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City Guide of Sofia, Bulgaria

·  City Overview

·  Getting There

·  Transportation

·  Business

·  Attractions

·  Culture & Events

·  Nightlife

·  Shopping

·  Cost of Living

 

 

CITY OVERVIEW

Alexander Nevski Cathedral, SofiaSofia city is located in the Sofia Valley, at the foot of Vitosha Mountain (2,280 m). The town occurred in the 8th c. B.C. around a mineral spring, which is now in the centre of the city. "Ever Growing, Never Ageing" is its motto and since 1879 Sofia has been the capital of Bulgaria. Sofia's city centre is an eclectic mix of architectural styles, represented by historical and cultural monuments that the Thracians, Romans, Byzantians, Slavs, and Turks left behind in this beautiful city.

 

 

Location: Western Bulgaria

Time zone: GMT +2 (as Helsinki, Athens, Tel Aviv)

Population: 1,200,000

Average temperature in January: -2°C (28.5°F)

Average temperature in July: 22°C (71.5°F)

Electricity: 220 V, 50 Hz. Western-style appliances need adapters for the country's round two-pin plugs, as well as voltage converters (for some US appliances only)

 

Map of Sofia City Centre

GETTING THERE

Sofia International Airport (SOF)
Phone: +359 2 937 2211/12
Website: www.sofia-airport.bg/default.aspx
Location: 10 km (6 miles) east of the city centre

 

Getting to Sofia by airMajor airlines

In addition to Bulgaria's national airline, Bulgaria Air, all major European airlines have scheduled flights to Sofia Airport including: Aeroflot, Air France, Air Malta, Alitalia, Austrian Airlines, British Airways, CSA, Hemus Air, KLM, LOT, Lufthansa, Malev, Olympic Airways, TAROM, Turkish Airlines.


Approximate flight times to Sofia

From London - 3 h 20 min; from New York - 10 h 10 min; from Los Angeles - 14 h 20 min; from Toronto - 11 h 35 min.

Transport to the city

The public transport bus 84 runs a regular service – every ten or 15 minutes, 05:00-23:00 – from the airport to Orlov Most (Eagle's Bridge), close to the city centre (journey time takes about 20 minutes). Tickets cost 0.70 BGN and can be bought from the kiosk near the bus stop or directly from the driver. Taxis are also readily available. Foreign visitors are sometimes overcharged, so have in mind that a charge of approximately 0.60 - 0.80 BGN per km is standard.

 

Cheap Airline Tickets to Sofia, Bulgaria

TRANSPORTATION
Public Transport
Public transportation in Sofia is represented by trams, buses and trolley buses running on scheduled service. Trams operate from 05:00-01:00, while buses and trolley buses operate from 05:00-23:00. There are no night services. There is also a single metro line, northwest from Sveta Nedelya Square to Obelya and Lyulin suburbs. The construction of the first metro diameter continues to Mladost suburb and it is expected to be fully functional at the beginning of 2009.

Tickets cost 0.70 BGN and are sold at kiosks situated at the major bus stops. Once on board, tickets should be perforated using the metal punchers located near the windows.

Sofia Taxi / CabTaxis
Much has been done to improve the reputation of the local taxi drivers, who were said to overcharge foreign visitors. Now, all taxis are required to be yellow painted and operate by taxi-meter. Official charges are relatively cheap – 0.60 - 0.80 BGN per kilometer, and they must be clearly announced on the windshield of the car. The most reputable firm is "OK Supertrans". Taxi ranks are also located at strategic points throughout the city centre. Leaving a tip by rounding the bill is a common practice.

Driving in the City
Traffic jam during rush hour, which is at its worst in the evening 15:00-19:00, can be an annoying experience. However, once away from the city centre, traffic runs quite freely along the wide, open boulevards. Street names are almost exclusively in Cyrillic letters, so, even with a map, orientation can be difficult for drivers who only read Latin script.
Parking places in Sofia
Parking in Sofia city centre is limited to two hours in designated Blue zones, which are found on Narodno Sabranie Square, Alexander Batenberg Square and Alexander Nevski Square. Visitors should avoid parking in restricted zones, even if the locals appear to do so. Sofia City Council is quick to use yellow wheel clamps on offending vehicles.
BUSINESS

Business in Sofia, BulgariaBusiness environment in Sofia and in Bulgaria as a whole is improving – GDP growth was 6% in 2007 and unemployment in the city was one of the lowest at the end of 2007.

 

The Bulgarian government is keen to attract foreign investors and has passed new laws to protect and assist foreign businesses, attracted primarily by a highly qualified, computer literate labour force. The main business districts in Sofia are located on Vitosha Boulevard and in the Sveta Nedelya area.

