Ringed by Vitosha Mountain and laced with mineral springs, Sofia is a city where Roman streets, Ottoman baths, and Socialist-era architecture stand side by side. Founded as Serdica, it has been coveted by emperors and poets alike; today its onion-domed cathedrals and café culture make it one of Europe’s most underrated city breaks.

Expect grand squares, tram-lined boulevards, and a compact historic core ideal for walking. Highlights include Alexander Nevsky Cathedral’s shimmering mosaics, the 4th-century St. George Rotunda tucked among modern buildings, and the Largo’s revealing layers of Roman Serdica under glass. Food is hearty and seasonal—think shopska salad, banitsa pastries, grilled kebapche, and a glass of fiery rakia.

Practical notes: the currency is the Bulgarian lev (BGN); English is widely understood in the center; and contactless cards work on the metro and buses. Sofia is generally safe; use normal city smarts at markets and at night. Bring a light layer for churches (shoulders/knees covered at monasteries) and comfortable walking shoes for cobblestones.

Sofia

Sofia charms with contrasts: a glittering cathedral in one direction, a functioning mosque and a grand synagogue in another, and steaming hot mineral fountains right in the middle. Vitosha Boulevard’s café terraces buzz by day; by night, craft beer bars and creative cocktail dens take over.

Top sights include the Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, St. Sofia Basilica, St. George Rotunda (4th c.), the Largo and Roman ruins, the Sofia History Museum (in the old Central Mineral Bath), Banya Bashi Mosque, the Synagogue, and the National Archaeological Museum. Don’t miss the Ivan Vazov National Theatre and City Garden for a photogenic pause.

• Stay: Browse stays on Hotels.com and apartments on VRBO. For specific picks: design-forward Sense Hotel Sofia (rooftop views of Alexander Nevsky), family-friendly Novotel Sofia (easy airport access), and budget-favorite Hostel Mostel Sofia.
• Get in: For flights within Europe, compare prices on Omio (often 2–3 hours from hubs like Vienna or Berlin; 3–3.5 hours from London, ~$60–180). From outside Europe, check Trip.com and Kiwi.com. Sofia Airport to the center: Metro Line 4 (~25 minutes), or taxi (20–30 minutes depending on traffic).
• Get around: The metro is clean and fast; trams/buses reach most neighborhoods. For trains or buses within Bulgaria and to nearby countries, see Omio Trains and Omio Buses.

Day 1: Arrive in Sofia, First Tastes and Golden Domes

Morning: Travel to Sofia. If you land early, drop bags at your hotel and take a restorative coffee at Chucky’s Coffee House (specialty espresso) or DABOV Specialty Coffee (local roaster).

Afternoon: Stretch your legs on an orientation loop: see the Roman St. George Rotunda hidden in a courtyard, the Largo and preserved streets of ancient Serdica under glass, and the Sofia History Museum in the old Central Mineral Bath (sip from the outdoor mineral fountains). Pop into the Banya Bashi Mosque and stroll to the grand Alexander Nevsky Cathedral—its interior icons glow in the afternoon light.

Evening: Dinner at MOMA Bulgarian Food & Wine for homestyle clay-pot dishes and shopska salad, or Made in Blue for modern Bulgarian plates in a beautiful townhouse garden. For a nightcap, the Sense Rooftop Bar frames the cathedral’s domes after dark; cocktail lovers can try Sputnik (creative, Bulgarian botanicals). If you prefer craft beer, Kanaal pours an excellent rotating selection.

Day 2: Sofia’s Icons, Markets, and Neighborhood Flavor

Morning: Join a guided city walk to unpack the layers you’re seeing. We like the Sofia Walking Private City Tour for tailored pacing and insights into Roman, Ottoman, and 20th‑century chapters.

Pre‑tour breakfast ideas: Fabrika Daga (Rainbow Factory) for banitsa and homemade jams or Mekitsa & Coffee for hot, fluffy mekitsi dusted with powdered sugar or topped with sirene cheese.

Afternoon: Explore the National Archaeological Museum (Thracian gold to medieval artifacts), then linger in the City Garden by the Ivan Vazov National Theatre—street chess and plane trees set a scene worthy of a novel. For lunch, Made in Blue (seasonal, vegetable-forward), or Shtastlivetsa Vitosha for hearty Bulgarian classics with mountain views down the boulevard.

