Sofia, Bulgaria on a Budget 2023: Free Itinerary & Travel Guide

 

Is Sofia an ideal destination for solo female travel?

Yes.

I felt very safe, even in the evenings, travelling around Sofia alone.

As I was visiting in shoulder season, the weather was perfect, and it was peaceful and quite as there were no crowds.

Unfortunately, due to weather conditions, I was unable to knock off an item off my bucketlist – the 7 Rila Lakes and Rila Monastery Day Trip from Sofia in Rila National Park.

Understanding Sofia

The capital of the Balkan nation of Bulgaria, Sofia lies in the west of the country, at the foot of Vitosha Mountain.

Dating as far back as to the 10th century, the city’s landmarks reflect centuries of history, a mix of Greek, Roman, Ottoman and Soviet occupations.

Sofia is still one of those hidden gems in Europe.

Here are additional facts about Sofia:

• Language: The official language in Sofia is Bulgarian. English isn’t widely spoken, but most hotel and hostel owners speak basic English to get by.
• Currency: Bulgarian lev (lv). 1.96 lv is equivalent to roughly USD 1.18, EUR 1, (as of July 2018). Generally, exchange bureaus do not charge a commission to change money. Exchange rates at the airports, railway stations and hotels, however, are bad. Banks typically charge a commission of around 10%. Your best bet therefore is to just withdraw enough cash to get your to your hotel from one of the many ATM machines inside the terminal. Bank offices and ATM’s are everywhere and
• Modes of payment: Cash. Although credit and debit cards are widely accepted throughout Sofia and Bulgaria in general, smaller establishments restaurants, hostels and hotels prefer cash.
• Safety: Sofia is generally safe and tourist-friendly. But just like in any other major city, remain vigilant at all times.
• Electricity Info: In Sofia Bulgaria the power sockets are of type F. The standard voltage is 230 V and the standard frequency is 50 Hz.

Best Time to Visit Sofia

April, June to November. These are the driest months. November to March is the coolest period, perfect for winter sports.

Temperatures begin to rise in mid-May, lasting until October.

July is the sunniest and hottest month in Sofia, Bulgaria. May-August is the wettest period, coupled with rising temperatures.

Expect snow falls from November to March.

May is the best time to visit Sofia. But expect crowds.

The best time to avoid the crowds in Sofia, Bulgaria is August. June is the most crowded period.

For those on a budget, the cheapest time to visit Sofia, Bulgaria is September.

---

How to Get to Sofia

Sofia Airport is the main international airport of Bulgaria located 10 km east of Sofia city center.

Most flights operating here come from or go to Europe. However, during high season, some airlines mount flights from the Middle East.

What is the best way to get to Sofia from Bucharest?

Before settling on the the best way to travel from Bucharest, Romania to Sofia, Bulgaria.

I turned to my best travel companion Google for advise.

I searched Bucharest to Sofia overnight bus/train and Bucharest to Sofia/Burgas (Bus or train) and was quite disappointed to find barely any quality information.

There are three ways to reach Sofia from Bucharest: by air, by bus, or by train.

• By Air. Low-cost airlines Ryanair and Wizz Air offer the cheapest Bucharest-Sofia flights. Fares  range from as little as for only around RON 269 (€58), excluding meals, baggage fees, and other fees. On the regular carriers, the flight from Bucharest to Sofia cost about €100 inclusive of meals, baggage fees, and other fees. Travel time by air: 1.5 hours (direct flights) to 6 h (for flights with stopovers).
• By Train. There are no overnight trains from Bucharest to Sofia. There is however one train which departs from Bucharest at 12:45 pm, and arrives in Sofia at 22:30 pm. Evidently, the journey by train from Bucharest to Sofia is rather long – about 10 hours. The train moves incredibly slowly for a huge portion of the journey as the train lines this train uses aren’t fully updated. Furthermore, the main railway between Bucharest and the border is closed so it takes a longer alternative route. It also takes quite some time to change locomotives. On arrival on the Romanian side of the border, the train stop for about 30 mins for passport control before crossing into Ruse border town, in Bulgaria. Here, the train stops in the railway station for a further one hour.
• By Bus. The best way to get to Sofia from Bucharest is by bus. They have the best schedules and are cheaper. There are 4 bus departures from Bucharest to Sofia:- at 06:30 and 16:00 with ETAP ( http://www.etapgroup.com/?lang=_en )- at 13:00 and 22:30 with Trans 6 ( https://www.busexpress.bg/en/ )And the trip takes about 7.5 hours.

When I visited Sofia, Bulgaria in April, I opted to take a bus there from Bucharest, Romania rather than flying or the train.

The choice was easy for me, because I ended up saving close to €70.

