Essentials
- City
- Sofia, Sofia City Province, Bulgaria
- Population
- 1,250,000
- Internet Speed
- 100-500 Mbps average (Fiber is very common)
- Currency & Banking
- Bulgarian Lev (BGN); 1 EUR ≈ 1.95 BGN, 1 USD ≈ 1.81 BGN
- Tap Water
- Drinkable (Vitosha mountain water is high quality)
- Power
- 230V, 50Hz, 🔌 Type C/F
- SIM Card
- A1, Yettel, Vivacom (approx. 20 BGN for 20GB)
- Banking for Expats
- Revolut (widely used), DSK Bank, UniCredit Bulbank
- Accommodation
- Airbnb, Flataway, Facebook Groups (Apartments Sofia)
- Cashless Friendly
- Yes, cards/contactless accepted almost everywhere
- Short Term Rentals
- Airbnb, Booking.com, Flataway.bg
- Budget Accommodation
- Hostel Mostel (approx. 25 BGN/night)
- Best Area to Stay for Tourists
- Center (around Vitosha Blvd and Serdika)
- Best Area to Stay for Digital Nomads
- Lozenets, Oborishte, or Doctor's Garden
Working and Networking
- Best Coworking Space
- SOHO (Sofia Holistic Coworking), Campus X, Puzl It
- Best Cafe for Work
- Greenwich Book Center, Fabrika Daga, Fox Book Cafe
- Networking Events
- Silicon Drinkabout Sofia, Sofia Digital Nomads Meetup
- Social Events for Expats
- Internations Sofia, Sofia Foreigners & Expats (Facebook)
Transportation
- Best Taxi/Ride App
- Yellow Taxi, TaxiMe (Uber is banned, Bolt is not active)
- Bike/Scooter Rental
- Velo Sofia, Lime scooters (widely available)
- Best Beach Nearby
- Burgas or Varna (approx. 3.5 - 4 hours by car/train)
- Top Regional Airline
- Bulgaria Air
- Top International Airline
- Lufthansa, Turkish Airlines, Wizz Air, Ryanair
- Highway Access
- A1 (Trakia), A2 (Hemus), A3 (Struma)
- Main Train/Transit Hub
- Sofia Central Railway Station / Central Bus Station
- Public Transport Passes
- Sofia Urban Mobility Center (365 BGN for annual pass)
- Regional Travel
- BDZ (Bulgarian State Railways), Union Ivkoni buses
Culture and Attractions
- Historic Buildings
- The Largo building, Sofia University
- Local Heritage
- Martenitsa (March 1st tradition)
- Must-See Landmarks
- Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, St. George Rotunda
- Museums & Art Venues
- National Art Gallery (The Palace), Kvadrat 500
- Historical Sites
- Serdica Ancient Complex (under metro station)
- Religious Sites
- Banya Bashi Mosque, Sofia Synagogue
- Annual Events
- Sofia Film Fest (March), Night of the Museums (May)
- Cultural Districts
- KvARTal (the old Jewish quarter)
- Theater Venues
- Ivan Vazov National Theatre
- Local Markets
- Central Sofia Market Hall (Halite)
- Music Scene
- Sofia Live Club, Terminal 1
- Street Art
- Urban Creatures Murals in Hadzhi Dimitar neighborhood
- Cooking Classes
- Amuse Bouche Cooking School
- Art Galleries
- Sofia City Art Gallery, Little Bird Place
Nature and Outdoor Activities
- Nearby Nature Escapes
- Vitosha Mountain (30 mins from city center)
- National Parks Nearby
- Rila National Park (1.5 hours away)
- Cycling/Walking Paths
- South Park (Yuzhen Park), Borisova Gradina
- Scenic Viewpoints
- Kopitoto (The TV Tower) on Vitosha Mountain
- Birdwatching Locations
- Pancharevo Lake
- Bonfire-Friendly Spots
- Vitosha designated picnic zones (e.g., Dendrariuma)
Other Services and Amenities
- Parcel Delivery Service
- Econt, Speedy (very efficient network)
- Tech Repair Services
- Viewpoint (Hardware), iStyle (Apple)
- Table Tennis Spots
- Table Tennis Club 'Sofia' (Borisova Gradina)
- Language Classes
- Astoria Group, Berlitz Sofia
- Libraries & Study Spots
- Sofia City Library, National Library St. Cyril and Methodius
- Community Centers
- The Red House (Center for Culture and Debate)
- Gaming Lounges
- Gamer's Inn, Manarune
- Casino & Gaming Halls
- Palms Merkur Palace
Business
- Studio Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. €2,200 per m² (e.g., 40 m² = €88,000)
- Studio Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. €1,400 per m² (e.g., 40 m² = €56,000)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. €2,000 per m² (e.g., 60 m² = €120,000)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. €1,300 per m² (e.g., 60 m² = €78,000)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. €1,900 per m² (e.g., 80 m² = €152,000)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. €1,200 per m² (e.g., 80 m² = €96,000)
- Corporate Tax
- 10% (Flat rate)
- Dividend Withholding Tax
- 5%
- Tax System
- Worldwide income for residents (183+ days)
- Highest Income Tax Bracket
- 10% (Flat tax on personal income)
- VAT
- 20% standard rate
- Controlled Foreign Company (CFC) Rules
- Yes, EU-aligned
- Property Tax
- Low, approx. 0.01% - 0.45% of assessed value
- Property Transaction Tax
- approx. 2.5% - 3% Municipality tax + Notary fees
- Attractive Tax System for Digital Nomads
- Extremely attractive; 10% flat tax is among the lowest in the EU.
Health and Wellness
- Best Hospital
- Acibadem City Clinic Tokuda Hospital (Lozenets)
- Yoga & Wellness Centers
- Yoga Vibe, Santosha Yoga
- Gyms & Fitness Centers
- Pulse Fitness & Spa, Next Level Fitness
- Laundry Services
- BioDry, various 'Peralnya' shops (approx. 10-15 BGN per load)
Food and Drink
- Best Food Delivery App
- Takeaway.com, Glovo
- Best Local Dish to Try
- Banitsa (filo pastry), Shopska Salad
- Vegan/Vegetarian Options
- Soma Vital Food, Sun Moon
- Best Dessert Spots
- Nedelya, Villa Rosiche
- Affordable Shopping Spots
- Zhenski Pazar (Women's Market), Billa, Lidl
- E-commerce/Online Store
- eMAG.bg, Ozone.bg
- Grocery Delivery
- eBag.bg
- Bar/Nightlife Area
- Shishman Street area, Studentski Grad (for students)
- Local Brewery
- Ale House, Rhombus (Craft Beer at Kanaal)
- Wine Bars
- Grape Central, Vino & Friends
- Street Food Stalls
- Mimas (Doner), various grill (skara) stands
- Popular International Cuisine
- Shtastliveca (Modern Bulgarian/Euro), Made in Blue