UltimateCity Guide Sofia
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The Rotunda of St George among the buildings of the Largo

30 of the best · Sofia, Bulgaria

The Best Things to See in Sofia

From Roman streets beneath the Largo to golden domes, a 13th-century masterpiece and a mosque by the hot springs, the essential sights of Sofia, with the back story of the city.

Our 30 favourites, listed A–Z · Updated October 2026

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Insiders' picks

Three of our favourites from this list, vetted by people who know and love Sofia.

  1. The back story

    St Alexander Nevsky Cathedral

    City Centre·In depth: architecture

    Gold domes, a sea of frescoes and bells heard across the city: the story of Sofia’s great cathedral.

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  2. UNESCO World Heritage

    Boyana Church

    Boyana·Medieval church·Ticket

    A small medieval church at the foot of Vitosha whose frescoes of 1259 are among the masterpieces of European art.

    Боянско езеро 3Explore View on map

  3. Walk the Roman streets

    Ancient Serdica Complex

    City Centre·Roman ruins

    The excavated streets and buildings of Roman Serdica in the heart of the city, around the Serdika metro station.

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The full list: Sights, A–Z

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Neighbourhood

The back story 9

The story of Sofia.

  1. The back story

    Boyana Church: frescoes of 1259

    Boyana·In depth: art

    A tiny church at the foot of Vitosha holds some of the finest medieval paintings in Europe.

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  2. The back story

    Jewish Sofia: the synagogue and its story

    City Centre·In depth: heritage

    The largest Sephardic synagogue in Europe, and a community with a remarkable history.

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  3. The back story

    Ottoman Sofia: mosques, baths and bazaars

    City Centre·In depth: history

    Five centuries of Ottoman Sofia, read in a mosque by a great architect, a church that was once a mosque, and a museum in a former mosque.

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  4. The back story

    Socialist-era Sofia: the architecture of the 20th century

    City Centre·In depth: architecture

    The Largo, the National Palace of Culture and the housing estates: how the second half of the 20th century shaped the city you see today.

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  5. The back story

    Sofia: the back story

    Sofia·In depth: the city

    Seven thousand years of history under one city: Thracian Serdica, a Roman city of baths, Byzantine churches, Ottoman mosques and a capital rebuilt after 1878.

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  6. The back story

    St Alexander Nevsky Cathedral

    City Centre·In depth: architecture

    Gold domes, a sea of frescoes and bells heard across the city: the story of Sofia’s great cathedral.

    Explore View on map

  7. The back story

    The Cyrillic alphabet: Bulgaria’s gift to the world

    Sofia·In depth: history

    How two brothers and their disciples created an alphabet now used by some 250 million people.

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  8. The back story

    Vasil Levski, the Apostle of Freedom

    City Centre·In depth: history

    Why a slim obelisk on a busy boulevard is one of the most visited monuments in Bulgaria.

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  9. The back story

    Vitosha Boulevard: the street with a mountain view

    Vitosha Boulevard·In depth: city life

    Sofia’s favourite street, with cafés and shops and the mountain at the end.

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The icons 5

The landmarks that define the city.

  1. Walk the Roman streets

    Ancient Serdica Complex

    City Centre·Roman ruins

    The excavated streets and buildings of Roman Serdica in the heart of the city, around the Serdika metro station.

    Explore View on map

  2. UNESCO World Heritage

    Boyana Church

    Boyana·Medieval church·Ticket

    A small medieval church at the foot of Vitosha whose frescoes of 1259 are among the masterpieces of European art.

    Боянско езеро 3Explore View on map

  3. The church that named the city

    Church of St Sofia

    City Centre·Early Christian basilica

    The 6th-century brick basilica that gave Sofia its name, with an underground museum of the ancient necropolis.

    Париж 2Explore View on map

  4. The oldest building in Sofia

    Rotunda of St George

    City Centre·Roman church

    A 4th-century Roman brick rotunda in a courtyard behind the Presidency, the oldest building in Sofia, with medieval frescoes inside.

