The capital of Bulgaria, is a city simultaneously embracing history and modernity.
A mix of ancient Roman, Ottoman, and Soviet influences can be identified creating a unique urban landscape.
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A mix of ancient Roman, Ottoman, and Soviet influences can be identified creating a unique urban landscape.
If you're already in the Balkans, it's definitely worth a stay of up to a month during the warmer months. However, it would be towards the bottom of the list in winter.
Having spent a couple of months in Budapest and with aspirations of being in Greece over the summer, i was wary of running close to my Brexit enforced 90 day EU limit. Being one of the few options outside of the Schengen zone, Sofia provided a useful alternative.
If booking a little in advance you should have no problem finding a good quality apartment at a great price by Western European standards.
The city has a big range of coworking options, from both independent operators to more corporate chains. There are no shortage of coffee shops to work from.
General day to day expenses are considerably less than what you may expect in Western Europe, with lots of options for an inexpensive meals for lunch and dinner. More expensive than some of it's other Balkan neighbours.
It would be a stretch to call Sofia an exciting city by global standards, but as the nation’s capital with over 1 million people, there’s a fair amount to see over the course of a month. Throughout the week, Vitosha Boulevard and the surrounding streets see a good level of foot traffic, and on weekends, areas like Doctors' Garden offer satisfying spots to enjoy.
Bulgaria operates on Eastern European Time (EET), pushing it an hour ahead of Western Europe throughout the year.
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Not an enormous city, but I would recommend being in one of these two areas where you will be close to the best items the city has to offer.
Situated a 2 minute walk from the bustle of Vitosha Boulevard, Korner Coworking provides a peaceful and homely base to work from whilst being in the centre of the city. Dedicated desks are available and the kitchen is equipped with a decent coffee machine.
The only drawback is that there is somewhat limited space for taking calls, however if this is not an issue then I would 100% recommend it. Plenty of great lunch and coffee options available within the immediate vicinity.
Enormous national park with an endless supply of hiking routes and some limited options for Skiing. Hiking up in winter can be challenging but look out for some log cabins selling hot drinks and food which make a welcome respite from the harsh conditions
I arrived in early March and the first two weeks were an awful mix of snow, rain and clouds. Vitosha Mountain which usually over the city was barely visible until half way through the month. From late March onwards the temperatures steadily rose leaving only faint scatters of snow on the mountains peak.
Unless you are explicitly looking for snow, it's difficult to make a compelling argument for visiting prior to April, where the city feels like it comes to life and the outdoor amenities can be fully enjoyed.
There's enough in Sofia to comfortably stay for a month.
There is a sizeable international community in Sofia, particularly after the Russian invasion of Ukraine where those who have been displaced ave relocated to the city. It has also become a home to numerous Russian's who have relocated there in the previous decade leading up the recent events. There is a sizeable expat community with many European companies having chosen to set up base in the city.
There is a small remote work community in the city, but you are more likely to find people in Bankso, a two hour drive from Sofia which has become a hub for remote workers.
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