Sofia

The capital of Bulgaria is one of the oldest settlements in Europe. For over 7,000 years Sofia has been a meeting place of the four directions of the world. Tribes and peoples came and went, civilisations flourished and declined but the city has stayed forever. Today Sofia is a modern and busy capital and a centre of Bulgaria's political, economic and cultural life. Its central parts have a European character with tree-lined boulevards and balconied buildings by 19th-century Russian and Viennese architects. Sofia combines the atmosphere of a large city with the cozy feeling of a place whose main attraction can be seen on foot.



Sofia has changed notably in the last 5-6 years. Nowhere else in Bulgaria has the recent economic growth been felt more strongly than in the capital. It is a magnet for a growing number of multinational corporations, as well as for qualified labor force from all over the country. As a result, the population has grown steadily, yet unemployment is at record low levels – 1-2%. In the last 2 years thousands of new apartment units are being constructed to meet the growing demand of quality housing. Substantial investments were made especially in infrastructure projects. Standards of business are also being raised as Bulgaria is heading to the EU.

Sofia is well known for its fantastic nightlife. Bars are popular in the evening hours till midnight after which the crowd moves to the night clubs. While present everywhere, bars and nightclubs are concentrated in the central part of the city which makes it easy to explore several different places in one outing. Recommendable bars include By The Way, Motto, Cargo, The Piano Bar, Buddha Bar, JJ Murphy’s, Select and among the best night clubs are Chervilo, Escape, Mojito, Tequila, Caramba, Brilliantine, Black Box. Some places offer live music. There are also casinos, which require ID, but do not operate a dress code.

Sofia is a city with a lot of green areas. The parks offer peace and tranquility in the heart of the city. All major parks have alleys where one can enjoy several relaxing hours of strolling or biking. The Boris Garden Park hosts two football stadiums, including the National Stadium, and many other sports facilities. A great place for recreation is the Vitosha National Park just south of the capital, where Sofians and tourists enjoy hiking in the summer and skiing in the winter. Mount Vitosha also provides some great views to the people in the city