24 hours in Sofia – Ultimate Itinerary

So you want to know how to spend a perfect 24 hours in Sofia Bulgaria? Good for you, you are in the right place! Reach history, Bulgaria is one of the oldest countries in Europe, and a short stop in the capital, Sofia is a must since it is easily accessible from European Countries.
Traveling the world makes you meet people in every corner of the globe, and it was precisely two friends from Bulgaria that I met in Morocco who gave me the idea to travel to the city.
Sofia is a multi-cultural and modern city too with tons of feels about all its neighboring countries. So once in Sofia, who knows which city inspires you to visit next?

If you are wondering what is there to eat, well, there are a lot of yummy treats to eat. Don’t leave the city without trying Banitsa, Lyutenitsa (for those who love spicy food), Tarator (I love it :D), Kavarma, and Supa Topcheta. To be honest the cuisine in Sofia reminds me a lot of Greece and Turkey cuisine, so for the lovers of those types of cuisines, there are a lot of varieties to try.

Nightlife in Sofia was what surprised me the most. The clubs in the city center were amazing and so overcrowded on the weekend. There is a lot of variety for tourists, whether you want traditional Bulgarian music or whether you are willing to enjoy a drink at midnight, Sofia has got your back. So for all the energetic travelers, I suggest not to go to sleep without checking out what is happening around the city center.

Now let’s go with some practical information for 24 hours in Sofia:

The best way to get around in Sofia is by public transportation. A single-trip ticket is about 0.82 euros, and you can easily pay with a contactless credit card.
The best way to go from the airport to the city center is by metro. You can take the metro from the airport, terminal 2, to the city center. There is a metro every 15 minutes.
The best area to stay is not more than 2km away from the city center, especially if you are staying only one night in Sofia, and make sure that your hotel is well connected by public transportation.
Keep In mind that Sofia is quite a walkable city, so even better if you have a hotel in the city center, you can easily make a self-guided walking tour through the city.

24 Hours in Sofia:

Ok, you all know that Sofia doesn’t have many world-famous attractions, and in terms of attractions it contains, is not a stunning city. But I still think that some architecture is amazing and I noticed that in general, the buildings are trying to look like European architecture.

Here is the perfect walking tour for 24 hours in Sofia + 1 Hidden Gem:

History Museum 

An emblematic building of the city and the starting point for most of the walking tours. It has a beautiful garden with a lovely fountain in the front and large trees that can be a nice spot for pictures. Fun Fact: According to a tour guide the fountain helps to heal heart diseases or a broken heart as well. 

Alexander Nevski Cathedral 

Is the most iconic church in Sofia, and also the most Instagrammable place.
Saint Sophia Church, only 5 minutes walking from the Cathedral.

Russian Church

A pretty little church with nice architecture with green and golden domes, which can be spotted from afar. It is really small but well organized and with a cute place around it. It takes only a couple of minutes to visit it, but as it is located along the way, it’s worth a stop.

Ivan Vazov National Theatre

Is also one of the prettiest buildings you will see in Sophia, I visited both, by day and by night and it was stunning.

The Palace Of Culture 

Is worth a visit not only for its beautiful architectural design but also for its location. You will find the main boulevard with a lot of variety of food, bar cafes, and a great atmosphere for the afternoon walk.

Information: Without stops along the way this tour takes about 40 minutes.

Hidden Gem:

Snail House 

Is located a bit far from the attractions mentioned above, and definitely cannot be included in the walking tour.

There are a couple of ways to reach the location, for example, you can take the metro to Juliot Curie and then bus 67.

What to expect in 24 hours in Sofia:

It’s a big cool house in snail form, there is nothing to do, you can only just take pictures.

If you have some extra time, I would suggest taking the bus and visiting it, especially if you are into that sort of architecture, or if you are visiting Sofia with children. You will see that the decoration is so lovely and with so many details, it’s such a particular thing. 

Some facts about:

Is made of ecological materials

It’s not a museum. It’s a house where artists are living

Is said to have no straight walls, corners, or edges.

The door is painted to be the slug’s mouth requiring residents to be “swallowed alive” before entering, but unfortunately, you cannot enter inside.