Sofia City Tour

A classic 3-hour private walking tour to see Sofia's city centre with its historic, archaeological and architectural landmarks with a professional tour guide speaking your language!

This tour includes visits to 2 museums of choice - The National Archaeological Museum and the National Ethnographic Museum as well as the entrance of the Crypt at Alexander Nevski Cathedral (closed on Mondays). We'll usually have a guide speaking your language at no additional cost - call for availability!

FREE Hotel pick-up and after tour drop-off at desired location in Sofia city limits included
FREE pocket size Sofia city MAP for everyone

Highlights of the tour include:

ST. SOFIA CHURCH. The 4th-6th century basilica was built during the reign of Justinian. It has survived intact with 1600- year-old mosaic details and towards the end of the C14 gave the city its name. Beside the wall of the church is the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. Nearby is the grave of the national poet and writer Ivan Vazov, marked by an engraved boulder.

ALEXANDER NEVSKI MEMORIAL CHURCH. Completed in 1912 in honour of the Russian casualties of the 1877-78 War of Liberation from Ottoman Rule. Gold-domed, it is the finest piece of architecture in the Balkans. Craftsmen and artists from 6 countries worked on the five-aisle church in the course of 30 years and created real masterpieces of icons, frescoes, murals and huge chandeliers. The interior decoration, made of Italian marble. Egyptian alabaster, Brazilian onyx, gold, mosaics embodies the spirit of the finest Eastern Orthodox traditions. A superb collection of icons - the best in Bulgaria - can also be seen in the Crypt (closed on Mondays).

ROTUNDA OF ST. GEORGE. A C4 brick building in the courtyard behind the Sheraton Hotel, adorned with finely preserved early medieval frescoes. There are also remains of a C2 street and other Byzantine ruins.

THE NATIONAL PALACE OF CULTURE (NDK). The biggest Congress Centre in the Balkans. It is located in the centre of the city and faces the Vitosha Mountain.

THE CHURCH OF ST. NEDELYA. (Opposite the Sheraton Hotel). Built in medieval times and known as the Church of the Blessed Sveti Kral. The current building was reconstructed after 1925 when it was almost completely destroyed by a bomb explosion.

VASSIL LEVSKI MONUMENT. Vassil Levski was the principal architect of the campaign to free Bulgaria from the oppression of the Ottoman Empire. The monument marks the spot where he was hanged by the Turks in 1873.

SOFIA UNIVERSITY. This is the country's most prestigious university. It was built a decade after Sofia became Bulgaria's capital in 1879 with funds bequeathed by the brothers Evlogi and Christo Georgiev, whose statues are set in front of the main gates.

Optional:

DRAGALEVTSI (optional, not included in the price). Dragalevtsi is a suburb of Sofia city in the woods at the foot of Mount Vitosha. About 3 km further on is Dragalevtsi Monastery, founded during the reign of King Ivan Alexander. Frescoes date back to the C15. The church, which is part of the original monastery, often sheltered the Apostle of Freedom Vassil Levski during the C19.

BOYANA (optional, not included in the price). A suburb at the foot of Mount Vitosha, notable for the Boyana Church, built in the C11. Frescoes are claimed to be among the oldest and most interesting examples of East European Medieval art. The Boyana Church has been listed by UNESCO as a part of the world s cultural heritage, just like The Rila Monastery.

MOUNT VITOSHA (optional, not included in the price). It has become very much a part of Sofia owing to its accessibility by means of the cabin lifts at Knyazhevo and Simeonovo. Cherni Vrah, the highest point, gives wonderful views over the whole region. The winter ski-resort Aleko lies at 1868 m and the ski season lasts from early December until late spring. The beautiful scenery makes the whole area attractive throughout the year.