Where to go for a remarkable social media content? Learn more about iconic landmarks in Sofia, most of them within meters of ATRIUM Boutique Hotel
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St. Alexander Nevsky Cathedral
Working hours: Mon/Fri: 07:00 – 19:00
You can’t miss it! St. Alexander Nevsky Cathedral can be seen from every point of the city, as it stands at the highest point in Sofia, at 552 m above sea level, and its bell tower is 53 m high. It is also the largest Orthodox church on the Balkan Peninsula. The cathedral was built for 30 years (from 1882 to 1912) according to the project of the Russian architect and Italian graduate Prof. Alexander Pomerantsev. Impressive with its gilded domes and semi-domes on an area of 4,000 square meters, the temple is a neo-Byzantine style basilica with two chapels, a central part of five “ships”, two side covered galleries and an altar with three thrones.
In the basement there is a crypt, which for half a century has been a museum of Christian art with exhibits from the 4th to the 19th century, a branch of the National Art Gallery. Some of the most beautiful Bulgarian icons, fragments of wall paintings, prints, manuscripts, and church utensils from the Middle Ages to the 19th century are exhibited in the crypt.
Distance: 2,1 kilometers
- On foot: 20 minutes
- By bike / e-scooter: 7 minutes
- By car: 7 minutes
National Museum of Natural History
Working hours: Mon/Fri: 10:00 – 18:00
You can’t miss it! St. Alexander Nevsky Cathedral can be seen from every point of the city, as it stands at the highest point in Sofia, at 552 m above sea level, and its bell tower is 53 m high. It is also the largest Orthodox church on the Balkan Peninsula. The cathedral was built for 30 years (from 1882 to 1912) according to the project of the Russian architect and Italian graduate Prof. Alexander Pomerantsev. Impressive with its gilded domes and semi-domes on an area of 4,000 square meters, the temple is a neo-Byzantine style basilica with two chapels, a central part of five “ships”, two side covered galleries and an altar with three thrones.
In the basement there is a crypt, which for half a century has been a museum of Christian art with exhibits from the 4th to the 19th century, a branch of the National Art Gallery. Some of the most beautiful Bulgarian icons, fragments of wall paintings, prints, manuscripts, and church utensils from the Middle Ages to the 19th century are exhibited in the crypt.
Photo: National Museum of Natural History
Distance: 1.7 kilometers
- On foot: 15 minutes
- By bike / e-scooter: 6 minutes
- By car: 7 minutes
Sophia Synagogue
Working hours: Mon/Fri: 10:00 – 18:00
The Central Sofia Synagogue is among the three largest Sephardic (Hispanic-Jewish) synagogues in Europe and the largest on the Balkan Peninsula – the height of its dome is 31 meters. It was built at the beginning of the 20th century according to a project by the Viennese architect Friedrich Grünanger in the Spanish-Moorish style with elements of the Viennese Secession. The interior is richly decorated with multicolored Venetian mosaics, marble columns and ornamental carvings, and the ceiling is painted with scenes symbolizing heaven.
Distance: 270 meters
- On foot: 2 minutes
- By bike / e-scooter: 2 minutes
- By car: 4 minutes
The Palace – National Art Gallery
Working hours: Mon/Fri: 10:00 – 18:00
Over 50,000 works of art are stored in the National Art Gallery. Since the middle of the last century, it has been housed in a part of the former royal palace (the Ethnographic Museum is also located there), and for several years has been a museum complex uniting the National Museum of Bulgarian Fine Art, National Gallery of Foreign Art and “Kvadrat 500” (in the nearby former building of the Technical University). Along with originals by thousands of interesting Bulgarian and foreign authors, attention is drawn to thematic exhibitions and art events, as well as the magnificent architecture of the halls.
