Stroll along the spacious main shopping street of Sofia and enjoy the mix of heritage façades, renowned retailers, leafy trees and lively cafés.
The broad street of Vitosha Boulevard is Sofia’s main thoroughfare for shopping and dining in the city, stretching from St. Nedelya Square to South Park. Walk down the partly pedestrianized strip to see café awnings jutting out from heritage buildings and splashes of color in the potted plants that line the avenue. Refresh your wardrobe with high-end label names or check out some of the side streets and shopping malls that branch out from the boulevard. Visit some of the street’s notable buildings and palaces. Take a seat in a restaurant with tables spilling out into the street and people-watch or gaze at the views of Mount Vitosha, which soars above the southern end of the street.
Admire the upmarket labels and up-market retailers that characterize this glamorous part of the city. Adding to the elegant atmosphere of the street are grand buildings, such as the National Palace of Culture and the Palace of the Courts. You can also see the house where the much-loved Bulgarian poet Peyo Yavorov spent his days.
As you stroll down the street note the stylish 1930s touches that were added as a part of the 2007 restoration of the boulevard. Check out the benches and streetlights that reflect this period of Sofia’s history. Art nouveau-style kiosks and pretty fountains are also dotted across Vitosha Boulevard. Rest your legs at one of the street’s leafy green areas or take a seat at a café if the weather is cold. Watch locals and visitors wandering down the pedestrianized part of the street and admire the ornate details of restored frontages.
Walk to the street’s northern border at St. Nedelya Church to see a clock tower that displays the time in several capital cities around the world. As evening falls, be sure to head to one of Vitosha Boulevard’s bars with outdoor seating for a drink.
Vitosha Boulevard is located between the monumental church and the expansive green area of South Park. The National Palace of Culture is on the eastern side of the boulevard. The street is free to visit at any time. It is easily accessible via the city’s subway system.
