The Story Behind Sofia's Basement Shops

One of the most unusual sights a foreigner could come across when visiting Sofia for the first time, are the knee-high convenience shops situated in basements along the streets. To buy a beer or a pack of cigarettes from them you need to squat down to their level, hence their Bulgarian jargon name – klek shop (meaning ‘squat shop’).

Back in 2015, a Japanese TV crew filmed a few klek shops in Sofia and broadcast them on the evening news. They are not the only ones who are amazed by this peculiar local custom, as travellers from all over the world find them just as fascinating.

Even though klek shops have turned into an integral part of Sofia’s culture today, they are quite a new phenomenon.

The story of the klek shops begins after the fall of communism in Bulgaria in 1989. Before that, all businesses were owned by the state and private shops didn’t exist. In the first years after such big changes were made in Bulgaria, the whole social and economic situation was difficult and unclear, so many people had to come up with creative ways to make a living. That’s how those who had a basement at street level filled them to the top with cigarettes and alcohol, and became proud shop owners.

The shopkeeper’s head was at the level of the customer’s shoes, but this didn’t seem to bother anyone. The important part was they didn’t have to pay rent for the shop because they made use of their own property.

Even now, when the economic situation has changed and Bulgaria is a European Union member, more and more klek shops are popping up in the center of Sofia. Today you can find a wider array of goods in a klek shop than ever before, such as freshly squeezed juice or even a shoemaker’s shop.

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.