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 What
you have to see in Sofia (some places of special
interest)
-
National palace of culture (NDK) - the largest
multifunctional complex in Southeastern Europe
- Boyana
Church - a 10th century Orthodox church, part of
The UNESCO Cultural Heritage List situated on the
outskirts of Sofia
- St.
Aleksander Nevsky Cathedral - one of the largest
Eastern Orthodox cathedrals in the world
-
Bulgarian National Historical Museum- notable by
its world famous collection of Thracian gold
- The
Sofia University- oldest university in Bulgaria,
established in 1888, built on 18 624 sq. mi.
surface, with 20 faculties and over 80 specialties
- The
Ivan Vazov National Theatre- remarkable Neoclassic
building
-
National Library- keeping remarkable collection of
ancient and modern book and document fund from
most of the world cultures; one of the richest
funds in the world.
 -
The Church of Sv. Georgi - it is among the oldest
Christian temples in the Balkan peninsula dating
back to 4th century
- The
unique central outdoor book-market on Slaveykov
Square
- Sofia
Mineral Springs - a construction of fountains in
the center of the city with natural hot mineral
water.
-
Central Military club - remarkable Neoclassic
building with 4 ball halls
-
Borisova gradina - Sofia's main and oldest garden,
constructed in 1884
- The
Royal Palace of The Third Bulgarian Kingdom
- Sofia
South Park - larges park in Sofia
- The
Sofia lake “Ariana”
- Statue
of St. Sophia- 25 m golden-bronze statue of the
patron of the city
- The
Monument to the Tsar Liberator
-
National Stadium “Vassil Levksi”
-
Student campus (Studentski grad) - largest place
of nightlife in Sofia with more than 100
nightclubs, disco’s, restaurants, cafeterias.
-
Vitosha boulevard - the city’s central boulevard
(largo)
- The
Sofia yellow pavement- one of Sofia’s symbols,
unique yellow pavement in the administrative
center of the city
Calculate your expenses:
(average
price, depends on place)
|
. |
Item |
Bulgarian Lev |
European Euro |
. |
|
. |
1 beer, Bulgarian, 500ml |
3.00 - 5.00 |
1.50 -2.50 |
. |
|
. |
1 beer, foreign, 500ml |
5.00 - 10.00 |
2.50 - 5.00 |
. |
|
. |
1 box of cigarettes |
5.00- 6.00 |
2.50- 3.00 |
. |
|
. |
1 glass alcohol, 50 ml. (vodka, whiskey,
etc.) |
5.00
- 10.00 |
2.50 -5.00 |
. |
|
. |
Energy drinks |
6.00 - 15.00 |
3.00 - 7.50 |
. |
|
. |
Coffee, tea
|
1.00 -
3.00
|
0.50 - 1.50 |
. |
|
. |
Non-alcoholic drinks, juices |
1.00 - 3.00 |
0,50- 1.50 |
. |
|
. |
Salad (in restaurant, pizzeria, etc.) |
2.00 -
10.00
|
1.00 - 5.00 |
. |
|
. |
Pizza (in pizzerias) |
5.00 - 15.00 |
2.50- 7.50 |
. |
|
. |
Barbeque dish (for one portion) |
7.00 - 15.00 |
3.50-7.50 |
. |
|
. |
Disco club entrance* |
5.00 -
20.00
|
2.50- 10.00 |
. |
|
. |
Disco club entrance (guest star parties) |
15.00 - 50.00 |
7.00- 25.00 |
. |
|
. |
Taxi (per kilometer) |
0.80 to
1.00 - 1.50 |
0.40 to
0.50 - 0.75 |
. |
|
. |
Ticket for all types of public transport |
1.00 |
0.50 |
. |
|
. |
Tickets for theatre, gallery |
10.00 - 15.00 |
5.00- 7.00 |
. |
|
. |
Tickets for cinema |
5.00 - 10.00 |
2.50-5.00 |
. |
 Transportation in Sofia
Sofia
has very developed public transport, including
tramways, trolleybuses, busses, multiply taxies,
subway, taxies. For every public transport in the
city, you’ll need ticket (“bilet” in Bulgarian),
which can be bought in any kiosk or newsagent.
Warning: Control in public transport is very
strict and the fine is 10-100 times bigger than
the sum of 1 ticket!
 Where can I buy...
