The Unusual Attractions of Sofia, Bulgaria

Shot on: October 23-24, 2023
Location: Sofia, Bulgaria
**Important Note: The information at 27:07 is incorrect. The city was actually named after Saint Sofia Church (6:03).
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About this Sofia travel vlog:
I stayed in Sofia, Bulgaria for about a month. During that time, I was able to explore the city and learn a bit about some of Sofia’s hidden gems. In this Bulgaria travel vlog, I set out to find some of Sofia’s unusual tourist attractions as well as cover some of the sights that are more well-known. In this vlog, I check out:
- St. Alexander Nevsky Cathedral
- National Palace of Culture (NDK)
- Klek shops
- Saint Sophia Church
- Sveta Sofia Necropolis Museum
- Monument to the Soviet Army
- Vitosha Boulevard
- Vitosha Mountain
- The Snail House
- Kambanite (The Bells) Monument
- Serdica Ruins
- Sveta Sofia Monument
I also stopped by a local restaurant for a Shopska Salad and Pork Kavurma. Sofia, Bulgaria is an excellent place to visit! I’m so glad I got to have a travel adventure in the Bulgarian capital city!
About Sofia’s History and Culture:
Sofia boasts a rich and diverse history dating back to ancient times. Initially a Thracian settlement, it became a significant Roman city named Serdica, remnants of which can still be seen today. Over centuries, it was influenced by Byzantine and Ottoman empires, enriching its cultural and architectural heritage. Sofia became Bulgaria's capital in 1879, post the Russo-Turkish War, playing a crucial role in the country's modern history.
Culturally, Sofia reflects a blend of Eastern and Western traditions, visible in its art, architecture, and cuisine. Landmarks like the Alexander Nevsky Cathedral and the Saint Sofia Church showcase its religious and architectural diversity. The city's numerous museums and galleries, such as the National Historical Museum and the National Art Gallery, preserve and celebrate its rich historical tapestry. Sofia's cultural scene is vibrant, with a strong emphasis on music, literature, and the arts, making it a central hub of Bulgarian culture and history.
About Sofia Tourism:
Sofia is a vibrant city rich in history and culture. Nestled at the foot of the Vitosha Mountain, it's a blend of ancient and modern attractions. The stunning Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, one of the largest Eastern Orthodox cathedrals in the world, is a must-visit for its impressive architecture and gold-domed exterior. The city's Roman heritage is evident in the ancient Serdica complex, revealing Sofia's layers of history.
For museum enthusiasts, the National Historical Museum offers insights into Bulgaria's diverse past, while the National Art Gallery showcases Bulgarian art across the ages. Vitosha Boulevard, Sofia's main shopping street, is perfect for both retail therapy and enjoying local cafes.
Sofia is also known for its relaxing parks like Borisova Gradina and South Park, offering green spaces in the urban landscape. For a unique experience, visit the Central Mineral Baths for its beautiful architecture and history in public bathing. Lastly, Vitosha Mountain provides a quick nature escape, ideal for hiking and skiing, emphasizing Sofia's blend of urban charm and natural beauty. This city is a hidden gem offering a unique experience for every kind of traveler.
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FAIR-USE COPYRIGHT DISCLAIMER: Copyright Disclaimer Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for "fair use" for purposes such as criticism, commenting, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. Non-profit, educational or personal use tips the balance in favor of fair use.
#SofiaBulgaria #DiscoverSofia #BulgariaTravel #Sofia #VisitSofia

[@Mamaburnze]

Thanks for taking me to Sofia!

[@TravelLordOnLoc]

No problem!

[@GRQJOYEUX]

I love your calmness. Your soothing and kind voice makes it watchable for hours.

[@TravelLordOnLoc]

Great to hear! Many people like watching KZbinrs that are yelling all the time hahaha

[@GRQJOYEUX]

@@TravelLordOnLoc I don't like watching loud, overexcited and jumpy youtubers :D

[@bobibest89]

Great channel bro. A lot more interesting places to see in my city.

[@TravelLordOnLoc]

Sofia is a great city. Really enjoyed my time there. There are still a few other Bulgarian cities on my list that I didn’t make it to so I hope to get back there soon

[@Ozzie_Frenchcurrie]

Really love your vlogs mate, your voice is calming, music taste is brill, it is such a fan travel with you, you are good at this mate, keep on going 👍

[@TravelLordOnLoc]

Glad you like them! More on the way!

