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Sofia Hidden Gems: Small-Group Walking Tour with Tram Ride
5.0
6 Ratings
Sofia
Explore Sofia’s secret streets and landmarks by walking, then take a short metro ride to traverse the city. Delight in insider tales, receive a city transport card, and experience the city like a local. Small groups of 8 to 10 people guarantee a personal and genuine experience.
Explore Sofia’s secret streets and landmarks by walking, then take a short metro ride to traverse the city. Delight in insider tales, receive a city transport card, and experience the city like a local. Small groups of 8 to 10 people guarantee a personal and genuine experience.
Duration:
3 hours
Cancellation:
24 hours
Highlights
- Saint Sofia Church - The Saint Sofia Church (Bulgarian: църква „Света София“, tsarkva “Sveta Sofia”, “Church of Holy Wisdom”) is among the oldest churches in Sofia, the capital of Bulgaria, dating back to the fourth century. The Council of Serdica, likely held in 343 and attended by 316 bishops, took place in its predecessor building. In the 14th…
- Saint Sofia Church - The Saint Sofia Church (Bulgarian: църква „Света София“, tsarkva “Sveta Sofia”, “Church of Holy Wisdom”) is among the oldest churches in Sofia, the capital of Bulgaria, dating back to the fourth century. The Council of Serdica, likely held in 343 and attended by 316 bishops, took place in its predecessor building. In the 14th century, the church lent its name to the city, previously known as Serdika (Сердика).
- St. Alexander Nevski Cathedral - This Bulgarian Orthodox cathedral in Sofia, Bulgaria’s capital, is built in the Neo-Byzantine style and ranks among the 50 largest Christian church buildings worldwide by volume.
- The National Gallery for Foreign Art - Kvadrat 500, the newest and largest building of the National Gallery, opened on 25 May 2015. Approximately 1,700 artworks from the gallery’s extensive collection of over 42,000 pieces by Bulgarian and international artists are displayed in 28 halls across four levels. The Bulgarian collection dates back to the 1890s, while the majority of the foreign collection was formed in the 1980s. The exhibition features works tracing the evolution of Bulgarian art from the mid-19th century and the 20th century, European art from the 15th–19th centuries, and art from Asia, Africa, and America.
- Bulgarian National Library (St. Cyril and St. Methodius National Library) - The library’s collection today contains nearly 8.5 million documents, with about 70,000 publications added annually. The National Library “St. St. Cyril and Methodius” is the largest repository of books in Bulgaria. Visitors can explore its interior.
- Sofia University Saint Kliment Ohridski - Sofia University St. Kliment Ohridski is Bulgaria’s first higher educational institution. Its history embodies and continues centuries of cultural and educational tradition in the country. Public teaching activities in Bulgaria date back to the second half of the 9th century. During the Bulgarian Renaissance, the idea of establishing a School of Higher Education emerged. The prestige of the School of Higher Education grew rapidly with its cultural and educational mission after the Liberation in 1878. Visitors can explore its interior.
- National Assembly of the Republic of Bulgaria - Constructed between 1884 and 1886, the building was designed by architect Constantin Yovanovic, who studied in Vienna and Switzerland and also designed the Serbian Assembly (1891-1892). The building is styled in neo-Renaissance architecture.
- National Opera and Ballet - In 1890, Bulgarian musicians Dragomir Kazakov, Ivan Slavkov, and Angel Bukoreshtliev organized the first opera troupe in Bulgaria as part of the “Sofia Drama and Opera Troupe.” The performances, which included 12 complete operas and excerpts from 11 operas, featured Bulgarians, Czechs, and Italians, accompanied by piano, the Guards Orchestra, the orchestra of the Sixth Infantry Regiment, and members of the Italian Singing Society, and were met with unexpected success.
- Ivan Vazov National Theater - Completed in 1906, the National Theatre’s opening ceremony was held on 3 January 1907. Designed by architects Ferdinand Fellner and Hermann Helmer, who were highly popular in the early 20th century, it became one of Sofia’s most impressive and representative buildings in the Art Nouveau style, which was very fashionable at the time. The auditorium, seating 848, features a ceiling and walls painted by artist Rudolf Fuchs from Vienna.
- Former Bulgarian Communist Party Headquarters - The Largo (Bulgarian: Ларго, definite form Ларгото, Largoto) is an architectural ensemble of three Socialist Classicism buildings in central Sofia, Bulgaria’s capital, designed and constructed in the 1950s to serve as the city’s new representative center.
