Sofia - Sofia

Sofia (София) is the capital Bulgaria and with more than 1,200,000 inhabitants the largest city in the country and one of the 28 administrative districts (Oblasti). According to archaeological findings, Sofia is at least 5,000 years old, but only in the last hundred years has the city made a leap from 20,000 to more than a million inhabitants. This also fits the capital's motto: "Grows, but doesn't age" (Расте, но не старее).

Districts

1. Bank yes (Банкя)
2. Isgrev (Изгрев)
3. Ilinden (Илинден)
4. Iskar (Искър)
5. Krasna polyana (Красна поляна)
6. Krasno selo (Красно село)
7. Kremikovtsi (Кремиковци)
8. Loose sets (Лозенец)
9. Lyulin (Люлин)
10. Mladost (Младост)
11. Nadezhda (Надежда)
12. Novi Iskar (Нови Искър)
13. Ovcha kupel (Овча купел)
14. Oborishte (Оборище)
15. Pantscharevo (Панчарево)
16. Podujane (Подуяне)
17. Serdika (Сердика)
18. Slatina (Слатина)
19. Studentski grad (Студентски град)
20. Sredets (Средец)
21. Triaditsa (Триадица)
22. Vitosha (Витоша)
23. Vrabnitsa (Връбница)
24. Vasrazhdane (Възраждане)

background

Sister cities of Sofia are Ankara, Athens, Madrid, FranceParis, Pittsburg and Tel Aviv.

getting there

By plane

The Sofia airport is about 10 km east of the city center. The city center can be reached by taxi (under € 10), the metro (see below) or the bus. The number 84 bus stops in front of Terminals 1 (low-cost airlines) and 2. The journey takes about 20 minutes and takes you via Zarigradsko Chaussee to Eagle Bridge and on to Sofia University (more precisely: up to its historic main building, the "Dean's Office"). Tickets for the bus can only be bought from the driver if he has the time. At the airport, at the newsstand in the arrivals area, tickets are sold: "Bilet" (applies to buses, trams and metro). For larger pieces of luggage (over 60/40/40 cm) additional tickets must be purchased (otherwise the charge is 10 times the ticket price). A ticket costs 1.60 lev (as of November 2019; plural: leva; 1.60 lev = approx. 0.80 euros), it is only valid for one journey (in one direction, without changing, not like in many German cities for 2 hours). The tickets must be punched (= validated) on the bus. After changing to another bus, tram or metro, new tickets must be validated. To continue with public transport from the university to the "Chahlite" (Hallen = Central Market Hall Sofia), the immediate center, in the immediate vicinity of which there are numerous tourist hotels, you have to change to the metro or tram.

Metro line 1 has been running to the airport since April 2, 2015 - but only to Terminal 2. However, Ryanair and Co. sometimes land at Terminal 1. In such a case, free shuttles can be used between Terminal 1 and Terminal 2. The center ("Serdika") can be easily reached by metro. If you want to go to the main train station, change in "Serdika" to line 2 to "Zentralna Gara". As in the bus, the fare is 1.60 levs.

Because of the moderate taxi prices (approx. 0.30 euros / km), it is advisable to take a taxi when arriving from the airport. The trip to the center costs less than € 10. All taxis in Sofia are yellow, usually with a large company logo. Alternatively, you can take a taxi at the Adlerbrücke (that's only half as many kilometers to the center).

However, there is a strong warning against a scam at the airport designed to lure ignorant tourists into being smuggled into taxis with overpriced rates. Incoming tourists are actively approached by smugglers immediately after passing through customs. You have to know that the airport has an official contract for the transport of passengers with a single taxi company (of the approx. 10 Sofia taxi companies), these have a very moderate price (like 95% of all Sofia taxis): 0.30 € (In contrast to the "overpriced" taxis with € 0.65 / km).

