2 days in Sofia

Day by day

1. Day 1: Alexander Nevsky Cathedral and Saint Sofia Church

   Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, Saint Sofia Church, Rotunda of St George and Ancient Serdica and the Largo, then Vitosha Boulevard in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Alexander Nevsky Cathedral

      The crypt holds a museum of Orthodox icons from the National Gallery's collection.

   2. Late morning

      Saint Sofia Church

      Beneath it, an underground museum reveals Roman tombs and mosaic floors from earlier churches on the site. Outside are the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and the grave of the writer Ivan Vazov.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Banitsa

      Bakery windows and banitsa counters across the city, especially near metro stations in the morning.

   4. Afternoon

      Rotunda of St George

      Layers of medieval frescoes survive inside the dome, and Roman street remains lie around it.

   5. Late afternoon

      Ancient Serdica and the Largo

      Above them stands the Largo, the monumental ensemble of the former Communist Party House, the Council of Ministers and the Presidency.

   6. Evening

      Vitosha Boulevard

      Walk south towards the mountain in the late afternoon, when the light falls on Vitosha.

2. Day 2: Boyana Church and National Historical Museum

   Boyana Church, National Historical Museum, Banya Bashi Mosque and the mineral springs and Sofia Synagogue, then Tsar Ivan Shishman Street in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Boyana Church

      It is on the UNESCO World Heritage list.

   2. Late morning

      National Historical Museum

      Some of the famous gold treasures travel for exhibitions, so displays change.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Shopska salad

      Every mehana (tavern) and restaurant; tomatoes are best from July to September.

   4. Afternoon

      Banya Bashi Mosque and the mineral springs

      Nearby, locals fill bottles with warm mineral water from public taps beside the old Central Mineral Baths, now the Sofia History Museum.

   5. Late afternoon

      Sofia Synagogue

      Its painted dome and very large brass chandelier are the highlights, and a small museum covers the history of Bulgaria's Jewish community.

   6. Evening

      Tsar Ivan Shishman Street

      Small bars, wine bars and cafés in an old-town street parallel to Vitosha Boulevard.

Before you go

If it rains

• Swap in Central Market Hall (City Centre): Pick up white cheese, lyutenitsa and honey for a picnic in the City Garden.
• Swap in National Archaeological Museum (City Centre): Visit after the Rotunda of St George, which is just behind the Presidency.
• Swap in Earth and Man National Museum (Lozenets): Combine it with South Park and the NDK fountains for an easy family afternoon.

Where to stay for this itinerary

Pace and daylight

The sights in this plan add up to roughly 8–8 hours of visiting over 2 days, before meals and getting between them. Daylight runs from about 9.1 hours in December to 15.3 hours in June, so in winter start early and keep museums for the afternoon.

Getting between stops: Metro. The metro's lines cross at Serdika in the centre and reach the airport's Terminal 2, the central railway station, the NDK and the suburbs at the foot of Vitosha.

More or fewer days

• One day in Sofia
• 3 days in Sofia

Questions travellers ask