Sofia University

Most of the biggest and the best museums and galleries that will help you understand Bulgaria’s past and present are in Sofia. Start with the National History Museum, visit the Sofia History Museum, and spend an hour or two at the National Art Gallery and the Museum of Socialist Art. Discover Bulgaria’s diverse layers of history, mixing up Roman ruins and Soviet architecture, as well as Ottoman and Byzantine religious and cultural influences.

Sofia is the only city in Europe that has places of worship of four different major religions located so close to each other. Right in the city center, you can visit an Orthodox church (Saint Nedelya), a mosque (Banya Bashi), a Catholic cathedral (Saint Joseph) and a synagogue (Sofia Synagogue). These buildings form a square called the Square of Religious Tolerance.

Bulgarian contemporary cuisine is a mix of hearty Balkan food with a pinch of freshness typical of Mediterranean dishes. You will find some dishes similar to other Balkan countries. For example, tarator is similar to the Greek tzatziki, while banitsa is a baked pastry with Bulgarian feta cheese (sirene) and eggs found all over the region. Sofia is perfect for foodies with its variety of food venues. You can spend many days eating in Sofia.