As the capital city of Bulgaria, Sofia is a city filled with impressive buildings, largely pedestrianised streets, and a fantastic array of restaurants and bars. As well as having several landmarks and iconic buildings, all being some of the top things to do in Sofia, the city also has some great museums, cool neighbourhoods to explore, and green parks to relax in. If you’re looking for what to do in Sofia then look no further as our list has you covered, with the best things to do, see and experience in Bulgaria’s capital city. The list also includes lots of free things to do in Sofia, which is not intentional, but more of a happy accident! In fact, Sofia is an incredibly inexpensive and affordable city to visit, and, given the array of things to do in Sofia, we think the city is one of the best value city’s to visit in Europe. So, here’s our pick of the top Sofia attractions that you should be adding to your list of things to do in Sofia, Bulgaria:
1. Visit The Cathedral Saint Aleksander Nevski
Completed in 1912, this Bulgarian orthodox cathedral is one of the top attractions in Sofia. The cathedral has become a landmark in Sofia, with its layered Neo-Byzantine architecture. Sitting at the top of the building are its many domes of which some are even covered in real gold. The unique architecture of this cathedral and its presence make it one of the best things to do in Sofia. Make sure you also take the time to enter the cathedral, which is equally as impressive inside.
- Opening times: Daily from 07:00 to 19:00
- Entry/Tickets: Free to enter
2. Admire The Roman Ruins At St George Rotunda
One of the best-preserved pieces of Roman architecture and history in Sofia is St George Rotunda, which dates back to the 4th century. The rotunda is thought to be the oldest building in Sofia and would have originally been built as a public building. After the recognition of Christianity, during Roman times, it was used as a Church, which it is now used as today. Situated in the centre of a government building complex, the Rotunda is also surrounded by many more Roman ruins that would have been streets and other buildings in the city of Serdika. The setting and location of the church and ruins make it all the more impressive, which is one of the many reasons you should add it to your list of what to do in Sofia.
3. Walk Down Vitosha Boulevard
The main street running through Sofia’s city centre and one of the top things to do in Sofia, Vitosha Boulevard is the life and soul of the city. At 2.7km long the boulevard runs from the National Palace of Culture to the Sveta Nedelya Orthodox Church. It is mostly pedestrianised and filled with restaurants, bars, and shops. On a good clear day, Vitosha mountain can be seen from the street looking towards the NDK, making for a fantastic backdrop to the city’s most vibrant street.
4. See The Sofia Synagogue
As the largest Synagogue in South-eastern Europe and the third-largest in Europe, the Sofia Synagogue is well worth incorporating into your Sofia sightseeing plans. Opened in 1909, the Synagogue plays an important role in the history and culture of the Jewish community in Sofia. Internally, there are many different rooms including the main sanctuary, a prayer room, the offices of the Jewish Religious council, and a small museum. Sofia Synagogue is also part of the square of religious tolerance in Sofia, in which four religious sites dedicated to different religions sit within a short distance to each other, highlighting how different communities and religions can operate together peacefully in one area. We explore the square of religious tolerance in our Sofia historical walking tour video, where you can follow our route via Google Maps.
- Opening Times: Sunday to Friday from 09:00 to 19:00
- Entry/Tickets: Free to enter
5. Visit The National Institute Of Archaeology And Museum
Located in a building that was once the oldest and largest Ottoman mosque in the city. Built in 1474, this Institute and Museum are one of the must-see Sofia attractions for anyone interested in Archaeology or wanting to learn more about Sofia’s history. The Museum houses the most extensive collection in Bulgaria and is an important centre for promoting Bulgaria’s cultural heritage. There are five halls in total of which one is the main Central Hall. The other four halls display Bulgaria’s Prehistory, Middle Ages, Treasure, and a special temporary exhibition.
- Opening Times: May – Oct daily from 10:00 to 18:00, Nov – April Tues – Sun from 10:00 to 17:00
- Entry/Tickets: BGN10 for adults, 2BGN for students and BGN10 for an adult together with a child under 16 years old. Entry is free on the last Sunday of every month
- Where to Buy: Buy in person on entry
6. Relax, Unwind And Wander Through South Park
Sofia’s south park is a large park that is easily accessible from the centre of Sofia. The NDK park leads right into South Park via a few bridges. As well as having vast open green spaces, lots of trees and many fountains, the park has bars, eateries, great tracks for cycling a few kid’s parks. It is both popular with locals and tourists. The Perlovska river also runs through the park. If you’re wanting to get away from the city and enjoy some open, green space then taking a stroll through South Park is one of the best things to do in Sofia to help you relax and unwind.
- Opening Times: Open 24 hours daily
- Entry/Tickets: Entry is free
7. Visit The Banya Bashi Mosque
Banya Bashi Mosque is the last remaining functioning mosque in Sofia, where there were once 70 mosques in total. A great example of Ottoman architecture, the mosque was built in 1576 and features a domed roof on a square building, of which it is the last remaining example in Sofia. The interior of the mosque is the best area to see, as this is covered with spectacular tiles and calligraphy. Visitors can enter inside outside of prayer times but must remove shoes. Women must also be dressed modestly. Banya Bashi Mosque is one of four religious buildings included in the Sofia square of religious tolerance.