It is best to go to the taxi stand, which is located in the entry hall in the immediate vicinity of the entry area. At this clearly signposted stand, you name your exact destination and are assigned a taxi. These "regular" taxis are in the taxi waiting area next to the terminal (50-100 taxis). While the "overpriced" taxis are not allowed to stand at this large taxi stand - they stand in front of (not next to the terminal) together in the short-term parking area with private cars.

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  Diagram of Terminal 2 (explanation of the numbers on the picture description page; almost all international flights arrive there; low-cost airlines sometimes also arrive at Terminal 1)

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  on the right (red-blue sign) the passengers arrive, on the left (behind the rental car stand Hertz and Budget) is the official taxi stand in the arrivals area; straight ahead in front of the door are the 50 - 100 official taxis (see next picture)

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  the way to the official taxi ranks is well signposted (if you want to save money, don't fall for the smugglers who address the ignorant tourist on the way to the taxi ranks)

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  the official and inexpensive taxi stand in the airport (as in the picture before, but larger here and photographed from the other direction)

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  the two taxi stands next to the rental car stands

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  The prices of the two official companies are also indicated there (English and Bulgarian)

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  and the prices of the neighboring company (but that doesn't cost anything as long as you don't catch the expensive taxis for 1.30 leva)

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  if you leave the arrival hall through the door (as shown in the previous picture), you are right in front of the waiting area for the official airport taxes

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  Again (photographed from the other side): the waiting area for the official airport taxes (these are cheaper than the unofficial ones); arriving passengers come through the door at the back on the right

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  Newsstand - for bus tickets

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  the bus stop for the 84 is right next to the official taxi waiting area

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  the route of bus route 84 (large turning loop in the center)

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  Card punch (on the bus)

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  straight ahead (left picture area) is the arrival area; the two individual taxis (yellow) in the short-term parking area in the foreground could have such overpriced tariffs

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  It is better not to get into such individually waiting taxis at the airport unless you study the price tag very, very carefully

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  Local residents recognize the moderate and the overpriced prices from the company logos (the logos are often confusingly similar, however)

By train

In summer direct international trains:

• Balkan Express out Beograd Topcide
• Sofia-Istanbul Express (Night train) from Istanbul-Halkali (shuttle bus to Istanbul-Sirkeci)

Winters:

• from Belgrade with changes in Nis and Dimitrovgrad
• from Istanbul 3 hours longer drive

By bus

The central bus station (Централна автогара) is located north of the city center near the main train station. From here there are bus lines to many cities in Bulgaria and some international connections. Most international bus connections, however, end at the "Serdika" (Автогара "Сердика") bus station located between the bus station and the train station, for many years this bus station was known as the "Traffic Market", the old name can still be found in many travel guides and driving directions).

• Bus station website
• Serdika bus station website

In the street

By boat

mobility

Taxis

There are a lot of taxis in Sofia. The reason is that it is one of the few cities in Bulgaria where the number of permitted taxis is not limited by the authorities. The taxis in Sofia are yellow with large company logos and a sign on the roof that reads "ТАКСИ" (spoken: Taksi) in Cyrillic. When they are occupied, a red light in the windshield lights up. Like the number of taxis, the fare was not regulated by the authorities until a few years ago. The maximum permissible fare was set at 6 leva (approx. € 3) per kilometer, with most taxi companies taking a fare of € 0.50 - € 0.60 per kilometer. Since around 2010 the maximum fare has been limited by the Sofia authorities to 1.30 leva per kilometer. There are a few small companies that charge this fare, with all other 95% of the tax still taking 0.50 leva - 0.60 leva.

Tourists are particularly fond of these overpriced taxis, as these taxis are located right next to tourist traps: in the center, in front of the hotels, at museums. So keep your eyes peeled before getting in and take a quick look at the price tag to see if the familiar 0.57 (sometimes 0.52 leva or 0.59 leva) is there. The overpriced taxis do not offer any added value, such as that they are cleaner or larger or have air conditioning.

