This article is devoted to the must-see sights of Sofia and nearby, and shows you the top attractions there and things to do. The places, described below, can be visited any time a year.
Many of you start exploring Bulgaria just from Sofia, the capital, for others Sofia is probably the only destination in Bulgaria they visit. I hope, my descriptions and advice will be useful for you to explore the best Sofia sightseeing locations and must-see attractions so that you have an unforgettable travel experience in my country.
Sofia sightseeing: the top landmarks you shouldn’t miss
I’ll describe the things to see in Sofia in such an order, so that they form a circular route for a walking tour.
Ancient Cultural and Communication Complex “Serdica”
Let’s start our Sofia sightseeing tour with the archaeological complex “Serdica”, located next to the Serdica 2 metro station. It is an open-air museum and brings together findings discovered in the period 2010-2012 during the construction of the Sofia metro.
It consists of two main parts. One is called “Largo” and is located under “Independence” Square. Here you can walk along one of the two main streets of ancient Serdica and see the remains of various rooms.
The other is located under “Princess Maria Luisa” Boulevard next to and in the Serdica metro station itself (the entrance from the Mosque). This part was where the residences of the city elite were located.
Both parts are free to enter, and the Largo is open for visits every day from 7:00 to 22:00.
Let’s leave Largo for a moment and walk along the ruins of the second zone. They are adjacent to the mosque, the Museum of the History of Sofia, a beautiful square with a fountain, and the mineral water fountains.
Sofia History Museum
The Sofia History Museum is situated in the former Central Bathhouse. Construction began in 1889, with part of the building opening in 1908. The larger section, including swimming pools, family baths, and Roman baths, opened in 1913.
Unfortunately, the beautiful building was seriously damaged by the bombing of Sofia during World War II.
Part of the building has been operating as a museum since 2015. The museum’s exposition is presented in eight halls with a total area of 2,300 square meters and includes exhibits covering a period of more than eight thousand years – from the Neolithic period to the 1940s.
Very close to the museum – across the street on its south side – are mineral springs from which you can fill up with drinking water. Many Sofia residents regularly come here to fill up on water absolutely free of charge.
Banya Bashi Mosque
It is the only surviving functioning medieval mosque in the city. It was built by the famous Ottoman architect Sinan, who designed over 300 buildings, including the Suleymaniye Mosque in Istanbul and the Selim Mosque in Edirne. Its name means “At the Bath”.
Medieval Church of St. Petka Samardzhiyska
It’s time to visit Largo, but shortly before we pass by the small church of St. Petka.
“St. Petka” is one of the few functioning medieval churches in Sofia. It was built in the 11th century. The temple was first mentioned in the 16th century but wasn’t discovered by archaeologists until after World War II. During excavations beneath it, they also uncovered an ancient Roman tomb dating back to the 4th century.
The temple’s oldest surviving frescoes date back to the 14th century. Above them is a later layer from the 15th and 16th centuries, created by the renowned Bulgarian icon painter Pimen Zografski.
Sofia Largo, Nezavisimost Square
This is the central “Nezavisimost” (Independence) Square and the buildings around it, built in the 1950s. The area is also called the “yellow cobblestones”. Some of the most important state buildings are located around the square – the Council of Ministers, the National Assembly, the Presidency. Because of those important state buildings, the square sometimes is called the Triangle of power.
However, before you go up to the square, I advise you to go through the passage under it – the other part of the Serdica Ancient Complex. The entrance to it is behind the church of St. Petka Samardzhiyska. After walking and exploring the ancient street and the ruins, go up to the square itself.
Changing of the Guard in front of the Presidency
One of the popular attractions in the Sofia center is the changing of the guard of honor in front of the central entrance of the Presidency. It takes place every day on the hour. On certain days, an official ceremony with guardsmen in full dress uniforms is also held – these are official holidays, as well as at 12:00 on the first Wednesday of every month, except for the winter months.
