Уик-энд по-Болгарски Weekend in Bulgarian

The decision to go to Sofia was made up of three components - there were three free days, an inexpensive flight by the already beloved Vizear and a discount of more than 50% at the Radisson Blu hotel.
So we are in Sofia. Getting to the hotel is easy - there are buses from the airport every 10 minutes. It is worth noting that only levs operate in the country, so you will not be able to buy a bus ticket for eurodollars. The exchange rate at the airport is normal, you can also buy a ticket from the machine there. Travel - 1 lev.
From the bus stop to the hotel 7 minutes at a leisurely pace, to the metro - 5 minutes. The hotel is very well and conveniently located, close to everything. View from the window - on the Parliament and Alexander Nevsky Cathedral. That's very beautiful. True, at first we were offered a room with a view of the opposite side of the hotel, where the construction of a new building is underway. The noise from the construction site is decent, so we immediately changed the room - everything is polite and cultural. Late in the evening, our sleep was drowned out by the loud music of the restaurant and the casino, which is located on the ground floor, but fatigue took its toll. True, for the sake of justice, it should be noted that they made noise only one night out of three. Therefore, choose right away - the view from the window and parties at night or construction helmets and buzzing cranes during the day with a view of the wall of a neighboring house.

Perhaps it should also be noted that the hotel is slightly shabby and is waiting for a facelift, so its full price, in my opinion, is not worth it. Moreover, breakfast is not worth its 15 euros per person, when right next to the hotel there is a wonderful cafe Emily, where you can get a salad, a double sandwich with all kinds of toppings, fresh fresh juices, tea / coffee, sweets for 12-15 leva for two.
Nothing more to complain about. Unless we lacked a pool and a warm jacuzzi : ) But the room is spacious, the bed is large and very comfortable, there is a shower and a bathroom, everything is in order, clean, there is an iron, a kettle, a mini-bar. They clean quickly and imperceptibly, they don’t disturb you over trifles. The service is unobtrusive and pleasant.
About food. In addition to the already mentioned Emily, in the next lane there is an excellent restaurant "Bankovich", where we accidentally got and went to dinner all evenings. The restaurant is cozy with an open veranda. Meals are not expensive. There is nothing very expensive in Bulgaria. Dinner for two with beer costs 24 leva here. In another restaurant, where we went specifically for a good review on the Internet "Pod Lipite" - for 17 leva we took "shkembe chorba" (milk soup with tripe) and pea and bean soup with salad, bread and beer. It is worth noting that in Bulgaria, as in many countries, large portions. Therefore, one salad, a dish with a side dish and a meat dish for two is more than enough.
About transport. The entire walking route around the city takes 2 hours, if you go to each church, strolling slowly and making coffee breaks, you can stretch the pleasure for half a day. The city has metro, buses, trams. We managed to ride everywhere, because. We planned to take the lift to Vitosha Mountain, but the lifts, alas, did not work. A day pass costs 4 leva per person.

What to see in the city - the aforementioned walking route. There are a lot of old churches in the city, go to each one, you won't regret it! The Alexander Nevsky Cathedral and the Hagia Sophia, which was built in the 6th century on the site of the necropolis of Serdika (the ancient name of Sofia), amaze the imagination. In the basement there are partially restored tombs that can be viewed for 6 leva per person. The city is more than 7000 years old, the same age as the pharaohs and tombs - this is very impressive. Especially preserved old part of the city, against the backdrop of modern Sofia, looks very unusual.
Summary - go to Sofia for the weekend to stroll through the ancient part of the city, light a candle in the cathedral you like, taste hearty Bulgarian cuisine, walk along the souvenir and shopping streets of the city for inexpensive leather goods, rose oil and souvenirs - and the recipe for a great weekend is ready !