Sofia

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Quick Facts

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Coordinates

• Latitude: 42.710543
• Longitude: 23.323827

On Travellerspoint

• 19 Sofia Apartments
• 9 Sofia Guesthouses
• 19 Sofia Hostels
• 27 Sofia Hotels

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Introduction

Church of St. George

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Located in the Sofia Valley, Sofia (София) is the capital of Bulgaria and the biggest city in the country with around 1.4 million citizens. As the centre of the country's political, cultural and business scenes, Sofia is a bustling and dynamic city, but it has a surprisingly relaxed feeling. Whether it is the beautiful scenery in close proximity, the recreational opportunities presented by the proximity to Mount Vitosha and Lyolin, the beautiful orthodox churches or the fascinating blend of architecture influenced by both Communist and Western European styles, the city seems much less busy than it's title of capital would have you think.

With roots tracing back over 7000 years, Sofia is one of the oldest settlements in Europe and numerous cultural, historical and archaeological monuments have been preserved. The centre of Sofia contains over 300 bars, restaurants and cafes and the blend of both old and new gives the city a unique feeling.

Neighbourhoods

Sights and Activities

• Church of St. George - Is the oldest building in the city, famous Roman Church and present day museum located behind the Sheraton Hotel.
• Alexander Nevsky Cathedral - Is one of the largest Eastern Orthodox Cathedrals in the World. Construction was completed in 1912 and this Neo-Byzantine church is a must see.
• Banya Bashi Mosque - Originally built in 1576, by the famous Ottoman architect Sinan, is the only functioning mosque from the Ottoman period in Sofia today.

Events and Festivals

Weather

Sofia has a continental climate with warm to hot summers and mostly cold winters. Average daytime temperatures in summer (June to September) are between 24 and 28 degrees Celsius, but over 35 degrees is possible. Winters last from December to March with mostly temperatures above zero during the day and frost at night, but occasionally dropping as low as -20 degrees. Snow is possible during this time. Precipitation is faily even throughout the year, although summers have a bit more rain.

Getting There

By Plane

Sofia Airport (SOF) has many flights. It is the hub of Hemus Air and Bulgaria Air (which is owned by Hemus Air). Sofia Airport services flights throughout Europe.
Bulgaria Air has a number of domestic flights between Sofia and the Black Sea cities of Varna and Burgas.

By Train

Bulgarian State Railways operates a network of railways to and from Sofia, connecting to cities like Plovdiv.

By Car

By Bus

ETAP and Biomet are one of the bigger bus companies offering tickets to numerous cities throughout the country from the capital.

By Boat

Getting Around

By Car

By Public Transport

By Foot

By Bike

Eat

Drink

Sleep

Budget

Mid-Range

Upscale

Work

Learn

Keep Connected

Internet

Phone

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