Sofia, here we come!

Angela: another long weekend with the family, another European capital—maybe not the most popular tourist destination...

Piero: exactly, Angela—we're heading to Sofia! Easy to plan at the last minute, not (unjustly!) crowded with tourists, and definitely budget-friendly.

Angela: this time, we planned just three days—enough to explore the city, enjoy it at a relaxed pace, and even fit in a short trip outside the center!

Piero: September is a perfect time to wrap up the summer holidays in style! I imagine it must be charming in winter too, though perhaps a bit too cold…

Angela: flights are easy to find and quite cheap, but not exactly ideal for such a short trip—we left in late morning and returned mid-morning.

Piero: it’s important to organize your itinerary well, or you might lose a lot of time because of the flight schedule!

Angela: so, where to stay?

Piero: hotels in the city center are a solid option, but so are the many apartments available—great location and excellent value for money.

Angela: we chose Vitosha Apartments—two very spacious and comfortable apartments just a few steps from Vitosha Boulevard. A great solution!

Piero: at first glance, the building and entrance didn’t look great… but once inside, we were pleasantly surprised!

Angela: especially if, like us, you don't pay much attention to directions and end up walking through less appealing neighborhoods to get there...

Piero: I remember that well, Angela! Walking through streets that looked like they were frozen in time—blocky, uniform buildings with little aesthetic care… only to find out later we could have arrived straight from the lovely Vitosha Boulevard!

Angela: Vitosha Boulevard is the main shopping street in Sofia, lined with elegant cafés, restaurants, and luxury boutiques.

Piero: and that’s where our tour begins! After settling in mid-afternoon, nothing beats a first exploratory walk along the boulevard—ending, of course, with a good local beer!

Angela: the boulevard starts at Nedelya Square, home to the splendid Orthodox church, and stretches to South Park, one of the city’s major green spaces. It's named after Mount Vitosha, Bulgaria’s iconic peak, which provides a beautiful backdrop.

Piero: along the way, you’ll pass the National Palace of Culture, the Palace of Justice, and the house where the renowned Bulgarian poet Peyo Yavorov once lived and died.

Angela: it’s a truly pleasant stroll—this pedestrian boulevard has a charming 1930s flair. It’s worth enjoying it slowly, before dinner.

Piero: speaking of dinner… where are we eating?

Angela: we picked one of Sofia’s most beautiful restaurants: Moma. Excellent food, mostly traditional meat-based dishes. Prices are a bit above average but still very affordable, especially considering the quality, the setting, and the central location.

Let’s enjoy this sneak peek of what we’re about to discover in the video!