Airport Details
Airport Full Name
Sofia Airport
IATA Code
SOF
Location:
The airport is situated six miles (10km) east of
Sofia.
Airport Facilities
The airport is well equipped with banks, bureau de change, ATMs, restaurants, cafeterias and bars, duty-free shopping, a chemist, travel agency, tourist information desk and first aid facilities. There is also a business lounge with Internet access, and a luggage-wrapping machine at departures.
Transfers
Regular bus service 84 runs on a frequent schedule day and night from the bus station close to Arrivals. Bus tickets cost BGN 1, but passengers will have to pay extra for large pieces of luggage. Taxis are available, and passengers are advised to use O.K. SUPERTRANS taxis from outside the arrivals hall; their enquiries desk is located inside the arrivals hall. Fares into town cost BGN 8 to 10, but a 5 to 10% tip is customary.Most hotels and tourist resorts run their own airport shuttles.
Contact
Tel: +359 (0)2 937 2211/2 (international flights departures and arrivals).
Climate Details (C)
| J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D | |
| Min | -5 | -3 | 0 | 5 | 9 | 12 | 14 | 14 | 11 | 6 | 1 | -3 |
| Max | 2 | 5 | 10 | 15 | 20 | 24 | 26 | 26 | 23 | 17 | 10 | 4 |
Travel Guides: Sofia
General Information
Located in the Sofia Valley, the capital city of Bulgaria lies at the foot of the Vitosha and Lyulin Mountains, and is the centre of the country's political, business and cultural life.
Founded over 7,000 years ago around numerous hot and cold mineral springs, which are still available today, Sofia has flourished and declined around a variety of civilisations. It is one of the oldest settlements in Europe and numerous archaeological, cultural and historical monuments from its rich Thracian, Byzantine, Roman, Slav and Turkish history have been preserved among the modern edifices, the blend of the new and the old lending a charming quality to the capital.
Despite its modern, cosmopolitan nature, Sofia has a laid back atmosphere and the proximity of Mount Vitosha, offering a myriad of recreational opportunities on the city's doorstep, adds to the relaxed feel of the city. Like any capital city, Sofia also has a wealth of museums and galleries, and boasts plenty of cultural entertainment.
Getting Around
The centre of Sofia is easily accessible by public transport, which includes buses, trams and trolleybuses. Buses run from 5am until midnight and until 1am for trams. Single trip tickets can be purchased before boarding as well as on the vehicle and must be punched once aboard. It is not practical to travel into or around the city centre by car as parking spaces are limited and traffic can be a problem. Taxis are cheap and easily available. Tariffs are shown on the vehicle window.
Activities
National Ethnographic Museum, Sofia
The National Ethnographic Museum in downtown Sofia has one of the richest collections of cultural artefacts on the Balkan Peninsula, representing the traditions, arts, crafts and lifestyle of the Bulgarian people from the 17th to the 20th century. The museum contains a wealth of exhibits from around the country, amounting to over 50,000 items including national costumes, jewellery, art works and musical instruments. It is also a popular cultural and educational centre. A craft shop sells crafts and other traditional Bulgarian items from all over Bulgaria.
Opening Times:
Open Tuesday to Sunday, from 10am to
4pm
Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, Sofia
One of the finest examples of 20th-century architecture in Sofia and one of the symbols of the city, the magnificent Alexander Nevsky Cathedral was built between 1882 and 1912 to honour the Russian soldiers who died fighting to liberate Bulgaria from Turkish rule in the war of 1878 under Tsar Alexander II. The famous religious monument is situated on the tree-lined square of the same name, which also contains the Monument of the Unknown Soldier with its eternal flame. The impressive five-nave basilica houses an interior just as splendid, with mosaics, stained glass windows, marble and woodcarvings as well as frescoes that cover the walls and domes. The underground crypt houses the Icon Museum featuring icon paintings from across the country that represents masterpieces ranging from the 9th to the 18th century.
Opening Times:
Open daily, from 7am to 5.30pm. The Museum is open
from 10am to 6pm, and closed on Tuesdays
Admission:
Free
St George Rotunda, Sofia
The rotunda church of St George is considered to be the oldest building in Sofia, dating back to the 4th century, and is situated amid the remains of the ancient Roman town of Serdica. The St George Rotunda is famous for its exquisite architecture and layers of medieval frescoes that were discovered under a covering of plaster. The church currently functions as a museum and the magnificent dome is protected by UNESCO.
Opening Times:
Open Tuesday to Saturday, from 10.30am to 1pm, and
from 3pm to 5.30pm
Admission:
Free
St. Sofia Church, Sofia
The St. Sofia Church is the oldest Eastern Orthodox church in the city, dating from the 4th to 6th century, and is regarded as one of the most significant examples of early Christian architecture in the Balkans. In the 14th century the church gave its name to the city of Sofia, meaning 'holy wisdom'. During the Turkish rule the church was converted into a mosque, but was abandoned after two successive earthquakes destroyed one of the minarets almost 30 years later, and it was again converted into an orthodox church. Local legends credit St Sofia's miraculous powers for its protection over the centuries, surviving occupations and natural disasters to remain as a spiritual inspiration to the city.
Opening Times:
Open daily, from 7am to 6pm
Admission:
Free
Boyana Church, Sofia
The Boyana Church complex - located on the outskirts of Sofia - is a UNESCO World Heritage Centre, and one of Bulgaria's most important tourist attractions. The first of the three buildings that make up the Boyana Church complex was built in the 10th century, but it is the second building - built in the 13th century - that is the obvious tourist draw card. Containing frescoes painted in 1259 - 89 scenes in total, including 240 human images - the second Boyana Church building is nothing less than the site of the most important collection of medieval eastern European art in the world. The paintings, which conform to a Byzantine aesthetic, yet possess a unique spiritual vitality, are almost perfectly preserved - and offer visitors a rare insight into the long, proud history of Bulgarian art and culture.
Vitosha Mountain, Sofia
Rising above the capital city of Sofia, Vitosha Mountain is one of the symbols of the capital and is the most visited mountain in Bulgaria. Starting from where the suburbs end, the whole mountain has been designated a national park, the oldest in the Balkans, and is home to deer, bear, wild boar, fox and a variety of rare birds. Vitosha is known for its 'stone rivers', or moraines, piles of huge rounded granite boulders carried and deposited by glaciers thousands of years ago, as well as for its curative mineral springs. It is popular during any season and the well-known resort of Aleko is the most established winter ski resort in the area, offering modern hotels and ski facilities within easy reach of the capital.
