Vitosha Boulevard, Sofia (must see)

Have you seen Mount Vitosha while visiting the city? But did you know this is the mountain from which Vitosha Boulevard takes its name from? Today, it serves as the city’s main shopping and commercial artery, running from Saint Nedelya Square all the way to Southern Park. Along its length, visitors encounter a concentration of luxury boutiques, fashionable cafés, elegant restaurants, and lively bars—especially popular for open-air dining in summer and illuminated evening strolls.

Starting near Saint Nedelya Square and heading south toward Southern Park, you’ll come across names like Versace, D&G, La Perla, Lacoste, Armani, Tommy Hilfiger, Hugo Boss, among others. Most of these stores are set directly along the main pedestrian stretch, making them easy to explore as you walk the boulevard end to end. According to a recent 2024 report, Vitosha Boulevard now ranks among the top 60 most expensive shopping streets in the world.

Before Bulgaria’s liberation from Ottoman's rule in 1878, the street was lined with small one-story houses. Between the two World Wars, it transformed into a major commercial artery marked by larger-scale construction and European architectural influences. Near the northern end, close to Saint Nedelya Square, stands the imposing Palace of Justice.

Farther along the boulevard, as you head toward the park, you’ll pass the former home of Bulgarian Symbolist poet Peyo Yavorov, located at Georgi S. Rakovski 136—a three-story building with a light-yellow facade. Continue onward to the southern stretch where the National Palace of Culture dominates the skyline. Along this route, you’ll also come across the corner famously known as “The Pharmacy,” part of the Grand Hotel Sofia. Once a favored meeting place for writers and artists, the space within the hotel has since been renovated and repurposed over the years. The hotel building itself is a protected architectural landmark in Sofia.

In 2007, a renovation project was launched to restore the elegant look of 1930s Sofia. Historical street lamps, benches, and Art Nouveau-style kiosks were added, along with new green spaces, fountains, outdoor bars, and a clock tower near Saint Nedelya Cathedral—displaying the time in major world capitals.

One fascinating detail is that beneath Vitosha Boulevard lie underground remains of ancient Sofia, including Roman streets and fragments of early urban life. In some places, you can glimpse these ruins protected by glass panels from the surface.