The Best Things to Do in Sofia in the Autumn
Sofia is Bulgaria’s small but vibrant capital city. It is perfect for a city break or as a base for exploring more of beautiful Bulgaria. With a long and captivating history, interesting food and welcoming locals, Sofia is a place worth learning about and discovering for yourself. It is a beautiful city at any time of year. However, we really loved the colours and the vibe in the autumn months. We have put together our recommendations for the best things to do in Sofia in the Autumn.
The weather is still really nice at this time of year. It can be chilly at night but there is a lot of sun during the day and it has a nice warmth – perfect for exploring! There is a little rain, but we have provided plenty of indoor options just in case. With that in mind, here are some of the best things to do in Sofia in the Autumn.
Banya Bashi Mosque
Built in the late 1500s, during the Ottoman rule, this is the only functioning Mosque left in Sofia. It is a beautiful example of Ottoman architecture and is built over one of the city’s natural, thermal spas. It is possible to look inside when it is not prayer time. Prayer times are 13.30, 15.30 and 20.45.
The Best Things to Do in Sofia in the Autumn – Church of St Nicholas the Miracle-Maker
This beautiful Russian Orthodox Church is not to be missed. The church was completed in 1914 and was built on the site of a demolished mosque. Saint Archbishop Seraphim is buried beneath the floor of the church. People often visit his grave and ask for their wishes to be granted. So stop by, admire the beautiful architecture and make a wish.
National Palace of Culture
This is a great example of Soviet era architecture. If you like giant, brutalist structures, this is for you. Built by the Communists in 1981, it was opened to celebrate Bulgaria’s 1,300 year anniversary. The NDK is currently used as a conference centre and it is really worth a visit and a stroll around the grounds, just to appreciate its size and design. The NKD Metro station is also fun to check out.
The Best Things to Do in Sofia in the Autumn – St. Alexander Nevsky Cathedral
Built to thank the Russians for their help in defeating the Ottomans, this is the third largest Cathedral in the Balkans! It is pretty iconic in Sofia and is easily recognisable. It’s unlikely you will miss it, however it is worth seeking out!
Do Some Shopping in Some of Sofia’s Markets
The Central Sofia Market Hall (Tsentralni Hali) first opened back in 1911. It has a few food stalls and other businesses located inside. It’s great on a rainy day as it’s covered.
A five minute walk from here is the Lady’s Market. This is a little more rough around the edges but perhaps more authentic. You will find fresh fruit and veg as well as cheap clothes and some rather dubious looking cigarettes. Keep an eye on sellers using scales to calculate your price, they are known for some sneaky tactics.
Take a Day Trip to the Rila Monastery and Rila 7 Lakes
If you have some extra time in Sofia and feel like some country air, a trip to Rila is highly recommended. We took a tour that included both the 7 Lakes and the Monastery in the same day. The Lakes are spectacular and involve a bit of hiking. The Monastery is peaceful and stunningly beautiful in Autumn.
The Best Things to Do in Sofia in the Autumn – Experience Life in a Former Communist Flat
This was an unexpected highlight and something we would really recommend to try if you visit Sofia in the Autumn. The Red Flat has been reconstructed to show how an average family would have lived during Communist times in Sofia. There is an audio guide that explains almost every item and its significance. This was a really fascinating place to visit for us.
Take a Free Sofia Walking Tour
This is something we do in every new city we visit! Walking around Sofia with a knowledgeable guide is a great way to get a feel for the area and to learn some local history and quirky facts. Not to mention burning off some of that heavy, yet delicious, Bulgarian cuisine.
The Best Things to Do in Sofia in the Autumn – Visit the Sofia History Museum (the old public baths)
This building was originally the public baths for the city. The water from the central mineral spring in Sofia reaches the ground at around 33 °C and was used in the Public Mineral Baths. Several health benefits are thought to be gained from drinking and bathing in this water. There are still taps around the city where you can take a drink.
Today the building houses the Sofia History Museum which is a great thing to do in Sofia in the autumn if you get a rainy day.
Vazrajdane Aqua Park
During the summer, this water park can get busy. However, a warm autumnal day can be a great time to visit. Even if the temperature has dipped, there is also an indoor swimming pool, sauna park (steam bath, Finnish and infrared sauna), relax room with atrium, rooms for dry and wet massages, tangent bath, salt room and a café. You can get more details HERE.
Take a Day trip to Plovdiv
Plovdiv is an ancient city in Southern Bulgaria. If you are into history, you must take the trip as Plovdiv is considered to be the oldest continuously inhabited city in Europe. You can get there from Sofia by train or bus in about 2.5 hours or you can drive in around 1 hour and 20 minutes.