Rotunda of St. George and around
The church was built at the beginning of the 4th century during the reign of Emperor Constantine the Great (306-337 AD) and is considered the oldest building in the city preserved up to the roof. The temple is part of a larger archaeological complex – near it you can see part of a former Roman street with a preserved sewage system, the foundations of a large basilica and other buildings from the so-called “Constantine’s Quarter” of Serdica-Sredets, where the palace of Emperor Constantine the Great was located.
The Rotunda of St. George is located in the inner courtyard between the buildings of the Balkan Hotel and the Presidency.
National Archeological Museum
The museum is part of the National Archaeological Institute of the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences. The institute’s main focus is the comprehensive study of the material and spiritual culture of the tribes and peoples who lived in the territory of modern Bulgaria from ancient times up to the 18th century.
The museum building was once a mosque (Buyuk Mosque). It is located next to the Presidency and has five main exhibition halls.
Years ago, I attended an interesting event held in the building of the National Archaeological Museum. It consisted of an official part and a symphony concert, and the central hall of the museum was a wonderful background.
Prince Alexander I Square
“Knyaz (Prince) Alexander I” is another central city square. It is named after Prince Alexander I Bulgarian – the first Bulgarian monarch after the Liberation.
The square is home to the former royal palace, which today houses the National Ethnographic Museum and part of the National Gallery. During the socialist era and shortly after, the mausoleum of the communist leader Georgi Dimitrov was also built on this square.
The Royal palace
One of the main buildings and quite important Sofia sightseeing spot on Prince Alexander I Square is the former Royal’s Palace. Before the current building, there was another building there – a konak, where the Ottoman administration was housed before the Liberation. During the Russo-Turkish War of Liberation (1877 – 1878) the building was used as a hospital.
After the Berlin Congress, when Sofia was declared the capital of the Principality of Bulgaria, the former konak was designated as the residence of Prince Battenberg. However, it quickly became clear that the building was unsuitable as a palace. Construction of the current building began, with only the deeply set stone foundations and part of the main façade preserved from the original structure.
More information about the palace’s history read here.
Today, as I mentioned above, the palace houses two museums that you can visit – the National Art Gallery and the National Ethnographic Museum.
Ivan Vazov National Theatre
Adjacent to Alexander I Square is the City Garden, a lovely spot for a stroll or to relax, complete with winding paths, benches, and a fountain. Just beyond it stands the Ivan Vazov National Theater, one of the most famous and beloved theaters in Sofia – and in all of Bulgaria.
House-museum Ivan Vazov
The theater is named after Ivan Vazov, a great Bulgarian poet, writer and public figure.
Just across Rakovski Street from the theater is the Ivan Vazov House-Museum, where the famous writer once lived. Nowadays the house is a museum and it happened to be the first literary museum in Bulgaria. It was opened on November 26, 1926.
Church of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker (Russian Church)
It is among the most emblematic Sofia sightseeing spots and was built on a plot of land belonging to the Russian embassy.
Its construction began at the end of the 19th century and lasted for many years, and it was consecrated in 1914. The five small domes of the church are gilded, and the bells were a donation from the last Russian Tsar Nicholaj II.
The Russian Church is located at the intersection of Rakovska and Tsar Osvoboditel streets.
Basilica of St. Sophia
This is one of the oldest churches in Sofia. It is believed to have existed since the 4th century. After the Ottoman invasion, the church was converted into a mosque. In the 19th century, the building suffered serious damage from strong earthquakes, and the surviving part was converted into a warehouse. In the early 20th century, it was restored and today it is among the symbols of Sofia.
Saint Alexander Nevski cathedral
Probably most Sofia sightseeing guides start with the cathedral and this is among the most important landmarks of Sofia.
The Patriarchal Cathedral “St. Alexander Nevsky” is the largest Orthodox church on the Balkan Peninsula. It was designed and built between 1882 and 1912, but its official consecration didn’t take place until 1924. The church was declared a patriarchal cathedral in 1953 and was recognized as a cultural monument of national importance in 1955.
