President's Office and Balkan Hotel Sofia Building, Sofia
The President's Office and Balkan Hotel Sofia Building are two historic landmarks in the heart of Sofia. The Presidency was built in the mid-1950s as part of the 'Largo' complex, which includes the offices of the Parliament, the President's Palace, and the Central Universal Store with the Council of Ministers.
The architecture of the Presidency was designed by architect Tsolov, and today, it serves as the official chambers for the Bulgarian President. The building faces the archaeological museum, and a guard of honor stands outside the building, changing every hour, five minutes before the full hour. The official changing of the guards takes place on the first Wednesday of every month at 12:00, complete with music, shouting, and weapon brandishing.
The Balkan Hotel Sofia, on the other hand, was built in 1956 as part of a new architectural trend in Sofia, which combined classical design and lavish décor of Biedermeier furniture. It redefined the concept of space and was part of the President's Palace complex.
The building boasts magnificent Italian marbles, elegant cherry-tree doors, and unique stone mosaics, which are part of the refined historical jewel. The hotel's foundations lay on a historical Roman fortress, and during the construction of the second stage of the Sofia Metro Line, remains of an ancient Christian basilica, six large buildings, mine drainage, and an ancient Roman city Serdika were unearthed.
The Balkan Hotel Sofia has 184 splendid rooms and suites, exclusively appointed with the latest high-tech amenities that are designed to anticipate every need. The building is a landmark in the bustling center of Sofia, ideally located in the heart of the city, abundant with cultural monuments, sites, museums, theaters, cafes, galleries, and parks. The hotel has welcomed members of royal families, heads of state, show business icons, famous business professionals, and high-ranked delegations.
It was recognized as one of the city's grandest hotels and architectural landmarks, offering its guests an exceptional experience of Bulgaria's finest culture and service. The impressive thick walls of the building work as a natural sound barrier, and the lavish corridors give a sense of unrivaled extraordinary grandeur. The Balkan Hotel Sofia is an oasis of luxury, refinement, and impeccable service, making it a premium location for both business and leisure clients.
The architecture of the Presidency was designed by architect Tsolov, and today, it serves as the official chambers for the Bulgarian President. The building faces the archaeological museum, and a guard of honor stands outside the building, changing every hour, five minutes before the full hour. The official changing of the guards takes place on the first Wednesday of every month at 12:00, complete with music, shouting, and weapon brandishing.
The Balkan Hotel Sofia, on the other hand, was built in 1956 as part of a new architectural trend in Sofia, which combined classical design and lavish décor of Biedermeier furniture. It redefined the concept of space and was part of the President's Palace complex.
The building boasts magnificent Italian marbles, elegant cherry-tree doors, and unique stone mosaics, which are part of the refined historical jewel. The hotel's foundations lay on a historical Roman fortress, and during the construction of the second stage of the Sofia Metro Line, remains of an ancient Christian basilica, six large buildings, mine drainage, and an ancient Roman city Serdika were unearthed.
The Balkan Hotel Sofia has 184 splendid rooms and suites, exclusively appointed with the latest high-tech amenities that are designed to anticipate every need. The building is a landmark in the bustling center of Sofia, ideally located in the heart of the city, abundant with cultural monuments, sites, museums, theaters, cafes, galleries, and parks. The hotel has welcomed members of royal families, heads of state, show business icons, famous business professionals, and high-ranked delegations.
It was recognized as one of the city's grandest hotels and architectural landmarks, offering its guests an exceptional experience of Bulgaria's finest culture and service. The impressive thick walls of the building work as a natural sound barrier, and the lavish corridors give a sense of unrivaled extraordinary grandeur. The Balkan Hotel Sofia is an oasis of luxury, refinement, and impeccable service, making it a premium location for both business and leisure clients.
Want to visit this sight? Check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in Sofia. Alternatively, you can download the mobile app "GPSmyCity: Walks in 1K+ Cities" from Apple App Store or Google Play Store. The app turns your mobile device to a personal tour guide and it works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.
President's Office and Balkan Hotel Sofia Building on Map
Sight Name: President's Office and Balkan Hotel Sofia Building
Sight Location: Sofia, Bulgaria (See walking tours in Sofia)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Sight Location: Sofia, Bulgaria (See walking tours in Sofia)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Walking Tours in Sofia, Bulgaria
Create Your Own Walk in Sofia
Creating your own self-guided walk in Sofia is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.
Sofia Introduction Walking Tour
Sofia, the capital of Bulgaria, is one of Europe’s oldest continuously inhabited cities, with archaeological traces of settlement dating back at least 7,000 years. Its fertile valley, abundant mineral springs, and position on major east–west and north–south routes made it a natural crossroads for ancient peoples.
The Thracian tribe Serdi established a settlement here in the 1st... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.6 Km or 1.6 Miles
The Thracian tribe Serdi established a settlement here in the 1st... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.6 Km or 1.6 Miles
Communist Era Landmarks Walk
In the not-so-distant past Bulgaria was part of the Soviet-led Eastern Bloc. Today, this is one of the few countries where you can still find numerous relics of the Communist era manifested in monumental architectural landmarks. Concrete and metal were the main materials as a symbol of the industrialized nation, and the size was important too as a common architectural characteristic prescribed by... view more
Tour Duration: 3 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 6.6 Km or 4.1 Miles
Tour Duration: 3 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 6.6 Km or 4.1 Miles
Useful Travel Guides for Planning Your Trip
Sofia Shopping: 15 Things To Memorize Bulgaria By
Increasingly popular tourist destination in recent years, Bulgaria has opened up to the outer world, revealing colorful identity, manifested in rich craftsmanship, culinary and cultural traditions and history. The country's capital city Sofia is a lovely alloy of Eastern and Western European...





