sofia trekking tours

PEAKS AND LAKES OF THE PIRIN & RILA MOUNTAINS

THE GRAND BALKANS CIRCLE – RHODOPES, PIRIN, RILA & VITOSHA

HIKING & CULTURE TREK “THE FOUR MOUNTAINS CIRCUIT”

VITOSHA, RILA & PIRIN – THE GREAT SNOWSHOEING ADVENTURE

IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF ORPHEUS (RHODOPE)

SCHEDULED DEPARTURE DATES! Our bestseller, exploring the most scenic high trails of Bulgaria.

Rhodope, Pirin, RIla & Vitosha mountains in a nutshell.

Sense the calm of winter magic in Bulgaria’s best-loved mountains.

Walk through the least-known and most authentic parts of Bulgaria - the Western Rhodopes.

SUMMITS AND LAKES OF THE RILA & PIRIN MOUNTAINS

The highest summits of the Balkans, and the best of Bulgaria's high altitude trails at your own pace!

THE SEVEN RILA LAKES, RILA MOUNTAINS

Arguably the most famous hiking area of the Rila Mountains. At least 7 strong reasons to pay a visit.

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Trekking and Hiking trips to Sofia. Looking for a Sofia Trekking and Hiking tour? We offer 3 trekking and hiking tours in Sofia backed by 20+ reviews and offering discounts up to 67%. All our trips are offered by expert trip designers and Sofia destination experts, with trip durations ranging from 8 to 12 days.

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Bulgaria: Rodopi Mountains

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Sofia Trekking and Hiking Tour Reviews

Hiking & Trekking Tours & Trips in Bulgaria

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Rila - Pirin Trek Classic (hut-to-hut, guided)

Rila-pirin mountain trek (bulgaria), guaranteed departures, bulgaria: rodopi mountains, in the footsteps of orpheus (self-guided walking tour), peaks & lakes of the pirin and rila mountains, summits and lakes of the rila and pirin mountains (self-guided walking tour; all ground transfers included), hiking & culture trek "the four mountains circuit", vitosha, rila and pirin - the great winter adventure (snowshoeing trek), the riddles of the rila mountains (self-guided walking tour; all transfers included), through the rugged pirin and rila mountains.

• Hiking & Trekking
• Ascend Bezbog and Polezhan for vistas
• Hike through Banderishki's scenic lakes
• Cross the thrilling Koncheto Ridge

“The hike from Malyovitsa to Scary Lake was my favourite, the itinerary was excellent and we enjoyed diverse views.” Casandra Ivelisse Garcia, traveled in January 2023

• Mountain Hikes
• Explore UNESCO-listed Rila Monastery
• Trek to the scenic Seven Rila Lakes
• Climb Musala Peak for panoramic views

“A beautiful place & charming local people who made us very welcome. The walking is varied & for many, challenging but we were able to take the hard bits at our own pace.” Carolyn Browning, traveled in August 2009

• Stay in the village of Yagodina
• Discover the streets of Sofia
• Visit the Devil's Throat Cave

“Quiet forestry tracks, nice accommodations with charming hosts, home-made food... topped with right on time transfers.” Soren Wagner, traveled in June 2019

• Walking Adventure
• Winter Walks
• Hike around Trigrad with views of Zhrebevo village
• Discover Chudni Mostove and overnight in Kossovo
• Walk through historic villages near the Greek border

“The hiking was challenging but extremely rewarding. We had a great time experiencing Bulgaria, the people and food.” Tom, traveled in July 2022

• In-depth Cultural
• Climb Mount Vihren, Pirin's highest peak
• Trek to the panoramic Polezhan Summit
• Visit the UNESCO-listed Rila Monastery

“Bulgaria is a little gem outside the popular hiking areas in Europe, but definitely worth visiting!” Thomas Grainger, traveled in July 2018

• Hike to the summit of Mount Musala
• Trek through the Banderishki Lakes Cirque

“The whole itinerary is very well thought. The night with the local family in Liaskovo was a blast.” John Tavendale, traveled in September 2017

• Discover Plovdiv's ancient Roman Theater
• Visit the iconic Rila Monastery and Seven Lakes
• Relax in Devin's soothing SPA resorts

