The Best Hotels in Sofia, Bulgaria
Sofia, the capital of Bulgaria, sits at the base of the Vitosha mountain with a distinct East-meets-West urban structure and some truly charming neighbourhoods. Cultural offerings include the gold-domed Aleksander Nevski Cathedral plus the Roman ruins of the Ancient Serdica Complex. Explore it all using one of these excellent hotels in Sofia as your base.
1. Maison Sofia Hotel
Hotel
With a facade faintly resembling a modest French chateau, Maison Sofia stands in the quiet southern suburbs alongside expansive Borisova Gradina Park. Comfortable rooms are brightened by large windows and there’s a charming conservatory restaurant – with Bulgarian and Mediterranean cuisine – nestled between the two rear wings and extending into a pretty garden. The gym and a rather swanky indoor pool might round off a sightseeing day.
2. Grand Hotel Sofia
Hotel
The rather odd building of the Grand – an austere glass-fronted box perched upon a masonry-clad low-rise – stands in the heart of Sofia. Opened in 2004, the interiors seem of another era: plenty of dark-wood panelling and heavy furniture, frumpish drapery and modern art in gilt-edged frames. This old-school atmosphere pervades the notably spacious rooms at this Sofia hotel. Although the well-regarded main restaurant tends toward fine dining, the cafe and conservatory with Eiffel-esque canopy and steelwork is rather more laid-back and relaxing.
3. Central Hotel Sofia
Hotel
With an array of rooms ranging from compact doubles to studios with kitchenettes, interconnected rooms and two-roomed apartments, this downtown hotel in Sofia offers flexibility in spades. It’s modern, comfortable and thoroughly functional rather than homely though renovations to the lobby and reception have spruced things up. While the restaurant’s fairly modest, the comprehensive wellness facilities include a sauna, steam bath, jacuzzi and massages.
5. VIKO Boutique Apart Hotel
Hotel
A little south of the centre near the National Palace of Culture, VIKO has modern stylish apartments, most with kitchenettes, ranging from family to presidential. Occupying a smart seven-storey apartment block on a quiet street, the majority have just one bedroom so families should choose carefully. Tasteful rather than homely, you’ll still have some regular hotel services such as a breakfast snackbar (with room service if needed), modest business-centre facilities and a meeting room.
6. R34 Boutique Hotel
Hotel
The enigmatically named R34 melds mellow industrial chic with touches of Scandi-cool furniture to conjure a rather fun, almost hipsterish, vibe. It’s the sort of place where you won’t receive a map but will be shown the way; and the partnership of crumbling plaster with exposed brickwork is a design element rather than a maintenance issue. Candles, arty monochrome prints and groovy lighting and lamps lend a quirky feel to one of Sofia’s best hotels, while the location is both central and quiet.
7. Hotel Niky
Hotel
This modest downtown hotel in Sofia features double rooms and business apartments for up to three guests in a plain, modern building. Decor and feel vary considerably from the simple and unfussy to near hostel-like austerity, but all are bright and well-kept. Rather more appealing is the homely garden restaurant mostly covered with a conservatory, hung with lamps and (winter) heaters – a charming spot to hang out and sample Bulgarian cuisine.
8. Generaator Sofia
Hotel
Firmly in hostel territory, the no-frills Generaator stands on the northern edge of the city centre. Signed above a facade resembling a shop front, the accommodation lies in a three-storey house overlooking a small pallet furniture-strewn courtyard. Stripped floors and odd patches of exposed brickwork lend a faint rustic hue to the simple, almost spartan, rooms, but you’re more likely justifying a stay here on the premise of being out all day rather than in for the night.
Looking for more accommodation options in Sofia? Here’s our pick of the best boutique hotels in the Bulgarian capital. For something more adventurous, discover these camping spots in Bulgaria – bookable on Culture Trip.
This is an updated version of an article originally written by Peter Iltchev.
Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.
Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.
Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.
Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.
We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.
- Post ID: 384928
- Sponsored? No
- View Payload