Comparison · Bucharest vs Sofia · Romania / Bulgaria
Bucharest vs Sofia
Two great trips, different strengths. Here is how they compare on the things that decide it.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Madalin Pentelie, CC0
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Quick answer
Choose Bucharest for Palace of the Parliament and Romanian Athenaeum; choose Sofia for Alexander Nevsky Cathedral and Roman Serdica. Sofia is generally less expensive, and the two are about 295 km apart.
Key facts
- Distance apart
- 295 km
- Less expensive
- Sofia
- Best time for Bucharest
- May–June and September–October
- Best time for Sofia
- May–June and September–October
Side by side
| Bucharest | Sofia | |
|---|---|---|
| Country | Romania | Bulgaria |
| Known for | Palace of the Parliament, Romanian Athenaeum and Old Town nightlife | Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, Roman Serdica and Vitosha mountain |
| Best time to visit | May–June and September–October | May–June and September–October |
| Ideal stay | 3 days | 3 days |
| Mid-range budget per day | $100–$180 | $90–$160 |
| Cost level | Affordable | Affordable |
| Warmest month | July, 30°C (86°F) | July, 28°C (82°F) |
| Coldest month | January, 3°C (37°F) | January, 3°C (37°F) |
| Free sights in our guide | 9 | 11 |
| Day trips in our guide | 5 | 6 |
| Beaches | — | — |
| Airports | OTP | SOF |
Which one is right for you?
Choose Bucharest for…
Palace of the Parliament and Romanian Athenaeum. Romania's capital mixes Belle Époque mansions and the Romanian Athenaeum along Calea Victoriei with the enormous Palace of the Parliament and the socialist boulevards built around it. In between, the Old Town's lanes around Lipscani hold the 18th-century…
Choose Sofia for…
Alexander Nevsky Cathedral and Roman Serdica. Bulgaria's capital sits on a high plain at the foot of Vitosha mountain, whose summit rises above the end of the pedestrian Vitosha Boulevard. In a few central blocks you pass Roman Serdica's excavated streets, the 4th-century Rotunda of St George, a…
Top sights compared
| # | Bucharest | Sofia |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Palace of the Parliament | Alexander Nevsky Cathedral |
| 2 | Old Town and Lipscani | Saint Sofia Church |
| 3 | Stavropoleos Monastery | Rotunda of St George |
| 4 | Cărturești Carusel | Ancient Serdica and the Largo |
| 5 | Romanian Athenaeum | Banya Bashi Mosque and the mineral springs |
Food compared
| Bucharest | Sofia |
|---|---|
| Sarmale | Banitsa |
| Mămăligă | Shopska salad |
| Mici | Tarator |
| Tripe soup | Kebapche and kyufte |
Which is cheaper?
Sofia is usually the less expensive of the two: a mid-range day costs about $90–$160 per person there, against $100–$180 in Bucharest (AMZBooking estimates, excluding flights). Sofia on a budget.
Can you visit both?
Yes. Bucharest and Sofia are about 295 km apart, so they combine well in one trip: allow 3 days in Bucharest and 3 in Sofia.
Questions travellers ask
+Is Bucharest or Sofia cheaper?
Sofia is usually less expensive: about $90–$160 a day mid-range against $100–$180 (estimates).
+Is Bucharest or Sofia better for a first trip?
Pick Bucharest for Palace of the Parliament and Romanian Athenaeum, or Sofia for Alexander Nevsky Cathedral and Roman Serdica.
+How far is Bucharest from Sofia?
About 295 km in a straight line.