Practically in Sofia, you can buy whatever you
want, because prices are pretty much acceptable
and quantity is high. Most expensive place in the
city is “Vitosha” boulevard, where are located
boutiques and shops of most of the world brands.
Other similar streets are “Alabin” and “Graf
Ignatiev”, near “Vitosha".
Also in Sofia are located four 5 floor malls-
Sofia City Center, Mall of Sofia, Serdika Center
and TZUM. Markets on streets in the east part of
the city are cheaper. Large markets, some kiosks
on main streets and most of pharmacies are working
on weekends and even 24h/day.
Food
and drinks, also with very good quantity and great
variety of products are sold in many places in the
center of the city and around, in small markets or
in large supermarkets. The hygienic control of
foods and drinks is strict, so you always get
fresh products and don’t have to feel
uncomfortable of buying ice cream, drink or
similar from a stall on the street. You can buy
alcohol and cigarettes in mentioned markets, also
in specialized kiosks.
 Restaurants & cafes
Eating
in a restaurant or having coffee is something
usual in Sofia, because the city provides one of
the cheapest prices in all EU, even in its top
center. Products are always fresh and well cooked.
Restaurants usually can offer you traditional
Bulgarian food, European, exotic dishes (Lebanese,
Chinese, Turkish, Arab, etc.), number of good
pizzerias, large and small cafeterias in every
part of the city with absolutely acceptable
prices. Alcohol in bars, disco’s, restaurants, etc
is also not expensive. In Bulgaria the quantity of
small alcohol drink is 50ml, 100 for large, small
beer is 330 – 500 ml, 1l for large.
 Night clubs and disco
With
its remarkable number of night clubs, discos,
party places on acceptable prices, Sofia is one of
the most vivid cities in Europe. Night clubs in
Sofia are working Monday- Saturday, starting
around 7 p.m. and ending 4-5 a.m. The most popular
places of nightlife are in the center of the city
and in the student’s campus (called “Studentski
grad” in Bulgarian). The student campus is one of
the main places of nightlife in Sofia with more
than 100 nightclubs, disco’s, restaurants,
cafeterias (most of them working 24/7) for every
taste and expectations. Usually an average
entrance price for a party in a disco club is
around 5.00-10.00 levas (ˆ2.5- 5.00), except of
special parties with guest star (prices between
15.00-50.00 leva/ ˆ7.00 – 25.00). Consummation is
not included in the price. Some of the discos and
clubs did not require from their clients entrance.
Control in disco’s is very strict, so you will
probably be kindly asked to be checked for
dangerous supplies.
 IMPORTANT
TO KNOW
-
Smoking is prohibited in closed public places and
the control is very strict! There are non-smoking
restaurants and caffeterias, also places with both
smoking and non-smoking areas. Respect the
non-smoking restrictions!
-
always buy AND check in a ticket for any public
transport
-
always check the taxi rate before taking it
- you
and your bags may be checked when entering nigh
club for dangerous supplies
- You
may be asked to pay entrance for clubs- the
entrance normally does not include consumation
- Do
not change money on the street no matter the rate
- change money only in recommended change bureaus
and banks. Always look at the table in front of
the change bureau for the daily rate and inside,
before giving money!
- Be
careful when paying check in cafeterias,
restaurants, disco’s, and clubs, also for entrance
in disco club. Every waiter and bartender is
obliged to give you the check!
Sofia in facts and figures:
Location
Western
Bulgaria,
42°42′N
23°20′E
situated
550 m (1,804 ft) above sea level
Time:
East-European time : EET (UTC+2)
- Summer
(DST) EEST (UTC+3)
Climate and whether:
Continental climate
Average
summer temperature: 25° C
Average
winter temperature: 1° C
Population:
Population (2007-07-01)
- City ▲
1,270,010
-
Density 1,030/km² (2,667.7/sq mi)
- Metro
1,386,702
Surface
Area (city) - 1,349 km²
Culture and education
- 16
Universities
- 15
theatres
- 15
museums
- 50
galleries
- over
20 cinemas and 4 large cinema centers
- Over
200 religious monuments and centers, including
Christian churches, Islam mosques, Synagogue.
Sports
- 7
stadiums (including 50 000- seated National
Stadium)
- 10
sport halls
- 15
sport centers
- 7
football teams, 5 volleyball teams
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