“Very good accommodations and choice of meals. Hikes were made all fun by our lovely guide Alex.” Christopher Jennings, traveled in January 2019

• Hike to Bezbog Peak for stunning views
• Explore the icy Seven Rila Lakes
• Visit the historic Rila Monastery

“I driver guidano in modo responsabile e sicuro sia sulle strade normali che sui terreni accidentati.” Luciano Perego, traveled in July 2024

• Ascend the Balkans' highest peak, Musala
• Climb Cherni Vrah on Mount Vitosha
• Explore the Malyovitsa Valley

• Climb Vihren Peak for stunning mountain views
• Explore the Banderishki Lakes and forests
• Hike to the Seven Rila Lakes via cable car

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How to Do Bulgaria’s Gorgeous Seven Rila Lakes Hike

Imagine a series of seven glacial lakes in ombré shades of blues and greens, each distinct in their shape and color. Turning on your heel, you have a panorama of all 7 Rila Lakes, Bulgaria’s beautiful gem, below you.

What’s best? All of these beautiful glacial lakes and a sweeping panoramic view are easily accessible on a day trip from Bulgaria’s capital city, Sofia.

One of the most famous hikes in Bulgaria, the gorgeous Seven Rila Lakes hike is one for your bucket list.

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Where to Stay Near the Seven Rila Lakes?

If you liked the area and decide to spend a couple of nights, then we recommend you to check these places to stay.

Budget: Budget hotels in the area range from $30 to $40 per night. We suggest you to check Villa Ema in Panichishte or the convenient Guesthouse Dida in Sapareva Banya.

Mid-range: For a mid-range hotel near the Seven Rila Lakes, fees per night range between $45 and $55. We recommend a place like Sveti Nikola Family Hotel Sapareva Banya or the gorgeous Guesthouse Grahlyov .

Luxury: For a more sophisticated stay, take a look at the fantastic 103 Degrees Hotel & Spa .

What Are the Seven Rila Lakes?

While the Rila Mountains have countless glacial lakes, the 7 Rila Lakes hike is the name of the most famous hike in Bulgaria. It starts nearby Sapareva Banya, about 90 minutes away from Sofia.

There are seven main lakes (shocking, right?) that can be visited in an easy circuit that takes about 3 to 5 hours. The first one, uncreatively called the “Lower Lake,” is the first of the seven Rila Lakes you’ll encounter on your hike, right by the drop-off point for the chairlift. It’s at 2,095 meters high, which for my fellow Americans out there is about 6,873 feet.

The next highest one is “Fish Lake,” which is the most shallow. Next up is “Trefoil,” so named for its strange shape. The largest one is up next and is called “The Twin” as it has a bit of a mirror-image look.

Next up is “The Kidney,” also named after its shape, and it’s the perfect spot for a picnic before making the final push up to the last two Rila Lakes: the Eye (the deepest one, at a depth of around 37.5 meters or 123 feet) and the Tear (the highest one).

The Tear is at a height of 2,535 meters or 8,317 feet, meaning you only gain about 500 meters of altitude during the hike, but it still manages to feel like quite a challenge nonetheless.

If you wish to stay the night at the Rila Lakes, it is possible to camp in designated areas, or you can also stay in a chalet on the northeastern shore of Fish Lake, at 2,196 meters above sea level.

I’m not sure how to book this in advance, but I do know the name is Chalet Seven Lakes. I do know that you can book a room before the chair lift to Rila Lakes at Panichishte, about 600 meters from the lift. It’s called Malka Yurta Hut and can be booked online here .

How to Get to the 7 Rila Lakes from Sofia

There are three ways to get from Sofia to the 7 Rila Lakes: by public transit, by bus, and by tour.

Getting to the 7 Rila Lakes by Guided Tour

This is all to say that going from Sofia to the Rila Lakes is certainly possible by public transportation, but it isn’t exactly the most straightforward process as it requires 3 separate transportations. As a result, I often recommend that people who are uncomfortable with navigating the public transportation system avail themselves of a guided Seven Rila Lakes tour.

I recommend this 7 Rila Lakes tour from Sofia as the most inexpensive and convenient option for a day trip from Sofia to the Rila Mountains. Note that this doesn’t include the lift ticket price.

