Anyone been to Sofia?
Discussion
It's a nice city, and cheap. A weird mix of Roman ruins and bleak Soviet buildings.
The central area is easy to walk around and feels very Bohemian, with lots of people eating and drinking outdoors.
It's a enjoyable city, not as nice as Plovdiv, Bulgaria's 2nd city, but pleasant enough.
The central area is easy to walk around and feels very Bohemian, with lots of people eating and drinking outdoors.
It's a enjoyable city, not as nice as Plovdiv, Bulgaria's 2nd city, but pleasant enough.
I used to live in Sofia. Checkpoint Charly is good for food. JJ Murphy’s is your typical Irish bar and always has some football/other sports on if that’s your thing. Good coffee/wine/cocktails at Cafe Memento. Carrusel or Yalta Club if you want to dance till the sun comes up.
If you’re using taxi’s, only ever use one of two companies - ‘OK Supertrans’ or ‘Yellow!’.
If you’re using taxi’s, only ever use one of two companies - ‘OK Supertrans’ or ‘Yellow!’.
Many years ago when travelling from Dubai to Varna, I would have to spend the day in Sofia. The flight arrived into Sofia around 8am with the first flight to Varna being around 6pm.
The city centre as I recall was pleasant with decent shops, restaurants and a park. Whilst now I only go directly to Varna, a couple of points to note. The Bulgarian beer is universally superb.
One of the downsides is that in many restaurants they are incapable of serving hot food at any other temperature other than tepid (or worse). When ordering your food advise the waiting staff that you wish the food to be hot.
If like me, you detest smoking they have a very lax attitude to people smoking in restaurants. They have in most places a smoking section (this is the major part of the restaurant) which effectively fills the whole place. Moreover if the smoking section is full they just smoke (in the limited value) non smoking section. Many also (and this is not a joke) smoke whilst eating.
I would have a look out for restaurants (if like me you detest smoke) that totally ban smoking and that have good reviews on trip advisor.
The city centre as I recall was pleasant with decent shops, restaurants and a park. Whilst now I only go directly to Varna, a couple of points to note. The Bulgarian beer is universally superb.
One of the downsides is that in many restaurants they are incapable of serving hot food at any other temperature other than tepid (or worse). When ordering your food advise the waiting staff that you wish the food to be hot.
If like me, you detest smoking they have a very lax attitude to people smoking in restaurants. They have in most places a smoking section (this is the major part of the restaurant) which effectively fills the whole place. Moreover if the smoking section is full they just smoke (in the limited value) non smoking section. Many also (and this is not a joke) smoke whilst eating.
I would have a look out for restaurants (if like me you detest smoke) that totally ban smoking and that have good reviews on trip advisor.
Edited by Rob 131 Sport on Wednesday 19th August 04:59
I live in Bulgaria , 2hrs drive from Sofia. When I go to Sofia I stay at a friends house in the central area, He always takes me to one of his regular dining out places,
When he comes to the village next I will ask for some of his recommendations, the only one I can remember the name of at the moment is The Architects Club.
https://www.novinite.com/articles/239605/Michelin+...
When he comes to the village next I will ask for some of his recommendations, the only one I can remember the name of at the moment is The Architects Club.
https://www.novinite.com/articles/239605/Michelin+...
gusko said:
I live in Bulgaria , 2hrs drive from Sofia. When I go to Sofia I stay at a friends house in the central area, He always takes me to one of his regular dining out places,
When he comes to the village next I will ask for some of his recommendations, the only one I can remember the name of at the moment is The Architects Club.
https://www.novinite.com/articles/239605/Michelin+...
Brilliant, thanks.When he comes to the village next I will ask for some of his recommendations, the only one I can remember the name of at the moment is The Architects Club.
https://www.novinite.com/articles/239605/Michelin+...
My biggest issue at the moment is getting direct flights from Heathrow.
We did a boys weekend there. It is not a great place for bar hopping, it's not that kind of place, more restaurants than anything. If you're up for hitting the bars then I'd give it a miss.
We did find a nightclub but it had massive bouncers outside and inside you stand around tall tables, with music blaring, watching a couple of women dance on a stage. No dancefloor.
We did find a nightclub but it had massive bouncers outside and inside you stand around tall tables, with music blaring, watching a couple of women dance on a stage. No dancefloor.
Edited by Frimley111R on Thursday 20th August 10:21
This is new this year and only an hours drive from Sofia. The drive there in the morning with the sun rising above the Rila mountains is stunning .
https://a1motorpark.com/track-only/
https://a1motorpark.com/track-only/
I've been there with work.... Not sure I'd see it as a touristy destination though, unless you are a fan of brutal communist architecture!
Stayed at the Hilton which was very nice, next to one of the big parks and not that far from downtown / some of the sights.
Didn't get much of a chance to do touristy things, but I am told the National Museum of History (which is a bit out of town - https://maps.app.goo.gl/dp9eP7EtJDVXkFFh6) is pretty impressive. Opposite is a supercar dealer (MM Auto) which had some very very tasty cars in it, but appeared to be tailored more to the "leather trench coat and shoulder holster" end of the market.
We were taken to dinner at the Architects Club which has previously been mentioned - it was OK, but nothing particularly special. One of the locals had to send their steak back because it was ridiculously salty.
We also went to Carne (https://maps.app.goo.gl/yqqFUV24b3Lj7nNa7) another night and it was better food wise.
I'd agree with the taxis - there is no Uber or similar there, and lots of warnings in the airport about unlicenced operators.
Stayed at the Hilton which was very nice, next to one of the big parks and not that far from downtown / some of the sights.
