Solo Female Travel in Sofia

Sofia, the capital city of Bulgaria, is nestled in the heart of the Balkan Peninsula in Southeastern Europe, surrounded by the majestic Vitosha mountains. Known for its rich history that dates back to the 5th century BC, Sofia offers a unique blend of neoclassical architecture, picturesque parks, and vibrant culture. The city is home to iconic landmarks like the ornate Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, the ancient Roman complex Serdica, and the historical Boyana Church, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Visitors can also enjoy Sofia's bustling nightlife, thriving arts scene, and diverse culinary delights, underscoring its status as an emerging destination that marries ancient traditions with modern attractions.

Travel rating

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Travel index

Safety:Safe

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.

Transport:Easy

The city of Sofia is known for its well-connected and easy to navigate public transportation system. Many signs and maps are also available in English. However, just like any other city, getting used to it can be a little challenging at first. For farther destinations, taxis are quite affordable.

Things to do:Interesting

Sofia, the capital of Bulgaria, is a city embedded with rich history. The city houses interesting attractions such as the Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, Boyana Church, and Vitosha Boulevard which are all worth exploring. It is surrounded by vast green parks and at the foot of the Vitosha Mountain, allowing outdoor activities. Sofia is also known for its vibrant dining scene where one can explore Bulgarian cuisine so food enthusiasts would find it appealing. Although it might lack the typical tourist attractions found in other European capitals, Sofia offers a unique charm of its own.

Food:Above average

Sofia offers an exquisite array of culinary experiences catering to diverse palates. Traditional Bulgarian food is a delightful fusion of the flavors of Eastern and Southern Europe. While meat-based dishes are central to Bulgarian cuisine, there are also a fair amount of vegetable and cheese-based dishes, making it a pleasurable experience for vegetarians as well. Street food is equally charming with bakeries and stands selling fresh and inviting food day and night. Exquisite desserts, wines, and homemade juices are readily available. The city offers a good balance between traditional Bulgarian spots and contemporary international cuisine.

Budget:Affordable

Sofia offers a surprisingly affordable travel experience. The cost of meals, accommodations, transportation and even entertainment are considered lower than the average European city. Although there might be some luxury options, a budget-savvy traveler can definitely enjoy their stay in Sofia without breaking the bank.

Is Sofia worth visiting?

Overall rating

4 /5

based on 12 experiences

Rating summary

Things to do

4/5

Safety

4.2/5

Food

4.2/5

Budget-friendly

4.2/5

Solo travel experience

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
Things to do: 4/5Food: 3/5Budget-friendly: 5/5Safety: 4/5
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Solo travel experience

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
Things to do: 5/5Food: 5/5Budget-friendly: 5/5Safety: 5/5
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Solo travel experience

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
Things to do: 3/5Food: 4/5Budget-friendly: 5/5Safety: 3/5
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Solo travel experience

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
Things to do: 5/5Food: 5/5Budget-friendly: 5/5Safety: 5/5
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Solo travel experience

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
Things to do: 3/5Food: 4/5Budget-friendly: 5/5Safety: 5/5
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Solo travel experience

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
Things to do: 5/5Food: 5/5Budget-friendly: 5/5Safety: 5/5
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Solo travel experience

That was my first solo trip and I felt quite safe there. I found free guided walks and met a few people who were also traveling alone. I enjoyed the culinary tours and sightseeing. The beautiful views and the restaurant at the end of the culinary tour were so good that I also returned there the next day.

Posted: April 23, 2023
Things to do: 5/5Food: 5/5Budget-friendly: 5/5Safety: 5/5
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Solo travel experience

I was recently in Sofia. It is an incredibly safe and beautiful city. I walked there in the evenings and had no problems at all. Most people spoke English and were willing to help in every possible way. Taxis were also very cheap there.

Posted: April 15, 2023
Things to do: 5/5Food: 5/5Budget-friendly: 5/5Safety: 5/5
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Solo travel experience

I adored Sofia, the people are super nice! I really liked the Free Sofia Tour (I had the evening tour at 6:00 PM). If you like shopping, I loved buying ceramics and textiles from the Dam Market, there is a small shop at one end, and the owner is very nice and polite. Furthermore, make sure you go on a day trip to Plovdiv or a day trip to the Rila Monastery.