Another option is a tour that’s a little pricier, but combines the lakes and Rila Monastery; however, it is only available certain days of the week, so check availability here . It’s kind of hard to go from Rila Monastery to Rila Lakes without a tour, even with a rental car, so tours are better if you want to do both.

»» Check out tours of the Rila Lakes here ««

Getting to the Rila Lakes by Car

This is one of the most straightforward ways of getting to the Rila Lakes from Sofia. The drive is only about 2 hours, and it’s mostly highway except for the stretch up the mountain to the chairlift, so it’s pretty smooth driving.

To get there, take the city streets to the A3, then take Route 1. Exit onto Route 62, then take 6204 then 6206 to get to the chairlift. You can put Hizha Pionerska as your final stop on Google Maps for straightforward directions.

If you need to rent a car, we’ve rented cars dozens of times in Sofia. We’ve booked through various search engines and have settled on Discover Cars as the best car rental search engine, since it searches over 500 trusted rental companies to find the cheapest price for your rental! Compare prices for car rental in Sofia here.

What to Know About the Seven Rila Lakes Hike (Difficulty, Weather, Etc.)

The hike to the Seven Rila Lakes, Bulgaria is incredibly beautiful and of average difficulty. The altitude of the hike will make it a little bit tough, as most of the hike varies between 2,000 meters and 2,500 meters.

It’s not possible to visit the Rila Lakes year-round, as they are covered with a blanket of snow much of the year. The best months to visit the 7 Rila Lakes are July and August, as the snow typically isn’t done melting until mid-June; alternately, by the end of September, snow is possible on peaks this high.

The 7 Rila Lakes have different weather than in Sofia, as there is over a 1,500 meter altitude difference. Expect cloudier weather with cooler temperatures than in Sofia, with more potential for rain and snow.

However, be extremely careful to apply enough sunscreen! The high altitude in the Rila Mountains means that you are much likelier to burn and if you do burn, burn quite severely!

My husband once nearly got sun poisoning from not wearing sunscreen while doing the 7 Rila Lakes hike and felt sick for two days. You should wear SPF 30 or higher and reapply it regularly as your sweat may break it down quickly.

I personally started the Rila hike at the top of the lift, as I didn’t want the extra 2 hours each way as I’m not that fit.

It took me about 75 minutes to reach the Kidney, accounting for plenty of photo (and breath-catching) stops. On the hike you pass the Lower Lake, Fish Lake, Trefoil Lake, and Twin Lake, ticking off five of the seven Rila Lakes quite easily.

The area near “The Kidney” is a great place for a leisurely picnic as it’s rather flat here and it’s a natural break before the more intense push up to the higher two lakes.

The next push is up to The Tear, the highest of the 7 Rila Lakes, and it’s the most challenging part. The rock here can be a bit loose and the uphill part is more severe, so if you are traveling with children or people who aren’t so fit, you may choose to skip this part of the hike.

However, you will miss the greatest panoramic view of the lake – so it’s up to you! It takes about 60 minutes up and 30 minutes down, but it could easily be 2 hours with all the photo stops you’ll want to make.

From here, you can take the same route back (which since you’re going downhill will take about 60 minutes) or take an alternate route back which is about twice as long, about 2 hours or maybe a bit more. If you have time, take the alternate route, but keep in mind the lift’s closing time (4:30 PM) when deciding!

What to Pack for the Rila Lakes

If you’re visiting the Seven Rila Lakes, you’re going to want decent hiking gear! I have done the hike in sneakers and it was doable, but not the easiest. I would have been way more comfortable in hiking boots, which I have with me now that I’ve moved to Bulgaria.

I use and recommend Ahnu hiking boots for women – they’re stylish, super comfortable, require very little breaking-in time, and they come in nice colors and styles that aren’t your average hiking boot. This is the pair that I own. Men, try these Keen Targhee hiking boots which are highly reviewed – my friend Megan uses a women’s pair of Keens as her main hiking boots and loves them.

You may or may not want trekking poles. I didn’t use them, but I don’t have a fear or heights or unsteady footing. Especially the last uphill part of the hike, trekking poles could come in handy. I’d recommend these ones.