Distance: 1.4 kilometers
- On foot: 15 minutes
- By bike / e-scooter: 6 minutes
- By car: 8 minutes
Sofia’s Central Market Hall
Working hours: Mon/Fri: 08:00 – 22:00
A commercial building with an interesting history is located meters away from the ATRIUM Boutique Hotel Sofia. The Central Market Hall is the oldest covered market in our country, built in 1911 in the Neo-Renaissance style with characteristic clocks on the tower above the entrance arch. The complex has 3 floors and for many years has been an attractive center for shopping and meetings in the heart of the city. Restored and renovated in the 1990s, the Central Market Hall today is among the architectural symbols of the city.
Distance: 400 meters
- On foot: 2 minutes
- By bike / e-scooter: 2 minutes
- By car: 4 minutes
Medieval Church St. Petka of The Saddlers
Working hours: Open 24/7
Today only a small stone building remains of the ancient church St. Petka of the Saddlers a.k.a. “St. Petka Samardzhiyska”, but it is among the most valuable historical monuments and the few functioning medieval churches in the very center of the city. Archaeologists came across the temple only after the Second World War, although it was mentioned in medieval chronicles. It was built on top of an ancient Roman tomb in the 11th century. Its one-meter-thick walls have been preserved, as well as ancient frescoes, and it is believed that the upper mural layer was painted by St. Pimen Zografski. The church is named after the great martyr Paraskeva of Iconium, but it is known as “Samardzhii” because saddle makers (Samardzhii) once lived in the area. They believed that St. Petka protected them. Some archaeologists and intellectuals, such as the late writer Nikolay Haitov, put forward the hypothesis that Vasil Levski was buried in the crypt of the church in 1873.
Distance: 700 meters
- On foot: 6 minutes
- By bike / e-scooter: 4 minutes
- By car: 4 minutes
St. George Rotunda Church
Working hours: Mon/Fri: 08:00 – 18:30
The oldest architectural monument in Sofia and the only building preserved up to the roof from Roman times is the Rotunda “St. Great Martyr George the Victorious”. In the inner courtyard between Sofia Hotel Balkan and the Presidency, it was built at a level several meters lower than that of modern streets. When Serdika was among the largest Roman cities on the Balkan Peninsula under Emperor Constantine the Great (306-337), the rotunda had a cult purpose. In the 16th century, St. Pimen Zografski studied icon painting there. Under Sultan Salim I (1512-1520), it was transformed into the Gul-jamasi mosque. The frescoes were covered with white plaster and plant motifs were painted on it. After the Liberation of Bulgaria from Ottoman rule, in 1893, the Rotunda was turned into a mausoleum of the deceased Prince Alexander Battenberg. Subsequently, his remains were transferred to a mausoleum specially built for him, and during the restoration of the temple, several layers of medieval wall paintings were revealed.
Distance: 1 kilometer
- On foot: 12 minutes
- By bike / e-scooter: 5 minutes
- By car: 10 minutes
Serdica Ancient Complex
Working hours: Tue/Sun: 10:00 – 18:00
You can catch the spirit of antiquity in the modern city less than 500 meters from the ATRIUM Boutique Hotel Sofia! There, remains of ancient times are arranged in an attractive way – preserved and restored parts of buildings and streets of the once flourishing Roman village of Serdica. They are located near the TSUM building. The ruins are discovered during the construction of the Sofia metro and archaeologists date them to the 1st century.
Distance: 1.4 kilometer
- On foot: 15 minutes
- By bike / e-scooter: 5 minutes
- By car: 6 minutes
“Ivan Vazov” National Theater
Working hours: Mon/Fri: 10:00 – 18:00
The Bulgarian capital is proud of one of its most beautiful theater buildings – that of the “Ivan Vazov” National Theater, built by Viennese architects Ferdinand Fellner and Hermann Helmer. They are known for their remarkable projects of operas and theaters in Vienna, Salzburg, Zagreb, Prague, Bratislava… The Sofia Theater Institution was built from 1904 to 1907 on the site of the wooden theater “Osnova”. The garden in front of the theater, popularly known as the “City Garden”, is Sofia’s oldest park and a favorite place to walk and relax in every season with its fountains, chess tables, art installations and sculptural figures. In the neighborhood are the buildings of the Central Post Office, the Bulgarian National Bank, the music hall “Bulgaria”, the Sofia City Gallery, and other important public institutions.