- The Rotunda Church of St George - The Church of Saint George (Bulgarian: Ротонда „Свети Георги“, romanized: Rotonda “Sveti Georgi”) is a Late Antique red brick rotunda in Sofia, Bulgaria. Originally built in the early 4th century as Roman baths, it later became a church within the walls of Serdica, the capital of ancient Dacia Mediterranea during the Roman and Byzantine Empires. The Early Christian church is considered the oldest building in modern Sofia and is part of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church.
- Ancient Serdica Archaeological Complex - The Ancient cultural and communication complex “Serdica” combines areas with various purposes, divided into two zones. The “Largo” zone, located beneath Nezavisimost Square, incorporates the unearthed archaeological remains into a site for cultural events. The remains of one of the two main streets of the Roman town, the decumanus maximus, which connects the eastern and western gates of the city, can be seen here. A large residential building, covering an entire insula (urban block), is situated south of it. The building also housed small shops where travelers and the town’s inhabitants could purchase food and various goods. A lapidarium is located nearby.
- Central Mineral Baths – Banski Sq 1 - The current Central Mineral Baths building was designed in the Vienna Secession style, incorporating typically Bulgarian, Byzantine, and Eastern Orthodox ornamental elements, by architects Petko Momchilov and Friedrich Grünanger in 1904–1905, and approved on 30 January 1906, after projects by an Austrian (in 1889) and a French architect (in 1901) were declined.
- Sofia Synagogue - In the early 20th century, Sofia’s Jewish community, led by Rabbi Dr. Ehrenpreis and community president Ezra Sol, collected donations and invited Viennese architect Friedrich Grünanger to design the Synagogue. The names of the 10 “top contributors” can be seen on the wall to the left upon entering. In just four years, the architect successfully organized and completed the construction. Tombstones from an old Jewish cemetery were used to build the Synagogue’s base. The construction cost amounted to 437,000 golden leva. The Central Sofia Synagogue was built on the site of a previous synagogue known by the Hebrew name “Ahava ve Chesed” (Love and Goodness).
- The West Gate of Sofia - The Western Gate of Serdica is protected by towers – a pentagonal tower is adjacent to the gate, and another triangular tower is nearby in the preserved section of the fortress wall. The Western gate of Serdica is located between “St. Joseph” Catholic Cathedral, Todor Alexandrov Boulevard, and the Monument Symbol of the City of Sofia.
- Zhenski Pazar Women’s Market - Zhenski Pazar Market (Bulgarian: “Женски пазар”) is Sofia’s oldest market. Established over 140 years ago, it has become one of the most significant trading centers in the metropolitan city.
- Banya Bashi Mosque - Banya Bashi Mosque is situated in the center of Sofia, near the hot mineral springs. (Banya Bashi means “many baths”). It was constructed in 1576 during the Ottoman military expansion by the renowned Ottoman architect Mimar Sinan, who also designed the Selimiye Mosque in Edirne and the Suleymaniye Mosque in Istanbul.

What's Included
- Ticket for Royal Bath
- English Guide
- Tickets for the transportation
- Ticket for Royal Bath
- English Guide
- Tickets for the transportation
What's Not Included
- Gratuities
- Gratuities
Additional Information
- The tour includes the travel time from place to place
- Do not forget suncream!
- The tour includes the travel time from place to place
- Do not forget suncream!
Location
St. Sofia Church
ulitsa "Paris"
A guide with blue jacket/ shirt will be waiting for you at the entrance of the church
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Customer Ratings
5.0
(6 Ratings)
5 stars
4 stars
3 stars
2 stars
1 star
Jintong_z
Jul 28, 2025
Highly recommended - I did a 3-hour walking tour of old Sofia with Peter, and it was the best tour experiences I’ve ever had.
He is very patient and energetic and I have learned a lot history from him and you can see his passion.
Review provided by Viator
579piat
Jul 9, 2025
Great insights into Sofia and Bulgaria - We did a 2 hour tour of Sofia with Peter and really enjoyed the experience. His knowledge is vast, and we had a great time learning and asking lots of questions about the history and life in Bulgaria. Peter's English is excellent and he has a great sense of humour. There is so much more to Sofia than meets the eye. Thank you, Peter for sharing your knowledge.
Highly recommend this tour!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Milkyschita
Nov 7, 2024
Amazing walking tour - It was very interesting walking tour. I’ve been in Sofia many times but know new facts from our guide. We get inside university and library, beautiful places. Our guide knows a lot of facts and you can ask him about any topic about Bulgaria
Review provided by Viator