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Sofia In Your Pocket
Pity poor Sofia in the autumn. Wedged between summertime, when its people migrate in droves to the seaside, and winter, when they leave again for the slopes, the city doesn't get much respect between September and December. Vacations end. School begins. Ordinary life resumes.Luckily for visitors, however, Bulgarians tend to make ordinary life into a party. They work in the autumn, of course. But they also eat, drink and dance, devoting roughly equal time to both business and pleasure during weekdays and their full attention to merrymaking on the weekends. Helping the scene are Sofia's bars, clubs and restaurants. Expect them to packed full as the city's population swells in October.
It's the easiest season for visitors dropping into town for the first time to discover parties spilling out onto the street. If you're looking for more organized fun, try Events in our Culture and Events section.
Of course, autumn is also perfect for hiking and mountaineering around Sofia. If you are in the city in October and November, you've got to climb Mt. Vitosha—Sofia sits in the shadow of the peak—or take a short drive to visit Rila Mountain and its beautiful trails and monastery. If tough mountain climbing is too much, there are plenty of spots for hiking, or walking, as the Brits say.
Recently I went to Trun, less than a two-hour drive west from Sofia. My friends and I saw the Erma River Gorge and then hiked for an hour or two through the hilly forests around the town, including the spooky tunnels that have been drilled through the mountains there.
It was a spectacular experience, until some Bulgarian border guards intercepted us as we walked on a wooded trail. Apparently we'd inadvertently walked in and out of Serbia. The guards were nice guys, however, and told us to move on, even though I didn't have my passport.
To avoid similar transgressions, keep this hard copy of Sofia In Your Pocket with you at all times.
OUR Sofia HIGHLIGHTS
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Mound of Brotherhood
Many of the artists responsible for the Soviet Army Monument also worked on the Mound of Brotherhood, a 42-metre-high obelisk that rises dramatically from a ridge in the south-eastern corner of Boris
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Hadzhidraganovite Kashti
Hugely enjoyable theme restaurant located mid-way between the town centre and the train station, consisting of four large rooms, each designed in the folk style of a particular region of Bulgaria. Tr
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L’Etranger
Homely bistro offering very reasonable food – good place for a quick lunch or a more leisurely three-course meal. The chef is a Frenchman who owns the place together with his Bulgarian wife, so
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Alexandar Nevski Memorial Church
Built by Russian architects, inspired by the glories of ancient Byzantium, this multi-domed cathedral has been Sofia’s visual trademark ever since its completion in 1924. It was built in memory
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Bitburger
German-designed beer-hall with German beers on tap and a loyal clientele of German-speaking expats. It’s also popular with the rest of Sofia’s international community, not least because i
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Latest Sofia Comments
Your right there Alex, you never will set foot in it again!But your lovely friends will always be welcome.Perhaps you should take up knitting or maybe go to bingo nights or just sit in a library all day where you dont have to spend a penny.[...]
well i have to say thought the beer was authentic the service was awfully third world. if you couldn't drink more than a beer a minute you had to leave. after trying to talk to the owner i understood "it's a bar, if we don't make money we don't work[...]
We were very surprised by this place! I travel everywhere with my guitar and spent a few more days here than planned. The owners are wonderful young people and we spent hours into the night playing music with the instruments here, drinking and eatin[...]
For 500 years Bulgaria was occupied by the Turkish Ottoman Empire with the consent of most of the Great Powers (Though Gladstone tried to help).Only Russia - a fellow Christian Orthodox country with a shared alphabet developed in Bulgaria by the sai[...]
what a great statue i want to go visit there amazing , really pretty like the horse thenk you whoever put it in there![...]
It is a beautiful mosque, it gives a sense of peace. The interior is spacious and the exterior has solid walls and running waters. The minaret is like a pencil writing in the sky.[...]
i have been in the shop,the 31.of dezember last year,well and fine assorted there.also vinyl available(fine-the brown sugar series in rare black grooves).i bought some gypsy brass c.d`s and i will watch goran bregovic live in bremen soon,so greets f[...]
Your site keeps getting better and better! Your older articles are not as good as newer ones you have a lot more creativity and originality now keep it up![...]
the idea that "a fabulous pair of buttocks from the Sofia region." can be seen, is worth all the gold in Thracia. Who writes your guide?[...]
I went there once while on holiday and it was amazing. If you go to borovets skiing resort there is a day trip to Sofia for 11 lev which has a free pizza there. It was very nice, stone baked and you could see it being made. If your in sofia and hung[...]
Today I had a very nice evening at Cookies - nice staff, great ice-cream, good music. A very romantic place, fair prices.[...]
Stayed at the hostel one flight up and drank a lot of beer in this pub. Cozy feel and nice crowd. Recommended.[...]
Slava na Bulgaria![...]
It's wonderful! I love it.[...]
The bar doesn't exist anymore. Even the building has been demolished.[...]