As well as saving myself airport pre-departure shenanigans. And nearly 3 extra hours had I gone to Sofia from Bucharest by train.

As I wanted to use part of my travel day from Bucharest to Sofia to tour Sofia, I took the 6:30 am bus with ETAP from Filaret bus station.

How to buy bus ticket for Bucharest to Sofia Bus

You can buy a ticket online for your Bucharest to Sofia bus from http://www.etapgroup.com/?lang=_en  or ( https://www.busexpress.bg/en/ ).

A heads up, the websites are in Bulgarian, so use Google translate to translate it to English or your preferred language.

Use the ticket number you receive to claim a physical ticket in Bucharest from the Filaret bus station.

Getting to Filaret bus station from Piata Unirii

I was unsuccessful in buying a bus ticket online using my visa card. I am not sure if this is a problem across the board but you can give it a try.

I resorted to buying one physically from the Filaret bus station.

The ticket via the Etap bus company cost me 121 Romanian Leu (around €26).

Something to note, neither the ticket vendors at the counters nor the bus driver spoke any English at all.

To get from Piata Unirii to Filaret bus station, I caught tram #7 from the tramway terminal in Unirii square and got off after four stops.

Filaret was just round the corner.

Drivers do not take cash on the tram, so make sure to buy your tickets from inside the stations at a RATB kiosk. There are similar ticket booths typically near any bus, tram, or metro station throughout the city; and within walking range of your hotel. There is a RATB kiost at the bus stop above Tineretului metro station.

Ubers are also available if that’s your preference.

Next day, as my bus was leaving pretty early, I took an Uber from my hotel to the station.

As soon as the driver had confirmed my ticket, he ushered me in and gestured that I could sit anywhere on the bus.

I picked a seat by the window, and buried my eyes into a book I was determined to finish by the end of the journey.

There was just about 4 of us in the entire bus.

As soon as all passengers were on board,  the driver addressed us, his passengers, in Romanian. I didn’t understand a thing. But I guess he was admonishing us to watch our belonging and to have a safe trip.

At exactly 6:30 am, the bus left as per schedule.

After about an hour or so, we arrived at Ruse, the border point.

While we remained in the bus, the driver took our passports to the immigration offices for stamping. He was back in about 25 minutes.

Thereafter, the bus went into Ruse town and picked up some more passengers.

The rest of the 5+ hour journey went pretty smooth with nothing uneventful. After a couple hours, I got tired of reading and spent the remaining time looking out blankly at the lush green shifting Romanian countryside scenery zooming past.

The bus made two scheduled stops along the way to pick up passengers and one other one for bathroom break.

We arrived Sofia Central Bus station at about 13:25 pm. While in Sofia I chose to stay at Alegra Hostel. Though Alegra Hostel one of those hotels close to the Sofia bus terminus (just 5 minutes), my host was kind enough to come and meet me.

Bucharest to Soifa by Bus FAQs

• What are the buses or trains from Bucharest to Sofia or Burgas like?

I have only been on the bus. It was clean, spacious, and very comfortable considering the 7+ hour journey. However, at some points, the driver would be smoking. I sat way in the back as this was an issue for me. I am not sure if this is habitual or because there was like only 4 of us on the bus from Bucharest up to a few cities after Ruse.

• Which is better? Buses or Trains?

I prefer the buses as there are 4 different options to pick from (at 06:30 and 16:00 with ETAP; and at 13:00 and 22:30 with Trans 6) unlike the one train that only departs Bucharest at 12:45, and arrives in Sofia at 22:30)

• Are there buses running from Bucharest Airport to Filaret Bus Station?

Yes. The express bus #783 runs 24/7 to/from the airport. To get to Filaret Bus Station from Bucharest airport, take bus #783 to Piata Unirii (last stop) via the main square of the city. Then go to the tramway terminal in the south-western corner of the square, and take tram #7 and get off after 4 stops (at Filaret bus station).

• How do I get from Bucharest airport to Sofia city?

1. Take the express bus #783 from the airport to the last stop (at Piata Unirii square). Go to the tramway terminal in the south-western corner of the square, and take tram #7 and get off after 4 stops (at Filaret bus station). Then take any of the 4 bus options to Sofia.
2. Or take express bus #780 from the airport to Bucharest North (Gara de Nord) station. Then take the only from Bucharest train to Sofia. It departs Bucharest at 12.50 noon and arrives Sofia at 22:20 pm. A second class train ticket costs €29.

• How far is the airport in Bucharest from the town center?Bucharest airport is 16 KM from Bucharest city center .
• What is the name of the train from Bucharest to Sofia? The name of the daily Bucharest – Sofia train is called “Romania” and its number is: #460.
• What is the price cost of a ticket by bus from Bucharest to Sofia?

