Sofia museums inspiration: Sofia can surprise you with interesting places, activities and events. In this post we will recommend some of the Sofia museums, which you can visit with us if you book some of our Sofia tours or you can stop by on your own in your free time. We advise you to spend at least 2 days in Sofia to have more time to explore the city. Here we share our experience with you because we care for your stay in Bulgaria.
1) Archaeological level of St. Sophia church
Working hours: 10:00am – 5:30pm; Mondays off
Location: Alexander Nevsky square, next to Alexander Nevsky cathedral and the Antique market
Entrance fee: BGN 6 per adult
Why to visit: In order to feel the ancient history of Sofia from Roman time, visit the underground of Saint Sophia church and walk along the ruins of the ancient graves (5-6c.). This visit can be combined with entrance to Sofia history museum by buying a combined ticket (10 BGN). This way you will save 4 BGN. One of our favorite Sofia museums.
2) Museum of Socialist art
Working hours: 10:00am – 5:30pm; Mondays off
Location: Lachesar Stanchev Str. 7 (get off at G.M. Dimitrov metro station)
Entrance fee: BGN 6 per adult; BGN 2 per adult each Thursday
Why to visit:
In the yard you can see some of the statues of the communist leaders from the near past. Our favorite part is the video room, where you can watch short black and white documentary movie about the life in Bulgaria from 1944 until 1989. In the souvenir shop you can get a magnet or cup with the image of some of the leaders, a book or a Bulgarian movie with English, Spanish and other subtitles. Don’t forget to check out the painting exposition too. This museum is included in our Sofia Communism tour but you can also visit it in your free time traveling by subway or taxi.
3) Sofia history museum
Working hours: 10:00am – 6:00pm; Mondays off
Location: 1 Banski Sq, next to the mineral spring and the mosque in Sofia
Entrance fee: BGN 6 per adult
Why to visit:
This is the newest museum in Sofia, which offers a good summary about the history of the capital of Bulgaria in an interactive way. Located in the beautiful building of the former public baths (1928) it makes your visit authentic. Sofia history museum is included in the Insider Sofia free tour with Betty and in all other tailor-made tours on request. Don’t forget to stop at the souvenir shop. There are some of our favorite magnets and postcards.
4) Boyana church
Working hours:
1 April – 31 October: 9:30am – 5:30pm
1 November – 31 March: 9:00am – 5:00pm
Location: 3 Boyansko Ezero Str., Bus № 64 and 107
Entrance fee: BGN 10 per adult
Why to visit:
Boyana church is the only UNESCO site in Sofia. It is included in our Rila monastery tour as one of the extra options and in each Sofia tour on request. The church is not active and today works as a museum, located at the foot of the Vitosha mountains. The beautiful and vivid wall paintings are worth seeing if you are interested in learning more about the Orthodox religion and the rich history of Bulgaria.
5) Military museum
Working hours: 10.00am – 6.00pm; Mondays and Tuesdays off
Location: 92 Cherkovna Str., busses: 9, 72, 120, 305, 413
Entrance fee: BGN 8 per adult, Free admission – every last Wednesday of the month.
Why to visit: It investigates, preserves, processes scientifically and popularizes cultural valuables connected with the national and European military history. In the yard of the museum you can see tanks and air forces used in the past during the wars.
6) National History museum
Working hours:
1 April – 31 October: 9:30am – 5:15pm; 1 November – 31 March: 9:00am – 4:45pm
1 January, 24 and 25 December, Easter Sunday off
Location: Vitoshko lale 16 Str.; Bus № 63, Bus № 111, Trolley bus № 2
Entrance fee: BGN 10 per adult
Why to visit:
The National History museum is located in an old communism building, which was used from Todor Zhivkov to welcome guests in the past. There you can learn about the rich history of Bulgaria in 1 – 2 hours and enjoy the view to Vitosha mountain. This is where you can see the Thracian gold treasure from Panagyurishte and learn more about the Bulgarian kings, the Cyrillic alphabet and one of the oldest processed gold in Europe. This museum can be part of any of our Sofia tours. Very often you can combine it with a visit to Boyana church due to the nearby location and the combined entrance tickets, which they offer. The museum is suitable for history lovers.
If you look for experience, just contact us and we will suggest you activities according to your interest. You can customize your Sofia tour with us and visit some of the recommended Sofia museums.
Share this post with your friends and follow our trips on Facebook and Instagram. Subscribe to our channel on YouTube and let us show you our beautiful country.
See you in Sofia!
Beni & Tsveti