[@senorsoupe]

Great Video! Will be spending some time in Sofia with my wife and my 12 y/o son in September and there are some nifty things to do in this video

[@TravelLordOnLoc]

Perfect! Glad I could help you figure out some things to do!

[@at_hirsizi]

Let,s go new video. Thank u so much friend :)

[@TravelLordOnLoc]

Thanks for watching! A lot more videos will come out in the next two weeks

[@aleksanderaleksandrov168]

I can't believe you walked from the snail building all the way to Kambanite, through the cemetery 😮

[@TravelLordOnLoc]

Yeah, it was a pretty long walk hahaha

[@babiyarnazarismaily6207]

When we got liberated from ottoman slavery the first national assembly was held in tarnovo wich was the old capital of the second bulgarian empire(1187-1396),but because at that time it was important the cities to be at a citadels in the mountains in order to be hard to conquer,the place was not suitable for modern capital when the wars are already a different beast😂 ,so they vote the so called tarnovo constitution ,wich was one of the most liberal and democratic for the time and say that if you are a slave and step on our soil you automaticly become free man🎉🎉😀.......so they decide to locate the capital in sofia ,cause it was on a field ,the sofia field and can grow properly and bulgarian politicians were still thinking that all balkan states will unite someday and sofia being at the centre of the peninsula will become a capital of this entity

[@TravelLordOnLoc]

Thanks for sharing!

[@antoanetaraj5748]

Sofia means The wisdom of the God ! Премъдрост Божия ! Thank you for your excellent video!

[@TravelLordOnLoc]

I’m glad you liked it! Thanks for watching!

[@silverchesnov5247]

Every Sophisticated thing is the "Wisdom of God"

[@sisirubysis]

​@@silverchesnov5247 it's about the saint the city was named after and who was herself named after God's wisdom

[@osmanarslaner6819]

Enjoyed your videos .. thanks .. waiting for BODRUM to be on the list !! ..

[@TravelLordOnLoc]

I thought I replied already… Bodrum is on the way!

[@vivianhongkonglifes6993]

New here I already press the bell button. Thank you for sharing your amazing vedios. Love watching here in Hongkong from Philippines ❤

[@TravelLordOnLoc]

Thank you! I am hoping to make some videos in the Philippines in a few months. I’ve already been there four times haha

[@mytube236]

Loving your vlogs, you realy have a nice calm documentarian voice lol I enjoy watching your videos bud ☺️👍

[@TravelLordOnLoc]

I appreciate that! Thanks for watching!

[@petarantonov8947]

Dude, the restaurant in Veliko Tarnovo is called Mehana Hushove, mehana is the word for tavern in Bulgarian, and Hushove is the nickname of Bulgarian revolutionaries - exiles who fought for the liberation of Bulgaria from Ottoman rule! The restaurant in Sofia is called Mehana Hizhata. I have already explained the first word, and the second Hizhata (Hut) means a tourist shelter.! The similarity between the two names is the first word Mehana and the fact that both are traditional Bulgarian restaurants! I think you should read more before visiting any country..! The "Bells" memorial is in honor of the World Children's Assembly which took place several years in the 80s of the last century, during which each delegation from each country brought to Bulgaria a national bell from their homeland and they were all installed on this Memorial..! Greetings!

[@TravelLordOnLoc]

Thanks for the info on the restaurants! My ability to read Cyrillic isn’t as good as I thought it was…

[@DalechOtGrada]

Мисля че е чел немалко, макар някои фактологични грешки, имайки предвид, че констатира връзка между килограмите на българската камбана и честването на 1300 г. България. 👍🏻

[@ayseunat7350]

I love your energy 🙏😍

[@TravelLordOnLoc]

I appreciate it! I do my best hahaha

[@ayseunat7350]

@@TravelLordOnLoc There are many people producing content but you are the most sincere,Tenk yu🌸🤍

[@ayseunat7350]

@@TravelLordOnLoc​​⁠ There are many people producing content but you are the most sincere,Tenk yu🌸🤍

[@BrayanA]

The name of the city is coming from the name of the same church where they requested money from you - Saint Sophia Church (Sophia means Wisdom). The basic cross design of the present basilica, with its two east towers and one tower-cupola, is believed to be the fifth church structure to be constructed on the same site and was built during the reign of Byzantine Emperor Justinian I in the middle of the sixth century (527-565). It is thus a contemporary of the better-known Hagia Sophia (lit. Holy Wisdom) in Istanbul (then Constantinople).

