7 Picnic Spots in Sofia, Bulgaria

Borisova Gradina is the biggest park in Sofia where you can find vast meadows, a pond with water lilies, open-air cafes and music clubs, children’s playgrounds, people with hammocks among the trees, and what-not. If you scroll the Instagram images of the park, you will often come across squirrel photos – the furry creatures are curious and may want to join your picnic. In summer evenings and weekends, free concerts, movie screenings and festivals often take place in the park.

This green area is where several vintage-style picnics organized by the local swing and rock’n’roll events organizer Smugglers Collective take place every summer. The dress code is retro/vintage and it does feel like time travel has taken you a few decades back. The area is lush and shady, so the picnics start early and continue all day long in the pleasant cool.

One of the biggest parks in Sofia is a breath of fresh air in the busy south central area of the city. The South Park (Yuzhen Park) is popular with families and also hosts events in summer – open-air bazaars, live music performances, festivals. There are spacious open spaces perfect for a picnic.

The park in front of the National Palace of Culture, or simply known as NDK, is where many young people gather and the density of bicycles and skateboards is higher than usual. Walk a little bit aside to the grassy area and you will be able to find a peaceful spot under the shade of the trees.