Is Sofia Safe for Solo Female Travelers?
Experiences from Sofia
Overall rating
based on 10 experiences
Rating summary
Things to do
Safety
Food
Budget-friendly
Solo travel experience
I went last year and didn't like it. There are like 10 nice, interesting old buildings but then the rest of the city centre is just shopping, modern cafes etc. Not much to see or do really. Also, if you leave the nice proper city centre, the streets immediately turn pretty bad. I did not feel comfortable exploring areas outside the little city centre.
Posted: August 7, 2023Solo travel experience
I spent 2 full days there and it wasn’t enough. I would highly recommend the free walking tour. You will see all the major sights and the history is so fascinating. I also did the Balkan Bites tour which was interesting. I seriously loved Bulgaria.
Posted: June 5, 2023Solo travel experience
I wasn't the hugest fan of Sofia, but I did really love getting out of the city and seeing the Rila Monastery. The monastery itself is gorgeous and very cool to see, but there is also a lot of nature in that area. I ended up wondering off on the grounds and walking for quite a ways
Posted: May 24, 2023Solo travel experience
I loved Sofia when I went. I can definitely recommend the bar K.E.B.A, and the cafe Rainbow Factory (sandwiches are to die for). As for things to do, I really liked the red flat museum and the free city tour.
Posted: April 29, 2023Solo travel experience
It was my first ever solo trip and I felt pretty safe there. I found free walking tours and met a few people also solo traveling. I enjoyed the food tour and the general sightseeing one. Beautiful sights and the restaurant at the end of the food tour was so good I went back the next day too.
Posted: April 23, 2023Solo travel experience
I was in Sofia recently. It is an extremely safe and beautiful city. Walked around at night and had no issues. Most people spoke English and were happy to help me in any way. Taxis were very cheap as well.
Posted: April 15, 2023Local experience
I'm from Sofia and I'd recommend the city centre: Alexander Nevski cathedral, the church of St Sofia which is one of the oldest, the area of the ancient wall of Serdika- all these however can be seen in a day. If you have more time Veliko Turnovo, Madara, Melnik, Plovdiv, Koprivshtica are a must.
Posted: October 21, 2022Solo travel experience
I loved Sofia, people are super nice! I really enjoyed the Free Sofia Tour (I did the evening tour at 6pm). If you like shopping, I loved buying ceramics and textiles from the Ladies’ Market, there’s a little shop at one end and the owner is so lovely and kind. Also, make sure you either take a day trip to Plovdiv or a day trip to Rila Monastery.
Posted: October 6, 2022Local experience
I'll start with some food tips. You should definitely try banitsa with cheese for breakfast (the pastry we're most proud of) with the drink ayran (yogurt-based beverage that is mixed with salt) or boza (made from fermented wheat). You probably have heard that Bulgaria is most famous for its unique yogurt called 'kiselo mlyako' (literally 'sour milk') so give it a try! If you want to taste more Bulgarian dishes go to the traditional restaurants called 'mehana' or 'kruchma'. There is a nice small place in the city center called 'Mekitsa and Coffee' where you can try our sweet pastries 'mekitsi'. Regarding historical sites the Roman ruins in the city center are a must! Also you can visit the underground museum - the necropolis of the Roman basilica of Saint Sofia. Being from Sofia myself I didn't know of its existence till last year. Definitely worth a visit. It's right next to the cathedral St Alexander Nevsky. You can also go in the crypt of the Russian church where you can write down your wishes on your paper and it's believed they come true. See also the National theater, the National palace of culture and the main pedestrian boulevard Vitosha. You can check the Free walking tours as well. p.s. Bulgaria is the largest producer of Rose oil so don't forget to buy yourselves some souvenirs - little parfumes in wooden pyrographed cases called 'Muskali' are amongst the most appreciated ones!
