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Sofia

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Quick Facts

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Coordinates
  • Latitude: 42.710543
  • Longitude: 23.323827

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Introduction

Church of St. George

Church of St. George

© All Rights Reserved ilyushin

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.

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Neighbourhoods

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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.

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Events and Festivals

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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.

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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

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Getting Around

By Car

By Public Transport

By Foot

By Bike

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Eat

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Drink

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Sleep

Budget

PropertyAddressTypePopularity
Accommodation Repos1 Klokotnitsa Str. 145 Maria Louiza Blv.Guesthouse68
Allabin apartments50A Allabin str.fl.3,Apartment20
Apartment House Dunav38 Dunav Street, 38 Dunav Street,Hotel-
Apartment Marinakompleks Entrance 1, floor 1, apartment 1, bellApartment-
Art Hostel-Usually We Spend Our Time In The Garden21/A Angel Kanchev StreetHostel78
Atlantic Hotel19 Str. no 2 SimeonovoHotel-
Attick View Apartment24/1 Luben Karavelov str.Apartment26
Be My Guest Hostel13 Ivan Vazov StreetHostel84
Casa Boyana Boutique HotelIvanitza Danchev Str.23Hotel-
Casa Ferrari B&B16, Liulin Planina str.Guesthouse-
City26, Stamboliyski BlvdApartment-
Dimitar Altanov61 Sofronii Vrachanski St.Guesthouse-
Dimitrova ApartmentsSkopie St. Block 212Apartment87
Dimitrova Hostel & ApartmentsSkopie Street Block 212Hostel77
Dospat ApartmentNo.1 Dospat Street 69A Evlogi Georgiev Blvd.Apartment-
Dream House SofiaCentral Sofia 74 Vassil Levski BlvdApartment74
Elysia HotelPop Bogomil No 8Hostel69
Festa Sofia Hotel- Sofia83 Bulgaria Blvd.Hotel-
Gorubliansko Hanche Hotel357 Tsarigradsko shose Blvd.Hotel-
Guest House Salova28 Neofit Rilski str.Guesthouse28
Hemus Hotel31, Cherni Vrah Blvd.Hotel-
Holiday Inn Sofia111 Alexander Malinov Blvd.Hotel-
Holiday Village Diplomatblvd. Nikola Petkov N. 51Hotel-
Hostel SofiaguestPatriarch Evtimij 27 Blvd. Orfei 9 Str.Hostel78
Hotel Aris-Sofia203 Knyaz Boris I Str. 203 Knyaz Boris I Str.Hotel-
Hotel Harmony-SofiaArsenalski Blvd. 4, Arsenalski Blvd. 4,Hotel-
Hotel Legends-Sofia54-56, Cherni vrah Blvd. 54-56, Cherni vrah Blvd.Hotel-
Hotel Les Fleurs-Sofia21, Vitosha blvd, 21, Vitosha blvd,Hotel-
Hotel Pop BogomilPop Bogomil Str. 5Hotel70
Hotel Sheraton-Sofia5, Sveta Nedelya Square, 5, Sveta Nedelya Square,Hotel-
Hotel Sky Way-SofiaSimeonovsko Shousse str. 166A, Simeonovsko Shousse str. 166A,Hotel-
Hotel Triada-Sofia5, Venera St. 5, Venera St.Hotel-
Internet Hostel50A Alabin Str., 2 Floor, 6 apHostel81
Kervan HostelRositza Str. No.3Hostel84
Kolikovski Hotel46 Hristo Belchov strHotel-
LK Flat60, Luben Karavelov str.Apartment-
Lozenetz Hotel23 Saint Naum StreetHotel-
Metropolitan Hotel64 Tsarigradsko chausse BlvdHotel-
Mostel Hostel2A Makedonia BoulevardHostel95
Mountain RetreatPravec Str SvidniaGuesthouse-
New Design75 Maria Luiza BulGuesthouse77
Nightingale HostelSofia, Bulgaria sq. PETKO R. SLAVEYKOV #2A 1000Hostel82
Orient Express Hostel8A , Hristo Belchev Street Floor 4, Ap.9Hostel79
Park Hotel Vitosha1 Rosario StrHotel-
Patriarch Evtimii ApartmentNo.53 'Patriarch Evtimii' BlvdApartment-
Quiet Apartment in Central Sofia49 Parensov St.Apartment96
Red Bed and Breakfast15, Ljuben KaravelovGuesthouse40
Red Star Hostel6, Angel Kunchev str. , Floor 3Hostel64
Rossi HostelKomplex Nadejda 1, build 150, ent A floor 3, app. 9Hostel80
RusidaPop Bogomil 33Hotel58
Silver House Hotel6 Simeonovsko Shausse BlvdHotel-
Smokin Pig33 Bratya Miladinovi StrHostel89
Sofia Garden B&B21/A, Angel Kanchev strGuesthouse58
Studio Oboriste1405 Sofia 36 Oboriste str.Apartment93
TemGer - MNikola Voinovski 59 Str Hadji Dimitar districtHostel78
The RoomsPop Bogomil Street 10 1202 SofiaHostel80
Tzar Asen68 Tzar Asen str.Hotel37
Veny RoomsSamuil 107 SofiaGuesthouse67
View Apartment Studio21/A, Angel Kanchev strApartment-
VIP Apart Sofia29, Fr.Nansen blvd.Apartment94
Vitosha Hostel23 Solunska str., floor 3, app 6Hostel57

Mid-Range

Upscale

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Work

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Learn

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Keep Connected

Internet

Phone

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This is version 10. Last edited at 15:11 on May 19, 09 by Utrecht (+4917). 12 articles link to this page.

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