Afternoon Delights in Sofia Tour

Meet your local guide in the afternoon in central Sofia and set off on your walking tour.

Your guide will show you some of Sofia’s most beautiful buildings, such as the National Theater, King’s Palace, and the Presidency.

Continue from here to the Art Club, a popular bar that’s a favorite with locals. Here, stop for a snack and try Bulgaria’s world-famous shopska salad, made with fresh cucumbers, tomatoes, cheese, and spices. Plus, sip a cup of traditional Bulgarian ayryan — a classic cold yogurt drink.

Next, take a walk around one of Sofia's most interesting areas: where the places of worship of three religions can be seen in the space of five minutes. Stroll around the Rotunda St. George — a circular, early Christian red-brick church — the Eastern Orthodox St. Nedelya Church, and the nearby Banya Bashi Mosque and Sofia Synagogue, the latter situated in a square called ‘Small Jerusalem.'

From here, visit the Central Hali Market: a building with more than 100 years of history. Admire the early-20th century architecture of this restored covered market, and delve into the stalls to taste typical local sweets such as baklava (sweet filo-pastry dessert) and tolumbichki (fried pastries soaked in honey syrup). In addition, perhaps scout out and buy fresh fruits, vegetables, nuts, and sausages.

Afterward, ride one of the newest underground lines in Europe to a stop near the National Palace of Culture, a communist-era conference center opened in 1981.

Visit a typical Bulgarian restaurant that showcases the city’s 19th-century architecture and furniture. Here, enjoy tastings of some fantastic Bulgarian wine together with various meat cuts such as lukanka (salami), babek (dried, cured sausage), Fillet Elena (dried, cured meat), and pastarma (dry, cured beef).

Your tour then ends here, leaving you free to continue your tastings with a variety of classic Bulgarian hot or cold appetizers, main dishes, and desserts.