Don’t forget sunscreen! My boyfriend got a really bad sunburn at Rila, and I almost did as well (but luckily I was able to cover my shoulders with a scarf and minimize my sun exposure).

Even though the temperatures may feel cool, the sun will be hot, hot, hot! I like this sunscreen and bring it back from the US often, but I also love my handy solid sunscreen stick that can make it through airport security with no issues.

Don’t forget to bring a jacket! The weather can turn quickly up in the mountains, so don’t be poorly prepared. I recommend the Marmot PreCip jacket as I’ve had it for years and it’s stood up to every test. And traveling the world for 3+ years, there’s been many! Here’s the women’s version (I own a purplish-blue one) and the men’s one .

Finally, on the day of the hike, be sure to pack plenty of water as well as snacks to keep your energy up. You can buy water and snacks at the mountain hut before the lift and where you start your hike, but it’ll be overpriced, so better to bring it from Sofia.

Where to Stay in Sofia

If you don’t choose to stay in Rila Lakes, Sofia is the natural place to call home before and after your hike as it’s only 90 minutes from Sapareva Banya. Here is where we always recommend to our friends visiting the city!

Budget:  For a hostel, we always recommend  Hostel Mostel .  I have never stayed at the Sofia location but several of my friends have and have always spoken highly of it. I stayed at the one in Veliko Tarnovo and it was excellent. Perks include a free vegetarian dinner in addition to breakfast included in your stay!  Check rates and availability here . If you are traveling in peak season, be sure to book online, as Hostel Mostel is popular and tends to get booked up.

Mid-range:  For a trendy new boutique hotel that is shockingly affordable, we recommend  R34 Boutique Hotel.  The location is fantastic, near the Ivan Vazov National Theater in central Sofia. It has gorgeous, loft-inspired details like exposed brick, giant windows, and streamlined but modern décor. It’s a great bargain, too –  check rates, reviews, photos, and availability here .

Luxury : As far as we see it, there’s only one option for the best hotel in town: Sense Hotel. We go to their upscale, beautiful rooftop bar all the time when we have guests in town – it has one of the best views in the entire city and they make fantastic cocktails. With beautiful views over Alexander Nevsky, Sofia’s most iconic landmark, the hotel couldn’t be in a better location. Sense Hotel also boasts a state-of-the-art fitness center, an art gallery in the lobby, an excellent spa with luxe treatments, and an indoor pool. It’s truly the best choice in town.  Check rates, reviews, photos, and availability here.

Sofia Travel Resources

We want you to have the best trip to Sofia possible. To help you, we’ve created a number of resources that will be helpful.

If this will be your first time in Bulgaria, check out our  Bulgaria Trip Planning guide. 

For transportation, check out our guide to  avoiding taxi scams in the city.  If you’ll be flying into Sofia, you can read our tips for flying in and out of the  Sofia Airport.

Next, check out our gigantic list of  101 Things to Do in Sofia.  We also have  Sofia restaurant  and  bar recommendations.  We also have articles for popular day trips from Sofia like  Plovdiv  and  Buzludzha .

For more resources for your trip, check out our pages on traveling in  Bulgaria  and the  Balkans . 

Planning a Trip to Bulgaria? Don’t Forget Travel Insurance!

Make sure you always travel to Bulgaria with a valid  travel insurance policy – especially if you’re hiking in Rila mountains and taking advantage of Bulgaria’s many awesome outdoor activities! You need to be covered in case you have an accident or fall victim to theft. Travel insurance will help you recover your expenses and continue to enjoy your trip.

For travel insurance, we both use World Nomads . I’ve been a happy customer of theirs for almost three years, and I’ve never had an issue when making a claim. I’m happy to refer them to anyone I meet.

Get a travel insurance quote for your trip here.

Pin this Guide to Discover the Beautiful 7 Rila Lakes from Sofia!

Originally from California, Allison has been living in Bulgaria for the last two years and is obsessed with traveling around the Balkans. She has been published in National Geographic, CNN Arabic, Matador Network, and the Huffington Post. She loves befriending dogs, drinking coffee, geeking out about wine, and cooking food from around the world.