- Opening Times: Daily from 05:00 to 22:00
- Entry/Tickets: Entry is free
8. Collect Water At Sofia Mineral Baths
Opened in 1911, the Central Mineral Bath is a colourful building located just off Vitosha Boulevard. The building itself is a good example of architecture that incorporates Bulgarian, Byzantine, and Eastern Orthodox decorative features. The baths remained open as public baths until 1986 when they closed due to the poor state of the building. They have now been repurposed into a Sofia Museum, but the warm mineral water taps remain outside the building, and locals queue every day to collect water from them.
9. Visit Sveta Nedelya Orthodox Church
Originally consecrated in the 10th century, Sveta Nedelya Orthodox Church is an Eastern Orthodox church situated in the centre of Sofia. The church has been rebuilt many times but is now one of the landmarks of the city. It has many arched windows, a domed high roof, and a beautiful layered structure, all reminiscent of the medieval architectural style. As well as being one of the top Sofia attractions in itself, the church is also part of the square of religious tolerance in Sofia, where four religious sites dedicated to different religions sit within a short distance of each other. Checking out all four of the religious sites and walking the square of religious tolerance was one of our favourite things to do in Sofia, and gave us a real appreciation for the diversity that exists within Sofia.
- Opening Times: Daily from 07:00 to 19:00
- Entry/Tickets: Free to enter
10. Have Fun At The National Palace of Culture and Surrounding Park
Known as NDK and located at one end of Vitosha Boulevard, the National Palace of Culture is a large building that houses concert halls and event spaces, amongst other things. The building is an excellent example of communist-era architecture in Bulgaria, with its towering presence. Locals and tourists flock to the centre, mainly for its surrounding gardens and park which have become an area to relax, have fun in and enjoy the great outdoors. A long fountain runs through the gardens, framing the entrance into the NDK.
- Opening Times: Gardens open 24 hours, centre open Mon – Fri 09:00 to 19:00, Saturdays from 09:45 and Sundays from 10:00
- Entry/Tickets: Entry inside is free although events and shows may cost
11. Explore The Roman Ruins Of Serdica
On the ground that Sofia stands on today was once the Roman city of Serdica. In 2016, Roman ruins that had been discovered across the 9000 sqm of the Serdica station area of the city, opened to the public, having undergone restoration for many years. The area surrounding the metro station is now the site of a vast amount of Roman ruins, which can be viewed freely by the public and commuters. A Roman amphitheatre was also discovered and carefully restored which can be seen at the Arena di Serdica Hotel. Given the vast amount of ruins that have been discovered in the city, this is one of the best free things to do in Sofia.
- Opening Times: Dependent on metro and hotel opening times to the public
- Entry/Tickets: Free to enter
12. Hike, Ski And Adventure Up Vitosha Mountain
Located on the outskirts of Sofia, Vitosha Mountain is a large mountain that can be seen over much of Sofia’s city centre. The mountain offers locals and visitors to the city the chance to hike and ski, activities which are not usually available in a capital city but are things to do in Sofia. Buses and ropeways up to and on the mountain make it accessible from Sofia for most visitors. As well as ski slopes and hiking trails, Vitosha also has a waterfall and a large nature park, which is the oldest nature park in the Balkans. The diverse range of activities it offers and the chance to escape the city make this one of the top things to do in Sofia and a star attraction for many visitors to the city.
13. Russian Church
Widely known as the Russian Church, this church’s actual name is St Nicholas the Miracle-Maker and is situated on Tsar Osvoboditel street. The church was built in 1914 and its design was inspired by Russian churches of the 16th century. With its white and green exterior and its green tiled roofs set against the highest gold dome, it’s easy to see why seeing the Russian Church has become one of the top things to do in Sofia, Bulgaria.
- Opening times: Daily from 07:30 to 18:00
- Entry/Tickets: Free to enter
14. Take A Free Walking Tour Of Sofia
As a city with so many points of interest and deep, complex history, taking a walking tour of Sofia can be a great way to cover more ground. It also allows visitors to see the top Sofia attractions and discover more about the city’s past and present. There are several free walking tours across the city, covering different routes and exploring different areas, we think the best is the Free Sofia Tour company. They run free tours every day, year-round and there is no need to book, just turn up at the meeting point at the Palace of Justice. Tours generally take around 2 hours. If you’d rather walk the city at your own pace then check out our Sofia walking tour videos on YouTube. We also have an accompanying Google map showing the route we walked so you can follow it.
- Opening Times: Free Sofia Tours start at 11:00, 14:00 and 18:00 every day
- Entry/Tickets: Free
15. Cathedral of Saint Joseph
One of four religious buildings in the square of religious tolerance in Sofia, the Cathedral of Saint Joseph is a Roman Catholic Cathedral, also the largest one in Bulgaria. Newer than most buildings on our list, the Cathedral was built in 2002 and inaugurated in 2006. The Cathedral was rebuilt in its original location after the original building was destroyed during World War II.
- Opening Times: Open Mon – Sat from 07:30 to 09:00 and 17:30 to 18:45, Sundays from 08:30 to 13:00 and 17:30 to 19:00
- Entry/Tickets: Free to enter
If you have been to Sofia, let us know your Sofia sightseeing tips and anything we might have missed on our list of things to do in Sofia. If you’re planning to visit Sofia (you should be!) and are looking for more information on how to get into the city, how to get around, where to stay and when to go, check out our Sofia travel guide. We’ve also explored some of Sofia’s best restaurants for brunch, lunch, and dinner in our where to Eat in Sofia article, so on your visit to the city, you can make sure you sample some of the best traditional Bulgarian food.
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