Architecturally, the cathedral is a large five-nave cross-domed basilica in the neo-Byzantine style. The most notable external feature of the church is its gilded domes. The interior decoration is also very rich.
The crypt of the cathedral is a Museum of Icons. It contains some of the masterpieces of Orthodox fine art in the Bulgarian lands.
Old Parliament House and the Horseman
Our Sofia sightseeing walk continues with the National Assembly Building, built between 1884 and 1886 in Neo-Renaissance style. It is a cultural monument and the main venue for parliamentary debates.
Due to limited space, some administrative offices are now located in the former Party House at Largo, once the headquarters of the Bulgarian Communist Party.
In front of the Parliament building there is a special monument – the Horseman that is devoted to the Tsar Liberator.
Sofia University Saint Kliment Ohridski
Near the Parliament House you can see the big building of Sofia University, the oldest institution of higher education in Bulgaria. Founded on 1 October 1888, the university’s main building was constructed between 1924 and 1934 with financial support from the brothers Evlogi and Hristo Georgiev, whose statues now stand on its façade.
National Palace of Culture
The next stop of our Sofia sightseeing route is another emblematic landmark – the National Palace of Culture. It’s a bit far from the university, but you can use the public transport, otherwise, it takes 20 minutes of walking through Vasil Levski street and then Patriarh Evtimij street.
In front of the National Palace of Culture there is a large garden with fountains, benches and various areas, a very pleasant place for a walk and a short rest.
Vitosha Boulevard
Vitosha Boulevard, better known as Vitoshka, is one of the main shopping streets in central Sofia. The stretch between the National Palace of Culture and the Courthouse is pedestrian-only, with vehicles allowed only to cross at intersecting streets.
Lined with shops, cafés, and restaurants, Vitoshka is a favorite spot for both locals and visitors – a lively place to meet, stroll, and soak up the city atmosphere.
If you walk along Vitosha Street and look towards the National Palace of Culture, you will also see Mount Vitosha.
St. Nedelya Cathedral
The Church of St. Nedelya is the cathedral of the Sofia Metropolitanate. It is believed that the original church was built in the 10th century, with a stone base and a wooden structure, and remained in that form until the mid-19th century.
In the 1850s, plans were made to build a new cathedral. Construction began on May 7, 1856, and was completed in 1863, though the interior decoration took a few more years. The church was finally consecrated in 1867.
The Church of Saint Nedelya is very close to Serdika metro station, so this is where our Sofia sightseeing route comes full circle.
Two more must-see Sofia landmarks follow below, although they are not located in the central part of the city, but I’d advise you to visit.
Boyana church
The Boyana church “St. St. Nicholas and Panteleimon” is one of the cultural symbols not only of Sofia, but of Bulgaria. It is part of the UNESCO World Heritage and would say it is also among the mandatory things to see in Sofia. The church was built in several stages, with the earliest parts dating back to the 10th–12th centuries. Its greatest treasure is the world-famous frescoes from 1259, created by the so-called Boyana Master.
The Boyana church is located at the foot of Vitosha Mountain in the Boyana district of Sofia and can be reached by car or by public transport (bus number 64).
Nation History Museum
The National Museum of History is the largest museum in Bulgaria and quite naturally it falls on the list of Sofia sightseeing spots. It was established in 1973. The collections of the National Museum of History include over 650,000 cultural monuments from the Paleolithic to the present day and in various scientific research fields.
The National History Museum is located in Boyana district. You can reach it by car or public transport, the nearest stops are on buses 63, 111, 304 and trolleybus number 2.
Final thoughts
In this article, I’ve introduced you to some of the most important things to see in Sofia and suggested a convenient circular walking route to help you explore them with ease. It’s a great way to experience the city’s history, culture, and atmosphere in a single walk. I hope you’ll have more reasons to visit Sofia (and why not to return) after reading the article.
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