You could be forgiven for thinking you may have made an error of judgment as you travel from Sofia International Airport to the city centre. The roads are over crowded and the buildings lining the roads hardly inspiring. Depending on when you arrive there is every chance of witnessing a lingering smog. However, if you give the place a chance and wait until you get into the centre you might start to change your mind.

Sofia is an emerging capital city, and whilst it arguably lacks an abundance of the delightful architecture that you might find in other Eastern European capitals, it has its own attractions. Development is happening all over the place and this can be seen by the emergence of many new bars and trendy shops. There are some great shopping opportunities along Bul Vitosha with all the designer labels and prices to match. There are some excellent restaurants in the city where cuisine of all kinds can be found, along with nightly entertainment options to suit all tastes

Skiing is generally available from December to March and there are green, blue, red and black runs stretching over 25 kilometers. There are 2 ski resorts with all the necessary facilities and the mountain is serviced by six tow-lifts, 4 open-air cable cars and one cable-carriage car. There are not that many European capitals where you can ski by day and then enjoy the city by night! The whole area is a national park and there are some great hiking and mountain bike trips to be had in the summer months – if there is any smog settling over the city you’ll escape it by a trip to Mt Vitosha.

There are also a number of green spaces to take advantage of – the City Garden is a wonderful place to escape the hustle and bustle of hectic city life. Take some time out, watching the old boys playing chess or just relaxing on a bench indulging in a spot of people watching!

A site that is definitely worth a visit is the . Construction of the cathedral was finally completed in 1912 and it stands proud as one of the largest Eastern Orthodox cathedrals in the world. The cathedral can be found at ???? You are able to enter at times???? cost????? candles????

There is a range of accommodation in the city and you should be able to find something to match your budget. Brand new international 5 star hotels are available, along with cheap and cheerful city hostels – check out www.sofiahotels.net to see some possible options.

You can travel around the city via the many trams or jump on a bus. There are loads of taxis available and these can be readily flagged down from the street. The city centre is quite compact so you can easily get around the main attractions by foot.

If you want to travel further afield there are good travel links. The new terminal has opened at Sofia International Airport, restoration work has occurred at the Sofia Central Railway Station and the Sofia Central Bus Station is brand new. If you have several days to spend in Bulgaria we certainly recommend a visit to Veliko Tarnovo.