Sofia is the capital of Bulgaria, a 7,000-year-old city at the foot of Vitosha Mountain where Roman ruins, Orthodox domes, Ottoman mosques, Habsburg-style boulevards and Socialist-era monuments sit within a short walk of each other. Visitors find cheap euro-priced food and drink, a four-line metro, lively cafe and rakia-bar culture, and hiking trails that start inside the city limits.
Best souvenirs
Authentic items worth bringing home.
Bulgarian rose oil and rose products
Rose oil, rose water, creams and rose jam from the Kazanlak valley.
Price: EUR 5-30 (approx USD 5.75-35)
Where: Central Sofia Market Hall, pharmacies and gift shops on Vitosha Boulevard
Lyutenitsa, honey and herbal tea
Jars of lyutenitsa relish, honey and mountain tea in gift packs.
Price: EUR 3-12 (approx USD 3.45-14)
Where: Central Sofia Market Hall and the Women's Market
Rakia and Bulgarian wine
Plum, grape and apricot rakia plus wines from the Thracian Valley and Melnik.
Price: EUR 8-30 (approx USD 9.20-35)
Where: Wine shops around Vitosha Boulevard and duty-free
Martenitsi and woven textiles
Red-and-white martenitsa bracelets, embroidered cloth and ceramics.
Price: EUR 1-25 (approx USD 1.15-29)
Where: Alexander Nevsky Square flea market and craft stalls near the Sofia Synagogue
Communist-era memorabilia and icons
Badges, coins, military items, icons and old books.
Price: EUR 3-100 (approx USD 3.45-115)
Where: Alexander Nevsky Square flea market
Traditional markets
Where locals shop and travellers find treasures.
Women's Market (Zhenski Pazar)
Fruit, vegetables, spices, cheese, nuts, clothing and household goods
Where: Sofia
Hours: Typically daily from early morning to about 18:00; busiest Saturday mornings
Central Sofia Market Hall (Tsentralni Hali)
Cheese, cured meats, deli food, bakery goods, drinks and cosmetics in a 1911 hall
Where: Sofia
Hours: Typically daily from about 07:00 to 22:00; stalls vary
Alexander Nevsky Square Flea Market
Antiques, communist-era memorabilia, icons, coins, books and handicrafts
Where: Sofia
Hours: Typically daily from about 10:00 to 18:00, fullest on weekends and in fair weather
Shopping districts
Neighbourhoods known for retail.
Vitosha Boulevard
Graf Ignatiev Street
TSUM Sofia
Malls & modern shopping
Air-conditioned, international brands, and food courts.
Mall of Sofia
Hours: Typically daily 10:00-22:00
The Mall Sofia
Hours: Typically daily 10:00-22:00
Paradise Center
Hours: Typically daily 10:00-22:00
Serdika Center
Hours: Typically daily 10:00-22:00
Bulgaria Mall
Hours: Typically daily 10:00-22:00