As the capital, Sofia offers a wide range of accommodation from cheap hostels to expensive multinational chain hotels.
Which hotel to choose and are there less safe areas in Sofia?
Where to stay in Sofia
Sofia is a very safe city and in this respect you can stay in any neighbourhood.
However, the residential areas and outskirts of the city are not very nice looking and lack sights and attractions. We therefore recommend staying in the centre or near the mountains.
Centre (Serdika)
The best place to stay is around the transfer station of the M1, M2 and M4 metro lines called Serdika. This is where most of the sights are located and the area is also very accessible from all parts of Sofia and the airport.
The cheapest hotels
- Central Club Hotel ** - A small hotel with very good prices around 37 eur is just a few dozen metres north of Serdika station
- L'Opera House *** - well rated hotel just a few steps from Alexander Nevsky Cathedral
- Ivory Tower * - a very small well rated hotel offering great rates starting from 31 eur per night
Luxury hotels
- Sofia Balkan Palace ***** - one of the most famous hotels in Sofia can be found right in front of Sveta Nedelya Cathedral and offers very good rates from 110 eur
- Grand Hotel Sofia ***** - the most luxurious hotel in Sofia is located in a quiet park in front of the Ivan Vazov National Theatre
- Hilton Sofia ***** - a hotel of a well-known chain is ideal if you want to stay near the National Palace of Culture
Vitosha
If your main destination in Sofia is hiking in the Vitosha Mountains, stay directly in one of the mountain hotels.
- Boeritza Hotel Complex ** - A very cheap mountain hotel with prices starting from 37 eur per night is located on the road about 2,5 km on foot from the terminus of bus 63 Zlatnite Mostove. The hotel can be reached by car
- Hotel and SPA Moreni **** - a highly rated hotel with a wellness centre and breathtaking views of Sofia is located directly at the terminus of bus 66
- Zvezditsa Chalet - a mountain chalet with hotel rooms in the beautiful countryside of the western part of Vitosha and good prices is located by the road (can be reached by car) and about 5 km from the terminus of bus 63
- Hotel Villa Magus **** - the luxury hotel in the less visited southern part of the mountains is easily accessible only by car
In the vicinity of the railway station
If you're arriving in Sofia late in the evening by bus or train, or leaving early in the morning, it's worth staying right outside the station.
The train and central bus stations are right next to each other.
- Best Western Terminus Hotel **** - The international chain hotel we stayed at during our stay is 100 metres from the train station and 300 metres from the bus station.
- Ramada by Wyndham Sofia City Center **** - the international chain hotel where we stayed during our stay is 300 metres from the train station and 100 metres from the bus station
Hotel prices in Sofia
Sofia is one of the cheapest European capitals and you can get accommodation here at a reasonable price.
Prices for local 3* hotels near the centre start at 50 eur per room.
The city is full of private apartments, read references carefully for these as the lower price is often made up for by questionable quality. The normal price for a room in similar establishments outside the immediate centre does not exceed 40 eur.
Higher quality hotels of international chains have normal prices between 65 eur and 100 eur per night.
