Sofia holiday

As budgeting holidaymakers begin scouring the market for cheap flights and cut-price deals, Sofia could be in for a boom.

One of the many eastern European holiday destinations which has gained popularity with city break travellers over recent years, the Bulgarian capital's charm lies is its mix of old and new.

This is largely due to the fact that much of Sofia was rebuilt after the Second World War and consequently it boasts a real range of architectural styles. One landmark holidaymakers are sure to not miss out on is its yellow brick boulevard, which has obvious connections to the Wizard of Oz.

Traditions and culture in Sofia

Sofia is an inexpensive city where holidaymaker won't have to watch their pennies whenever they sit down to eat or make an impulse purchase.

Furthermore, public transport operates frequently around the city and taxis are cheap, giving visitors little incentive to buy or hire a car during their stay.

Holidaymakers are advised that by law a taxi must use a meter and should watch out for those drivers who try and negotiate a fee instead, as this will invariably be more expensive.

Recommended in Sofia

As one of Europe's oldest cities – Sofia was founded 7,000 years ago – there are a wealth of historical landmarks to be explored in the Bulgarian capital.

For example, there are seven independent mineral water springs in the city and in one central area Catholic, Orthodox, Muslim and Jewish places of worship are located within a stone's throw of each other.

Sofia's National Museum of History is also a must-visit attraction for fans of all things ancient. This facility contains over 650,000 exhibits and is the largest historical display in the Balkans. It aims to detail the Bulgarian story from prehistory to the present day in a broad European context.

The Ethnographical Museum is also an interesting attraction for those seeking cultural enlightenment during their stay. Located in the Royal Palace, the museum displays regional costumes and crafts and hosts visiting exhibits of various topics.

Sofia is also a mecca for churches and places of worship, which are often worth a visit for their architectural genius if nothing else.

Destination checklist for Sofia

Sofia has a population of 1.1 million and its official language is Bulgarian, although English is widely understood. A holiday guide may be helpful to enable visitors to get around.

The official currency is the Bulgarian Lev and due to the current exchange rate prices can work out very favourably for British travellers, with many cheap hotel rooms on offer.

Sofia is two hours ahead of GMT and uses the international dialling code +359.