Oblast Grad Sofiya Travel Forum

Hi world, I'm off to Sofia on the 9th October and I'm after information on the best places to go and enjoy myself? In particular I'm after places playing black music -r'n'b,hip-hop, jazz etc.

Also I have another question, out of the Holiday Inn and the Hilton which is best for getting to the city centre on foot?

Thanks in advance.

Sandman

Привет, From the airport, will the 84 bus take me to Bulgaria Blvd in Sofia. Near the Hilton to be precise. Thanks.

hello
what would you reccommend for a day out on tracking (softly) on Vitosha Mountain, to do, to see, and where could we have a nice late lunch during thatd ay?

We will visit Sofia soon in July and and want seek advice for information on organized day trip to Rila Monastery, preferable including Borovetc. The one organized by Zigzag is quite expensive. Anyone has some ideas of other reliable agencies/hostels for day trip to Rila Monastery?

Thanks a lot.

hello
I shall be in sofia for one week end of june and I am very interested in having some names and addresses (if possible, please!) of very funky places where the funky people of sofia are gathering, young and crazy aartists and the less commercial and more urban contemporary art galleries, cafffes, etc.

I had once seen on some french tv a reportage about a great places somehwre in sofia with a library, ateleir d'artiste, caffe, and a lot of green trees and herbs around...a place that thebartists themselves have established and they are running...does anyone know about this place? there are places like that I ma interested in, without being too underground, of course, not really in the squatting or "too alternative" culture..

Thank you a lot!!!

Hi everyone. Last summer I had a chance to spend couple of days in Sofia. I went to Rila Monastery and shopped at central malls! Beautiful city! Great times! Now I'm having the same chance. Already booked a car from Mobile Mania (btw perfect deal), and I'm looking for a destination for side seeing considering 1 or 2 days drive trip. Please advice.

Last Summer, there was a sladkarnica / coffee shop / cake shop in Sofia in a small back street.

It was quite large with the front half and downstairs quite dark and done out like a club and with a tropical island theme in the back of the shop.

They were playing chill out music and all of the staff seemed to be women in mini-skirts and tight tops.

Does anyone know the name of it and whether there is a website at all?

Thanks in advance

hey there..just a quick question about the Sofia - Beograd Train

i am planning on taking the Sofia 11:55 Train to Beograd arr. 19:18 with Serbian Railway (on a saturday)

the lonelyplanet said the train journey would be like 11h?? but welli guess thats the diffrent train..as well how good a serbian trains with the timnetable? always late? or normaly on time?
can i buy the ticket like everywhere at the railwaystation or do i need to go to a travel agancy?

then i am planning the Beograd - Sofia train N293 back to sofia on sunday night (21:15 - 07:15) the same quetsion about the times...is the treain really on time or are delays normal for this conection?

thanks so much for your help...ciao bella...mischa

Hi, we are planning a family holiday for the summer and would like to visit Montenegro, preferably Kotor. What is the best way this can be done? Don't mind hiring a car and driving it, google maps says it takes about 14hours, but if driving where are good places to stop off to break up the journey? I have been told there are some nice areas to stop in Albania and then you can catch a ferry up Bar or Kotor from Durres.
I have tried to research trains and it seem there is a sleeper train to Belgrade from Sofia, and then the following Evening a sleeper train to Bar (Montenegro) which is 45minutes by taxi from Kotor. Are there any better or other of doing the journey?

Ben

Hello, we are due to travel out on 21st January for 3 nights, we have heard that it is -15 likely and there may be no heating or hot water due to the power situation, is this scaremongering and should we look at cancelling?
Any local info much appreciated.
Peter

Could any one please tell me any details of busses from Sofia to Thessaloniki in Greece. I have to get to Thess 17th Dec, and want to avoid the train station if poss, as I had an unfortunate experience there last January, and for the same reason can you tell me if there is an ATM in or near the bus station, Thankyou for your time and Trouble.

can someone reccomand a cheap ski shop to buy clothes googles and stuff??

will it be cheaper in Sofia or in Bansko???

tnx

HI does anyone know how long it takes on a train from sofia to bourgas?

Do they run all year round?

Idea on the price single or return

HI does anyone know how long it takes on a train from sofia to bourgas?
do they

Hi there,

My location is in Sophia.
Is there any advice relating the weekend trip to Namur, Belgium.
I prefer to visit Namur city via train. ( Transitting Bruxelle is no problem).
Would you please help me : the time schedule, fair.

Highly appreciate that.

Cheers,

Ly

Where to find shopping deals in Sofia, Bulgaria

I am in Sofia for a weekend in October and need to stock up on some supplies before flying to Norway for the autumn. I don't want to buy anything in Norway (because of the ridiculous prices there), so I'm looking for Bulgarian shops to find the following items:

1) Good quality (non-Chinese) winter hat, touqe, scarf, mittens, and coat. For the gloves, it would be nice to find the kind that allows me to use my fingertips without taking them off. I want to stay warm outdoors while doing picky work with my fingertips. Too many bulky gloves are designed such that I have to take them off before working with my hands.

