Things to do in Sofia, Bulgaria with little kids
I used to live in Bulgaria and I speak the language, so Sofia has always felt like a city I know quite well. But this trip was different! It was my first time experiencing Sofia with my own kids, and honestly, I was genuinely impressed by how much there was to do as a family.
Sofia is one of those cities that works really well for a family city break. You can explore historic landmarks, eat incredible food, get out into nature, use public transport easily and most importantly, give your children opportunities to experience the local culture rather than just seeing the sights.
Here are some of the amazing places you must visit:
1. Walk along Vitosha Boulevard
Vitosha Boulevard is the main pedestrian street in Sofia and is a great place to simply wander with the family.
There are shops, cafés and restaurants along the street and it's a lovely place to stop for something to eat or have a drink while watching the city go by.
It's also an easy area to explore with a stroller because you're not dealing with any cars or traffic!
2. Eat ALL the Bulgarian food!
One of my favourite ways to introduce our children to a new culture is through food and Bulgaria gives you plenty to try!
Don't just stick to food you know. Let the kids order a few different things and see what they like.
Some things I'd recommend trying include:
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Banitsa – a traditional pastry made with filo pastry and cheese
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Shopska salad – tomatoes, cucumber, peppers and Bulgarian white cheese
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Ayrian – a refreshing yoghurt-based drink
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Stuffed peppers with cheese – one of my personal favourites
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Grilled meats – Bulgaria has some great options
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And for the adults, try some local Bulgarian beer
3. Take a hike on Vitosha mountain
One of my favourite things about Sofia is that you can go from the city centre to Vitosha Mountain in 30 minutes and feel like you've completely escaped the city!
There are lots of kid friendly walking and hiking routes, so you can choose something suitable for your family and the ages of your children. It's a brilliant way to give kids some space to run around after spending time sightseeing in the city.
The views over Sofia are also beautiful, and if you're visiting during warmer months, it's a great contrast to a busy day exploring the centre.
Tip: Have lunch in one of the huts on the mountain! We went to Septemvri Hut and the food as well as the atmosphere was amazing!
4. Visit the Rakia Museum
Rakia is an important part of Bulgarian culture, so if you're interested in understanding more about local traditions, the Rakia Museum is worth adding to your itinerary and it's definitely kids friendly.
You have the option to book a 20 minute tour where you learn about the history and process of making Bulgaria's national drink. But also you have the option to sample different types of Rakia along with some nibbles.
You can easily combine it with other sights in central Sofia, so it doesn't need to take up a huge part of your day.
5. Visit Alexander Nevsky Cathedral
You can't visit Sofia without seeing Alexander Nevsky Cathedral.
It's one of the city's most recognisable landmarks and is absolutely enormous when you see it in person.
The area around the cathedral is also worth exploring, so give yourself some time rather than simply stopping for a quick photo before moving on.
6. Let the kids experience the metro and the tram
Don't underestimate how exciting public transport can be when you're travelling with kids!
Sofia's metro is very accessible and makes getting around the city much easier.
But make sure you get on a tram at least once too.
Our son absolutely loved the tram and honestly, it became an experience in itself for him rather than simply a way of getting from A to B.
Sometimes the simplest things become the highlights of a family trip.
7. Visit Muzeiko
This is an interactive children's museum where kids can learn through experimenting, playing and getting hands-on with the exhibits. It's particularly great if you need a break from sightseeing and want somewhere where the children can properly explore and burn off some energy.
Our kids loved being able to interact with everything rather than simply looking at displays, and it's the kind of place where you can easily spend several hours as there is a soft play area too!
It's also a great option if the weather isn't cooperating.
8. Check out local festivals and events
You should definitely check what's happening in the city before you arrive!
There always seems to be something going on, from festivals and cultural events to activities for families.
When we visited, we went to the Rivers of Sofia festival, and it was one of our favourite experiences.
The kids weren't just watching something happening, they were actually part of it. They played games and won prizes, they went into the river and, most importantly, got to interact and play with local children.
That kind of experience is exactly what I want when travelling with my kids because they're not just sightseeing. They're actually experiencing what it feels like to be somewhere.
There are new events happening regularly, so I'd recommend checking what's happening in Sofia before your trip and planning to visit any events that look interesting!
9. Spend some time around NDK
The NDK (National Palace of Culture) area is another place I'd add to the list!
There are open spaces around the building and the fountains can be a particularly fun stop for kids.
It's a nice place to let them have some time to run around after you've spent the morning visiting landmarks.
Sofia is so much more than a city break
What surprised me most about returning to Sofia with my children was how easy it was to make the trip about experiencing the culture, rather than simply ticking off tourist attractions.
We ate local food, explored the city, travelled on public transport, spent time in nature, went to festivals and gave the kids opportunities to interact with the locals.
If you're looking for an affordable European city break with kids where you can combine culture, food, nature and plenty of family-friendly experiences, I genuinely think Sofia deserves to be on your list.
Keep an eye out for the Sofia with Kids map too! It will show you some of the best things to do with kids across Sofia! It will be especially fun for the kids to look through it and choose the places they want to visit!
This guide was created in partnership with Visit Sofia, the tourism board of Sofia. Visit Sofia helped us plan our family trip and organise several of the experiences we enjoyed during our stay, helping us discover some of the best things to see and do in the city with kids! You can check their website here: https://www.visitsofia.bg/en/
