Things to Do in Sofia

Our free English and Spanish language sightseeing walking tours of Bulgaria's capital have been the #1 way to explore Sofia since we first started in 2010. You can join us 365 days a year. No matter the weather conditions!

Please note we do not accept groups larger than 9 people. Any split group reservations will be canceled at the meeting point and our guides will refuse your participation on the tour. If you are coming with a large group - contact us in advance for a private tour.
 

Starting point: Sofia City Court/Palace of Justice, Sofia (2, Vitosha Boulevard)

Free Tour in English:

EVERY DAY at 10AM, 11AM, 2PM, 6PM 

Free Tours in Spanish:

EVERY DAY at 11AM
EVERY FRIDAY AND SATURDAY AT 6PM

The best attraction in Sofia according to TripAdvisor users. Approved by Tourist Service Municipal Company at Sofia City Municipality. 

Every tour is both fun and educational, the perfect introduction to the city and its thousands of years of history. Discover Sofia in a fun and interactive way through the eyes of our enthusiastic local guides. 

Tour Route: 

1. Start: Palace of Justice
2. Sveta Nedelya Church
3. Coat of Arms of Sofia
4. Statue of Sofia
5. Church of St. Petka
6. Largo Square ruins
7. Banya Bashi Mosque
8. Sofia Synagogue
9. Bath / Museum of Sofia
10. Mineral waters
11. Council of Ministers
12. Former Communist Party Headquarters
13. Presidency
14. Rotunda of St George
15. City Garden
16. National Theater Ivan Vazov
17. National Gallery (Former Royal Palace)
18. Russian Church and Military Club
19. St. Sophia Basilica
20. End: St. Alexander Nevsky Cathedral

In a 2-3 hours (or so depending on the group) walk through Sofia city's main see sights, my visitors receive 3000 years of condensed history of Sofia, Bulgaria, and the Balkans. My personal multi-disciplinary approach to history (culture, sociology, and international politics) helps my visitors connect the dots on simple matters and make sense of complex issues.

The story behind the story is things that you would not find in brochures, blogs, tourist guides, and ordinary books.

All my visitors leave with further recommendations for what more there is to do and see in Sofia and Bulgaria. 

If you're into history, culture, and food, and want to avoid the standard (A4) tours and cliches, this is the right tour for you.

Welcome to Sofia, the capital of Bulgaria! 

During the sightseeing walking tour we will get to know the Bulgarian history background and cultural heritage through the main sightseeing spots in the historical part of the center of Sofia.

Just few of the main spots part of the tour : 

• Alexander Nevsky Cathedral 
• St. Sofia Church 
• Royal Palace 
• National Theater “Ivan Vazov” 
• “Independence” Square and Serdica Ancient Complex 
• Banya Bashi Mosque and the Synagogue
• plus more 

You will also learn more about stories from ancient times, near past and what are some of the favorite places of the locals. While exploring will share with you my favorite hidden gems in heart of the city that you might enjoy later on during your stay in Sofia. 

Let’s go! 

Discover Sofia’s Urban Art Scene – Free Walking Tour 🎨 

Sofia is bursting with murals, quirky street art, and bold graffiti.We are a local cultural organization that creates and curates graffiti and street art events. Join us for a guided journey through the city’s creative side and uncover its thriving urban art scene. 

📅 When: Every day
📍 Where: Meeting point – Statue of Sofia (at the base)
⏰ Start time: 

• May–September: 6:00 pm
• October–April: 3:00 pm
  🕒 Duration: ~2 hours
  🗣 Language: English
  💸 Cost: Free to join – tips for your guide are appreciated and go directly toward supporting Sofia’s urban art community. If spots are full for the day, still come along. The more, the better. 

What You’ll Experience

• A curated walk through Sofia’s most impressive graffiti and street art in the city center
• Insights into the roots of graffiti and street art – and how they differ
• Stories behind the art, told by an experienced local guide with deep knowledge of Sofia’s culture and creative scene

Come with curiosity, leave with inspiration.

Sofia’s free communist tour, featuring a Trabant is now available every Saturday and Sunday starting at 10 am. The meeting point is in front of the piece of the Berlin Wall next to the National Palace of Culture and across the street from Starbucks on (Fridtjof Nansen Str.) The tour is approximately 2 hours long and features an iconic classic car called a Trabant.(Due to emission regulations the Trabant car will be available between March and November.)  The object of the tour is to take you back in time and make you feel what life was like for people living in Bulgaria during the communist era. Our focus is not to put you to sleep with statistics but rather show you what kind of challenges people had to deal with both during and after the communist era. This is a tour for everyone that is curious about this period in history. This is why we have not put a price on it. We believe that everyone traveling to Bulgaria should have an opportunity to take something away with them. Useful information: The tour will require the use of the metro for one stop, if you need assistance with purchasing a ticket your guide will provide it. Also please dress appropriately for the weather. No Reservations required. Groups of 10 or more please let us know by email.