“Ivan Vazov” National Theater has three stages: the main stage has 780 seats, the chamber hall has 120 seats, and the stage on the fourth floor has 90 seats. They play productions of the most interesting Bulgarian directors and stage designers by important actors of different generations. There are over 60 titles in the theatre’s repertoire, with around 10 premieres each season.
Distance: 1.4 kilometer
- On foot: 15 minutes
- By bike / e-scooter: 5 minutes
- By car: 6 minutes
St. Sofia Church
Working hours: Mon/Fri: 07:00 – 18:00
The church, which gave its name to the city of Sofia, has existed since the 4th century, which ranks it among the oldest architectural monuments on the Balkan Peninsula. As “St. Sofia” in Constantinople, as well as the St. Sofia church in Sofia is dedicated to God’s wisdom – one of the names of Jesus Christ. Part of its vaults collapsed during the conquest of the ancient city of Serdica by Khan Krum in 809, but over the centuries it has been repaired several times. In the 1980s, the Monument to the Unknown Warrior, designed by architect Nikola Nikolov, was restored on its southern facade. In front of it burns an eternal fire, guarded by a reclining lion – Bulgarian national symbol, the work of the sculptor Andrey Nikolov. In 2012, an underground museum with remains of earlier churches was built. Today “St. Sofia” is among the most significant historical and architectural landmarks, preserved from the early Christian development of South-Eastern Europe, with worldwide significance.
Another curious thing: the church does not have a belfry, its bell is hung on a century-old tree near the entrance. The writer Ivan Vazov is buried in the garden on its eastern side.
Distance: 1.5 kilometer
- On foot: 17 minutes
- By bike / e-scooter: 6 minutes
- By car: 8 minutes
National Palace of Culture
Working hours: Mon/Sun: 09:00 – 19:00
In the very center of Sofia there is a landmark building, which for 3 decades has been among the symbols of the city and the largest complex for festivals, exhibitions, concerts, cultural and public events, and conferences in Southeastern Europe. It was completed in 1981 as a culmination to mark 1300 years since the establishment of Bulgaria. On eight floors and three underground levels, it has 13 halls and 55 conference rooms with a capacity of 100 to over 3,000 seats. The largest Hall 1 in the NDK has 3380 seats. In front of it is the “Bulgaria” square with fountains and park alleys for walks and rest.
Distance: 2 kilometers
- On foot: 25 minutes
- By bike / e-scooter: 10 minutes
- By car: 15 minutes
Earth and People National Museum
Working hours: Mon/Sun: 10:00 – 18:00
You will find an interesting “reading” of the past and science in the Earth and People National Museum, located in another old building – that of the Sofia Artillery Arsenal. Built at the end of the 19th century, it was adapted for a museum in the 1980s. What is unique about it are not only the exhibits, but also the fact that it was created entirely with donations from Bulgarian and foreign donors.
Of greatest scientific and cultural value is the collection “Giant Crystals from Brazil” donated by Ilia Delev in 1985. Among the sections in the permanent exhibition are “Minerals of the Earth”, “Mineral Resources of Bulgaria”, “Decorative and Precious Stones”, “Peter Tranteev” Collection, the temporary and visiting exhibitions in the halls of the museum are also interesting.
Distance: 3 kilometer
- On foot: 45 minutes
- By bike / e-scooter: 12 minutes
- By car: 19 minutes
Russian Church of St. Nicholas the Miracle-Maker
Working hours: Mon/Sun: 08:00 – 18:30
The remarkable church of St. Nicholas the Miracle-Maker known also as The Russian Church with a beautiful garden in front was designed by Mikhail Preobrazhensky and has five gilded domes, the central one being 19 m high. Its bells were donated by the Russian Tsar Nicholas II. Believers have been flocking to it for more than a century, after it was consecrated before the start of the First World War in 1914. Its frescoes are the result of the work of a team of artists headed by Vasiliy Perminov, who also worked on the frescoes of St. Alexander Nevsky Cathedral. Russian church is dedicated to St. Nicholas the Miracle-Maker, but it is also associated with another miracle-maker – St. Seraphim Sobolev, buried in her crypt.
