Is Sofia Safe for Solo Female Travelers?

Sofia is generally a safe city for solo female travelers. The locals are friendly and willing to help should you encounter any difficulties. However, it's always important to exercise the usual precautions, such as avoiding deserted areas late at night and being aware of your belongings to prevent pickpocketing. Public transportation and walking around during the day are generally safe. The emergency services are reliable should you require any assistance.

Safety rating

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How safe is Sofia?

Safety at night:

Safety at night:Moderate

Sofia is moderately safe for solo female travelers during nighttime. Like any big city, certain areas could be less safe, especially after dark. It has a low rate of violent crimes but pickpocketing or purse snatching incidents can happen. There is also an increase of taxi scams during nighttime so make sure to use only trusted taxi companies. Always remain vigilant, avoid poorly lit and empty areas, and stay in populated areas whenever possible.
Public transportation:

Public transportation:Safe

Sofia's public transportation system is generally safe and reliable. It includes trams, buses, and a metro system that are used frequently by the local population. During peak hours and on popular routes, it can be overcrowded which may increase the risk of pickpocketing, but incidents of violent crime are rare. It is always advisable to keep an eye on your belongings and avoid deserted stops late at night. Knowing some basic Bulgarian phrases can also come in handy.
Street harassment:

Street harassment:Low

Sofia is generally a safe city for solo female travelers. However, like any other urban area worldwide, it has its share of street harassment, although it's relatively low compared to other cities. The Bulgarians are usually respectful and keep to themselves, but it's always important to be aware of your surroundings and avoid isolated or less populated areas, especially late at night. This is not because of a specific harassment issue but just a general safety measure one should follow when traveling alone.
Petty crimes:

Petty crimes:Low

Sofia, the capital of Bulgaria, is generally considered safe for solo female travelers. Petty crimes such as pickpocketing, bag snatching, or phone theft can occur, particularly in crowded places like public transport and tourist hotspots. However, the frequency of such crimes is not high, particularly if visitors take standard precautions like keeping valuables close and maintaining awareness of their surroundings.

Is Sofia worth visiting?

Overall rating

4 /5

based on 16 experiences from female travelers

Things to do

3.9/5

Safety

4/5

Food

4.1/5

Budget-friendly

4.1/5

Group travel

I felt very safe in Sofia, but I was with a group, so I don't know if the experience would have been the same alone. Sofia is an amazing h city, very vibrant and friendly. If you like iconic art, it's the best place to be. The food is also incredibly good. We also went mountain climbing outside the city, which was beautiful.

Posted: September 3, 2024
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Emilie

Emilie

Spain

Solo travel

Overall Sofia was a beautiful underated place to visit. I stayed at peter pan house and felt very safe throughout my five day stay. I found public transport to be very reliable. People were very helpful, and the outdoor scene is beautiful

Posted: July 13, 2024
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Solo travel

I really liked the vibe of this city. There are a lot of restaurants and bars and daily hiking trips to the mountains (with a breathtaking view!). I stayed there for 2 days and did a hiking trip as well as a lovely walking tour. The city has a really interesting history and a lot of different walking tours to learn more about it!

Posted: July 13, 2024
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Marilia

Marilia

Denmark

Solo travel

Felt quite safe in Sofia, even though I avoided staying out late and night and I also chose to take a taxi to get back home one of the nights (3 years ago, it was super cheap around 1euro for the shortest distance) I walked a lot, around 20klm per day and I can say that the main attractions, the food places that I chose and the parks where I rested were pretty much connected to each other. However, as I said it was my choice to walk a lot so this way I experienced the city in a way different way as if I chose public transport. I definitely recommend to visit the natural area and mountain Vitosha by sofia, especially if you are travelling in the spring/autumn. 💫 Also, I am from Greece so many parts of the culture, the food, the people seemed quite familiar to what I'm used to, so this made me feel extra comfortable but maybe a person from a different culture might find some things challenging/weird That's it I think, I was there for 3 days on total but overall it was a great experience!