Welcome to Sofia!

Sofia is an ancient city dating back to Roman times. It features architectural artifacts from the Byzantine Empire , Ottoman Empire, and Soviet architecture .

I would like to share with you all my local knowledge, share with you these personal stories of people who created Sofia and Bulgaria and help you have fun in our capital.

On this tour I will guide you through the history of Sofia .
Our starting point will be Sofia University, then we will go to the Sofia Central Library , the monument of Vasil Levski (the national hero of Bulgaria) and then end up taking photos and admiring the Alexander Nevsky Cathedral .

In the meantime I will tell you the story of this jewel of the Balkans. We will then head to Independence Square where the Bulgarian Parliament is located and where you can find a statue of the Russian Emperor Alexander .

We will then head to the famous Kristal garden with a statue of Stefan Stambolov . We will then head to Alexander Batemberg Square where I will share with you some interesting secrets and stories from the Soviet times.

We will also explore the national theater "Ivan Vazov". Our tour will continue towards the Presidency and the Roman ruins of Sofia .

You will have the opportunity to see the "Sveta Nedelya" church and we will end our tour by exploring an Ottoman era mosque.

Balkan Bites is an attempt at providing travelers to Sofia with the first free daily food tour in Europe and maybe the world. The idea is to take a tour of some of the more interesting and trendy family owned restaurants that Sofia has to offer and enjoy some traditional Bulgarian cuisine, while hearing about some of the history and customs that helped make them became staple foods in Bulgaria, by our trained guides. Maximum number of guests: 15. Bookings are valid till 2 p.m. so please be on time. Groups of 4+ should contact us in advance. We cannot accept bookings of larger groups or same day reservations.

If you want to see the most beautiful among hidden sights around Sofia this is your best chance!
Just about 50 km out of our capital is situated one of the wildest and most unknown areas even among Bulgarians. The area is so poor and depopulated and the municipality doesn't care that beholds one of the most amazing sights in the country which on other hand preserves it from the crowds of tourists.
This tour is perfect if you searching for a one day adventure and you want to visit beautiful unspoiled nature combined with amazing picturesque viewpoints and a 700 year old temple on a rock just above a beautiful lake!
If you're interested can also see our family property where I restore with natural materials and mainly my arms 130 year old clay house.
The final point can be reached by a little bit of hiking and a car, train and long hiking, bus, bike or even by boat (can find you a horse too). If you don't have a car the best option is the train but then there are 9 km hiking in direction (can shorten this by my car).
Unfortunately booking in a big advance don't really work for my tour because the only road that goes to the place is not covered by asphalt and very muddy in case of rain or the day or two after so it's good the time for it almost to come and being sure it'll be dry enough in order to plan it!! 
The tour could last from 4 to 10 hours depending on the transport you choose, your pace and desires.
Please book at least 48 hours earlier otherwise I can't react to organise!

WELCOME TO ANCIENT MODERN SOFIA!
The highlight of our central tour will be THE MAJESTIC ARCHITECTURE of the capital and a visit to some captivating masterpieces.

I will show you the beauties of a magnetic Bulgarian city - Sofia. I literally unravel all the wealth that the capital hides and present all this to tourists with great excitement and fascination. And so we plunge into the depths of the urban world.
Let's experience together an unforgettable, fascinating and exciting city itinerary, full of curiosities, in which my worship and you - the tourists - are the protagonists. Let's be the big explorers of Sofia!

Please note that THIS TOUR INCLUDES 3 ZONES: MODERN (very well restored buildings), URBAN (CENTRAL): THE SPACE OF LARGO (The Triangle of Power) with all its emblematic buildings and ANCIENT (THE OLD COMPLEX OF SERDICA). ALL ZONES represent THE CENTER of Sofia .

It will be a great pleasure for me to welcome everyone who has chosen THIS TOUR FOR 3 HOURS AND 30 MINUTES with me and is seriously interested in ARCHITECTURE and MONUMENTS.

RECOMMENDATION : THIS TOUR is designed FOR TRUE CONNOISSERS OF URBAN ARCHITECTURE AND MONUMENTS .

