Sofia is the capital city of Bulgaria. Placed in the western part of the country, surrounded by mountains, Sofia offers a unique atmosphere. It is a city of ancient Byzantine churches, archaeological treasures, monuments and mineral baths adjacent to the magnificent Vitosha Mountain, which makes a holiday in Sofia a rewarding and interesting experience.

Founded over 7,000 years ago around numerous hot and cold mineral springs, which are still available today, Sofia has flourished and declined around a variety of civilisations. It is one of the oldest settlements in Europe and numerous archaeological, cultural and historical monuments from its rich Thracian, Byzantine, Roman, Slav and Turkish history have been preserved among the modern edifices, the blend of the new and the old lending a charming quality to the capital.

For sightseeing and exploring the streets, the best time to travel to Sofia is during spring, summer or autumn, but if its winter sports you are after then travel to Sofia in winter when the city is blanketed in snow, for fun on the slopes of the nearby mountains. Exactly the slopes of Vitosha mountain make Sofia so different from any other capital. You can go hiking in the nature or skiing for less than a hour from the center of the city. It is not an unusual sight to see people carrying snowboards, ski and poles early in a winter morning in the public transport, sitting right next to suit-wearing workers going to work all around the city.

Like any capital city, Sofia also has a wealth of museums and galleries, and boasts plenty of cultural entertainment.There are also many new shopping Malls, and Vitosha Boulevard with its up-market boutiques and cafes. The city has a really cosmopolitan taste. Intense nightlife, neo-classical Stalinist architecture, beautiful nature, crowded bazaars with eastern breeze, Roman amphitheater and many more, Sofia can offer just anything.

The best way to get to Sofia is via flight to Sofia International Airport. The airport is in the outskirts of the city and is well served by the public transportation system. From Sofia you can go south to the winter resorts of Bansko and Borovets, visit the Rila mountain – the tallest on the Balkans, travel east to the ancient city of Plovdiv, visit the medieval capitals of Pliska and Preslav and get to the Black Sea and its sunny beaches.

Getting There: Sofia is an increasingly popular destination, and Ryanair, Easyjet and Wizzair fly there for European travelers.There are currently no direct flights from the U.S. However we recommend flying into London and getting a budget airline for the Sofia connection.Alternatively fly direct from the States with Turkish Air and change at Istanbul for the Sofia flight. For the best deals check out http://paylessflights.com