Posted: July 10, 2024Experienced: July, 2021
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Solo travel

I spend a month in Bulgaria doing Voluntary work in primary schools. I really liked the city and felt really safe even at night. Bulgarians are so nice and helpful, but most of them don’t speak proper English. If you want to visit the whole country, I would recommend: Plovdiv (my favourite city), Sofia, Varna, veliko tarnovo and a day trip to Rila monastery. If you are only staying in Sofia, then you should definitely see the city center, a day trip to Rila seven lakes and Vitosha mountain. The food wasn’t a big deal for me and nothing really surprised me. But I liked tarator (a cold soup), moussaka and banitsa is also something that you should try. Life in Bulgaria is really cheap (comparing to France ) I spent 500 euros for a month excluding hotels because I didnt pay for that. Transportation is really good in Sofia, i used busses and metro but you can also find tramway.

Posted: January 14, 2024
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Solo travel

I was in Sofia this spring for a long weekend, I went on a one-day trip to the Rila Monastery and Mount Vitosha. I walked through Tolerance Square (2 churches, a synagogue and a mosque). Wonderful architecture. I also took a culinary walking tour, which was excellent.

Posted: October 16, 2023
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Solo travel

I went there last year and I didn't like it. There might be 10 nice, interesting old buildings, but the rest of the city center is just shopping, modern cafes, etc. There's really not much to see or do. Besides, if you leave the decent city center, the streets immediately become quite bad. I didn't feel comfortable exploring areas outside the small city center.

Posted: August 7, 2023
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Solo travel

I spent 2 full days there and it was not enough. I highly recommend the free walking tour with a guide. You will see all the main attractions and the history is extremely fascinating. I also took part in the Balkan Bites tour, which was interesting. I really fell in love with Bulgaria.

Posted: June 5, 2023
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Solo travel

I was not the biggest fan of Sofia, but I really loved getting out of the city and seeing the Rila Monastery. The monastery itself is beautiful and it's really cool to see it, but there is also a lot of nature there. Eventually, I started walking around the area and I walked for quite a long time.

Posted: May 24, 2023
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Solo travel

I loved Sofia when I was there. I can definitely recommend the K.E.B.A bar and the Rainbow Factory cafe (the sandwiches are delicious). As for things to do, I really enjoyed the Red Flat Museum and the free city tour.

Posted: April 29, 2023
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Is Sofia safe for women?

Safety index

3.6 /5

Based on 12 local experiences

Crime index

1.7 /5

Based on 12 local experiences

It’s safe. The clubs, bars etc. have good security and outside on the streets no one will say anything if you are in the centre. The side neighbourhoods are a bit more dangerous, but again I wouldn’t worry.

Posted: November 2, 2024
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Overall it's a safe city! People are nice and open to new people. The bad part about the city is some of its neighborhoods. They can be sketchy. But the center of the city is amazing , there's a lot of places to visit and to have fun

Posted: August 12, 2024
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Meet locals in Sofia

Sage

Sage

About Me

My name is Sage, I’m 20 years old, and I have a huge passion for traveling. Currently, I’m a student and I work as a dance instructor. Since I don't have a stable income yet, I'm looking for an affordable way to explore the world. I love meeting new people, learning about different cultures, and gaining new experiences along the way. Traveling is not just about seeing new places, but about connecting with the world and expanding my horizons.

Speaking

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Stay with locals in Sofia

Sage

Sage

Sofia

Can host for:

5 days

About me

My name is Sage, I’m 20 years old, and I have a huge passion for traveling. Currently, I’m a student and I work as a dance instructor. Since I don't have a stable income yet, I'm looking for an affordable way to explore the world. I love meeting new people, learning about different cultures, and gaining new experiences along the way. Traveling is not just about seeing new places, but about connecting with the world and expanding my horizons.

Speaking

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Safety in Bulgaria