Sofia travel guide
Sofia Tourism | Sofia Guide
You're Going to Love Sofia
With 1.15 million inhabitants, Sofia is the most populous city in Bulgaria. It is the most popular tourist destination in the country. We recommend you stay at least 4 days in order to fully appreciate everything Sofia has to offer.
Activities & attractions in Sofia
Tours
Nature & Outdoor Activities
Activities
Other activities
Where to Eat in Sofia
If you’re looking for affordable options, La Branche – Food | Bar | Garden (Shipka Street 14) and Pure and Sense Restaurant (Pure and Sense Restaurant) are great picks.
When to visit Sofia
Looking for warm weather? Then head to Sofia in July, when the average temperature is 68 °F, and the highest can go up to 77 °F. The coldest month, on the other hand, is January, when it can get as cold as 26.6 °F, with an average temperature of 30.2 °F. You’re likely to see more rain in June, when precipitation is around 2.8″. In contrast, January is usually the driest month of the year in Sofia, with an average rainfall of 1.2″.
How to Get to Sofia
Plane
When flying to Sofia, you’ll arrive at Sofia Airport (SOF), which is located 4 miles from the city center. The shortest flight to Sofia from the United States departs from Cincinnati and takes around 14h 15m.
Car
Another option to get to Sofia is to pick up a car rental from Plovdiv, which is about 82 miles from Sofia. You’ll find branches of Sixt and Top Rent a Car - Bulgaria, among others, in Plovdiv.
Bus
Several bus lines operate bus routes to Sofia, including Union Ivkoni, City Lines and Vip Arda Tur. From Thessaloniki, the bus ride to Sofia takes 295 miles and will cost you around $42. From Burgas, the ticket costs about $19 for a journey of 300 miles. The most popular bus station is Sofia Tsentralna avtogara, located 0.9 miles from downtown Sofia. Sofia Sofia is also a commonly used station, and is 0.0 miles from the city center.
Airlines serving Sofia
Where to stay in Sofia
From 5-star hotels such as the Maison Sofia - MGallery to great affordable options like the Montecito Hotel, Sofia offers a range of accommodations for every taste. Average rates range from around $57 per night for a double room in a 3-star hotel to $98 and up for a 5-star experience. There are also lots of vacation rental options in Sofia, with prices from $27 to $153 per night. Sredets is the neighborhood with the highest amount of rentals to choose from. On average, vacation rentals in Sofia are about 26% cheaper than a hotel room in the city.
Where to stay in popular areas of Sofia
Most booked hotels in Sofia
Renting a car in Sofia
Renting a car in Sofia costs $24 per day, on average, or $98 if you want to rent if for 4 days.
You’re likely to save money by renting your car at the airport: locations in the city are, on average, 1% more expensive than at Sofia.
Expect to pay $5.38 per gallon in Sofia (average price from the past 30 days). Depending on the size of your rental car, filling up the tank will cost between $64.50 and $86.00. The most frequently booked car type in Sofia is Compact (Skoda Fabia or similar). If you’re looking to save money, though, keep in mind that Intermediate rental cars (Skoda Octavia Combi or similar) are, on average, 80% cheaper than other rental car types in the city.