This medieval town in France's Dordogne has stone houses from the 12th century, a central square with cafes, and local delicacies like foie gras and truffles.
Start your day at Sofia’s Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, where gold domes rise above the city center. Walk through the Vitosha Boulevard shopping area, lined with cafes and stores selling local crafts. Explore the National Palace of Culture, a large venue hosting concerts and exhibitions year-round. Visit the ancient Serdica Roman ruins, visible through glass panels in the metro station near the Council of Ministers building. End your afternoon at Borisova Gradina, a park with tennis courts, open-air theaters, and ponds filled with ducks.
Alexander Nevsky Cathedral and Nearby Attractions The Alexander Nevsky Cathedral dominates the skyline with its central dome reaching 45 meters high. Inside, frescoes and mosaics cover the walls, depicting religious scenes in vivid colors. Across the street, the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences houses a library with over 3 million books. A five-minute walk leads to the Russian Church of St. Nicholas, recognizable by its green-and-white striped roof. Stop at the nearby Slaveykov Square book market to browse secondhand novels and antique maps.
Vitosha Boulevard and Dining Options Vitosha Boulevard stretches 2.7 kilometers from the National Palace of Culture to the foothills of Vitosha Mountain. Morning crowds gather at bakeries like Sun Moon for banitsa, a flaky pastry filled with cheese or spinach. Lunch spots along the street serve kebapche (grilled meat rolls) and shopska salad with fresh cucumbers and tomatoes. In the evening, street performers play traditional folk music near the fountain at Patriarch Evtimiy Square. For dessert, try lukanka (spiced sausage) or tolumbichki (honey-drenched dough balls) at family-run stalls.
Borisova Gradina Park and Outdoor Spaces Borisova Gradina spans 3 square kilometers, making it Sofia’s largest public park. Joggers use the tree-lined paths in the mornings, while families rent rowboats on Ariana Lake during weekends. The park’s open-air theater hosts free film screenings every July. Near the southern entrance, a Soviet-era monument called the Monument to the Soviet Army features murals depicting historical battles. In winter, the park’s hills become popular for sledding after snowfall.
Practical Tips for Visiting Sofia Public trams and buses connect most major attractions, with single-ride tickets costing 1.60 lev. Many museums, including the National Art Gallery, close on Mondays. Summers can get hot, so carry a reusable water bottle—public fountains near churches and parks provide free drinking water. Learn basic Bulgarian phrases like “blagodarya” (thank you) and “zdravejte” (hello) to interact with locals. Avoid exchanging money at street kiosks; use banks or ATMs fo