[@TravelLordOnLoc]

Thanks for the info! My mistake! I made a note of it in the description!

[@Marymaurer990]

Most enjoyable. And glad you didn’t get arrested 😂! Made me think of your great grandmother Sophia!!

[@TravelLordOnLoc]

I’m glad you liked it! It was a fun city!

[@nikomollov4950]

9:50 The statues on top were finally dismantled mid december, which was a big step for Bulgaria.

[@TravelLordOnLoc]

Wow really?! I thought they might be taking them down but wasn’t sure. As weird as it sounds I’m glad I got to see the monument when I did. Thanks for the info!

[@jtdjstewart]

No, it was in fact a step backwards, a shameful act conducted in the most disgusting way by a bunch of primitive and corrupt bureaucrats from the Sofia City council!

[@sisirubysis]

​@@TravelLordOnLoc doesn't sound weird at all. It was a beautiful anti-fascist monument. It's destruction speaks volumes about Bulgaria's current society

[@CyrilNathanMorris]

Great job Travel Buddy, although you missed out an incredible "bell" pun opportunity. Probably my favorite video yet though.

[@TravelLordOnLoc]

Yeah I didn’t think about that at the time. I was having too much fun looking at all of them

[@gesh92]

It would never have crossed my mind to walk from Simeonovo to the bell monument 😂

[@TravelLordOnLoc]

Hahaha it didn’t look too far on a map

[@jtdjstewart]

I was born in Sofia but haven't visited it for years. Thanks for taking me to this nostalgic journey. BTW, I don't remember any Klek shops. During the so called communist era we weren't allowed to any kind of private enterprise. These have started after 1989, the year when Todor Zhivkov was forced out of power. As for the fee for taking photos at the necropolis, fair enough but they should have given you a receipt and no, I don't believe that the fee for taking videos is 50 leva. That's greed! Shame on them!

[@TravelLordOnLoc]

Im glad you liked the video! Sofia is a great city!

[@kvostavabrato]

1:39 lol welcome to Bulgaria in general. this is peak road construction work for our lovely city.

[@TravelLordOnLoc]

Haha! Bulgaria is great though!

[@babiyarnazarismaily6207]

The restaurants you showed after the snail house are not with the same name,just the tipe of the restaurant name was the same it is mehana wich means traditional bulgarian restaurant or pub of some sort and the name of sofia one was hijata wich means the hut(like mountain hut)and tarnovo one's name was hashove wich is the name of the bulgarian revolutionaries during the ottoman period

[@TravelLordOnLoc]

Ah, I see. I wasn’t sure if they had anything to do with each other or not. Thanks!

[@nickpanov1080]

The city is not named after Constantinople's Hagia Sophia, but after the basilica "Holy Sofia" you filmed earlier. The name in the context mean "Holy God's Wisdom" and is one of the canonical names for Jesus. Both temples bear the same name :)

[@TravelLordOnLoc]

Yeah I messed that up! It seems pretty obvious when I think about it now. Sorry about that!

[@FreelancerSabbirPro]

You make such beautiful videos, but why are your videos less likes, comments and shares?

[@TravelLordOnLoc]

I just do what I can control! Thanks for watching!

[@kosbos1985]

Haha, Google took you out for a walk in the skirts of mount Vitosha :D This was definitely not the optimum path to the "Kambanite" :D

[@TravelLordOnLoc]

It was a nice walk actually. Sometimes with the data package I use when I’m traveling I get weird routes like this. Thanks for watching the video!

[@putriaja4447]

Loving your vlog ,im your fans from surabaya ,java east

[@TravelLordOnLoc]

Thanks! Any recommendations for Surabaya? I will try to get there in a few weeks if I can!

[@putriaja4447]

My recomendation you can visite to zoo,bridge suramadu,bromo mountain,and so much beach ,prigi beach,pelang beach,konang beach,and more beach

[@TravelLordOnLoc]

@@putriaja4447 I wrote those down!

[@iassenlazarov4421]

Nice video, mate. Tho, you should generally be careful when you travel alone in the suburb area because of stray dogs.

[@TravelLordOnLoc]

Yeah I’m always careful. Good looking out!

[@selmaaA599]

❤

[@TravelLordOnLoc]

Thank you!

[@radostinangelov9193]

To be honest I think the guy that asked you to pay 100 leva so you can take videos was trying to scam you, good you didn't fell for it.

