Planning a 2 day Sofia Itinerary? Here’s our in-depth travel guide on how to explore Sofia in 2 days. We’ll show you the best things to do in Sofia, how to get around, where to stay and the best restaurants.
This Sofia itinerary will take you on a beautiful hike in the nearby mountains and a historic walk around some of the best sights in the city. Let’s plan your Sofia itinerary!
Sofia is the wonderful capital of Bulgaria located on the west side of the country. The city is very chilled and laid back which makes Sofia a pleasure to visit!
Did you know? Bulgaria is one of the oldest countries in Europe and Sofia is one of the oldest cities. There’s so much history to explore with 2 days in Sofia including learning about the Ottoman Empire.
Luckily Sofia is a very walkable city and the public transport is great! The prices in the city are pretty affordable, similar to other destinations in Eastern Europe. Although it’s a capital city, accommodation may be a little more than in places like Plovdiv.
Most of the things to do in Sofia are free anyway such as discovering Roman ruins, museums and climbing Mt Vitosha – so it’s an amazing city to visit if you’re on a budget!
Bulgaria is an underrated country in Europe. We loved our time in Sofia and fell in love with the atmosphere of the city, the people are friendly, the cafes are amazing and the mountains are so close. We want to come back again in the future!
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Quick Tips for 2 days in Sofia
- Currency – Bulgarian Lev (compare to your own currency here)
- Language – Bulgarian (bǎlgarski)
- Cuisine – Bulgarian & Balkans (meats, grains, potatoes & pastries)
- Apps – GoogleMaps, GoogleTranslate, Booking.com, Hostelworld
- Power Voltage – Plugs C & F (230 V)
Here’s a list of things you can check before your trip to Sofia!
- Check for any public holidays in Bulgaria!
- Book your flights (check prices here!)
- Book your accommodation (book here for hotels & here for hostels in Sofia)!
Visiting more of Bulgaria? Here’s our 2 Day Plovdiv Itinerary!
Extend your trip to explore 5 Day Bulgaria Itinerary: Best Places to Visit
Travel Insurance – SafetyWing is a monthly-rolling travel and medical insurance to help you stay covered during your 2 days in Sofia or anywhere you’re travelling! – Find out more here!
Best time to visit Sofia, Bulgaria
Bulgaria is a country with all four seasons which means it’ll be different to visit all year round.
We recommend visiting in Spring (April-June) or Fall (September-November) if you want a good amount of daylight and comfortable weather for your Sofia 2 day itinerary.
The parks in Sofia are amazing to chill in, so a visit in the warmer months is always a great idea! If you love snow, head to Sofia in the winter and hit the slopes in Borovets! It can get pretty cold in the winter months, so wrap up warm!
How to get to Sofia
As Sofia is the main city in Bulgaria, it’s quite easy to get to from surrounding countries and anywhere in Europe. Here’s a few ways you can get to Sofia to start your 2 day trip!
- Flying – Airlines such as Wizz, Ryanair and EasyJet all fly into Sofia, making it an easy destination to reach within Europe. Use Skyscanner to browse prices.
- Bus – Multiple bus companies from different places will take you straight to Sofia, we came from Plovdiv and booked our tickets online!
- Train – Another way to get to Sofia is to arrive by train at Sofia Central Railway Station.
- Car – If you’re doing a Balkans road trip, find accommodation with a parking space! Or if you want to rent a car in Sofia, check for prices online.
How to get around Sofia
Bulgaria’s capital is a walkable city with the main attractions close to the centre or an easy bus ride away. On a 2 day Sofia itinerary, you won’t need to worry about getting around the city and we’ll explain later how to get to Mt Vitosha.
- Walking around the city centre
- Buses, Metro & Tram – 1.6 lv per ride (pay with contactless card)
Tip – If you’re planning to use public transport more than 3 times, get a day pass for only 4 lv!
2 Day Sofia Itinerary: Best Things To Do (2025)
After sharing a bit of information about Sofia, we’ll now get into the Sofia 2 day itinerary. This trip can be easily adjusted, shortened or spread out over 3 days. There’s also a few suggested day trips to do if you have more time in the city.
Day 1 – Cathedrals, Walking Tour & History
Once you arrive in Sofia, drop our bags off at your accommodation and head out to explore. With only 2 days in Sofia, your first day will be discovering the city and learning about Bulgaria.
