In general, Sofia is a very walkable city, but you can also take the metro (very clean, very reliable) pretty much anywhere, and it’s tap-in, so no need to stress about tickets.

From the airport, if you’re travelling to and from Terminal 2, then the metro is right by the entrance and is super convenient to use. From Terminal 1, there are a few more hoops to jump through and you would need to take a bus to take you to the metro station.

Other than that, taxis to and from the airport are very affordable and should be no more than ~20lev. As advised on the “Wedding Day” page, we would recommend travelling with Yellow or Volt. Yellow taxis should already be parked outside the airport, whereas Volt must be ordered in advance.

If you want to do some travelling in Bulgaria, then buses are very reliable, but the trains are NOT. Genuinely, unless you want the full authentic soviet train experience, we would not recommend, especially in the summer when the AC does not always work. Renting a car is of course the most flexible option, but beware the passionate drivers in Sofia and the wannabe F1 racecar drivers on the highways.

As for accommodation in Sofia, anywhere around the city centre is good, safe and well connected to all the good spots in the city. If you would like to sense-check some choices with us, we would be more than happy to assist!

Alexander Nevsky Cathedral

The Alexander Nevsky Cathedral is one of the largest Eastern Orthodox cathedrals in the world. Built in the early 20th century, it was dedicated to the Russian soldiers who died during the Russo-Turkish War of 1877-78, which led to Bulgaria’s liberation from Ottoman rule, a key moment in our country’s history. The cathedral is designed in the neo-Byzantine style and is beautifully decorated with frescoes and religious icons. You should also be able to spot it from the plane!

Borisova Gradina Park

Sofia is home to several lush parks, the largest of which is the Borisova Gradina (Boris’ Garden). It’s the perfect place to escape the summer heat by taking refuge in the shade of the trees, taking a stroll or having a picnic. And if you’re like Ana and cannot sit still and love climbing on things, then we would also recommend going to the Kokolandia Adventure Park there, which offers aerial obstacle courses, ziplines and other fun activities for all ages. 

Boyana Church & Hike

This is another one for the history and church nerds among you. Tucked away at the foot of Vitosha Mountain, this medieval church is a hidden gem with immense historical and cultural value. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, it is renowned for its remarkably well-preserved frescoes dating back to 1259 and is considered some of the earliest examples of Renaissance-style art in Europe.

Just a short walk away, you will also find lush forest trails leading to the Boyana Waterfall. The hike is moderate and takes about 1-1.5 hours as a round-trip, starting here. It’s a perfect half-day escape that combines history, culture, and nature.

Vitosha Mountain 

Another way of escaping the summer heat is going to Vitosha Mountain - my dearest bridespeople James and Ignacio are known to have called it a “hill” in comparison to the mountain ranges they have back home, but we move.

You can either hike all the way up, drive up to certain points, take a bus or take the cable car. Whether you're in the mood for a gentle walk, a scenic hike, a breezy bike ride, or a laid-back picnic among wildflowers, Vitosha has it all. You should also see the Zlatni Mostove (The Golden Bridges), a stunning 2km-long “river” of giant stones formed during the Ice Age.

Escape Rooms

Is it even a Martin & Ana recommendation if it doesn’t involve some form of organised fun?

If you're up for a fun challenge, Escapeway is one of Sofia’s top-rated escape room venues. We absolutely loved their Indiana Jones-themed room, and we are yet to try their Pirates of the Caribbean one, but we’ll just say that these guys didn’t average out with a 5.0 rating from 828 reviews for no reason.