Then some taxis still have the trick of increasing the fare with a small additional switch: the electronic boxes that display the fare are in principle tamper-proof (they are also regularly checked by the state transport authorities to ensure that the driving times are being adhered to). So the manipulation starts with the car itself: a small pump is switched on, which doubles the display on the speedometer, thus fooling the electronic fare box into another route. A quick look at the speedometer while driving reveals such tricks: at a leisurely 50 km / h in inner-city traffic, the speedometer then shows 100 km / h. This can also be noticed by an attentive German tourist who otherwise has no feeling for how much a trip in Sofia can cost. But even with all the scams together (1.30 leva per km and that doubled to 2.60 with the "pump"!) The resulting fare would still be far below the German taxi prices.

Furthermore, every taxi driver is obliged to display his or her taxi license card on the dashboard visibly in front of the passenger (with passport photo and name in Bulgarian). If something does not seem right (you only saw the price of 1.30 leva on the dashboard inside, or the speedometer shows extremely high speeds or the ID card is not displayed), then you should stop (pay the price incurred) and get out. The next taxi will definitely come in 2 minutes.

Calling for a taxi can be tricky. Despite the clearly visible telephone number on the taxis, many control centers block calls from cell phones that are not registered in Bulgaria. The taxi operator does not necessarily have to have knowledge of foreign languages. So it is well advised to have Bulgarians call you a taxi: e.g. at the hotel reception (the destination must be stated when ordering by phone). Otherwise, countless taxis turn around all over Sofia. Sometimes, however, the driver refuses a trip: when he is about to end work and only wants to move in a certain direction instead of the wrong end of town. There is an official obligation to carry, but it is practically not enforced. Taxi drivers also often refuse journeys if, in their opinion, the destination is "around the corner", meaning that they cannot earn enough on the journey. Often he will then ask for a fare of 5 leva before starting the journey, instead of the expected lower fare according to the official tariff. Whoever this is worth agreeing to. The passenger (if the taxi driver does not actually want to transport him) can possibly offer 5 leva or 10 leva of his own accord, if that is worth it to him.

There are no official taxi ranks, but queues of waiting taxis form in many places. There is no obligation for the passenger to take the first taxi in the queue (it could be too small or too expensive for him, or he would have to walk too far to do so, or he generally drives with another taxi company). The first taxi in the queue has of course been waiting for a long time and the driver might refuse the trip if the destination is "just around the corner". In this case, the last taxi is the better candidate because it has not waited that long and does not give up a valuable waiting place at the front of the queue.

It is therefore advisable to name the destination after the taxi has been signaled and wait for the driver's approval (attention: a casual nod of the head means a "no" and not a "yes", as in Germany), so as not to get off immediately humiliated to have to.

Few taxi drivers speak a foreign language at an understandable level.

The Bulgarian tax laws require (similar to Italy and Greece) that a receipt must be issued to every customer: so at the end of each journey a receipt is printed out in the taxi and given to the passenger. The receipt also contains the number of the taxi and the telephone number of the associated taxi office (maybe you've forgotten your umbrella in the taxi - the taxi offices take care of such problems very correctly).

Theft cannot be ruled out in any country. A taxi driver who earns relatively little (€ 300 average salary in Bulgaria - for all professions; Bulgaria is much poorer than Greece) is of course tempted if the passenger leaves goods of high value in the taxi and the driver waits in front of the next shop leaves. Then for some drivers it is only a matter of weighing up whether they want to forego the outstanding fare and prefer to go for the expensive purchase. Subsequent assignment of the driver to the taxi can be difficult if the taxi has been sublet. The customer has a little more security when he orders a taxi by phone, because then the taxi control center can also retrospectively see which taxi has transported the passenger (you only have to specify at what time you ordered the taxi from where to where) .

