                                                                                                                                    source: Stefan Vladimirov

Sofia is a city of preserved antiquities, but it is also a city of hedonism. There are plenty of excellent traditional and international restaurants with exceptionally delicious food.

  The city is alive at any time of the day, and many say that if you are looking for good entertainment, delicious food and drinks, go to Sofia. A large number of night bars of various musical genres guarantee a good time. All in all, the best thing you can do about a trip to Sofia is to let the streets call – walk, explore, eat and drink.

                                                                                                                                                                     source: Jean Carlo Emer

Although it does not belong to the very top of the elite tourist offer, Sofia will not disappoint you. The combination of rich history, good food and drinks, variety of many places for partying give this city a characteristic charm.

                                                                                                 source: Jean Carlo Emer

The largest bus stations in Sofia for international and domestic bus lines are:

Sofia Central Bus Station;

Bus station Serdika.

Both are located next to the main train station, making it easy to connect between trains and buses.

Busticket4.me is a portal whose activity is the online sale of bus tickets, and we offer you direct departures to Sofia from the following cities:

Niš - Sofia

Belgrade - Sofia

Skopje - Sofia