Posted: August 12, 2022Solo travel experience
Things to do: - St. Alexander Nevsky Cathedral - Bulevard "Vitosha" - Plovidv - Rila Monastery Food: I did a food tour and it was great! Loved it. Safety: It felt fairly safe. Just remember to take basic precautions. Budget: - Eating out: 3€ - 15€ - Hostel: 10€ - Public transport: 1€-2€ - Train: 2€-10€ Accommodation: Stayed at Hostel Mostel and it was very nice place for the price. Recommendations: Sofia has a great social scene, very afforadable prices, great food, and it’s pretty safe.
Posted: July 17, 2022Get the Travel Ladies App
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Meet ups in Sofia
Yulia
Speaking
About Me
Hi! Love traveling and meeting new people, pizza, chillin by the sea, reading fantasy (YA/NA) books. Sunsets are my favorite <3
Countries I’ve Visited
🇦🇹 Austria, 🇬🇷 Greece, 🇮🇳 India, 🇲🇹 Malta, 🇺🇸 United States, 🇹🇷 Turkey, 🇫🇷 France, 🇲🇰 North Macedonia
Elé
Speaking
About Me
Open to finding new friends and learning new languages and cultures. I just graduated high school, waiting to get into uni :))
Countries I’ve Visited
🇧🇬 Bulgaria, 🇫🇷 France, 🇮🇹 Italy, 🇷🇴 Romania, 🇷🇸 Serbia, 🇬🇷 Greece, 🇳🇱 Netherlands, 🇹🇷 Turkey, 🇬🇧 United Kingdom
Christine
Speaking
About Me
Hi!, My name is Christine and I'm interested in cinema, food & cuisine, hiking, nature, science, solo travel, technology, trekking, animals, books, culture, history, photography and sightseeing
Countries I’ve Visited
🇦🇹 Austria, 🇧🇬 Bulgaria, 🇨🇳 China, 🇭🇷 Croatia, 🇫🇷 France, 🇩🇪 Germany, 🇬🇷 Greece, 🇭🇰 Hong Kong, 🇭🇺 Hungary, 🇮🇹 Italy, 🇯🇵 Japan, 🇲🇹 Malta, 🇲🇪 Montenegro, 🇳🇱 Netherlands, 🇵🇱 Poland, 🇶🇦 Qatar, 🇷🇴 Romania, 🇷🇸 Serbia, 🇸🇰 Slovakia, 🇪🇸 Spain, 🇨🇭 Switzerland, 🇹🇷 Turkey, 🇺🇦 Ukraine, 🇬🇧 United Kingdom
Stay with locals in Sofia
Desislava
Speaking
You can stay for:
3 days
I can host:
1 guest
About me
Hi!, I'm Desislava and I'm interested in backpacking, culture, events & social, food & cuisine, hiking, history, languages, nature, sightseeing, nightlife and shopping
Countries I’ve Visited
🇦🇹 Austria, 🇧🇬 Bulgaria, 🇭🇷 Croatia, 🇮🇹 Italy, 🇷🇸 Serbia, 🇪🇸 Spain, 🇺🇸 United States, 🇹🇷 Turkey, 🇻🇦 Vatican City
Mihaela
Speaking
You can stay for:
2 days
I can host:
1 guest
About me
Hey!, My name is Mihaela and I'm interested in art, animals, books, cinema, culture, dancing, education, events & social, fashion, health, games, history, languages, live music, nightlife, writing, solo travel and shopping
Countries I’ve Visited
🇩🇪 Germany, 🇹🇷 Turkey
Sve
Speaking
You can stay for:
3 days
I can host:
1 guest
About me
Photographer grom Bulgaria Love beach life
Upcoming visitors to Sofia
Flora
Speaking
About Me
Hey, my name is Flora Berger and I have completed my first state examination for high school teaching and would now like to travel around Europe a bit. I am a very open and honest person who loves spirit and adventure. But I also like to look at cities or relax.
Countries I’ve Visited
🇧🇪 Belgium, 🇩🇰 Denmark, 🇩🇪 Germany, 🇳🇱 Netherlands, 🇪🇸 Spain, 🇨🇭 Switzerland, 🇫🇷 France, 🇦🇹 Austria, 🇸🇪 Sweden
Explore safety in Bulgaria
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