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5 Reasons Why Sofia Budget Travel Feels Oh-So Luxurious

23/5/2015

 

On a budget in Bulgaria? You'll love Sofia! Sofia budget travel means your money goes a long, long way. 

​Updated 2022!

​This post contains affiliate links, which means if you make a purchase, we may be paid a small commission.

Public park in Sofia: Sofia budget travel
A beautiful sculpture and fountain in central Sofia: Sofia budget travel means checking out gorgeous sites like these.
I didn't know what to expect in Bulgaria - and neither did my budget. I knew Eastern Europe was a relatively inexpensive destination, but cheap prices don't always indicate great value. I was also worried that, while some things would be inexpensive, other things would be grossly inflated. And if Sofia budget travel was possible, would it be enjoyable?

But shortly after my arrival in Sofia, all my worries were put to rest. This was a city filled with great deals and fantastic travel value! In fact, I think Sofia offers some of the best value of any destination I've visited. You can live large for very little and your money goes much further here than in most other European cities. Here's why I love it so much.

Nifty street food

Corn vendor in Sofia
A cup of corn to go? Don't mind if I do!
Move aside ice cream and hot dogs - it's corn niblets' turn to shine! I've seen roasted corn, popcorn, and boiled corn on the cob sold around the world but never corn niblets. Starting at just 1.5 lev (about $1 Canadian) you get a little paper cup filled with scalding hot corn niblets, topped with a variety of sauces. The sauces included ketchup, mustard, mayonnaise and something that looked like ranch dressing, and there were lots of  spices too. 

Curiously, there was no butter (could it be that THIS is where Bulgarians draw the line when it comes to fatty dairy products?) I just had mine topped with salt. For about a dollar, it made for an oddly tasty snack. (You can find my favourite vendor, above, in Sofia's City Garden, the main park in the city center).

If walking around town clutching a cup of corn swimming in salad dressing isn't your thing, take heart. Food in Sofia is reasonably priced  and, even in "touristy" areas, I never suffered from sticker shock. Finding a hearty meal for under 10 lev is easy.

Plenty of free tours

Picture
Learning about history during the free Sofia tour.
Every day, rain or shine, holiday or not, you can join in a free tour of Sofia with the 365 Association at 11:00 AM. Just show up by the lions at the Palace of Justice and join in the fun. My tour lasted just over 2 hours, covered all the main attractions, and included lots of history and culture.  It was a great introduction to the city and to Bulgarians themselves - the guides were friendly, welcoming, and helpful. (You can also pay a small fee to enjoy a tour about Communist history - it's super interesting and a unique way to see the city.)

Other organizations also offer free hiking tours (with a small surcharge to pay for transportation). Of course, free doesn't really mean FREE - if you enjoy your experience a donation is appreciated, sometimes even expected. But it does mean that budget travelers have flexibility and it makes for a very affordable travel activity. 

It's walkable and beautiful 

Courtyard behind the Presidential Palace, Sofia
In behind the Presidential Palace, ancient ruins await.
Sofia is a beautiful, compact, immensely walkable city (though do pay attention to uneven cobblestones and broken paving tiles). Everywhere you look, the city's 6,000 plus years of history are on display for all to see, free of charge. 
Soldiers on guard at the Presidential Palace.
Soldiers on guard at the Presidential Palace.
There are fantastic ruins, houses of worship from many faiths, lovely public parks, and fun spectacles, like the hourly changing of the guard at the Presidential Palace. It's entirely possible to spend a day (or two!) walking the city and seeing completely free sites- but, as always, we encourage making donations where possible. 

Sleep like a princess, pay like a pauper

Hotel Balkan Sofia
My value travel philosophy doesn't often let me book the most famous hotel in any given city but all that changed in Sofia. The Hotel Balkan (A Sherwood property) is at the geographic heart of the city and is actually attached to the Presidential Palace. You couldn't ask for a more perfect location or a more elegant hotel. If this was in Paris or London or Rome, I'm sure the price point would be over 600 Euros a night. But in Sofia my costs were just 10% of that!
Hotel Balkan Sofia
So how did I afford it? I was simply fortunate enough to find a 'weekend saver' deal for 60 Euros a night. I'll be the first to admit that I was lucky to find such great sale. But even at regular prices, plush hotels in Sofia are very affordable compared to their Western European counterparts. That competitive pricing also applies to the more modest hotels and the hostels as well, making Sofia a bargain for travelers on any budget.

A secret airport bargain

Ticket Metro Sofia Bulgaria
This 1 lev ticket will take you all over town, even to the airport!
It's the little things that can make or break any travel budget and one of the most commonly forgotten expenses is getting to and from the airport. Here in Ottawa, a taxi ride between the airport and our home costs $50! And in many destinations around the world, public transportation isn't much better. Destinations like Stockholm and Sydney levy huge surcharges for their airport routes - not exactly what a value traveler likes to see.