On the other hand, it is common to keep a taxi waiting. He has his regular tariff for this (mostly 0.19 leva per minute; i.e. approx. 0.10 €; i.e. 6 € per hour). Due to the low taxi prices, the taxi has become an urban means of mass transport like buses and trams. A tip is not mandatory, but 10% (or more) is certainly appropriate.

The passenger has the right that the driver does not smoke if asked to do so, and the passenger can also choose the radio station.

For tourists who are not planning an absolutely cheap holiday in Sofia, the taxi is the most convenient and inexpensive means of transport.

trips

Unimaginable in Germany, but day trips by taxi are also recommended in Bulgaria. For example to the Rila monastery (approx. 130 km there). For several people together, such excursions are often cheaper than with tourist companies. For example, a bus trip to the Rila Monastery was offered by tourist companies in 2010 for € 60. A taxi driver takes 130 € for this. With two people there is no longer really a price difference to the bus excursion and you have free division of the route and departure times as well as the return time. You can choose your breaks (photo stop, snack break, pee break, short detours to spots along the way that suddenly appear interesting, plan changes due to weather problems). It's just a completely different journey in a taxi than in a bus. If you also catch a driver who speaks a little German or English, then you have at least some contact with locals. Of course you have no fellow travelers and no tour guide with you, which has advantages and disadvantages. And you can also pay for the 3 hour waiting time at the Rila monastery (insider tip: turn right 20 km before the Rila monastery and take a short detour to the sandstone formation Pyramids of Stob make - approx. 3 km walk one way). Of course, the price has to be clarified before starting the journey: the drivers are very happy to undertake such long tours and have a list of the corresponding fares with them. However, there is no official obligation to carry long-distance journeys. So it's hard to get into a taxi and insist that the good man do a 7-hour tour. But he probably has nothing against such spontaneous assignments. But it is advisable to check the driver the day before when taking a taxi (or several taxi rides in Sofia) (is he nice, is the car clean, he understands something "our language") and with him for the next day or the day after that to agree the tour and the fare. Perhaps you would like to be on the safe side with writing down your car number and cell phone number ("GSM" - [Dzhi Es Em] - pronounced in English - is the Bulgarian word for "cell phone") and leaving them on a piece of paper in the hotel. A taxi driver also has much better linguistic options to organize lunch in a village restaurant en route (he will not choose any tourist trap like some travel companies, he knows some good places, he can order original Bulgarian specialties). Since the food in simple restaurants in the country is not expensive, you can pay him for the food. The taxi ride is usually paid for when you return to Sofia.

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  Taxis in Sofia are yellow and have a "ТАКСИ" sign

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  Coincidentally, there are more taxis waiting at this normal intersection than private cars

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  Taxi prices: 0.59 leva (top left; for a 1 km journey during the day from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m.), 0.70 leva (top right: for a 1 km journey at night from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m.); 0.60 leva (one-time additional, when ordering by telephone); 0.60 leva (once as a basic flat rate for each trip); 0.18 leva (for every minute of waiting time while stopping - also runs in traffic jams and when waiting at intersections)

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  these price tags are clearly legible on both sides and in the interior (that's the law)

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  These price tags must also be attached to the windscreen

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  In some taxi companies the price tags are not only written in Bulgarian, but also in English (here: blue and a little smaller)

Public transport

Numerous buses, trams, electric buses, minibuses and two metro lines operate in Sofia from 5 a.m. to 11.30 p.m. The fare is 1.60 leva (as of October 2016) if the ticket is bought at the kiosk and also 1.60 leva if it is purchased from the driver. Tickets are valid for one journey without Change (except in the metro, where you can change between the two lines) - a day ticket is therefore quickly profitable. If you buy 10 tickets (Bulgarian "Talon"), they cost a total of 12 leva, i.e. 1.20 leva per ticket. Day tickets (karta za edin den) are available for 4 leva, these are valid for all lines (tram, bus, trolleybus and metro) and are not personalized. However, these day tickets are only issued at 18 locations in Sofia ([1]). For example:

• At the bus stop at Hotel Pliska (you can easily stop there if you take bus 84 from the airport to the city center, you can then continue with any bus line in the direction of Orlov-most (Eagle Bridge)
• at the central mineral bath (opposite the Chalite) - is most central for tourists (a 5x10 m stone pavilion at the tram stop, where the local seniors fill their warm mineral water in bottles and canisters they have brought with them)
• Metro station "Serdika" (is also very central; right next to the golden "Sofia statue"; this is where the two metro lines cross)
• University metro station (official name: Sofijsi Universitet "Kliment Ochridski")
• Metro station "Kulturpalast" (NDK - read: [EnDeKa])

The validity date for the day ticket is stamped on the back of the day ticket with a simple date stamp when purchased. It must be stated when purchasing the day for which the day ticket is to be valid. If you have language problems, you can also write the desired validity date on a piece of paper and hand it over the counter (attention: in Bulgaria the names of the months are written in Roman numerals). So you could hand over a piece of paper without a word, for example with the following 4 lines and the same amount of money:

• 3x 4th VI. 2013 = 12 leva
• 3x 5th VI. 2013 = 12 leva
• 3x 6th VI. 2013 = 12 leva
• 36 leva

Then the ladies have to stamp for a while behind their counter and check again that they don't accidentally give out one ticket too many, but that should work. Overall not very convenient, but you don't have to go to the ticket counter every day. With these day tickets you can get on all public transport (except regular taxi / marshrutka and taxi). You don't have to show it or hold it up when boarding. It doesn't matter whether you get in the front or the back. In the metro it gets a little more complicated with the day tickets: while other passengers push their one-time ticket into the turnstile, the day ticket tourist has to go to the counter next to the turnstile. The lady behind the glass (almost exclusively women) takes a quick look at the back of the day ticket to see if the stamped date is correct for that day, and then unlocks the turnstile closest to her so that the passenger can turn it can without having to insert a card - everything is quick and easy, if you know.

Dodging costs 20 leva (as of January 2013) - however, some inspectors charge foreigners higher prices (but should not be paid) After the penalty fee has been paid, you can continue your journey - the penalty ticket is then valid as a ticket. The personal details are not ascertained, so never hand out the passport or show it - at least not to a ticket inspector. However, if you refuse to pay this official redemption fee (20 times a normal ticket), a fine of 70 or 100 leva (for a counterfeit or forged ticket) is due according to the tariff. Officially, a ticket must also be bought for larger luggage (over 60/40/40 cm), but this is only implemented consistently on the bus to / from the airport.

The trip with the minibus (marshrutki / line taxi) costs 1.50 leva. To do this, you have to know their route, while you can easily get on the train and bus if they are only going roughly in the right direction.

Tickets must be validated on buses and trains. These are very simple holes: you slide the ticket in and press the front edge of the "device" upwards. Since the punches are not very sharp, it is advisable to punch the cards individually and not several at the same time.

In terms of price, electronic subscription cards are less of an option for tourists; there are separate registration systems for them in buses and trains.

Weekly tickets are no longer available. A monthly pass for all means of transport costs 50 leva (personalized) or 60 leva (non-personalized). An annual ticket costs 500 or 600 leva. There are no different tariff zones for the city center and the outside area (such as for the S-Bahn in Berlin: Zone A, B and C).

People aged 69 and over can purchase a monthly pass (for all means of transport) for 8 leva. Children up to 6 years travel for free.

