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 Sofia
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 |
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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
 Major
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 |
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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.
 Taxis
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 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. |
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 Business
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 |
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St Alexander Nevski Memorial Church
 Said
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.
 Inside,
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 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 Nedelya
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.
 The
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 George
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 |
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 Sofia
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.
MusicThe 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.
 Theatre
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 Events
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 |
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Dining in Sofia:
Restaurants
Sofia Nightlife:
Live Music,
Club Music,
Clubs & Bars
Sport & Theme Parks in Sofia:
Sport & Entertainment
Cinemas in Sofia:
Cinemas |
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The main shopping areas in Sofia are on Vitosha Boulevard (now
pedestrian and closed for vehicles), Graf Ignatiev Str., Rakovski Str.
and Pirotska Str.
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. |
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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) =
EUR 0.51;
GBP 0.40;
USD 0.80;
JPY 80.00
Currency exchange rates as of March, 2008
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