Distance: 1.6 kilometers
- On foot: 14 minutes
- By bike / e-scooter: 6 minutes
- By car: 8 minutes
Museum of Illusions Sofia
Working hours: Mon/Sun: 10:00 – 20:00
When you want to diversify and see the world with your feet up, find yourself in a place where little things become giants, impossible things become reality and paint with light, take a walk to the Museum of Illusions Sofia. Just 300 m from ATRIUM Boutique Hotel Sofia, it offers an educational and fun experience through an interactive expedition into the world of scientific mysteries. Each exhibit is directly related to existing physical laws in the field of mechanics, optics, electrical and magnetic phenomena. To look at everything in detail you will need more than 1 hour.
Distance: 300 meters
- On foot: 3 minutes
- By bike / e-scooter: 3 minutes
- By car: 5 minutes
Vrana Park-Museum
Working hours: Sat/Sun: 10:00 – 16:00
An interesting place to rest and walk on the edge of town, Vrana Park is located at the entrance to Sofia (381, Tsarigradsko Shose Blvd.). It is a magnificent bouquet of decorative vegetation, in which the diversity of over 820 tree, shrub and grass species impresses – only lilacs are 25 species. Many of the plants that surround the picturesque lily pond are 110 years old. Created in the first half of the 20th century, Vrana park is not inferior to famous European parks. It is a part of an estate – an out-of-town summer residence that belonged to the Bulgarian kings Ferdinand I and Boris III. The palace was built at the beginning of the last century and is an interpretation of Byzantine and Renaissance monastery architecture. The park is only open on Saturdays, Sundays, and public holidays from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Photo Credits: ME “Parks and gardens”
Distance: 13 kilometers
- On foot: 2 hours and 25 minutes
- By bike / e-scooter: 40 minutes
- By car: 30 minutes
Military Academy Park
Working hours: Mon/Sun: 10:00 – 20:00
The famous Austrian architect Friedrich Grünanger designed the wonderful park that surrounds the oldest military school in Bulgaria – Military Academy “G. S. Rakovski”. Founded in 1912, it is still a leading educational institution with long-standing traditions and is in the center of the city, at 82, Evlogi i Hristo Georgievi Blvd. Grünanger, the author of many public and private buildings, has created a truly European park with a variety of avenues and relaxation areas among unique plant species that make it a great place for walks and rest. The summer amphitheater in its center makes it the ideal stage for various art events such as “Opera in the Park” and open-air cinema.
Distance: 3.8 kilometers
- On foot: 45 minutes
- By bike / e-scooter: 14 minutes
- By car: 20 minutes
Boyana Church
Working hours: Mon/Sun: 09:30 - 18:00
The medieval Orthodox church “St. St. Nicholas and Panteleimon” is a must stop for anyone who wants to learn more about Bulgarian history. Built at the end of the 10th century as a chapel, it is at the edge of the city, at the foot of Vitosha mountain. During the Second Bulgarian Empire, it was expanded by the founders, Sebastokrator Kaloyan and his wife Desislava, and completed in the 19th century. Prince Ferdinand and his wife Eleonora improved the park at the beginning of the 20th century, planting rare species in it, including three North American sequoias.
After nearly 30 years of restoration, the temple was opened in 2000 and visitors can see murals from different historical periods. Of greatest artistic importance are the images painted by the Boyana master Valchan and his school in 1259. Presented with convincing realism, vitality and grace, the images are considered precursors of the European Renaissance. Boyana Church is on the UNESCO World Cultural and Natural Heritage List.
The visit can be combined with a walk to the Boyana Waterfall, which is about a 2-hour walk from the church.
Photo: Ekaterina Stamboliyska-Petrova, deputy. Head of Boyana Church
Distance: 11 Kilometers
- On foot: 1 hour and 55 minutes
- By bike / e-scooter: 45 minutes
- By car: 30 minutes
- By subway and bus number 64: 1 hour