[@TravelLordOnLoc]

Yeah, me too. I wish I could’ve filmed more freely in there though

[@coapa_760]

I was fillming one time and had some issues with a guy it was random

[@TravelLordOnLoc]

@@coapa_760 Yeah, just do your best!

[@kosbos1985]

"The creepiest statue"- we call it the alien, because it looks like one :D

[@TravelLordOnLoc]

I’m glad I’m not the only one who found it creepy

[@no7r3k]

Great tour! Around the 9:40 minute mark, you showcased the monument to the the Red Army occupier of Bulgaria at the end of World War II. Rather than offering assistance, they brought suffering through theft, rape, murder, and destruction. The aftermath of this occupation still echoes in Bulgaria today. Thankfully, the dismantling of this monument is underway, and the sight of the soldiers atop is a thing of the past. Soon, it will be completely removed. 🙂

[@TravelLordOnLoc]

It’s interesting because I have footage where I asked aloud if they were taking it down, but decided not to include that part. Thanks for the info!

[@Rossiyaikitaj]

i visited the snell's house as well, so beautiful and cute haha.

[@TravelLordOnLoc]

Great! It’s pretty cool and random hahaha

[@finduko]

"what the heck kind of road work is this" I was blowing my nose when you said that and you made me start a coughing fit

[@TravelLordOnLoc]

Sorry about that hahaha

[@finduko]

*emperor constantine (not constantinople, you done goofed there, guess since your brain was already on istanbul as you spoke)

[@finduko]

elevator NOT uniquely bulgarian. also the 50 dollars has got to be fake. even maybe the 5 dollars. unless it is a private museum, which i doubt. government museums are required to make it available to the entire public and i doubt the average bulgarian can afford 50 bucks to videotape a few mosaics and a bunch of concrete and brick.

[@finduko]

building is TOTALLY like larva cartoons. when i saw it in the thumbnail of the video I thought it was like those buildings in spain...

[@finduko]

bells were awesome! US bell makes total sense because it was a communist country. I'm not even sure we had diplomatic relations (active US embassy iin Bulgaria) with them at the time

[@SuperElborbah]

👍

[@TravelLordOnLoc]

Thank you!

[@warmwelkom]

✨🙏✨

[@TravelLordOnLoc]

Thank you!

[@ivajlostojanov2262]

The snail house was a kindergarten last time I checked :)

[@TravelLordOnLoc]

Really? When was that?

[@ZuhalbilgeKahraman]

Merhaba 😊 Bulgaristan 'ı merak ediyorum. Atalarim Türk ve savaş zamaninda Türkiye'ye geri dönmüşler. Keşke Tırgovişte bölge sine de gitseniz 😅 guzel bir videoydu ❤

[@TravelLordOnLoc]

Thank you! If you’re curious I have one more video coming later about Plovdiv too

[@kosmicheskiprah]

Sofia is our capital, but Plovdiv is our cultural capital and a must. Tarnovo is our former capital but very small because of the Ottomans. The coastal cities of Varna and Burgas are also nice and places like Nessebar or Sozopol. Btw, you look handsome and not Karen and manly. Welcome to BG. We have so many nices in BG. Welcome, man.

[@TravelLordOnLoc]

Thank you! I have already shot a Plovdiv video that I need to edit. Very cool places! I want to get to the coast sometime as well!

[@jjjjggjvdfhjljgg]

14:19 Those snails were incredible, I used to watch them as a kid, they were in the vision for a very short time, at least for me

[@TravelLordOnLoc]

Yeah, that’s a great cartoon

[@Veselinius_III]

Restaurant Hijata is not a brand or any chain..."Hija" just means a Mountain Inn or basically the typical Mountain "Motels" as they are described...nothing related to restaurant as well

[@TravelLordOnLoc]

Thanks for sharing!

[@johnsmith9678]

Soviets in fact did not aid Bulgaria, they occupied the country, installed a puppet communist government and began repressions against people who were opposing the communists or were simply in their way. This is why the monument is controversial and is often vandalised.

[@TravelLordOnLoc]

Makes sense. Thanks for sharing!

[@MiniB79]

Глупак

[@elitdv]

Глупости!

[@dimitarlyubenov726]

Dont listen to this guy, if you are able to think you will know that thruth is always in the middle.And just the fact that he comments on political matter after watching a tourist video can be enough to know what kind of person he is.

[@TravelLordOnLoc]

@@dimitarlyubenov726 It's always good to hear opinions. I do my own research afterwards as well

[@jjjjggjvdfhjljgg]

Hi 😘maybe I've arrived a little late 🤭

[@TravelLordOnLoc]

Nope! Just in time!