Tourist Attractions

Churches

• Alexander Nevsky Cathedral (Храм-паметник Свети Александър Невски), Alexander Nevski Square. The emblem of Sofia.Open: daily 7 a.m. - 7 p.m.last change: not specified

• Church of Saint Sofia (Базиликата Света София), Alexander Nevski Square. The second oldest still existing church in the capital.last change: not specified

• Rotunda of Saint George (Ротондата Свети Георги), Boulevard Alexander Stambolijski. It is the oldest building in the city and dates from the 4th or 5th century AD. Before that, a Roman bath took its place, later it was used as a mosque under the Turkish rule. The church is located in the courtyard of the Sheraton Hotel.last change: not specified

• Church of the Miracle Worker, Boulevard Tzar Osvoboditel 3. Actually the Church of Saint Nikolai or also called the Russian Church (Руската църква Свети Николай): Moscow style church with five gilded onion domes.last change: not specified

Museums

• National Archaeological Museum (Национален археологически музей), Sabornastr. 2 (ул. Съборна. Open: opening times in summer 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. in winter 10.30 a.m. - 3.30 p.m. with lunch break; Monday is the day off.last change: not specified

• Ethnographic Museum (Етнографски музей), Batenberg Square (пл. Батенберг). It is located in the building of the former tsar's palace. Collections of the works of Bulgarian traditional handicrafts, suits, fabrics, jewelry and musical instruments are shown.Open: Opening times: in summer 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. in winter 11 a.m. - 4 p.m.; Monday is the day off.last change: not specified

• The National Historical Museum (Национален исторически музей) in the Rezidentsia Boyana 42.65497523.270803National Historical Museum1 Type is group designation shows an overview of Bulgarian history from ancient times to the present day. The main attraction is likely to be gold or silver vessels and jewelry from the Thracian (approx. 4th century BC) and Roman times. Address: Vitoshko Lale 16 (ул. Витошко лале 16)

• National Science Museum (Национален природонаучен музей), Tsar Osvoboditel Boulevard No. 1 (бул. Цар Освободител 1 ). Open: Opening times: daily 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.last change: not specified

City tour

"Free Sofia Tour" - offers a 2-hour guided city tour through the city center. The tour is conducted by students with a good command of English; the explanations are in English. It is free of charge - of course, a tip is gladly taken at the end of the tour, as this is the only way to finance the tours. The starting point of the tour is the Palace of Justice 42.69497923.320784Palace of Justice2 Type is group designation, a monumental building with large columns and two lion monuments in front of it, right in the center on the corner of Boulevard Vitosha / Ulica Alabin in the immediate vicinity of the Sveta Nedelja church - the one in the middle of the street. The tours take place daily (Monday to Sunday), start at 11 a.m. and 6 p.m., and registration is not required. Route: Justice Palace, Sveta Nedelja Church, ZUM, Mosque, Central Mineral Bath, then back to Tsar Osvoboditel Boulevard, Sofia Great Mosque, Central Bank, Ivan Vazov Theater, Russian Church, Sveta Sofia Church, Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, Parliament. The tour ends at the Parliament. A visit to the individual sights is not planned as there is not enough time. Overall, very recommendable.

Sightseeing tours are offered in Sofia quite sparingly. A central departure point for buses for city tours is directly at the Alexander Nevsky Cathedral. In larger hotels there are advertisements for tourist city tours, but mostly day trips to the wider area of ​​Sofia are offered (Rila Monastery, Koprivchitsa, Plovdiv).

activities

Sofia is in no way inferior to other capitals in terms of activities. Cinema, concerts, theater, winter sports on the Vitosha ... - everything is possible. The free cultural guide offers a very good overview Programata. On the homepage there is information in Bulgarian and English on all events in the larger cities and in many restaurants, cinemas and hotels you can take an up-to-date booklet with you.

shop

There are several larger, modern shopping centers (malls) in Sofia. Major international brands are predominantly represented in these malls.