Posted: October 6, 2022
Things to do: 5/5Food: 5/5Budget-friendly: 4/5Safety: 5/5
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Solo travel experience

Things to do: - Cathedral of St. Alexander Nevsky - "Vitosha" Boulevard - Plovdiv - Rila Monastery Food: I went on a culinary tourism tour and it was great! I really enjoyed it. Safety: I felt quite safe. Just remember to take basic precautions. Budget: - Eating out: €3 - €15 - Hostel: €10 - Public transport: €1-€2 - Train: €2-€10 Accommodation: I stayed at the Mostel Hostel and it was a very nice place for the price. Recommendations: Sofia has a great social scene, very affordable prices, delicious food, and it's quite safe.

Posted: July 17, 2022
Things to do: 3/5Food: 4/5Budget-friendly: 5/5Safety: 4/5
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Local tips

I am from Sofia and I would recommend the city center: the Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, the St. Sophia Church, which is one of the oldest, the area of the ancient Serdika wall - all of this, however, can be seen in one day. If you have more time, be sure to visit Veliko Tarnovo, Madara, Melnik, Plovdiv, Koprivshtitsa.

Posted: October 21, 2022
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I'll start with a few tips about food. You definitely should try banitsa with cheese for breakfast (it's a pastry that we're most proud of) accompanied by a drink of ayran (a yogurt-based drink mixed with salt) or boza (made from fermented wheat). You have probably heard that Bulgaria is most famous for its unique yogurt called 'kiselo mlyako' (literally 'sour milk'), so try it! If you want to try more Bulgarian dishes, head to traditional restaurants called 'mehana' or 'kruchma'. There's a nice little place in the city center called 'Mekitsa and Coffee', where you can try our sweet pastries 'mekitsi'. As for sightseeing, you absolutely have to see the Roman ruins in the city center! You can also visit the underground museum - the necropolis of the Roman basilica of St. Sophia. I myself am from Sofia and I didn't know about its existence until last year. It is definitely worth a visit. It is located right next to the St. Alexander Nevsky Cathedral. You can also go to the crypt of the Russian church where you can write your wishes on paper, it's believed that they come true. See also the National Theater, the National Palace of Culture, and the main pedestrian street - Vitosha. You can also take advantage of free guided walks. p.s. Bulgaria is the largest producer of rose oil, so don't forget to buy some souvenirs - small perfumes in wooden cases decorated with pyrography, called 'Muskali', are some of the most appreciated!

Posted: August 12, 2022
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Meet locals in Sofia

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Danita

Danita

About Me

I'm Danita, 25 y/o marketing girlie 👋 I love animals, especially cats 🐈‍⬛ I love sustainable fashion and thrifting, dancing, walks in nature and going on adventures ✨ I'm fluent in English, native in Bulgarian & OK with Italian (aiming to get better) 🙏 I love learning about new cultures. So far I have lived in the UK and Italy, along with my home country Bulgaria. Looking forward to meeting you 😊

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Elé

Elé

About Me

Open to finding new friends and learning new languages and cultures. I just graduated high school, waiting to get into uni :))

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Stay with locals in Sofia

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Alexandra

Alexandra

Sofia

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3 days

About me

Portuguese girl living in Sofia. Love to travel and get to meet more people from around the world

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Alexandra

Alexandra

Sofia

Can host for:

3 days

About me

I love meeting new people and I'm interested in different cultures and languages. I know english, french, russian and bulgarian. I study bulgarian philology at the Sofia university. I hate writing about myself, so that's the end hahah

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Upcoming visitors to Sofia

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Giovanna

Giovanna

About Me

Hi :) my name is Giovanna i’m 22 years old i’m brazilian but at the moment i’m doing an erasmus in Wroclaw, Poland. Love traveling i’ve been to more than 30 countries and i plan to keep counting. 🥰

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Brogan

Brogan

About Me

I’m Brogan👋 i’m 30 from the UK. Currently working in London and living about an hour away from the city. Travel is my ultimate passion, mostly solo, with a goal to see 100 countries by the time I am 40. Currently I have been to 45! I love spontaneous days out exploring and finding new spots, learning about new cultures and local people and trying new foods! I love cocktails, live music and socialising but also equally like being introverted and having alone time hiking, reading or simply chilling out. I really enjoy meeting people from all over the world and hearing others people’s backstories and sharing travel tales.

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