English is generally well understood, although employing an interpreter will help business visitors minimize the risk of misunderstandings. It is important that visitors should note that that nodding of the head means 'No', while shaking the head means 'Yes'.

Standard office hours are 09:00-18:00, most banks close at 17:00.

 

Conference rooms in Bulgaria

ATTRACTIONS

St Alexander Nevski Memorial Church

Alexander Nevski Cathedral, SofiaSaid to be Sofia's most photographed monument, Alexander Nevski is a magnificent neo-Byzantine cathedral-sized church, topped by copper and golden domes. Considered the heart of the city, it was built between 1882 and 1912, in honor of the Russian soldiers, who fell when the Russian army helped liberate Bulgaria from Ottoman rule in 1878. The church takes its name from Alexander Nevski, credited with saving Russia from Swedish troops in 1240 and the patron saint of the family of the tsar at that time, Alexander II – also known as Tsar Osvoboditel, the 'King Liberator' – who led the army that drove out the Turks.

Alexander Nevski Cathedral, SofiaInside, the central altar is dedicated to St Alexander Nevski, the southern altar to St Boris (who brought Christianity to Bulgaria) and the northern altar to Saints Cyril and Methodius (who created the Cyrillic alphabet). A total of 32 Russian and 13 Bulgarian artists worked on the delicate murals. The Icon Museum is located in the crypt, to the left of the main entrance. Here, over 300 icons and mural frescoes from the country’s many monasteries, tracing the development of Bulgarian icon-painting from the late 9th century up to the end of the 19th century. There are English labels, as well as a guidebook available in Bulgarian and English. The square in front of the church, Ploshtad Alexander Nevski, hosts stalls selling souvenirs, dubious antiques and bric-a-brac throughout the year.

St Alexander Nevski Memorial Church
Opening hours: Daily 07:00-18:00; services 08:00 and 17:00, Sat 18:00, Sun 17:00.
Admission: Free

Icon Museum (Crypt)
Opening hours: Wed-Sun 10:00-17:00.
Admission: 10 BGN

Church of St SofiaChurch of St Sofia

Standing next to St Alexander Nevski, this early Byzantine brick church dates to the fifth century, although there were several churches here before it, as well as the pre-Christian Serdika city necropolis. The present church still follows the classic Byzantine plan of a regular cross with a central dome. The city was named after this very church in the 14th century, which was converted to a mosque under Ottoman rule, when the original 12th-century frescoes were destroyed and minarets added. During the 19th century, the building was abandoned, following damage caused by an earthquake. After the Liberation in 1878, it was restored and reinstated as a church and now is a popular spot for weddings, funerals and baptisms.

Outside, to the left of the main entrance, stands the Monument to the Unknown Soldier, lit by a perpetual flame in honor of those who died for Bulgaria. In the back of the church are stalls selling handmade lace and other traditional textiles.

Opening hours: Daily 09:00-18:00.
Admission: Free

 

Church of St NedelyaSt Nedelya Church, Sofia

Sveta Nedelya, with its huge dome, is a typical example of neo-Byzantine architecture. There has been a church here since medieval times, although the present building dates from the mid-19th century. In 1925, the church was largely destroyed when Communist rebels exploded a bomb during a funeral service, attended by Tsar Boris III and his cabinet ministers, killing 123 people.

Statue of St SofiaThe square, Ploshtad Sveta Nedelya, used to be named after Lenin and a statue of the Communist leader once stood here. It has since been replaced by a 24m (79ft) bronze statue of the goddess protector of the city, Sofia, holding the symbols of wisdom and fame.
Opening hours: Daily 07:00-18:00.
Admission: Free

 

Rotunda of St GeorgeRotunda of St George, Sofia

Standing in the courtyard of the Sheraton Sofia Hotel Balkan, the tiny sunken redbrick Rotunda of St George is the oldest preserved building in the city, built in the 4th century, as a Roman temple. Partly destroyed by the Huns, it was rebuilt as a church by Justinian, in the sixth century. The Turks converted the rotunda into a mosque, until it was finally reinstated as a church. Careful restoration work has revealed three layers of exquisite medieval frescoes – some dating from as early as the 10th century – which had been hidden by plaster during the 500 years of Ottoman rule. The impressive cupola bears a 14th-century portrait of Christ the Pantocrator, surrounded by four angels and symbols of the Evangelists. Beneath, 12th-century fresco work depicts 22 prophets holding scrolls, with texts alternately in Bulgarian and Greek. To the east lie excavated foundations of an octagonal-shaped Roman public building and paved street.