If you’re arriving at the Central Bus Station, it’s a 30-minute walk or a local bus ride away to reach Sofia’s city centre. The airport is also a short metro ride away.
We highly recommend Satsanga Vegetarian Restaurant for a quick lunch, the food is so nutritious!
Join a Free Sofia Tour
We usually like exploring at our own pace and planning our own self-guided tour, which is how we spent our first morning in Sofia. After realising how much ancient and communist history is surrounding the city, we decided to join one of the Free Walking Tours in the afternoon.
It’s the perfect way to learn about Bulgaria’s capital on a 2 day Sofia itinerary. Our guide was incredible and it actually made us appreciate the city so much more. It’s definitely one of the best things to do in Sofia and you can ask the guide any questions!
Free Sofia Tour are currently offering English tours at 11 am & 2 pm and also Spanish tours at 11 am. The meeting point is the Palace of Justice, which is easy to find on Google Maps.
The walking tour is around 2 hours and covers the most famous landmarks in Sofia, we’ll give you a rundown on what you can expect on your 2 day Sofia itinerary.
Learn about the Palace of Justice
The Palace of Justice is Sofia’s courthouse with two impressive lion statues placed at the front. It’s also the meeting place for Free Sofia Tour!
The lions were placed there to show the strength of Bulgaria and it’s also the national animal! This building was also a natural history museum around 25 years ago.
Admire the Statue of Sofia
On the free walking tour, you’ll pass by Sveta Nedelya Church, a beautiful Orthodox church with frescoes before learning about the statue of Sofia.
St Sofia is the symbol of the city and is hard to miss due to its height! The lady high in the sky is a new addition to Sofia, made in the year 2000. ‘Sofia‘ stands for Wisdom and St Sofia is the Goddess of wisdom!
Travelling Europe? Here are our top tips for backpacking Europe on a budget!
Pass by the Church of St. Petka
Right around the corner is St Petka Church, another Orthodox Church in Sofia (yes, there are many)! It’s one of the oldest in Sofia and best known for its 15th-century murals.
The exterior of the building can be viewed at any time, but the inside is guarded. It should be free to enter, but sometimes, the staff will try to charge visitors a small fee.
Discover the Serdica Ruins
Next up on this Sofia itinerary 2 days is a look into ancient ruins. We were so mesmerised by this discovery! When the construction for the metro system started, the workers found 2000-year-old Roman ruins!
The ruins are well preserved and at some point, the area turned into a swamp when there was nowhere for the water to drain!
They’re named Serdica Ruins as Sofia used to be named Serdica and Sredets
Visit Banya Bashi Mosque
Opened in 1556, Banya Bashi Mosque is now Sofia’s only operating mosque. It was built during the Ottoman empire which lasted for over 500 years and is still a place of worship for Muslims in Bulgaria today. It’s worth a visit on your 2 days in Sofia.
While approximately 70% of Bulgarians identify as Christian, around 10% of people are Muslim in Bulgaria. Unlike nearby Turkey, the mosque doesn’t call to prayer due to the sound guidelines of the city.
One of the most interesting things we learnt during our 2 day Sofia itinerary is that Bulgaria managed to keep their entire Jewish community during the Holocaust because of Bulgaria’s best bad habits – delaying the transfer and being late. They delayed the whole process until the war was over.
It’s one of the only countries in Europe that kept its Jewish citizens and when the country became communist, almost all of them moved to Israel.
Fill up your drink at the Central Mineral Baths
The Regional History Museum used to be a public bath for the residents of Sofia.
The building’s transformation from a public bath to a museum is so unique and worth a visit if you have extra time on your 2 days in Sofia. The public bath was built when there were no bathrooms or sewage systems in houses.
Just outside the building is a free water fountain, which is perfect if you’re thirsty, although it has a slightly eggy smell and taste. The Central Baths Fountain is a lovely spot to chill in Banski Square!
Have a look at the President’s Palace in Sofia
The official office of the Bulgarian President is in this building, so it’s guarded to keep the building safe and secure. The Soviet-era building is huge and there’s also a changing of the guard ceremony (similar to the one in Buckingham Palace, London)!
Adore the St George Rotunda Church
St George Rotunda Church is Bulgaria’s oldest and best-preserved monument of architecture since the Roman area. It’s a 4th-century structure, nestled in the middle of modern buildings towering overhead. It is hidden away but lovely to see on your 2 day Sofia itinerary.