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  5. Cafés with a mountain view

    Vitosha Boulevard

    Vitosha Boulevard·Pedestrian street

    Sofia’s pedestrian main street, lined with cafés, shops and restaurants, with Vitosha Mountain rising at the end.

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The historic centre 10

Baths, mosques, churches and a synagogue within a few minutes’ walk.

  1. Ottoman Sofia

    Banya Bashi Mosque

    City Centre·Mosque

    The working Ottoman mosque of 1566, beside the hot springs, attributed to the great architect Mimar Sinan.

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  2. A bath palace of 1913

    Central Mineral Baths & Sofia History Museum

    City Centre·Museum·Ticket

    The striped Vienna Secession bath palace of 1913, now the Regional History Museum, with hot mineral water fountains outside.

    пл. Бански 1Explore View on map

  3. On the main square

    Church of St Nedelya

    City Centre·Cathedral

    An Orthodox cathedral on Sveta Nedelya Square, at the heart of the old centre.

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  4. A mosque turned church

    Church of the Seven Saints

    City Centre·Church

    A 16th-century Ottoman mosque, the “Black Mosque”, converted into an Orthodox church in the early 20th century.

    Граф Игнатиев 25Explore View on map

  5. The nation’s stage

    Ivan Vazov National Theatre

    City Centre·Theatre·Ticket

    Bulgaria’s national theatre, a neoclassical building of 1906 facing the City Garden and its fountain.

    Дякон Игнатий 5Explore View on map

  6. Facing the Tsar Liberator

    National Assembly

    City Centre·Parliament building

    The neo-Renaissance parliament building facing the equestrian statue of the Tsar Liberator.

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  7. Golden onion domes

    Russian Church of St Nicholas

    City Centre·Church

    A small church of 1914 with golden onion domes and green tiles, one of the most photographed buildings in Sofia.

    бул. Цар Освободител 3Explore View on map

  8. Moorish Revival splendour

    Sofia Synagogue

    City Centre·Synagogue·Ticket

    The great Sephardic synagogue of 1909, one of the largest in Europe, with a magnificent domed interior.

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  9. A church below the street

    Sveta Petka Samardzhiyska

    City Centre·Church

    A small medieval church sunk below street level in the underpass at the Largo.

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  10. Monumental Sofia

    The Largo

    City Centre·Architectural ensemble

    The monumental 1950s ensemble at the heart of Sofia, built over the Roman city, with the Presidency and government buildings.

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Modern Sofia 4

The great culture centre of 1981.

  1. Gateway to the park

    Eagles’ Bridge

    Borisova Gradina·Landmark

    A bridge with four bronze eagles, at the entrance to Borisova Gradina.

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  2. The brothers’ statue

    National Library St Cyril and Methodius

    City Centre·Library

    Bulgaria’s national library, with the statue of Cyril and Methodius in front.

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  3. A landmark of 1981

    National Palace of Culture (NDK)

    NDK·Culture & congress centre

    The vast hexagonal culture and congress centre of 1981, with fountains and a park reaching to Vitosha Boulevard.

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  4. Bulgaria’s oldest university

    Sofia University

    City Centre·University building

    The grand main building of Sofia University, founded in 1888.

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Beyond the centre 2

A royal park and the art of an era.

  1. Monuments of an era

    Museum of Socialist Art

    Outskirts·Museum & sculpture park·Ticket

    A sculpture park and gallery of art from the socialist period, part of the National Gallery.

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  2. A royal garden

    Vrana Palace

    Outskirts·Royal palace & park·Ticket

    The former residence of Tsar Boris III on the eastern edge of the city, with a beautiful park open to visitors.

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Churches and mosques welcome visitors outside services; dress respectfully.

Explore more of Sofia

38 of the best Restaurants23 of the best Cafés & bakeries20 of the best Bars & craft beer10 of the best Nightlife26 of the best Hotels39 of the best Museums & music7 of the best Cinema10 of the best Parks7 of the best Walks6 of the best Thermal pools & beach clubs6 of the best Fitness + Spa4 of the best Medical3 of the best Property19 of the best Shopping3 of the best Work & co-workingGetting around Getting around8 of the best Cars

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