A ticket costs around €26 (121.09 Romanian Leu)

• Is there any direct train from Bucharest to Sofia?

Until the end of May, the train from Bucharest only runs to the border town of Ruse. You then need to take another train to Sofia.

• Where can I buy train tickets for Bucharest to Sofia by train?

You can buy train tickets at the train station in Bucharest North station international tickets desk at a cost of €27 for a second class coach. There are no first class cars. You can also buy a ticket at other major train stations and booking agencies throughout Romania.

You are automatically assigned a seat when you buy a ticket.

• Where can I check the Bucharest to Sofia train schedule online?

You can check the train schedule from Bucharest to Sofia on the Bulgarian railway company’s site bdz.bg/en/…sofia-istanbul-bucharest.html

• Where can I buy bus ticket to Sofia from Bucharest?

You can buy tickets from Filaret bus station. Romanian Leu is the only currency accepted when buying your ticket at the bus terminal.

You can also buy a ticket online for your Bucharest to Sofia bus from http://www.etapgroup.com/?lang=_en  or ( https://www.busexpress.bg/en/ ).

• When does the bus from Sofia to Bucharest leave? 

The buses depart at 6:30, 13:00, 16:00 and 22:30 from Filaret bus station.

In the other direction (Sofia to Bucharest) there are buses/minibuses at 0:30, 6:30, 15:30 and 23:00 They all depart from the Central bus station.

• How long is the bus journey from Bucharest to Sofia?

The trip takes 7.5 hours.

• How far out can I get a ticket?

During the shoulder season, you can buy a ticket even on the day of travel. But 2 days out is a better bet if you can.

• Where can I buy train tickets online for Bucharest to Sofia by train?

You can only buy Bucharest-Sofia train tickets online on sites of online re-sellers or travel agencies. The railway companies that operate trains on this route (Romania’s CFR and Bulgaria’s BDZ) do not sell tickets online for international routes.

• Is it possible to book the Bucharest-Sofia train in advance online? 

No. You can not book the Bucharest-Sofia train in advance online because the railway companies that operate this route (CFR Romanian, BDZ Bulgarian) do not sell tickets online for international routes. You can however purchase a ticket at a premium from re-sellers or travel agency websites.

• Does the overnight train from Sofia to Bucharest or vice versa still run? 

No. The overnight train from Sofia to Bucharest no longer runs. It is currently suspended.

• What time does the bus leaving Bucharest at 16:00 arrive in Sofia? 

The bus leaving Bucharest at 16:00 arrives in Sofia at around midnight.

Anyway, you can find tickets 2-3 days before departure without any worries.

One day is enough for Bucharest and Sofia each.Note that neither city is its country’s main attraction.

If you only have time for one city, in Romania you should visit Sibiu or Brasov.

In Bulgaria you should see Plovdviv or Veliko Tarnovo.

we are planning to travel to Bucharest and Sofia in February.

• How do I get by bus from Bucharest Airport to Burgas, Bulgaria?

There is a bus that departs from Bucharest Airport at 5.00 AM in the morning and travels on to Burgas, Bulgaria).

• What is the difference between the paper tickets and the cards?

The simple paper tickets are what you use to pay for bus fare on regular buses. For the the express buses though, you can only pay bus fare by card, either a basic Multiplu card or a more complex Activ card.

The Multiplu card costs 1.6 lei in addition to the transport price and can store up to 10 rides on express buses or regular lines.

The Activ card costs 3.7 lei but you can get it for free if you register; it can store a certain amount of money to pay as you go for each ride or various passes (for a day, week, month, for the subway etc.).

How do I validate the bus card in Romania?

Once you get onto any bus, tram or trolleybus, look out of the orange-colored boxes with a small black circle in the middle, a display and two buttons. Hold your card next to the black circle until the device makes a short beep sound. If validating for more than one person, validate the card once, then push the second button and validate it again (this is not guaranteed to work on Multiplu cards).

See video below:

…ratb.ro/web/…despre_sat_card_activ.html

Top Things to Do and See in Sofia

I started my trip with a free walking tour of Sofia to get an overview of the city.

Here are some things you can do and see in and around Sofia:

1) Explore Sofia’s  beautiful religious sites

Alexander Nevski cathedral

1, Sveti Aleksandar Nevski Square, Sofia, Bulgaria

If there is one place you just cannot miss in Bucharest, it’s theThere are many reasons to visit Sofia, but number one should be its magnificent churches and monumental buildings! Alexander Nevski cathedral,  the city’s landmark is the most famous and perfectly picturesque of the churches in Sofia. This piece of Byzantine Revival architecture is the most important Orthodox church in Bulgaria and conveniently located right in the center of Sofia on Sveti Aleksandar Nevski.