NOTE: THE WALKING TOUR IS NOT SUITABLE FOR PEOPLE WITH MOVEMENT DIFFICULTIES AND SLOW MOVING PEOPLE , because it has a fixed execution time, which each tourist must meet and judge their walking pace .

IMPORTANT: THOSE WHO MAKE A RESERVATION FOR THIS TOUR BUT CANNOT COME MUST MODIFY THEIR RESERVATION TO ANOTHER DATE OR MAKE A NEW RESERVATION OR CANCEL IT IN ADVANCE AT LEAST 2 HOURS BEFORE AND NOT AT THE LAST MINUTE. IT IS NOT RESPECTFUL TO THE TOURIST GUIDE BECAUSE THEY ARE WAITING FOR THE TOURIST AND WASTING THE TIME OF EVERYONE WHO IS PRESENT. THANKS FOR UNDERSTANDING.

STRICT RULES IN CHURCHES, TEMPLES, ORTHODOX CATHEDRALS AND MONASTERIES IN BULGARIA AND SOFIA:
Please note that when visiting Bulgaria and Sofia for the first time IN THE CHURCHES, TEMPLES, ORTHODOX CATHEDRALS AND IN MONASTERIES such as: TEMPLE-MONUMENT OF ST. ALEXANDER NEVSKY IN SOFIA , THE BASILICA OF ST. JORGE IN SOFIA AND THE RILA MONASTERY YOU MUST WEAR LONG PANTS (applies to men and women as well as children), LONG SKIRTS AND DRESSES BELOW THE KNEE for both women and children, NO EXPOSED SHOULDERS and REMOVE HATS AND SUNGLASSES .
SCARVES ARE NOT ACCEPTED TO COVER THE LEGS IF SHORTS ARE WORN.
Let's enjoy the sacred places of Bulgaria and show human understanding!

PLEASE, EVERYONE WHO CHOOSE THIS TOUR ALSO READ VERY CAREFULLY THE INFORMATION AFTER THE TOUR DESCRIPTION, BECAUSE IT IS OF GREAT IMPORTANCE.

BEGINNING OF THE WALKING TOUR
Our route starts from the largest and most popular tourist object, which is a peak in the architectural construction of Eastern Orthodoxy. TEMPLE-MONUMENT OF ST. ALEXANDER NEVSKY with its golden domes, ancient frescoes and spiritual energy will delight you.

END OF THE ARCHITECTURAL TOUR
The tour ends in the area of ​​the OLD SERDICA COMPLEX, which will take you to the amazing underground world of the capital and The Religious Quadrilateral of Tolerance: The Orthodox Churches of Holy Dominic (Santa Nedelya, Sveta Nedelya) and Santa Petka Samardzhiyska, The Mosque of Banya Bashi, The Synagogue and The Catholic Cathedral of San Jose.

INTERESTING PLACES TO VISIT
During the architectural tour, you will understand which OBJECTS we will look at ON THE OUTSIDE and some on the inside, and which ones I recommend you visit at your free time. Main part of which are:

• The Temple-Monument of Saint Alexander Nesky
• The First Museum of Christianity in Bulgaria (The Crypt of St. Alexander Nevsky Cathedral) - outside only
• The Paisius Monument of Hilendarius (The Founder of Slavic-Bulgarian History)
• The National Gallery of Art 500 Square - outside only
• The National Library of Saints Cyril and Methodius with the Monument of the Holy Brothers of Cyril and Methodius (The Founders of Slavic Writing and Culture) - outside only
• Sofia University of St. Clement of Ohrid - outside only
• The National Academy of Arts - outside only
• The Monument to the Liberator King (Emperor of Alexander II)
• The National Assembly (Parliament) - outside only
• The Bulgarian Academy of Sciences - outside only
• The Patriarchal Synod (The Holy Synod) - outside only
• The Monument to the Unknown Warrior
• The Eternal Fire
• The Basilica of Santa Sofia
• The Monument to the poet of Juan Vazov
• The Russian Church of Saint Nicholas the Wonderworker
• The Branch of the National Gallery of Art and the National Ethnographic Museum (formerly the Royal Palace) - outside only
• The Garden of the City by Juan Vazov
• The National Theater of Juan Vazov - only outside
• The National Bank of Bulgaria - outside only
• The National Archaeological Museum - outside only
• The Presidency - only outside
• St. George's Rotunda
• The Ministry of Education and Science - only outside
• The Center of the City of Largo (The Triangle of Power) with the Buildings of the Ministry of Education and Science, the Presidency, the Branch of the National Assembly, the Council of Ministers and the First Central Store in Sofia - TSUM (not today works) - only outside
• The Statue of Saint Sofia (The Symbol of The Capital)
• The Archaeological Complex of La Serdica Antigua

