Sofia Travel Guide

Sofia OVERVIEW

Sadly for Sofia, the city is often overlooked by tourists heading mainly to the sunny Bulgarian coast or ski resorts. If you are one of them, know that you are actually missing out on something special. Sofia might not be a grand metropolis like other European capital cities but it's nevertheless an attractive stopover of ancient Byzantine churches, archeological treasures and mineral baths - all hidden at the foot of the massive Vitosha Mountain. After years of communist rule whose remnants of neo-classical Stalinist architecture and ranks of socialist housing blocks are more of an eyesore, Sofia is a great example of a fast emerging city trying to make up for the lost time. The iconic ‘east-meets-west' vibe is still present here in Red Army monuments, formidable Socialist buildings and Ottoman mosques sharing the skyline with top notch shopping malls, luxurious hotels and glossy limos. However, it is the street life which makes a visit to Sofia a rewarding experience and where the true spirit of the city is to be discovered. You'll enjoy coffee shared with locals at open-air cafes, vast bazaars with farm produce on offer, gypsies selling flowers at the tree-lined boulevards, rattling trams and imaginative buskers making the scene complete.