2) Cargo pants, with lots of pockets, and inner layer to stay warm in a Norwegian autumn (passed the arctic circle). I know they sell special clothes in Norway, but I'm not spending $100 on a pair of pants.

3) If you know of any second hand clothing stores in Sofia, please let me know. In North America, they are called Value Village shops. You can find pants, and coats for 3-10euros there. Do you know of the Bulgarian equivalent?

3) Non-expensive simple headphones (without microphone). I bought a set of headphones in Belgrade for 5euros, and they lasted 2 months. I'm looking for a similar pair in Sofia.

Thanks

Bulgarian police registration papers checked upon exiting the country?

Apparently there is a rule/law that requires foreigners not staying in hotels to register with the police (and provide proof of registration) upon exiting the country (i.e. at Bourgas international airport).

Does anyone remember how strictly this was enforced the last time you left Bulgaria (and didn't stay in hotels)? I am Canadian, and they had a similar rule in Serbia, but after research online, and advice from others, it became clear it wasn't neccessary to register with the police just because I wasn't going to be staying in hotels during my stay. On the train to Montenegro, no Serbian officers asked for the registration slip, and most people didn't know what registration meant, even though this was written on their embassy website.

How does it work in Bulgaria?

i am going to Sofia next year and would like to buy a second hand bicycle. where can i buy one in Sofia?
thanks

Prepaid SIM plans in Bulgaria?

I wonder which company, VIVA TEL, or MTEL is the better option for a prepaid SIM in Bulgaria. I am visiting Bulgaria for 1 month only, and ONLY need to send local TEXT messages (probably a lot of them) to dozens of Bulgarian cellular numbers. Most of those numbers begin with 088, but there are some 089 as well.

Does anyone know which umbers belong to MTEL, and which are VIVATEL numbers? Is there a fast way of finding out that kind of information online? I need to do it every time I get a new national SIM. I would like to get the cheaper plan (especially for sending, and recieving SMS, and maybe a couple local calls).

Thanks,

and ps. I think there is a third plan - Globus.

I visited Sofia very briefly in 1994 (on a day trip from Borovets) and am thinking of going again for a long weekend. What is the best time of year to visit, in terms of weather, interesting things going on etc?

I'm going to Sofia on the 4th september and i'm thinking of doing a day trip to either of the following cities Thesssloniki (Greece),Skopje (Macedonia) or Bucharest (Romania) and I was wondering the following
Are their train's or buses to all of the above cities?
How much would it roughly cost to get to either city?
How long it would take to either city?
Do you need visa's to get into either country?
Thanks,Chris.

ill be in sofia in a couple of days and was wondering about how to find overnight stay in a pansiyon or guesthouse. im in turkey now and do not have access to a lonely planet guide book. ill take an overnight train into sofia. perhaps exchange in dimitrovgrad. any assistance would be greatly appreciated. thanks...

i will be visiting bulgaria in some time soon...i was wondering how long should i travel from Sofia airport to the train station going to levski and which taxi should i get best. Thank you very much

Sean

Hey,

I shall be coming down to Sofia from Istanbul and am guessing taking a train is the safest and most economical option (correct me if I'm wrong). Have a few queries though. I'd like to explore what the "real" Bulgaria is, and am wondering if visiting Sofia would be the best option since its the most susceptible to 'westernisation' - I hope you get what I mean. Lemme know if I am looking too much into it. Since I would be staying there for a couple of days, what would be the best accomodation options? Places to visit? ANy hikes?

From Sofia, I shall be travelling on to Romania, so if possible could someone guide me on the best way to plan this trip? I read a few posts about people going to Macedonia too - should I come directly to Sofia or enroute Macedonia?

What about getting around in the city itself ? Language going to be a problem?

Any help would be really appreciated :)

Cheers.

Hi, anyone see a all girl group from Havana anywhere in Bulgaria? They were to arrive in Mid May and play in Sofia. Would like to know where they are playing and any reviews.
Thanks

Hi all,

I am trying to find info online of transport available between Sofia and Skopje. The only link I have found is this 1

http://tis.centralnaavtogara.bg

According to this there are only 2 buses per day. However when I was there in 2007 I seem to remember there were lots more buses than that. Does anyone have any info they can help with please?

Any help much appreciated.

Keep well,
Stevie

do you know the price by train and if there is a overnight train please

Looking to locate a all girl group from Havana called the Caribean Hurricane that arrive in Sofia May 18/19. Would like to know where they are playing?
Thanks

hello please! what is the train to Beograd from Sofia like and how long does it take? I would like a sleeper but how much does it cost and is it safe?. alternately what about a bus is it quicker and cheaper and does it have a w.c. on board

does the train from Sofia to Belgrade pass through any country where I need a visa and if so how would it be paid- which currency do they want?