Sights · 30 of the best in Sofia
Banya Bashi Mosque
Ottoman Sofia
Photo Credit
Image courtesy of © Adam Jones from Kelowna, BC, Canada · CC BY-SA 2.0 via Wikimedia CommonsAbout Banya Bashi Mosque
The Banya Bashi Mosque, “the mosque of many baths”, was built in 1566 beside the hot springs and is attributed to Mimar Sinan, the greatest architect of the Ottoman Empire. It is still a working mosque; visitors are welcome outside prayer times if dressed respectfully.
Why it's on our list
- Built in 1566
- Attributed to Mimar Sinan
- A working mosque beside the hot springs
Opening hours, prices and seasonal openings change, so please check with Banya Bashi Mosque before you go.
What’s nearby
Distances from Banya Bashi Mosque are approximate, measured in a straight line (as the crow flies). Times are approximate too: walking at about 80 metres a minute, cycling at about 15 km/h and driving at typical city-traffic speeds. Traffic and routes vary.
Nearest metro stations
- Serdika IIM1M2M4150 m2 min walk
- SerdikaM1M4250 m3 min walk
- Lavov mostM2700 m9 min walk
Nearest taxi ranks
- Taxi rank, Aleksandar Stamboliyski Blvd.350 m4 min walk
- Taxi rank, Knyaz Alexander Dondukov Blvd.600 m7 min walk
Key sights
- Central Mineral Baths100 mWalk 1 minCycle 1 minCar or taxi 3 min
- Sofia Synagogue150 mWalk 2 minCycle 1 minCar or taxi 3 min
- Church of St Nedelya300 mWalk 4 minCycle 1 minCar or taxi 4 min
- National Archaeological Museum400 mWalk 5 minCycle 2 minCar or taxi 4 min
- Russian Church of St Nicholas650 mWalk 8 minCycle 3 minCar or taxi 5 min
- Ivan Vazov National Theatre700 mWalk 8 minCycle 3 minCar or taxi 5 min
- Church of St Sofia800 mWalk 10 minCycle 3 minCar or taxi 5 min
- St Alexander Nevsky Cathedral950 mWalk 12 minCycle 4 minCar or taxi 6 min
- National Palace of Culture (NDK)1.7 kmWalk 21 minCycle 7 minCar or taxi 8 min
- Borisova Gradina3.0 kmWalk 38 minCycle 12 minCar or taxi 12 min
Getting around
- Central Bus Station1.2 kmWalk 15 minCycle 5 minCar or taxi 7 min
- Sofia Central Station1.4 kmWalk 18 minCycle 6 minCar or taxi 7 min
- Sofia Airport (SOF)7.6 kmCycle 30 minCar or taxi 26 min