Comparison · Sofia vs Thessaloniki · Bulgaria / Greece
Sofia vs Thessaloniki
Two great trips, different strengths. Here is how they compare on the things that decide it.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Quick answer
Choose Sofia for Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, Roman Serdica and lower day-to-day costs; choose Thessaloniki for White Tower, Byzantine churches, beaches and a milder winter. Sofia is generally less expensive, and the two are about 231 km apart.
Key facts
- Distance apart
- 231 km
- Less expensive
- Sofia
- Best time for Sofia
- May–June and September–October
- Best time for Thessaloniki
- May–June and September–October
Side by side
| Sofia | Thessaloniki | |
|---|---|---|
| Country | Bulgaria | Greece |
| Known for | Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, Roman Serdica and Vitosha mountain | White Tower, Byzantine churches and Bougatsa |
| 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 | $90–$160 | $110–$190 |
| Cost level | Affordable | Affordable |
| Warmest month | July, 28°C (82°F) | July, 32°C (90°F) |
| Coldest month | January, 3°C (37°F) | January, 9°C (48°F) |
| Free sights in our guide | 11 | 11 |
| Day trips in our guide | 6 | 6 |
| Beaches | — | Kassandra peninsula |
| Airports | SOF | SKG |
Which one is right for you?
Choose Sofia for…
Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, Roman Serdica and lower day-to-day costs. 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…
Choose Thessaloniki for…
White Tower, Byzantine churches, beaches and a milder winter. Thessaloniki, Greece's second city, curves around the Thermaic Gulf with a seafront promenade running for several kilometres from the port past the White Tower. Roman, Byzantine and Ottoman layers sit side by side: the Rotunda and Arch of Galerius, a ring of…
Top sights compared
| # | Sofia | Thessaloniki |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alexander Nevsky Cathedral | White Tower |
| 2 | Saint Sofia Church | Rotunda of Galerius |
| 3 | Rotunda of St George | Arch of Galerius (Kamara) |
| 4 | Ancient Serdica and the Largo | Church of Hagios Demetrios |
| 5 | Banya Bashi Mosque and the mineral springs | Hagia Sophia |
Food compared
| Sofia | Thessaloniki |
|---|---|
| Banitsa | Bougatsa |
| Shopska salad | Thessaloniki koulouri |
| Tarator | Trigona Panoramatos |
| Kebapche and kyufte | Mussels |
Which is cheaper?
Sofia is usually the less expensive of the two: a mid-range day costs about $90–$160 per person there, against $110–$190 in Thessaloniki (AMZBooking estimates, excluding flights). Sofia on a budget.
Can you visit both?
Yes. Sofia and Thessaloniki are about 231 km apart, so they combine well in one trip: allow 3 days in Sofia and 3 in Thessaloniki.
Questions travellers ask
+Is Sofia or Thessaloniki cheaper?
Sofia is usually less expensive: about $90–$160 a day mid-range against $110–$190 (estimates).
+Is Sofia or Thessaloniki better for a first trip?
Pick Sofia for Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, Roman Serdica and lower day-to-day costs, or Thessaloniki for White Tower, Byzantine churches, beaches and a milder winter.
+How far is Sofia from Thessaloniki?
About 231 km in a straight line.