Evening: Try Pod Lipite (since 1926) for organic farm-to-table Bulgarian recipes—grilled kebapche, kapama, and baked peppers—with live folk music some nights. Alternatively, dive into retro nostalgia at Raketa Rakia Bar: order a flights-of-rakia sampler and pair with tarator (cold cucumber soup) and grilled meats. Dessert at Villa Rosiche (layer cakes) before a gentle stroll along pedestrian Vitosha Boulevard.

Day 3: UNESCO Day Trip — Rila Monastery and Boyana Church

Let Sofia be your base for Bulgaria’s spiritual heart. This full-day guided excursion connects two UNESCO World Heritage sites: the medieval frescoes of Boyana Church and the mountain-ringed Rila Monastery.

Recommended tour: Rila Monastery and Boyana Church Full-Day Tour (8.5–10 hours, hotel pickup options, time for photos and the small museums at Rila). Note the dress code: shoulders and knees covered inside the monastery complex.

Expect a morning visit to Boyana’s 13th‑century frescoes—astonishingly lifelike—then a scenic 2‑hour drive into the Rila Mountains. At Rila, admire the striped arcades, wood-carved iconostasis, and mountain silence. For lunch, many tours pause at a local mehana (tavern) or trout grill near the monastery; order grilled river trout, beans in clay pot (bob chorba), or fresh bread with sheep’s cheese and honey.

Day 4: Tastes of Sofia, Last Strolls, and Departure

Morning: Savor Bulgaria on a guided tasting walk that doubles as a neighborhood tour. Book the Sofia Food & Tasting Tour with Communist-Era Tram Ride for banitsa fresh from the oven, grilled cheese on a tile, old-school stuffed peppers, and a nostalgic tram segment with stories from the period.

Alternative if you prefer nature time before you go: ride the Simeonovo gondola to Aleko (weather permitting) for Vitosha vistas; allow 4 hours round-trip including transfers.

Afternoon: Last-minute shopping along Vitosha Boulevard (rose oil soaps, lavender, pottery). Grab a quick lunch at Skapto (Burgers + Bulgarian craft beer) or a fast traditional bite at Hadjidraganov’s Houses if you didn’t make it earlier. Then head to the airport: Metro Line 4 reaches both terminals in ~25 minutes; taxis typically take 20–30 minutes depending on traffic.

Evening: Departure. If you have an extra night, book a table at Cosmos for inventive “New Bulgarian” cuisine—think foraged herbs, smoked trout, and imaginative desserts that reinterpret classics.

Practical Eats & Drinks Shortlist (save this!)

• Breakfast/coffee: Fabrika Daga (brunch, house-made jams), Mekitsa & Coffee (Bulgarian fried dough), DABOV Specialty Coffee, Chucky’s Coffee House.
• Lunch: Made in Blue (seasonal), Shtastlivetsa Vitosha (Bulgarian classics), Skapto (casual burgers), Soul Kitchen (plant-forward, calm garden).
• Dinner: Pod Lipite (historic tavern), MOMA (regional recipes, embroidery-inspired decor), Raketa Rakia Bar (retro + rakia), Cosmos (creative fine dining).
• Bars: Sense Rooftop Bar (cathedral views), Sputnik (cocktails), Kanaal (craft beer), Hambara (candlelit, artsy).
• Typical costs: Coffee BGN 4–7; lunch mains BGN 15–30; dinner mains BGN 22–40; rakia BGN 6–12 per shot.

Optional Add-Ons (if you extend your stay)

• Plovdiv day trip: Ancient theatre, colorful Old Town, Kapana creative district. Consider the Plovdiv Full Day Tour from Sofia (guided transport, history-rich walk).
• Rila Lakes hike: For mountain lovers in summer, see the glacial “Seven Rila Lakes” with a guided hike: Seven Rila Lakes Day Tour.

Where to book essentials:

• Hotels & apartments: Hotels.com – Sofia | VRBO – Sofia | Sense Hotel Sofia | Novotel Sofia | Hostel Mostel Sofia
• Flights/trains/buses: Omio Flights (Europe) | Omio Trains (Europe) | Omio Buses (Europe) | Trip.com Flights (global) | Kiwi.com Flights (global)
• Tours and activities in Sofia: See the highlighted Viator experiences linked above.

In four days you’ll have traced Sofia from Roman Serdica to today’s creative capital, tasted the best of Bulgarian cuisine, and stood beneath the frescoed arches of Rila Monastery. It’s a city that rewards curiosity—with every side street offering another story, another café, another view of the mountains.