Sofia - Why It Shouldn’t Be Overlooked Or Underrated, Sofia, Bulgaria

The first thing that comes to mind when I think back on Sofia is flowers. Not what you were expecting to hear, I’m guessing. Maybe it was the time of year (mid-April), but from the multi-coloured tulips and pale cherry blossoms decorating the centre of the city, to the yellow dandelions dotting the residential areas, flowers were everywhere. It immediately put me at ease in this new country.

My original idea when I finished my three-month internship in Seville was to hop over to Romania before heading back home for the summer. But when I discovered some surprisingly cheap flights from Malaga to Sofia, I thought well I’ve always wanted to go to Bulgaria too… So here I was.

Though I was exhausted from my late flight the night before (I got to my hostel at 3am), I knew I couldn’t waste any time. It was my first time back in Eastern Europe since my Interrail trip in 2012 and there was so much I couldn’t wait to see. With two days in Sofia and one day for seeing the famous Rila Monastery out in the mountains, there was a lot of walking ahead. But trust me, this city is worth it. Here are some of my favourite places in Sofia you simply cannot miss. I also recommend doing a free walking tour; the guides are amazingly knowledgeable and friendly. The only downside is they don’t take you into many of the buildings and churches around the city, so you’ll have to come back later if you really want to see the interiors (which you should). ...... (follow the instructions below for accessing the rest of this article).