Flights from Luton to Sofia

History meets modernity in Bulgaria's capital Sofia

Sofia is a great choice of destination for all those interested in the culture and history of Southeast Europe. This historical but also surprisingly modern metropolis with more than one million inhabitants is Bulgaria's most important city next to Plovdiv and Burgas.

When is the best time to visit Sofia?

A city trip to Sofia is best planned during the period from May to October for the best weather. 

For skiing holidays in the snowy Rila Mountains region, the travel months of December to March are ideal. In addition to being the perfect place for skiing, Rila Monastery is also worth a visit.

A highlight in Bulgaria's cultural life is the Orthodox Easter Festival, the date of which varies. When the international film festival takes place in Sofia in March, the red and white "Martenitsa" ribbons can be seen everywhere throughout Bulgaria. In the summer months of June and July, music from all over the world is heard in Bulgaria's capital Sofia during the "Music Weeks". This international festival of music, dance and theatre performances has been staged in front of an enthusiastic audience since 1970. In mid-June, visitors to the Sofia Beer Festival can enjoy a wide variety of music and events.

How do you prepare for your trip to Sofia?

In general, the cost of living for food, drinks and tobacco is cheaper in Bulgaria than in the UK, but somewhat higher in the capital. Fast-food prices start at 4 BGN, lunch costs about 10 BGN, a beer about 3 BGN.

How do you travel from Sofia airport to the city centre?

To get from the airport to the city centre, passengers can use the metro line 1 (the journey takes about 20 minutes) or bus numbers 84 and 384, which take about 35 minutes. A single ticket for either costs about 1 BGN. The taxi fare from the airport to the centre of the city is about BGN 13.

Cheap accommodation is available in guesthouses or backpacker hostels in Sofia from BGN 20 per night. Three-star hotels cost on average about BGN 50 per night/person. Public transport with buses, trams, trolley buses and the metro is also inexpensive. The single fare is about BGN 1, a day pass costs about BGN 4 and a 10-ride ticket about BGN 8. Taxi fares, on the other hand, are higher but much cheaper than in the United Kingdom: max. 1 BGN per kilometre.