Sofia, the capital and largest city of the Republic of Bulgaria, is one of the oldest capital cities in Europe. The city gets its name from The Church of St. Sophia, which was constructed by Byzantine Emperor Justinian in the middle of the 6th century. Its history dates back to the 8th century, when the Thracians came and established a settlement in the city. Sofia is located in the Western region of Bulgaria.

To get acquainted with the eternal Sofia city, however, its rich history, origin and tradition is more than a discovery and a truly memorable experience.
The people and places you will encounter in Sofia city all have stories to tell of the history of this eternal city. Some of these tales about Sofia history date back centuries, so it is better to touch this interesting history and varied culture in your own way.

If you decide to visit Bulgaria’s capital city to explore it and indulge in its intriguing history, then your days will be spent visiting museums, historic landmarks, archaeological sites, art galleries, monasteries and ancient churches which will all help you to create a different point of view and your own concept of Bulgaria’s capital city and its overall appearance.

Sofia is a city boasting rich historical heritage, full of stately buildings of ancient style and typically European architecture, charming narrow cobbled streets and places so carefully conserved that you will be taken back to a splendid past where the turbulent history has left indelible footprints on the culture and characters of the people. The history of Sofia /also known as Serdica and Sredets/, one of the oldest cities in Europe, can be traced back some 7000 years. The imposing architecture of the city is a unique mixture of ancient past and modern present. We are sure that you will be amazed how many interesting places there are to discover in Sofia city. It really worth visiting, spend a couple of days in Sofia so as to feel the pulse of Bulgaria’s capital.
This ancient Sofia city blends its past and present in an extraordinary architectural style. Some of the major historical landmarks include the Alexander Nevski Cathedral / one of the world's largest Orthodox churches/, the 10th century Boyana Church, which is one of the UNESCO World Heritage protected sites and the early Byzantine Church of St. Sofia. Some of the most modern and imposing architectural sites include the Rakovski Str theatre district, the Bulgarian National Opera and Ballet; the National Palace of Culture, the largest congress and cultural centre in Southeast Europe, and the charming Slaveykov Square's outdoor book market.

Sofia is the largest city in Bulgaria and brings with it a deep sense of history and culture. When visiting Sofia city, not matter the purpose, make sure that you have spent a day of sightseeing along the cobblestone streets and you have seen the most valuable cultural and historic landmarks. Great spots to visit are the Opera house, the city Gallery whose collection consists of predominantly 20th century paintings and sculptures by Bulgarian artists,the National Palace of Culture(NDK)- the most prominent modern landmark in Sofia, housing concert halls, exhibitions, offices, shops and restaurants, and the Archaeological Museum which houses a precious collections of valuable finds. The city of Wisdom offers a list of landmarks that can't be missed like the National History Museum, the National Opera, the early Byzantine St. Sofia church which is now one of the most valuable pieces of early Christian architecture on the Balkans.

Since it is the major administrative and financial center of Bulgaria, Sofia also represents the capital of culture and amusement. Offering a series of places for all family members to enjoy the museums, theaters, cinemas, galleries and shopping centers, it is just a perfect place to spend some days.
As it comes to arts, it is essential to mention that the interest in arts is visible in the variety of creative events, International festivals featuring both movies and music, theatres, great traditional craftwork fairs and contemporary exhibitions, photography, plastic arts and many more…Such cultural surprises await you in Sofia throughout the year to enable you to enjoy the consecutive cultural day in Bulgaria’s capital city. The mild weather in Sofia is conducive to open-air concerts and festivals as another way of taking pleasure in the music and the scenic arts. As you can imagine, there is no better setting in the summer than the night sky carpeted with stars whilst enjoying the new concert.
It’s all part of Sofia’s vibrant city culture. The arts are thriving like never before in Sofia city. As the ‘City of wisdom’ plays the vital role as Bulgarian Capital of Culture, the spotlight invariably falls on its diverse range of cultural landmarks and sites.

Book a cultural break in Sofia and enjoy fantastic moments, select one of the greatest Sofia hotels. Choose from our extensive range of cultural breaks an ensure your memorable experience.