Didn't get much of a chance to do touristy things, but I am told the National Museum of History (which is a bit out of town - https://maps.app.goo.gl/dp9eP7EtJDVXkFFh6) is pretty impressive. Opposite is a supercar dealer (MM Auto) which had some very very tasty cars in it, but appeared to be tailored more to the "leather trench coat and shoulder holster" end of the market.
We were taken to dinner at the Architects Club which has previously been mentioned - it was OK, but nothing particularly special. One of the locals had to send their steak back because it was ridiculously salty.
We also went to Carne (https://maps.app.goo.gl/yqqFUV24b3Lj7nNa7) another night and it was better food wise.
I'd agree with the taxis - there is no Uber or similar there, and lots of warnings in the airport about unlicenced operators.
It sounds like you have not 100% committed yet due to flights, if you are looking for a backup city in that part of Europe then I can highly recommend Bucharest.
I prefer Bulgarian food, but Bucharest is much better suited for bar hopping etc and the nightlife is really good once you find out where the hot spots are.
We flew from Luton but from memory there were plenty of options from every major airport.
They also have a big craft beer scene if that's your thing.
I prefer Bulgarian food, but Bucharest is much better suited for bar hopping etc and the nightlife is really good once you find out where the hot spots are.
We flew from Luton but from memory there were plenty of options from every major airport.
They also have a big craft beer scene if that's your thing.
I actually went to Bucharest for the first time the week before I went to Sofia, as part of the same business trip...
The old town part was a bit more pushy towards tourists - lots of girls outside with menus trying to entice you into their restaurants a bit like a Greek holiday resort, and a *lot* of "gentleman's establishments". Still a mix of Communist brutalism though (Ceaușescu's palace is a proper unit!) and what reminded me of old Bavarian architecture!
Bucharest would probably be better for bar hopping though, but I'd happily visit either again...
The old town part was a bit more pushy towards tourists - lots of girls outside with menus trying to entice you into their restaurants a bit like a Greek holiday resort, and a *lot* of "gentleman's establishments". Still a mix of Communist brutalism though (Ceaușescu's palace is a proper unit!) and what reminded me of old Bavarian architecture!
Bucharest would probably be better for bar hopping though, but I'd happily visit either again...
Venisonpie said:
Yeah, I'm not convinced by it yet.
I think the name makes it sound nicer than it is. Bulgaria is a small and poor ex-eastern block country that is slowly catching up but Sofia is a relatively small place and fine for a day or so wandering around but if its a boys weekend you'll be stuck after about 10pm. It's simply not a 'nightlife' place, there are loads of better options for you.I really liked Krakow, pretty much ticks all the boxes including a stunning old town except decent weather in October.
Seville will have the weather and it's a charming city, more expensive though.
I would also add Hamburg to your list, its properly rough round the edges in some areas but it has rebel appeal to it. Plus an insane amount of bars in an around the Reeperbahn/St Pauli, and to a lesser extend Sternschanze.
Although I have never been I hear good things about Warsaw, it also has plenty of flights from the UK.
I know I mentioned it before but I would not write off Bucharest just yet, we had 26-30 degrees in the first week in October, its cheap, underrated compared to Krakow etc despite the nightlife being just as good if you know where to go, and the old town area has undergone a huge renovation so it's actually really charming in places (in others in absolutely brutalist architecture)
Seville will have the weather and it's a charming city, more expensive though.
I would also add Hamburg to your list, its properly rough round the edges in some areas but it has rebel appeal to it. Plus an insane amount of bars in an around the Reeperbahn/St Pauli, and to a lesser extend Sternschanze.
Although I have never been I hear good things about Warsaw, it also has plenty of flights from the UK.
I know I mentioned it before but I would not write off Bucharest just yet, we had 26-30 degrees in the first week in October, its cheap, underrated compared to Krakow etc despite the nightlife being just as good if you know where to go, and the old town area has undergone a huge renovation so it's actually really charming in places (in others in absolutely brutalist architecture)
random_username said:
I actually went to Bucharest for the first time the week before I went to Sofia, as part of the same business trip...
The old town part was a bit more pushy towards tourists - lots of girls outside with menus trying to entice you into their restaurants a bit like a Greek holiday resort, and a *lot* of "gentleman's establishments". Still a mix of Communist brutalism though (Ceau?escu's palace is a proper unit!) and what reminded me of old Bavarian architecture!
Bucharest would probably be better for bar hopping though, but I'd happily visit either again...
Assuming you like cars if you go back try:The old town part was a bit more pushy towards tourists - lots of girls outside with menus trying to entice you into their restaurants a bit like a Greek holiday resort, and a *lot* of "gentleman's establishments". Still a mix of Communist brutalism though (Ceau?escu's palace is a proper unit!) and what reminded me of old Bavarian architecture!
Bucharest would probably be better for bar hopping though, but I'd happily visit either again...
https://tiriaccollection.ro/
It's actually just opposite the airport. You can walk but it's a bit of a track because the road is to busy to cross and the foot bridge some way towards the city.
Bucharest is OK but I would recommend some of the other cities more. Sibu, Timisoara, Lasi, etc. Most have flights if you do budget airline. Brasov is the nearest city to me and I would recommend it. In high summer in Bucharest you will be sweating. In Brasov you will be relaxed in a t shirt.
Venisonpie said:
We've abandoned the idea of Sofia, doesn't sound right for what we're after.
Currently looking at:
Krakow
Riga
Berlin
Seville
Budapest is off.
Any other thoughts welcome.
Cologne looking favourite.
Another vote for Krakow. Beautiful city. If you are considering Poland I would also recommend Lublin. Currently looking at:
Krakow
Riga
Berlin
Seville
Budapest is off.
Any other thoughts welcome.
Cologne looking favourite.
Edited by Venisonpie on Thursday 20th August 19:05
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