[@skillerbg]

It's named after the church you were in, not after Hagia Sophia

[@TravelLordOnLoc]

Ok thanks! I’ll look into it and make a correction note in the details

[@jjjjggjvdfhjljgg]

"Meyhane" In Turkish, it means a place to drink with appetizers in a tavern

[@TravelLordOnLoc]

Oh interesting. Sounds similar

[@jjjjggjvdfhjljgg]

​@@TravelLordOnLocBulgarians are actually of the Turkish race, but different religions may have opened up a little.

[@dwartbg1]

​@jjjjggjvdfhjljgg That is absolutely wrong, please educate yourself further before spreading misinformation and turkish propaganda. Bulgarians are not of the same race as Turks.

[@Vasil_Hristov]

​@@jjjjggjvdfhjljggWe're not and never were turkic..

[@Jj-or5ix]

1:29 lol

[@TravelLordOnLoc]

Hahaha glad you liked that. I thought it was funny also

[@kosbos1985]

Paying for taking pictures and absurd amount of money for video?! This is why we sometimes call our country "Absurdistan" which roughly translates to Absurdity country. Shout out for visiting and showing our capital :)

[@TravelLordOnLoc]

Hahaha I really enjoyed my time out in Absurdistan! I’ve got a video about Plovdiv that I think I’ll post next

[@jamesjarman6062]

Enjoyed the pro-raccoon rant. Try and get one in the next video

[@TravelLordOnLoc]

I’ll do what I can!

[@AL-grhvc]

7:51 that's what we call Bulgarian mafia.. I only passed through Sofia a long time ago, so didn't have much idea about the city..Thank you for the great tour ✨

[@TravelLordOnLoc]

Hahaha yeah it was a bit pricy to get a few videos. Glad you enjoyed it!

[@AL-grhvc]

@@TravelLordOnLoc 16:16 and "kavurma" means 'roasted' in Turkish😶.. so many food with Turkish names throughout the Balkans, including Greece..

[@TravelLordOnLoc]

@@AL-grhvc Are you able to understand any of the other languages? Or just certain words?

[@AL-grhvc]

@@TravelLordOnLoc I speak Yugoslavian a.k.a. Serbian,Bosnian,Croatian which more or less helps me understand other Slavic languages..and I speak Turkish..not to mention English..

[@dimnik2625]

4:03 - You are wrong. Nothing like this was possible to see in the "communist" time. The fashion of this kind of shops was born at the beginning of our "democrasy".

[@TravelLordOnLoc]

I will look into it. That’s what I found from my research. Thanks for sharing!

[@DalechOtGrada]

​@@TravelLordOnLocIt's true - all these little shops sprung up from basements after the 90s. 👍🏻

[@mitkodimitrov8396]

start of the idea for Asamblea Zname na Mira(Asembly Banner of Peace)is so great bulgarian idea,but unfortunatly was stoped,by rusian kgb,with strange death of yong inventor,check for yourself,wat was this in Google,or here.The live of Liudmila Dzivkova,hope someone will revive her,as Fenix,from the ashes hihi.We hate our administation to mate,dont hate us,coz of her,is same for all post communist countries.Yesi am near 50 and we all remember this hihihi..Healt and happynes

[@TravelLordOnLoc]

I will check it out! Thanks for sharing! Of course I know people are not their governments. I very much enjoyed Bulgaria!

[@vasilstoilov]

Уважаеми господине вие хубаво искате да снимате в храма света София но внимавайте все пак там нещата да стари и тези светкавици и други облъчвания от телефони и фотоапарати не им се отразява добре

[@DalechOtGrada]

Облъчвания от телефони??? Мисля че господинът е платил прилично солена цена (тая известни подозрения, че направо са го обрали, защото е чужненец), за да снима, а и аз светкавица ни виждам да използва изобщо.

[@TravelLordOnLoc]

Yeah I wasn’t using lights except for the light they were using

[@jjjjggjvdfhjljgg]

9:31 A little Turkish blood may be flowing in your veins. You know what to do in difficult times with the least damage😆😅

[@TravelLordOnLoc]

Hahaha I’m not sure if that was a real policy or if they guy just wanted me to pay $50

[@jjjjggjvdfhjljgg]

I think they may have wanted to defraud you. You know, unfortunately, everyone wants to make money from tourists🤑