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 Culture
and education
- 16
Universities
- 15
theatres
- 15
museums
- 50
galleries
- over
20 cinemas and 4 large cinema centers
- Over
200 religious monuments and centers, including
Christian churches, Islam mosques, Synagogue.
Sports
- 7
stadiums (including 50 000- seated National
Stadium)
- 10
sport halls
- 15
sport centers
- 7
football teams, 5 volleyball teams
 What you have to see in Sofia (some places of
special interest)
-
National palace of culture (NDK) - the largest
multifunctional complex in Southeastern Europe
- Boyana
Church - a 10th century Orthodox church, part of
The UNESCO Cultural Heritage List situated on the
outskirts of Sofia
- St.
Aleksander Nevsky Cathedral - one of the largest
Eastern Orthodox cathedrals in the world
-
Bulgarian National Historical Museum- notable by
its world famous collection of Thracian gold
- The
Sofia University- oldest university in Bulgaria,
established in 1888, built on 18 624 sq. mi.
surface, with 20 faculties and over 80 specialties
- The
Ivan Vazov National Theatre- remarkable Neoclassic
building
-
National Library- keeping remarkable collection of
ancient and modern book and document fund from
most of the world cultures; one of the richest
funds in the world.
- The
Church of Sv. Georgi - it is among the oldest
Christian temples in the Balkan peninsula dating
back to 4th century
- The
unique central outdoor book-market on Slaveykov
Square
- Sofia
Mineral Springs - a construction of fountains in
the center of the city with natural hot mineral
water.
-
Central Military club - remarkable Neoclassic
building with 4 ball halls
-
Borisova gradina - Sofia's main and oldest garden,
constructed in 1884
- The
Royal Palace of The Third Bulgarian Kingdom
- Sofia
South Park - larges park in Sofia
- The
Sofia lake “Ariana”
- Statue
of St. Sophia- 25 m golden-bronze statue of the
patron of the city
- The
Monument to the Tsar Liberator
-
National Stadium “Vassil Levksi”
-
Student campus (Studentski grad) - largest place
of nightlife in Sofia with more than 100
nightclubs, disco’s, restaurants, cafeterias.
-
Vitosha boulevard - the city’s central boulevard
(largo)
- The
Sofia yellow pavement- one of Sofia’s symbols,
unique yellow pavement in the administrative
center of the city
Sofia in facts and figures:
Location
Western
Bulgaria,
42°42′N
23°20′E
situated
550 m (1,804 ft) above sea level
Time
East-European time : EET (UTC+2)
- Summer
(DST) EEST (UTC+3)
Climate
and Weather
Continental climate
Average
summer temperature: 25° C
Average
winter temperature: 1° C
Population (2007-07-01)
- City ▲
1,270,010
-
Density 1,030/km² (2,667.7/sq mi)
- Metro
1,386,702
Surface
Area (city) - 1,349 km²
Calculate your expenses:
(average
prices, depends on place)
|
. |
Item |
Bulgarian Lev |
European Euro |
. |
|
. |
1 beer, Bulgarian, 500ml |
2.00 |
1.00 |
. |
|
. |
1 beer, foreign, 500ml |
5.00 - 8.00 |
2.50 - 4.00 |
. |
|
. |
1 box of cigarettes |
2.00- 6.00 |
1.00- 3.00 |
. |
|
. |
1 glass alcohol, 50 ml. (vodka, whiskey,
etc.) |
3.00 - 6.00 |
1.50
-3.00 |
. |
|
. |
Energy drinks |
4.00 - 8.00 |
2.00 - 4.00 |
. |
|
. |
Coffee, tea
|
0.50 -
2.00
|
0.25 - 1.00 |
. |
|
. |
Non-alcoholic drinks, juices |
1.00 - 2.00 |
0,50- 1.00 |
. |
|
. |
Salad (in restaurant, pizzeria, etc.) |
2.00 -
10.00
|
1.00 - 5.00 |
. |
|
. |
Pizza (in pizzerias) |
3.00 - 12.00 |
1.50- 6.00 |
. |
|
. |
Barbeque dish (for one portion) |
5.00 - 10.00 |
2.00-5.00 |
. |
|
. |
Disco club entrance* |
5.00 -
10.00
|
2.50- 5.00 |
. |
|
. |
Disco club entrance (guest star parties) |
15.00-50.00 |
7.00- 25.00 |
. |
|
. |
Taxi (per kilometer) |
0.70 |
0.35 |
. |
|
. |
Ticket for all types of public transport |
1.00 |
0.50 |
. |
|
. |
Tickets for theatre, gallery |
10.00 - 15.00 |
5.00- 7.00 |
. |
|
. |
Tickets for cinema |
5.00 - 10.00 |
2.50-5.00 |
. |
*Some
of the discos and clubs do not require from their
clients entrance.
