Discover Sofia by Hire Car
When you think of Bulgaria, you think of the Black Sea coast, but the capital Sofia also has a lot to offer tourists.
With its location at the foot of the Vitosha Mountains, its role as a Thracian, Roman and Slavic settlement and its numerous thermal spas, Sofia represents a unique combination of recreation and culture.
Leisure activities in Sofia
With a hire car, you can easily reach not only the ancient churches and Roman wall remains located in Sofia’s city centre, but also hidden treasures that lie off the main tourist route, such as the Bojana Church with its unique 13th-century wall paintings or the National Museum of History.
But what would a visit to Sofia be without seeing the Vitosha Mountains?
By hire car, you can get to one of the largest ski resorts in the country surprisingly quickly. The ski season lasts until mid-April and while the trees are in bloom in Sofia, you can still enjoy snowy landscapes above.
In summer, the Vitosha Mountains are a popular hiking area with well-marked hiking routes.
One of Sofia’s treasures is also the abundant bubbling mineral water springs with attached SPA facilities in the suburbs of Bankja and Gorna Banja.
Exploring Sofia’s surroundings
A trip to the Rila Monastery, 120 km away from Sofia in the Rila Mountains, is highly recommended.
In Bulgaria’s largest monastery you can see valuable examples of Bulgarian icon painting and architecture.