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Sofia is Bulgaria’s capital and largest city. Situated in the very heart of the Balkan peninsula, it is one of Europe’s oldest cities. It has by far the most dynamic cultural life in the country and offers a large variety of activities. The Free Sofia Tour covers most of the main things to see in Sofia: the St. Alexander Nevski Cathedral, the National Theatre, the St. George Rotunda, the Bulgarian Presidency and many more. It will also immerse you into the city’s rich Roman heritage.

The city’s appereance today has been widely shaped by the twists and turmoils of the 20th century. One of them is the unique plot-twist story of the Bulgarian Jewish community during WW2, which is extensively covered on the Sofia Jewish Tour . The second half of the 20th century saw Bulgaria firmly locked behind the Iron Curtain. Make sure to explore this rather controversial period of Bulgaria’s history with our Communist Tour .

Any trip to Bulgaria would be incomplete without diving into our country’s unique food, folklore and traditions. Our Culture Tour is all about that! For those looking to explore Sofia off the beaten path, the Sofia Alternative Tour takes you to the city’s hidden spots on a quest-like adventure. To top it all off, Sofia’s great nightlife is also not to be missed! Our daily Pub Crawl takes you to Sofia’s best bars.

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Ann cederhall.

It was really, really good and interesting. Boyko was so knowledgeable and made it so much fun, it was a real educational even for us Sofia residents. a BIG thank you!… Read more “Ann Cederhall”

I thought the tour added a lot to our wanderings around Sofia. Great to have an insider to answer lots of your questions. We had a great time meeting Kristian and the other people on the tour as well.… Read more “Sarah Jane”

We have used the ‘Free [City] Tour’ brand walking tours in many other cities around the world and always been extremely happy – Sofia lived up to that. These guides work hard, and make the tour both fun and informative. Run by Bulgarians, it offers a great local flavour and provides vignettes about current life in the city and life under socialist rule. We would highly recommend it as a starting point to understand Sofia, both from a cultural, historical and geographical perspective.… Read more “Plazo”

We had a great experience with our guide Nadya. Really recomended. She show us in a very unique way the main sites of Sofia followed with history, urban legends and other things which you dont find on books or the web. Thanks for a wonderfull morning.… Read more “bukson1502”

Joanie Crawford

Thanks Petar for the great tour and for sharing all the info about Bulgaria.… Read more “Joanie Crawford”

bananafiend

This tour was excellent – it was a great introduction to the city and I learnt a lot as our guide Dessi was very knowledgeable and friendly. I would recommend that this is the first item on any visitor’s itinerary – you don’t actually go in to any of the attractions, but you can always go back later to explore them in more detail yourself after the tour has finished. The tour was at good pace and as the city centre is compact, there’s not too much walking involved. Highly recommended!… Read more “bananafiend”

Definitely a must! Would highly recommend it to anyone. The tour lasted 2.30 hours, our guide was lovely and was very informative. She took us through the centre and we got to see the main monuments. The guides are all volunteers. They love their city and you can feel it. Great experience.… Read more “Liguinness”

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Sofia, the capital of Bulgaria, has a history dating back more than 2,000 years, with Thracian, Roman, Byzantine and Ottoman influences. The city is practically an open-air museum, with numerous historical and cultural sites. Don't miss it!

What to see in Sofia

The city presents a fascinating mix of ancient and modern architecture . From Roman ruins and medieval churches to communist-style buildings and modern skyscrapers. These are some of the most famous sights:

• Aleksandr Nevsky Cathedral : one of the largest Orthodox cathedrals in the world and one of the most richly decorated.
• Bojana Church : situated at the foot of Vitoša Mountain, this medieval church is famous for its 13th-century frescoes.
• Serdica Antica : the archaeological excavations in the centre of the city, with the ruins of the ancient Roman city of Serdica.

With Civitatis you can book guided tours and free tours of Sofia , accompanied by an expert guide of the city, who will give you a deeper insight into the history of these monuments.

Day trips from Sofia

Sofia is the starting point for several day trips to some of the most popular destinations in Bulgaria. From  Rila Monastery to the cultural city of Plovdiv , with Civitatis you'll find several options for admiring the beauty and culture of Bulgaria for yourself.