OTHER INTERESTING INFORMATION FOR THE TRAVELER:
- If you are on a Sunday afternoon around 5:00 p.m. or 6:00 p.m. in the metropolitan center in the square ( the square in front of the National Theater of Juan Vazov ; the square of the Church of Holy Dominic ( Santa Nedelya, Sveta Nedelya) or the square in front of the Sofia History Museum (the former central mineral bath), you will have the great pleasure of participating in traditional Bulgarian dances (chorus and rachenitsa) with the locals.
In this way you will touch, even if only for a short time, the magic of Bulgarian national folklore .

NOTE: OBJECTS are seen ONLY from the OUTSIDE. As it often happens that tourists want to explore some of the sites with me from the inside , such as St. Alexander Nevsky Cathedral , St. Sophia Basilica and St. George's Rotunda , pay attention to this and plan your walking time and pace consequently according to your commitments that are after the tour.

If you decide that this tour of this topic is interesting to you, but you think it is TOO LONG for you, but you don't have the energy to continue it, or you decide that it is not interesting after starting the tour , then THERE IS NO PROBLEM TO DISCONTINUE AT ANY TIME. There are only certain conditions that a serious tourist must follow. NOTHING IS MANDATORY on this tour.
There are rules that relate to the chronology of the tour , because if you decide to join you will understand that it is very important to follow this chronology.

REQUEST: I strongly request anyone who chooses this tour TO RESPECT THE AGREED MEETING TIME , as this is of utmost importance for every tourist.

THANK YOU FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART TO EVERYONE FOR YOUR UNDERSTANDING!

TIP: Keep in mind that THE WEATHER IN BULGARIA AND IN THE CAPITAL OF SOFIA IS VERY DYNAMIC AT ANY TIME OF THE YEAR! I ask that anyone who decides to sign up for this walking tour ALWAYS carry AN UMBRELLA or A RAINCOAT or A WATERPROOF JACKET .

RECOMMENDATION: During your free time , I recommend visiting the following sites :
- The National Museum of Christianity ( The Crypt of the Temple-Monument of St. Alexander Nevsky ): for all those interested in icon painting
The National Gallery of Art Cuadrado 500: for connoisseurs of fine arts and sculpture )
- The Necropolis with catacombs, Roman tombs and mosaics under the Basilica of Saint Sophia: for those interested in Roman history and archeology )
- The National Ethnographic Museum (The Old Royal Palace): for those interested in national traditions, folklore, traditional costumes, carpet exhibitions (handmade)
- The National Archaeological Museum: for connoisseurs of archeology, gold treasures, icons )
- The Sofia History Museum (The Old Central Bath): for lovers of the history of the city and the lifestyle of the 19th century aristocrats .
- The Synagogue (a unique masterpiece of architectural art with its incredible chandelier )
- The Women's Market: the multicultural world of Sofia
- Vitoshka Pedestrian Street , emblematic for all residents and guests of the city with its shops, bars, cafes and restaurants , here you will feel the spirit of Sofia .
- The Church in the Boyana neighborhood (on the outskirts of the city), on Vitosha Mountain - it is necessary to use different types of public transport with transfers - one of the main symbols of Bulgaria under the auspices of UNESCO

If you have any questions related to the itinerary or anything unclear about the tour, please contact me here via the messaging platform. I will try to respond as quickly as possible!

I WELCOME YOU!
Are you ready to join me and adventure together into the depths of the metropolitan center?
I'M HERE! I'M WAITING FOR YOU! COME ON! 😉

Express tour?
"I just arrived and I don't know where to start."
¨I want to have a basic idea of ​​Sofia, but I don't have that much time either.¨
The “Sofia Express Tour” is the perfect choice .
The fundamentals of Sofia in an hour and a half. This tour gives you a " base " to get to know Sofia, get to know the city and the culture.
As?
Through the stories of a native Bulgarian .
What are we gonna see?
-> Monuments and buildings of modern Sofia
-> Clubs, bars and discos
-> Charming parks and streets
Anything else?
Tips for typical food, places to visit, trips to other cities in Bulgaria.
Where does it end?
Our last stop is the Alexander Nevsky Basilica.

BONUSES

We learn to DANCE "PRAVO HORO" (traditional Bulgarian dance). It's a piece of cake, guaranteed laughs!