But Sofia budget travel means that taking the metro to the airport costs the same as any other metro ride -just 1 lev. This makes it the least expensive airport ride I've ever taken!

Bonus! Did I mention the awesome locals?

Families enjoying the public park. Picture
I'm not sure what's the proper term for a resident of Sofia. A Sofia-ite? A Sofian? No matter how you say it, there's no denying that these are awesome people. Residents of Sofia seem utterly unflappable - they scoot over broken cobblestones in high heels, they help each other out with baby strollers, they treat stray animals with kindness. 

They're also lively - playing music in the park, hanging out in cafes, and sharing bottles of local beer. And they have a fantastic sense of humor, a dry wit that's not always evident but comes out after a few of those beers. You can't put a price on making new friends when you travel and that's something that adds value - and is invaluable - to all travelers.

We'd love to hear from you! What city has surprised you the most? Would you give Sofia budget travel a try?

If you enjoyed this article, you'll also like:
My Favourite Hostel in Plovdiv
Travel to Rila Monastery 
Best Things To See and Do in Plovdiv
Sandy link
23/5/2015 03:14:20 pm

This is just one of many blogs of yours I look forward to reading about your latest travel adventure. Sofia is a destination that I had never even considered, but wow, I love the sound of the people and the history! As for the niblets...hmmm..interesting concept. I love niblet corn, but not sure I do as a snack on the street. But..I would definitely try it :)

Vanessa
24/5/2015 02:51:53 am

Thanks Sandy! The corn was... curious!! As a lover of corn on the cob, I definitely approved but the lack of butter was disheartening.

Deborah Ann
24/5/2015 03:13:43 am

as always Vanessa, a great article. Thanks for sharing.

Vanessa
24/5/2015 04:09:17 am

So glad you liked it!

Nomad Revelations link
6/6/2015 04:25:06 am

I've been to Sofia a few times already and I love it. Since my first visit back in 2001, it has changed a lot. Bulgarians are very social people and know how to have fun. I also made that walking tour. Great way to know the city better. Happy travels and greetings all the way from south Morocco.

Vanessa
7/6/2015 01:17:22 pm

It's so great to know that you liked it enough to keep going back. I would love to return!

Lesley Carter link
6/6/2015 10:42:25 am

I love when the locals are friendly. It really does make a huge difference.

Vanessa
7/6/2015 01:18:12 pm

Agreed. I haven't been anywhere that the local residents have been distinctly unfriendly but some areas stand out as being more welcoming than others and Sofia was one of them.

Tanj Trubiano link
6/6/2015 09:04:28 pm

Been hearing a lot of good things about Sofia. Bulgaria is definitely on our list.

Vanessa
7/6/2015 01:18:54 pm

I hope you get there soon! I'd love to hear about your trip.

Jennifer @ Made all the Difference Travel Blog link
7/6/2015 04:54:22 am

Sofia sounds like a fun place to visit and cheap. Moved higher up on my list.

Vanessa
7/6/2015 01:19:58 pm

I'm so glad my piece inspired you :-) I would love to return to explore even further.

Amanda Zeisset link
7/6/2015 05:50:33 am

Sofia looks like a beautiful place to visit. Being walkable is a huge plus. I hope to make it to Bulgaria one day and visit this city.

Vanessa
7/6/2015 01:20:49 pm

One of the great things about it is that there are more and more inexpensive flights going to Sofia airport, which makes it easier for everyone to explore.

David Briggs link
7/6/2015 06:48:34 am

The free cycling tours got my attention!

Vanessa
7/6/2015 01:21:39 pm

Ha! No surprises there! I didn't get a chance to do them myself but I would love to and I think it's a great way to get to see a city.

Lindsay Nieminen link
7/6/2015 12:13:11 pm

this looks like a great place to visit! Thanks for the tip about the airport!

Vanessa
7/6/2015 01:28:12 pm

It's always fun to find a bargain!

Vicky and Buddy link
8/6/2015 11:38:42 am

When you think of Europe you hardly ever think of budget travel. Sofia looks like a great place to visit and I love that its so walk-able!

Vanessa
8/6/2015 04:07:49 pm

I'm convinced you could travel here on a tiny budget and still do okay. Good hostels can be as low as 7 Euros a night, transportation is cheap, lots of museums are free.

Alicia Haque link
8/6/2015 12:00:09 pm

I'm now trying to thing of reasons not to go here...it's cheap & beautiful, why not! Sounds like you had a great time :)

Vanessa
8/6/2015 04:08:22 pm

I wasn't sure what to expect at first but I'm so, so glad I went -had a great time.


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