Car Hire Sofia - Mini guide to Sofia

Bulgaria’s capital is an eclectic mix of architectural styles, largely rebuilt after WWII bombings. It offers a good glimpse into life behind the Iron Curtain, displaying a grand city where time stood still for fifty years.

Many of the main attractions are centrally located and easily explored on foot. Maria Louiza Boulevard runs north, to the city’s sole surviving functioning mosque, Banya Bashi Dzhamiya. Close by, Tsentralnata Banya (Central Baths), Tsentralni Hali (Central Food Halls) and the Synagogue form a hub of early 20th-century structures. Just off to the left lies Zhenski Pazar (Women’s Market). Alexander Nevski is a magnificent neo-Byzantine cathedral-sized church, topped by copper and golden domes.

By day or night, the countless bars and cafes throughout the city are busy - a phenomenon that never fails to amaze foreign visitors. The Bulgarians are a gregarious bunch and many restaurants, and some shops, operate 24 hours, the best ones in the centre being La Gondola, Europe, and Breza.

Mt Vitosha, the rounded mountain which emerges just 8kms south of Sofia, is a popular ski resort in winter, while in summer a chairlift operates for the benefit of sightseers.

Excursions to Boyana Church and National History Museum, 8kms southwest of Sofia, are worthwhile. The beautiful Rila Monastery and Rila National Park are located about 120kms south of the city, and are perfect for a day excursion.

The recently renovated Sofia International airport is located 10 kilometres east of the city centre and receives flights mainly from Europe with limited routes to North America and Asia. There are regular connections to regional destinations and Middle Eastern cities. Many visitors arrive by way of Istanbul or Athens.