 Transportation in Sofia
Sofia
has very developed public transport, including
tramways, trolleybuses, busses, multiply taxies,
subway, taxies. Tramways No 1 and 7 are passing
through the center of the city, also trolleybuses
No 1, 2, 7, 9. The subway line leads from the
center to one of its suburbs and back. For every
public transport in the city, you’ll need ticket
(“bilet” in Bulgarian), which can be bought in any
kiosk or newsagent (price: ˆ0.35 / 0.70 levas).
Warning: Control in public transport is very
strict and the fine is 10-100 times greater than
the sum of 1 ticket!
 Where can I buy...
Practically in Sofia, you can buy whatever you
want, because prices are pretty much acceptable
and quantity is high. Most expensive place in the
city is “Vitosha” boulevard, where are located
boutiques and shops of most of the world brands.
Other similar streets are “Alabin” and “Graf Ignatiev”, near “Vitosha”.
Also
in Sofia are located three 5 floor malls- Sofia
City Center, Mall of Sofia and TZUM. Markets on
streets in the east part of the city are cheaper.
Large markets, some kiosks on main streets and
most of pharmacies are working on weekends and
even 24h/day.
Food
and drinks, also with very good quantity and great
variety of products are sold in many places in the
center of the city and around, in small markets or
in large supermarkets. The hygienic control of
foods and drinks is strict, so you always get
fresh products and don’t have to feel
uncomfortable of buying ice cream, drink or
related from a stall on the street. You can buy
alcohol and cigarettes in mentioned markets, also
in specialized kiosks.
 Restaurants & cafes
Eating
in a restaurant or having coffee is something
usual in Sofia, because the city provides one of
the cheapest prices in all EU, even in its top
center. Products are always fresh and well cooked.
Restaurants usually can offer you traditional
Bulgarian food, European, exotic dishes (Lebanese,
Chinese, Turkish, Arab, etc.), number of good
pizzerias, large and small cafeterias in every
part of the city with absolutelly acceptable
prices. Alcohol in bars, disco’s, restaurants, etc
is also not expensive. In Bulgaria the quantity of
small alcohol drink is 50ml, 100 for large, small
beer is 330 – 500 ml, 1l for large.
 Night clubs and disco
With
its remarkable number of night clubs, discos,
party places on acceptable prices, Sofia is one of
the most vivid cities in Europe. Night clubs in
Sofia are working Wednesday- Saturday, starting
around 7 p.m. and finishing 4-5 a.m. The most
popular places of nightlife are in the center of
the city and in the student’s campus (called
“Studentski grad” in Bulgarian). The student
campus is one of the main places of nightlife in
Sofia with more than 100 nightclubs, disco’s,
restaurants, cafeterias (most of them working
24/7) for each taste and expectations. Usually an
average entrance price for a party in a disco club
is around 5.00-10.00 levas (ˆ2.5- 5.00), exept of
special parties with guest star (prices between
15.00-50.00 leva/ ˆ7.00 – 25.00). Consumation is
not included in the price. Some of the discos and
clubs did not reqire from their clients entrance.
Control in disco’s is very strict, so you will
probably be kindly asked to be cheked for
dangerous supplies.
 Be
careful with...
Here
are some warnings in order to avoid unexpected
worries:
- Be
careful when using a taxi! Average prices per
kilometers start at ˆ0.35. Highly recommended is
to take “OK Supertrans” or “1 euro taxi” (Taxi
telephone numbers- 00359 2 9732121 and 00359 2
9622226). Always watch the sticker on the front
glass, where the price is written and do not worry
to ask the driver if the total price looks much to
you.
- Be
careful when using public transport. Always keep
your bag and precious things close and buy a
ticket - the control is really strict and the
pickpockets are almost invisible!
- Be
careful of homeless dogs!
- Be
careful when changing money. Do not change money
on the street, no matter how good the rate
exchange looks to you. Always look at the table in
front of the change bureau for the daily rate and
inside, before giving money. Highly recommended is
to change money in banks and in large change
offices.
- Be
careful when paying check in cafeterias,
restaurants, disco’s, and clubs, also for entrance
in disco club. Always ask for the check voucher
and calculate your total. Every waiter and
bartender is obliged to give you the check
voucher!!!!
- Be
careful when ordering concentrate alcohol drink
and cocktails. Highly recommended is to order
popular brands, cocktails.
- Be
careful from pickpockets on the streets and in
transport! Keep your things close!
- Be
careful when crossing the street, much of the
drivers do not respect traffic lights and
pedestrian cross line!
 Going to... not a good idea.
Actually, Sofia is usually quite and peaceful,
with strict police control, but you have to be
careful when going out alone or walking by night
all alone. Take a friend or someone from the
SOFIMUN organizers with you - in company is always
much more fun. Going on a sight seeing alone is
not such a good idea, because the city has many
suburbs and small streets and you might get lost
very easy. Not a good idea is going alone in the
deep parts of the large gardens and parks by night
because of thefts or other worries. If you get
lost, ask for the direction in markets,
cafeterias, shops.
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