The golden domes of Alexander Nevsky, metro stations built over Roman ruins, and some of Europe's lowest prices.
Last updated: 2026-07-17
What to know before you go.
Tourist traps, SIM cards, cash vs card, taxis and safety — the city's reality in five questions.
Using Sofia only as a transit stop — half a day at Vitosha and Boyana Church changes the whole story.
A1/Yettel kiosk SIMs are very cheap; EU roaming plans also work.
The lev is the currency; cards are common but markets and small diners are cash-first. Nods are reversed — confirm verbally at the till!
OK Supertrans or the TaxiMe app; use the official kiosk at the airport against pirate cabs.
The centre is safe; avoid park shortcuts north of Lions Bridge at night.
The city's 24-hour rhythm.
Turn the dial to any hour and it tells you where you should be.
What will it cost me?
Pull the day dial; the estimated per-person cost is calculated instantly.
Figures are per-person daily USD estimates compiled from BudgetYourTrip, Numbeo and recent traveller reports. Flight/ferry tickets not included.
Insider knowledge.
Things you won't find on the first page of a search engine.
Must Do
- Go up Mount Vitosha: 1,800 m in 30 minutes by lift — hiking in summer, skiing in winter.
- See the 13th-century frescoes of Boyana Church (UNESCO), 20 minutes from town.
- Join the Free Sofia Tour — the best way to read the city's layers.
Avoid These
- Airport taxis without an agreed price; OK Supertrans is the official line.
- Tourist restaurants on the busiest corners of Vitosha Boulevard.
- Shortcuts through parks late at night.
Tips
- Bulgarian head-shaking is reversed: side-to-side means yes, up-down means no!
- The lev is still in use; carry some cash.
- Sofia is one of the EU's cheapest capitals — ideal budget weekend.