Standing at 148M, Alexander Nevski Cathedral is  the seat of the country’s patriarch. After the end of the Russian-Turkish War of 1878-1879, the cathedral was built in dedication to all the brave Bulgarian and Russian men , who fought and died to liberate the country from the Ottoman rule.

Every part of the Cathedral feels like a hidden gem – its gold covered domes, sound of its 12 heavy bells (the lightest is 10kg) which can be heard as far as 15 km away are a few of these.

Have your wishes fulfilled at Saint Nicholas Church, Sofia 

3, Tsar Osvoboditel Blvd, Sofia, Bulgaria

This is another impressive church located in the city center you must visit while in Sofia. Not only for its beautiful intricate decoration and typical Russian religious architecture. Legend has it that if you visit the Russian Church’s crypt and write your innermost desire on a piece of paper, your wish will be fulfilled. I gave it a try and so should you!

The Sofia Synagogue

Exarch Joseph Street 18, 1000 Sofia Center, Sofia, Bulgaria

Opened in 1909, The Sofia Synagogue is of the Moorish Revival architecture. It is the largest synagogue in Southeastern Europe, one of two functioning in Bulgaria and the third-largest in Europe.

The Sephardic synagogue has an octagonal dome, very large chandeliers and colorful charming interiors.

This is a functional synagogue and therefore you can only get inside between the prayer sessions. If you find the front door closed, just ring the bell or knock and they will let you in.

Church St. George Rotunda, Sofia

bul. Kniaz Aleksandar Dondukov 2, 1000 Sofia Center, Sofia, Bulgaria

In the background is the Sheraton Hotel, Sofia.

Light a candle for good health at St. Sofia Church

St Sofia Church is the second oldest church in Sofia, dating back to the 4th-6th century. This is the church after which the city of  Sofia was named. The church includes an  archaeological museum at the basement which can be visited for only 6 lev.

During my visit, there was a wedding taking place.

St. Nedelya Church

Of the Byzantine Revival architecture, St. Nedelya Church is a stunning Eastern Orthodox church in the center of Sofia.

2. Indulge in Sofia’s burgeoning street art scene

…definitely one of the top things to do in Sofia.

Sofia city center isn’t widely famous for its street art, but if you stray into the outskirts just a tad you’ll find a ton of interesting graffiti, murals and paste-ups.

The colorful transformer boxes that grace the city are not to be missed either.

Poduyane and Hadzhi Dimitar neighborhoods are probably the most decked-out neighborhoods of all, with several interesting walls of murals and grafitti. You’ll see plenty of interesting street art by a variety of graffiti artists and muralists alike.

Nineties by Urban Creatures – пл. Чавдар, 1510 Kv. Poduyane

Start from Serdika and work your way east, towards Poduyane. Take the footpath on the bridge over the motorway and keep right. Get down the first set of stairs, and cross over under the bridge.

At the end of a row of houses on the right hand side, you’ll see Nineties sitting pretty on the gable of the house at the end.

“Memorial” by Bulgarian artist Nasimo – ul. “Macgahan”, 1510 Hadzhi Dimitar

3. Tour Sofia’s monumental buildings

The Beautiful National Theatre “Ivan Vazov”

ul. “Dyakon Ignatiy” 5, 1000 Sofia Center, Sofia, Bulgaria

The Ivan Vazov National Theater is Bulgaria’s national theater. It is also the oldest and most authoritative theater in the country and one of the monumental landmarks of Sofia.

The Monumental Largo Complex

Hang out at the City’s Garden

Sofia is a green city lots of nice parks.

Borisova gradina or Knyaz-Borisova gradina 

Translated as Boris’ Garden or Knyaz Boris’ Garden is the oldest and probably the largest park in Sofia. You will find a little lake, lots of statues of famous Bulgarians and even 2 big stadiums of Sofia.

City garden

This is the garden right in front of the National Theater. With its bounty of cafes and places to eat, swings and a fountain, City garden is a perfect spot to hang out and relax when in Sofia.

You can also while the time away as you watch elderly men playing a game of chess.

South Park Sofia

One of the most beautiful and popular parks in Sofia, South Park boasts asphalt walking and cycling paths, lovely flowerbeds, and plenty of cafes.

4. Find healing at one of Sofia’s mineral water springs

5.  Stroll along the Vitosha Boulevard

Vitosha Boulevard is one of the must visit must see places in Sofia.

Lined up with mostly high-end boutiques, caftes, restaurants, bars, and ice cream palours, the Boulevard is perfect for people watching and also for getting your dose of vitamin D. It is also a great spot for views of Vitosha mountain.

6. Go on day trips from Sofia

Where to Stay in Sofia, Bulgaria

Booking.com

Are you on Pinterest? Pin this for Later!