Products are independently selected by our editors. We may earn an affiliate commission from links. It takes a casual stroll along its yellow stone-paved downtown dotted with ancient Roman ruins and elaborate examples of Byzantine, Ottoman, and 20th-century European architecture to recognize that its roots run deep.
However, its modern soul also shines through at every corner. Sofia is now a major tech and start-up hub in Southeast Europe, drawing international attention and talent.
So too are there many food, music, literary, and performance art festivals, including the Sofia International Movie Festival, which this year presented movies from over 50 countries, and the International A to Jazz Fest, attended by over 50, jazz enthusiasts yearly. She still likes to spend time around the National Palace of Culture Park, or catch a sunset from Kopitoto, an area in Vitosha Mountain boasting panoramic views of the Sofia valley.
This duality that Bakalova references makes the cityβwhich sits at a cultural crossroadsβso unique. It has rawness and unpretentiousness that are a rarity in a world where many cities have been transforming into their TikTok and Instagram-perfect versions.
Sofia is still very much a diamond in the rough, a city with an old soul in the process of building its modern identity, blending Western values and aesthetics while not letting go of its Balkan traditions. Unlike many European capitals where the same international logos overtake the glossy storefronts of prime downtown real estate, Sofia is still unapologetically itself. But walk 15 minutes to Saborna Street, and you could be shopping for a wool coat at Max Mara and cashmere sweaters at Zegna.