Opening hours: Daily 08:00-17:00 (winter); daily 08:00-18:00 (summer); liturgy 09:00 every day.
Admission: Free

CULTURE & EVENTS
Cultural Events in Sofia, BulgariaSofia certainly takes culture seriously. In keeping with European tradition, Sofians enjoy ballet, opera and theatre. These are of such high quality and low price, visitors are advised to have a look, despite language difficulties. The city’s official arts centre, National Palace of Culture (NDK), is a colossal modern structure incorporating concert halls, exhibition spaces, congress facilities and the Lumiere Cinema. Most major cultural events take place here. The box office is to the left of the main entrance.
Ballet in Sofia, Bulgaria
Music

The Bulgaria Hall and Bulgaria Chamber Hall is the top venue symphonic concerts and boasts a showpiece pipe organ. The National Radio Orchestra is highly recommended. Sofia National Opera hosts the main opera and ballet performances in one of city’s most impressive buildings. The foyers, balconies and main hall are painted with scenes from various well known operas. Finally, Eastern Orthodox Church services offer a perfect opportunity to hear highly skilled choirs chanting amid incense and flickering candles.

National Theatre Ivan Vazov, SofiaTheatre

The theatre season in Sofia runs from early October to late June. Naturally, plays are staged in Bulgarian but the high standard of the performances can make a visit to the theatre a memorable experience. Tickets cost 5-10 BGN. Ivan Vazov National Theatre is an impressive neo-classical building and home to the national theatre company. Works by eminent Bulgarians and classical writers are staged here. Sofia is famous for a sophisticated puppet tradition and it is not all geared for children – Kuklen Teatar (Central Puppet Theatre), gives regular performances for all ages.

Cultural EventsNational Palace of Culture (NDK), Sofia in Sofia

Sofia Music Weeks run through late May to late July. The programme features classical music, attracting international soloists and ensembles, as well as ballet. The International Jazz Festival takes place in November, attracting local musicians and performers from all over the world. The Music Evenings, in early-December, draw Bulgarian classical musicians.

Further information about cultural events in Sofia here: Theatre & Opera, Exhibitions, Classical Music, Concerts

ENTERTAINMENT

Sofia Night Life Dining in Sofia: Restaurants

Sofia Nightlife: Live Music, Club Music Clubs & Bars

Sport & Theme Parks in Sofia: Sport & Entertainment

Cinemas in Sofia: Cinemas

SHOPPING
The main shopping areas in Sofia are on Vitosha Boulevard (now pedestrian and closed for vehicles), Graf Ignatiev Str., Rakovski Str. and Pirotska Str.
Shopping in Sofia, Bulgaria
The largest shopping malls in the city include TzUM, City Center Sofia, Mall of Sofia, and Sky City Center. All of them host stores of world famous brands and offer many cafés, restaurants and entertainment facilities such as the IMAX 3D movie theatre and the Mega Extreme Bowling Centre. The Tsentralni Hali (Central Food Halls), on Maria Luisa Boulevard have been refurbished to form a spotlessly clean and well-organized bazaar and are open daily 07:00-24:00.

Souvenirs, such as reproduction icons, Russian dolls, jewelry, ceramics, wooden items, embroidered tablecloths and lace are for sale at stalls in front of Alexander Nevski church. Also worth investigating for souvenirs are the shops in the subway between TzUM and the Sheraton Hotel. There is a large book market at Slaveykov Square, near the National Theatre and Rakovski Str.

Luxury goods to take home include Bulgarian wines, notably the full-bodied red, and "rakia" – favourites being "grozdova" made from grapes and "slivova" from plum. These are available in shops throughout the city.

Most shops are open 09:00-19:00 on weekdays and until 13:00 on Saturday. Some shops are also open on Saturday afternoon and even Sunday. VAT in Bulgaria is 20% and is normally included in the total price.
DAILY COST OF LIVING

0.5l bottle of mineral water: 0.60 BGN

0.5l bottle of beer: 1.50-3.00 BGN

Financial Times Newspaper: 4.00 BGN

Bus ticket: 0.70 BGN

Taxi: 0.60 - 0.80 BGN per km

Three-course meal with wine/beer: 15-30 BGN

Cinema/Theatre ticket: 7-16 BGN

 

1 Bulgarian Lev (BGN) =  Euro EUR 0.51;  Pound Sterling GBP 0.40;  US Dollar USD 0.80;  Japanese Yen JPY 80.00

Currency exchange rates as of March, 2008

 

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