It was also originally constructed as a Roman bath approximately 1300 years ago and it’s the oldest building in Europe with the original roof.
Visit the Former Royal Palace & Ivan Vazov National Theatre
The National Art Gallery is in a beautifully preserved former palace. The exterior of the building is lovely and its located near City Garden and Ivan Vazov National Theater.
Personally, we think the building of the Ivan Vazov National Theater and the garden is one of the most beautiful spaces in Sofia. It’s the oldest and largest theatre in Bulgaria and you can still see Bulgarian classical theatre events inside.
See the famous St Alexander Nevsky Cathedral
The St Alexander Nevsky Cathedral is one of the main symbols of Sofia and brings in thousands of tourists every year. It is amongst the top 10 largest Eastern Orthodox churches in the world and can hold up to 5,000 worshippers.
It was named after the 13th Century Russian saint St Alexander Nevsky, this was to honour the brave Bulgarian and Russian soldiers after the Russo-Turkish war of 1878.
Built in Neo-Byzantine style, it took 30 years to construct, as well as delays and damage taken during wars over the years. It officially opened in 1912 and it’s a must on your 2 days in Sofia itinerary when visiting Bulgaria!
It’s free to visit (donations welcome) and also a good spot to cool down on a hot day. It’s also the end of the free walking tour but there are still a few more things to do in Sofia.
Once again, we highly recommend a Free Walking Tour in Sofia to learn about the city in a way you couldn’t do by yourself. There’s also a Communist Tour, Jewish Tour and a Pub Crawl introducing you to Sofia’s nightlife.
Wander down Vitosha Boulevard
Vitosha Boulevard is the main strip in Sofia where you can find many restaurants, cafes and shops. The views are beautiful with the backdrop of Vitosha mountain! After a busy day of learning about the city, find a spot to relax, or get lost walking around the city!
Relax in the National Palace of Culture Park
This became our favourite area in Sofia, right next to Vitosha Boulevard. The park is home to the impressive National Palace of Culture which hosts concerts, exhibitions and large events.
The atmosphere of the park in the evening is lovely and we spent hours after sunset people-watching, playing cards and enjoying the vibe.
Head to Edgy Veggy for dinner and if you’re looking for nightlife, join Sofia’s Hidden Bars: 4-Hour Pub Crawl!
Also check out 2 Day Plovdiv Itinerary: Best Things To Do in Plovdiv!
Day 2 – Hiking Vitosha Mountain & Boyana Church
On the second day of your 2 day Sofia itinerary, we’ll show you how to visit Vitosha Mountain, a waterfall and Boyana Church. You’ll be blown away by the views!
Visit Boyana Church
Just before you start the hike up Vitosha Mountain, visit the unique Boyana Church. It’s a medieval Bulgarian Orthodox church filled with very old frescoes dating back to 1259 AD.
The frescoes are beautiful, well preserved and so important to Bulgarian heritage. When entering, it feels like you’re walking into a sacred place and sadly you can’t take photos.
The price to enter Boyana Church is 10 lv and the guard will let you look at the frescoes for 15 or 30 minutes. The gardens and the exterior of the church are also worth a visit on your 2 day Sofia itinerary and are free if you’re on a budget.
Start the hike to Boyana Waterfall & Momina Skala
Now it’s time to enter Vitosha National Park! Vitosha Mountain is the perfect backdrop to Sofia and it’s the closest national park to the city. Also, it’s completely free!
The starting point of the hike is only a short walk from Boyana Church and it’s labelled on Google Maps!
There are two trails leading to Boyana Waterfall. The green trail is the easy to moderate hiking trail whilst the red is more challenging. Don’t worry – the paths are marked very clearly!
Follow the white/red striped flag markers to stick to the trail, we’ve included a photo below!
It will take around 45 minutes to 1 hour to reach the waterfall from the starting point. The trees are lovely and there’s plenty of shade if it’s a sunny day! Don’t forget to bring a reusable water bottle!
Admire Boyana Waterfall
Boyana waterfall is 25 meters tall, nestled within the lush forests of the Vitosha Mountain range. It’s a perfect activity to add to your Sofia 2 day itinerary as it’s just on the outskirts of Sofia.
Although there’s no pool to swim in, there are a few rocks with water and areas to chill or picnic. It’s a really relaxing area and a pretty easy hike to do all year round.