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Musala Peak (2925m), Rila Mountains

Rila is the highest mountain range in the Balkans and all of Southeastern Europe, with the Musala summit rising to 2925m/9596ft. The mountain ranks sixth in Europe after the Caucasus, the Alps, Sierra Nevada, the Pyrenees, and Etna. Rila (an old Slav word meaning Water Mountain) looks like a stormy sea of crests and peaks, deep gorges, and over 150 crystal-clear lakes. Much of the National Park area is under UNESCO protection. Difficulty: the hiking route is moderately to very arduous, with some short stages rather steep. Some parts of the trail pass through stones. Please bring along comfortable hiking boots with good ankle support if possible. Sandals and flip-flops are not accepted. Rain jacket might be useful in summer as heavy showers sometimes occur in the afternoons. The tour is offered as guided (small group) or self-guided. Check the PRICES tab below for further details.

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Total transfers time: 3 hrs Walking time: 5 hrs (hiking time only; few steep parts; good physical condition is needed) Best period: mid-June – mid-September (Wednesday-Sunday)

Climb to Mt. Musala from Yastrebets Peak and then walk back. (5hrs hiking time only; 13km; +750m; -750m). N.B. Harder options also possible for advanced hikers. After an early transfer to the Borovets Resort, we take the cable car to the Yastrebets summit, from where we follow a path through the Musala Hut and the Ledeno Ezero (“The Icy Lake”) mountain refuge to the Musala summit. Along the way, we enjoy magnificent views over surrounding outcrops and peaks, deep valleys, and pristine glacier lakes. But the best vistas are waiting for you on the top, where we celebrate with a cup of fragrant herbal tea. From here you can enjoy the summits of all major mountain ranges in Bulgaria – Balkan, Sredna Gora, Vitosha, Rhodopes, Pirin and of course – Rila.

Price (for guided tour): 1 pers: 250 Euro; 2 pers: 140 Euro pp; 3 pers: 100 Euro pp; 4 pers: 80 Euro pp; 5+ pers: 75 Euro Price (for self-guided tour): 200 Euro/car (group of 1-4 persons); 250 Euro/bus (group of 5-8 persons) *Wednesdays Special Offer: 60 Euro per person (book from calendar below)

The price includes: Transfer from Sofia to Borovets resort and back; English-speaking guide (for the guided hiking option);  Detailed route notes in English and maps (for the self-guided hiking option; 1 set of route notes and 1 map per vehicle)

The price does not include:  Return Gondola lift tickets Food: basic food is required inside the two huts we will pass by; however, due to time restrictions, you’d better plan for a sandwich, prepared at home (time permitting you cans top for a tea in the huts).

Hiking time:  hiking time only is mentioned on each day (not including stops for pictures, picnics, breaks etc.!); these are based on an average hiker’s speed of 4-5km/hr on flat terrain, additional 30min for each 300m elevation gain, and a backpack weighing not more than 10-15% of your body weight. Still this varies a lot on the terrain, the group size and the hiking experience of each client within the group.

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A walk through trendy sofia.

Sofia is Bulgaria’s relaxed capital and still one of the most affordable, bang-for-your-buck destinations In Europe despite the country joining the European Union back in 2007. This trendy, unique, and youthful city of shopping malls and 5-star hotels nicely complements its post-Soviet attitude with block buildings and Red Army monuments.

The Balkan “capital” never misses a beat with its rich culture of museums, architecture, restaurants, and lively art scene. People-watch along Vitosha Boulevard, be amazed by the Ottoman mosques and Cathedral of Saint Alexander Nevski, or shop in one-of-a-kind boutiques supporting young, local artists. Attend an outdoor opera, listen to jazz at a local venue, dance the night away at fun nightclubs, and watch a Broadway show on Rakovski Street. Finally, a must-see for anyone visiting is the remains of an 1800 year old Roman city and coliseum beneath modern day Sofia.

Not surprisingly, Sofia is also a green city filled with parks and well-manicured gardens like Borisova Gradina. And Mt. Vitosha is just a short bus ride outside of the city center awaiting adventurers of all levels for hiking trails and skiing. Whether there’s a preference for the cosmopolitan scene or laid-back nature, Freetour.com recommends Sofia, the perfect place for your next visit.

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