• Mall of Sofia (almost in the center; Aleksandar Stamboliyski Boulevard and ulica Opalchenska)
• City Center Sofia (Boulevard Cherni vrach corner of Boulevards Arsenalski; seen from Boulevard Vitosha behind the Palace of Culture "NDK"; at the metro station "European Union"; diagonally across from the large Hotel Hemus)
• The Mall (Tsarigradsko Chaussee 115; a little further from the center; the largest shopping mall in the Balkans)
• Serdika Center Sofia (a little further from the center; Boulevard Sitnjakovo and ulica Oborishte)
• Sky City Mall (not too far from Hotel Pliska)
• Bulgaria Mall (Boulevard Bulgaria and the corner of Boulevard Kableshkov)

Interesting places to shop:

• Central market hall (supermarket in the basement, there next to the cafe also archaeologically processed remains of the Serdica fortress)
• Weekly market "Frauenmarkt" (Schenski pasar) - starts at the Lion Bridge; open daily; Fruits and vegetables and much more
• ZUM (the old state department store in the city center - looks a bit dimly lit and antiquated inside; the remains of the old socialist flair can still be guessed there)

kitchen

Sofia has numerous restaurants that offer national and international dishes to the guest. The specialties include kebaptscheta, grilled rolls made from seasoned minced meat. They are usually served with french fries and a mixed salad. Tarator is a refreshing cold bowl made from finely chopped cucumbers, ground walnuts, dill and yogurt mixed with water and salad oil.

Schopska salad, a salad made from cucumbers, tomatoes and peppers, sprinkled with grated sheep cheese and chopped parsley is also popular. Gjuwetsch is a mixed vegetable, usually made from peppers, tomatoes, eggplant, onions, potatoes, green peas, green beans and parsley, which is baked in a clay pot with or without meat. Baniza, a type of unsweetened cheese strudel, is also popular.

nightlife

accommodation

Learn

Work

security

health

There are no special diseases in Bulgaria. Due to the widespread poverty in the former Eastern Bloc, there is an increased rate of hepatitis A.

The water can be drunk from the tap. A large part of it comes from the Rila Mountains via pipelines and tastes like fresh mountain water in many places. Bulgarians drink a lot of water. There are small drinking fountains (Tscheschma) in numerous places in the city, from which one can drink without hesitation, even if people immediately in front of it have drank dirty. The problem is rather to explain to Bulgarians in Germany that they shouldn't just drink from every market well.

Medical treatment is cheaper in Bulgaria than in Western Europe. Bei Zahnersatz, kleiner oder größerer kosmetischer Chirurgie oder Kuren empfiehlt sich eine vorherige Terminabstimmung per e-mail, noch bevor man nach Bulgarien reist. Viele Ärzte haben sich auch auf die Behandlung von Ausländern spezialisiert. Bereits zu sozialistischen Zeiten gab es einen staatlich organisierten Medizintourismus nach Bulgarien, der besonders stark von Patienten aus dem Nahen Osten (Arabern) genutzt wurde.

Practical advice

Briefmarken sind in der Stadt außerhalb der Postämter schwer zu finden. Briefkästen sind in vielen Straßenbahnen - der Einwurfschlitze ist neben der vorderen Tür von außen angebracht (bitte nur an den Haltestellen einwerfen).

Die Handynummer und das Handy wird als "GSM" (sprich: [Dzhi Es Em]) bezeichnet. Ein Telefonbuch für Sofia gibt es nicht.

trips

• The Kirche von Bojana befindet sich 8 Kilometer südlich des Stadtzentrums von Sofia am Fuße des Berges Vitoscha und wurde 1979 in die UNESCO-Liste des Weltkulturerbes aufgenommenen. Ursprünglich als Festung konzipiert, handelt es sich nach Erweiterungen heute um einen dreiteiligen Kirchenkomplex, der für ein Fresko aus dem Jahre 1259 bekannt ist. Dieses ist eines der wichtigsten Beispiele für mittelalterliche osteuropäische Malerei.
• Das Thermalbad Bankja (Банкя), mit Mineralquellen und Sanatorien, liegt 17 km südöstlich von Sofia, auf 630 Meter Höhe an den Hängen des Ljulin-Gebirges.

literature

Web links

http://www.sofia.bg/en/index_en.asp (en) – Offizielle Webseite von Sofia