Sofia is a historic city founded several years ago. Today it stands as the cultural and economic backbone of Bulgaria. In the past decade the city has come a long way from being a sleepy town to a dynamic capital city. Today Sofia is rated as one of the...more
Sofia is a historic city founded several years ago. Today it stands as the cultural and economic backbone of Bulgaria. In the past decade the city has come a long way from being a sleepy town to a dynamic capital city. Today Sofia is rated as one of the hippest cities in Bulgaria. The city preserves several historic monuments and architecture. During the Ottoman rule, Sofia was home to numerous mosques and madrasas. Today only the main Mosque can be seen in the city. The National Palace of Culture and the National Assembly of Bulgaria by-far are the most popular attractions in the city.
Sofia also hosts a number of museums and art galleries representing the history, culture and heritage of the area. The National Archeological Museum hosts numerous artifacts from around the country. The National Museum of History is counted among the largest history museums in the Balkans. Sofia also features a number of green and open spaces where visitors can relax and have fun. The Borisovagradina is often termed as the lungs of Sofia; it sprawls around the Ariana Lake and is a great place to spend some time in. Other good gardens in Sofia include the City Garden and the Yuzhen Park.
The city is also a charming shopping destination. There are several small souvenir shops dotted around the old Party House and around Largo. The Vitosha Boulevard is one of the main shopping streets in Sofia. There are also some excellent malls in Sofia such as The Mall, Mall of Sofia,SkyCity Mall,Paradise Mall, etc. Other good places for shopping in the city are Pirotska Str., EkzarhYosif Str., ZhenskiPazar,Stadiona, etc.
Sofia is served by the Sofia Airport, which is also the busiest airport in Bulgaria. Public buses are available from the airport to the city. Visitors can also take taxis or lime services from the airport. There are also shuttle services available from the airport. A one-way taxi ride to the city center costs around 10-20 leva.
There are no known halal restaurants in Sofia.
The Banya Bashi Mosque is the main mosque in Sofia.