We highly recommend hiking further than Boyana Waterfall as you can see some of the best views of the city! The Vitosha mountain range is so beautiful and worth the extra time.
Continue the hike to Momina Skala
After you’re finished with the waterfall, you can continue further up the mountain to be greeted with breathtaking views of Sofia and the surrounding area.
There’s even a bench in the perfect spot overlooking a meadow which feels magical, the views are lovely!
Follow the trail through the meadow and you’ll soon end up at the Momina Skala hut which offers food, accommodation and toilets. There’s a huge field just around the corner with sunloungers and it’s a great place to play frisbee if you have one.
On the way back down the trail you could also visit Boyana Lake!
How to get to Vitosha Mountain from Sofia City Centre
It will take around 1 hour and 15 minutes to get from Sofia city centre to Vitosha Mountain using public transport and here’s the best way to get there:
- Take the metro from Serdika Station to Vitosha Station.
- Leave the metro and get Bus 64 which takes you to Boyansko Hanche Stop (2 minute’s walk from Boyana Church)
It’s also possible to get the number 7 tram to Gotse Delchev Stop and change to bus 64.
Tip – Buy a transport day pass for 4 lv (you can purchase them at metro stations)! Tickets on the bus and metro will cost 1.6 lv a journey and you’ll need to take at least 4 to get to Vitosha Mountain.
More things to do in Sofia
In this Sofia 2 day itinerary, we’ve covered most of the main highlights but there are still plenty of things to do in Sofia if you have a few more days. Sofia is the perfect base to explore more of Bulgaria from monasteries to nature and there’s still cafes, pubs and museums in the centre.
- Day trip to 7 Rila Lakes – Beautiful nature in Bulgaria – Find out more here!
- Take a trip to Rila Monastery – The largest Eastern Orthodox Monastery in Bulgaria. Find out more here!
- Join a free food tour with Balkan Bites
- Visit Pancharevo Lake
- Visit the National Museum of History in Boyana
- Take a day trip to Skopje (North Macedonia)
- Sofia’s Hidden Bars: 4-Hour Pub Crawl – The best way to meet other travellers if you’re not staying in a hostel.
Where to stay in Sofia
For this 2 day Sofia itinerary, we recommend staying within a 30-minute walk of Sofia City Center. Staying in the city centre is the best option to soak up the history and it’s very easy to get to Vitosha Mountain from here! Alternatively staying in Vitosha is perfect if you love nature. Here’s a few recommendations:
Hostel Mostel € – The best cosy hostel to meet other travellers in Sofia! They’re so helpful with any plans and sometimes offer free food – Find here on Hostelworld!
Courthouse Apartments Slavi €€ – In the heart of Sofia, this full apartment is great if you want to cook during your 2 days in Sofia and feel at home – Find here on Booking.com!
Villa Pontica € (Vitosha) – At the base of Vitosha Mountain, this cosy place is the perfect stay outside of the city centre and has easy access to all the trails! – Find here on Booking.com!
Best Restaurants in Sofia
Sofia isn’t short on good food all around the city. We’re always on the lookout for delicious plant-based food and Sofia delivered! Here’s a few recommendations from our Sofia itinerary:
- Edgy Veggy €-€€ – Nutritious filling wraps & burgers, plus incredible deserts & pastries! – Here’s their website
- Zoya Cafe & Shop €-€€ – Zoya is a health food shop with a cafe featuring amazing bakery products! The muffins are amazing!
- Satsanga Vegetarian Restaurant €-€€ – Delicious healthy food that you choose & weigh! The menu changes daily, but you can find it on Facebook.
- Loving Hut € – Healthy soups, wraps & salads! Check out their menu here!
2 day Sofia breakdown
Day 1 – Cathedrals, Walking Tour & History / Day 2 – Hiking Vitosha Mountain & Boyana Church
How many days in Sofia
It’s best to spend at least 2 days in Sofia when recreating this itinerary. We personally think one day is too short to capture the beauty of the city, however, one day is all you need to see the sights in the city centre.
With more than one day in Sofia, you can take a trip to the nearby mountain or go even further to Seven Rila Lakes. There’s so many lovely cafes and restaurants to indulge in if you’re stuck for things to do in Sofia.
What to pack for 2 days in Sofia
As Sofia experiences all four seasons, make sure you’re packing for the weather! Bring a good pair of walking shoes and don’t forget that Sofia snows in the winter!
- International Worldwide Travel Adaptor – The best travel adaptor!