The Best Things to Do in Sofia in the Autumn – Climb Mount Vitosha
Mount Vitosha is a mountain massif and the tallest peak sits at 2290m high, the highest in the Sofia area. It is popular with locals for hiking in the summer as many bid to escape the sweltering heat of the city. Skiing is a common pursuit in the winter.
There is a National Park around the mountain area so car parking is easy and accessible. You can also reach the park by public transport which mostly includes a bus then a chair lift. However, the details vary tremendously depending on what trail you choose and where you start in Sofia. Bus #64 takes you to the Boyana Church which is where we started. Boyana church dates back to the 9th and 10th century and has beautiful frescoes inside.Boyana Waterfall and Boyana Lake are also located in the National Park.
Explore the Serdika Ruins
If you are using the metro during your stay in Sofia, make sure you stop at Serdika II. At this station, you can catch a glimpse of the Roman city of Serdika that was uncovered when constructing the metro.
The Best Things to Do in Sofia in the Autumn – Sofia Opera and Ballet
This is a great way to spend and autumnal evening in Sofia, and get some culture in too. You can find the calendar HERE.
Enjoy an Evening at one of Sofia’s Rooftop Bars
There are a few good rooftop bars in Sofia. It’s a nice way to relax in the evening with a beautiful view! We usually go to the Sense Hotel Rooftop Bar. It’s located pretty centrally and has a really good selection of cocktails. Oh, and the view is amazing!
The Best Things to Do in Sofia in the Autumn – Saint Sophia Church
This is the oldest Church in Sofia and dates back to the fourth century. The current building is not particularly pretty or interesting. However, below the Church lies the remains of the old city. Here you will find beautifully well-preserved mosaics and paintings that date back to the 4th century. The remains of the ancient buildings and tombs now make up a great museum that you can visit. Admission to the Necropolis Museum is about €3 for adults €1 for concessions and it is open from 9 – 5.
Marvel at the Largo
This part of Sofia contains some prime examples of Socialist Classicism architecture in the former government buildings. The structures were designed to be so large to make the regular man or woman feel like a very small part of the regime.
The Best Things to Do in Sofia in the Autumn – Church of St. Paraskeva
This Bulgarian Orthodox church is the third largest church in Sofia. It is very worth a visit as it is quite spectacular inside. Sometimes you will be able to hear the choir rehearsing which is quite something!
Drop by the Vazov National Theatre
This is a beautiful old theatre in Sofia. There are many shows on throughout the year. You can find the programme HERE. However, it is also a really nice place to hang out, especially in the evening when it is lit up and muscians play in the park.
The Best Things to Do in Sofia in the Autumn – National Museum of Military History
This museum has some really interesting exhibitions if you are interested in military history. It also has a lot of interactive things to try out. Part of it is indoors as well if you don’t want to get wet on a rainy day.
Some Practical Tips for Your Trip to Sofia in the Autumn
Along with providing some amazing things to do in Sofia in the autumn, we have also added in some practical tips for your trip! Sofia is an incredible city with so much to offer. Here are a few practical tips for your visit.
The local Currency is Bulgarian LEV. 1 LEV equals about €0.50.
Bulgarian is the official language spoken throughout the country. It is a south Slavic language which is often difficult for English speakers. Here are a few phrases for you to try out.
Hello – Здравейте. (zdrah-VEY-teh)
Please – Моля. (moh-LYAH)
Thank you – Благодаря. (blah-goh-DAH-ryah)
Yes –Да. (dah)
No – Не. (neh)
Goodbye – Довиждане. (doh-VEEZH-dah-neh)
The weather is hot in the summer (above 30°C) and cold in the winter (below -30°C). Spring and autumn temperatures are really pleasant. The best time to go is probably spring or autumn to avoid the extreme temperatures.
Most attractions are open all year round. There aren’t big crowds during the peak tourist seasons but it can get busier with locals during holidays. There is one airport in Sofia and flights from other European countries are quick and cheap.
More Info
- Sofia tourist info can be found HERE
- Bulgaria tourist info can be found HERE
- FREE HIKING TOUR takes a great route around Vitosha with groups of 2 – 20 people
Where to go next?
Planning on spending a bit of time in Sofia? Check out our guide to the best ways to get around Sofia.
Final note: Things change often when travelling in the Balkans and there is not much information online. We would definitely advise checking with a local where possible. We found people to be really friendly and super helpful.
Have you visited Sofia or Bulgaria? Are you planning a trip and need more information? Drop a comment in the box, we’d love to hear from you!
Short on time? Pin the image below to save our “Over 20 of the Best Things to Do in Sofia in the Autumn” for later
Autumn is my favorite season of the year. Perhaps because I was born in September. But I love to see how the landscape is transformed as the leaves turn colors. Your photos are exquisite.
The Balkans are still very underrated. But sometimes I feel like countries such as Bulgaria is where you can still experience an authentic Europe. Thanks for sharing.