Sights · 30 of the best in Sofia
National Palace of Culture (NDK)
A landmark of 1981
Photo Credit
Image courtesy of © Ivano Giambattista · CC0 via Wikimedia CommonsAbout National Palace of Culture (NDK)
The National Palace of Culture, known to everyone as NDK, opened in 1981 and is one of the largest congress and culture centres in South-Eastern Europe. It hosts concerts, film festivals and exhibitions, and the park and fountains in front, at the end of Vitosha Boulevard, are a favourite meeting place.
Why it's on our list
- Opened in 1981
- Concerts, festivals and exhibitions
- Fountains and a park
Opening hours, prices and seasonal openings change, so please check with National Palace of Culture (NDK) before you go.
What’s nearby
Distances from National Palace of Culture (NDK) 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
- National Palace of CultureM2M3400 m5 min walk
- National Palace of Culture IIM3500 m6 min walk
- European UnionM2600 m8 min walk
Nearest taxi ranks
- Taxi rank, Vitosha Blvd.150 m2 min walk
- Taxi rank, Evlogi and Hristo Georgiev Blvd.300 m4 min walk
Key sights
- Ivan Vazov National Theatre1.2 kmWalk 15 minCycle 5 minCar or taxi 7 min
- Church of St Nedelya1.3 kmWalk 17 minCycle 5 minCar or taxi 7 min
- National Archaeological Museum1.4 kmWalk 17 minCycle 6 minCar or taxi 7 min
- Russian Church of St Nicholas1.5 kmWalk 18 minCycle 6 minCar or taxi 7 min
- Church of St Sofia1.7 kmWalk 21 minCycle 7 minCar or taxi 8 min
- Central Mineral Baths1.7 kmWalk 21 minCycle 7 minCar or taxi 8 min
- Banya Bashi Mosque1.7 kmWalk 21 minCycle 7 minCar or taxi 8 min
- St Alexander Nevsky Cathedral1.7 kmWalk 21 minCycle 7 minCar or taxi 8 min
- Sofia Synagogue1.7 kmWalk 22 minCycle 7 minCar or taxi 8 min
- Borisova Gradina2.0 kmWalk 25 minCycle 8 minCar or taxi 9 min
Getting around
- Central Bus Station2.9 kmWalk 36 minCycle 11 minCar or taxi 12 min
- Sofia Central Station3.1 kmWalk 38 minCycle 12 minCar or taxi 12 min
- Sofia Airport (SOF)7.8 kmCycle 31 minCar or taxi 26 min