The most famous tourist spot in the city is the Alexander Nevsky Orthodox Church. It is really big, so you can see it from afar, especially in sunny weather, when its bronze domes glow blindingly.
If you're in the city at the weekend, be sure to stop by the Church of Saint Nedelya, as it may happen that there will be a wedding there at that time, which you can of course follow. On the sign hanging at the entrance to the church, in addition to the history of the church, it also says that all visitors are most welcome to attend or watch the ceremonies inside. When the weather is nice, you should not miss a visit to the park between the mosque and the mineral baths. The floor consists of a colorful mosaic, there is a water fountain in the middle, and on the edge there are benches under the trees, always full of people sitting, chatting, napping or snacking. The specialty of Sofia is the newsagents, which are located in the basement of the buildings, and the showcases with displayed products and the order counters are just a little above the ground. When you want to tell the saleswoman what you want, you have to bend down so deeply, it's best to just squat.
For under the teeth
Typical Bulgarian specialties are a mix of Balkan and Turkish influences. The menu is dominated by different types of meat and well-known oriental desserts - baklava and lokum. For traditional food in a traditional setting, visit the Krim restaurant. However, traditional food restaurants are disappearing and giving way to Chinese, Indian, Italian and others. For a quick snack while exploring the city, step into the central mall, which is a kind of covered market on three floors, offering a variety of snacks, and you can also stop there for a coffee. There are many fast food options on the main street and in the underpasses below it - not only hamburgers, but mainly kebabs, pancakes and desserts. When you're almost passed out after a whole day of walking around and eating cold snacks, go indulge yourself in the healthy food restaurant Kibeo, where, in addition to organic food, you'll be greeted by an atmosphere without the slightest trace of cigarette smoke.
Shopping, shopping
One of the best things about Sofia is that a visitor doesn't even have to leave the same street to go shopping. On Sofia's main street, Bulevard Vitosha, shops of well-known brands are lined up one after another. The prices are mostly the same as here, but the citizens of Sofia say that they can't afford practically anything on this street. To waste Bulgarian levs, it is also worth going to the shopping center. It is especially interesting that it does not look like a normal shopping center, as it has premises in an old city building. But when we step inside, four floors of shops open up to us, in which there really is something for everyone. A special feature is the men's fashion boutique of two local designers called Style Wars.
Traffic
When talking about Sofia - and it applies to the whole of Bulgaria - it is necessary to mention their traffic. Bulgarians are crazy drivers! It's best if you don't hit the road alone, except as a pedestrian, and even that can be risky at times. There are no lines on the streets of Sofia and the roads around it! So – no pedestrian crossings and no lane markings. Cars drive where there is space; what should be a two-lane road turns into a three-lane road very quickly - the middle lane is intended for overtaking, for vehicles coming from both directions, of course. In Sofia, it is best to leave it to experienced locals - taxis, like everything else, are extremely good for our wallets.
Events
Sofia also offers quite a few choices for culture enthusiasts. If you decide to travel to Sofia already this spring, you can see the opera Dido and Aeneas at the National Opera and Ballet from April 16, and the famous Madame Butterfly will be shown from May 20. For concerts of classical music, as well as other music, go to the Bulgaria Concert Hall, and to see works of art, go to the City Art Gallery. This spring, an exhibition of Andersen's illustrations and an exhibition of Sasha Stoitzov entitled Waterfall await you there. Both will be from March 10 to April 1. In the summer, there is a folklore festival in Sofia - in the evening, head to the square next to the Ivan Vazov Theater to see traditional Bulgarian dances, and the festival takes place all over the city.
Where to party
If nothing else, what makes Sofia a metropolis is its nightlife. Bars are mostly open after midnight and even then they are full, and the loud music that comes from them just invites you to go in and drink a cocktail that is half the price compared to ours - for this kind of party, visit the bar Upstairs in the first floor of the house on the main street. The restaurant is extremely nicely furnished, and since it has a terrace, you can drink your cocktail while watching the nightlife on Sofia's busiest street. The clubs are open until the early hours of the morning and offer a wide variety of music - depending on the day, and most of them even have several floors. The most popular and most frequented nightclub is Escape - you usually have to wait in line to get in, but inside you'll find everything from a music retrospective of the 70s to the 90s to cutting-edge house. There is also no "curfew" for the sale of alcoholic beverages in Bulgaria - newsagents with this type of offer are open all night. ACCOMMODATION There is plenty of room to sleep in Sofia, but of course not everything is suitable for everyone. For the most demanding, there are Hotel Ametist, or the "real" palace - Hotel Crystal Palace. Real gems can be found even in the middle price range. You will experience the most homely atmosphere at the Tsar Asen Hotel, which has only four rooms. For an artistic touch, stay at the Art 'Otel. Young people, go to Hostel Mostel - friendly staff, pastel colors and not too big space will help you feel at home.
How to get there
By plane: there is no direct flight from Slovenia; a flight via Budapest is possible. By train: first take the train from Ljubljana to Belgrade, then change to the train to Sofia.