- Amazon Basics Packing Cubes – The easiest way to pack your backpack or suitcase!
- Stainless Steel Water Bottle – The ultimate travel item is this reusable water bottle.
- Joby GorillaPod 3K Pro Kit – Take independent photos with a small lightweight tripod! We have a Joby GorillaPod and pair it with our Sony A6000.
Prices in Sofia, Bulgaria
Bulgaria is the perfect country to visit if you’re on a budget and Sofia is one of the most budget-friendly cities in Europe!
- Accomodation: Hostels – £10 / Airbnb Apartment – £25 / Hotels – £30
- Restaurants – around £5 per meal
- Transportation – around £0.72 for the bus or metro / £5.40 for a bus to Plovdiv
- Activities – Free Walking Tour Tip (20 lv) & Boyana Church (20 lv)
The average daily spend of a budget traveller in Sofia can be from £30 (£50 for couples). If you’re spending 2 days in Sofia your main expenses will be accommodation, food and activities! Most of the main highlights in Sofia are free including hiking nearby!
Similar to most places in Europe, there’s usually a small fee to use the toilet. This is usually 1 lev (£0.45p). Our average spending for 3 days in Sofia for 2 people was £50, not including arrival or departure transportation.
For reference, we caught a night bus from Istanbul to Plovdiv for £17 each, a bus from Plovdiv to Sofia for £5.40 each and then we took a night bus to Bucharest for £15 per person.
- Transportation, Activities & Misc – £27.30
- Food – £66.57 (for 2 people, plus we left Sofia with snacks)
- Sofia Accommodation for 3 nights – £59.70 (full apartment within walking distance to Central)
Is Bulgaria the oldest country in Europe?
We were told by our Free Walking Tour guide that Bulgaria is the oldest country in Europe and Plovdiv is the oldest city! When matching this knowledge to Google, there are a few different theories.
However, Bulgaria is the only country in Europe that hasn’t ever changed its name since 681 AD, when it was first established.
More History of Bulgaria
We loved learning about the history of Sofia and Bulgaria, so here are a few facts to start your Sofia 2 day itinerary!
Bulgaria was founded around 681 AD, originally located around the border of Ukraine and Russia. It has since moved around due to occupation and mutual administration decisions.
The country was under Ottoman Empire rule for almost 500 years which you can tell from the architecture of the city. Following the end of the Russo-Turkish war, the Treaty of Berlin was set up and this meant Bulgaria was declared independent, yet still within the Ottoman Empire.
It was not until 1908 that Bulgaria was officially free of the Ottoman Empire and could celebrate full independence. A few years later, Bulgaria became involved in several wars and eventually saw the occupation of the Soviet Union, which lasted from 1946 – 1989. For the last 33 years, Bulgaria has been a democracy-led country.
Is Sofia worth visiting?
If you’re still wondering if you should visit Sofia, the answer is yes! The city has so much history to discover, there are ruins and beautiful architecture all over. It’s a great budget destination with restaurants offering incredibly affordable food (and vegan options)!
In the summer, the parks are the perfect place to relax whilst exploring Sofia. In the winter, the mountains are covered with fresh snow which is great for skiing or snowboarding.
Bulgaria is so underrated and there’s so much of the country to explore if you have more time. Definitely check out Plovdiv if you’re spending more than 2 days in Sofia or in Bulgaria.
Check out more Bulgaria and Europe:
- Bulgaria Guides: 2 Day Plovdiv Itinerary and 5 Day Bulgaria Itinerary
- Top 8 Best Things to Do in Zakopane, Poland
- Ultimate 1 Week Romania Itinerary: 2025 (Using Public Transport)
- 2 day Brasov Itinerary: Best things to do in Brasov, Romania
- 3 Day Krakow Itinerary: Best Travel Guide
- Or browse our travel blog for more inspiration!
That’s the end of our 2 Day Sofia Itinerary: Best Things To Do (2025)! Enjoy your trip to Bulgaria and if you need any more help planning – send us a message on Instagram (@thesunrisedreamers) or leave a comment below!
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Don’t forget about Travel Insurance! – SafetyWing Nomad Insurance
SafetyWing is a flexible monthly-rolling travel insurance to help you stay safe on your Sofia itinerary and anywhere in the world.
Beautiful, another place to add to my list. Love the photos and the tips. I didn’t know it is one of the oldest cities.