Sofia with Kids

Family-Friendly Hotels in Sofia

During our stay in Sofia, we stayed at two different hotels.

Eurostars Hotel

The first was the Eurostars Hotel, located in the city center. We booked a suite that included a pull-out sofa, a double bed, and a bathroom. The suite was spacious, but in hindsight, we would have preferred two connecting rooms. The hotel itself was pleasant but not exceptional. I think it’s a great choice for anyone looking for a centrally located hotel at an affordable price. The breakfast was good, with a variety of Bulgarian dishes and fresh fruits. The hotel offers paid parking at 24 leva per day.
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Hotel Zoo

Hotel Zoo is located right next to the zoo and a large park. I thought this would be a great choice so we could visit the zoo with the girls, but we ended up visiting the Science Museum and another park instead. The hotel is about a 20-minute drive from the city center, and the staff there was not very friendly. Additionally, there was a lot of noise in the mornings from the nearby zoo. However, I liked the spacious rooms, the on-site restaurant and bar, and the small outdoor playground. For those traveling with small children, it might be a pleasant place to stay for a night, but I would recommend a hotel in a more central location. Parking costs 10 leva per day.
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Getting Around Sofia

We primarily used taxis, which was the most convenient option with the girls. Taxis in Sofia are inexpensive, and there’s an app called Taxime that always had available taxis.
By the way, if you’re traveling with a baby to Sofia, keep in mind that the sidewalks are not very stroller-friendly, especially if you have a basic travel stroller.

Car Rental in Sofia

There’s no need to rent a car for traveling within Sofia itself, but since we planned to travel from Sofia to Bansko, we decided to rent a car directly from the airport and return it there. I chose hotels with parking to avoid dealing with parking in the city. I rented the car through Paapm Paapm, a service I like because it saves time and allows filtering out less recommended rental companies.

I filtered the search results on Paapm Paapm for an automatic car and pick-up at the terminal, so we wouldn’t have to wait for a shuttle — especially with two small girls — and it was a great decision. We received the car within 10 minutes of arrival. We rented from Goldcar, which is part of Europcar. We paid an extra 35 euros for a car seat, and in hindsight, it would have been wise to email them in advance to request a seat, as the number of seats is limited. We booked full insurance through Carinsurent. You will need a credit card in the driver’s name for the deposit (a debit card is not acceptable).

Children’s Science Museum: Muzeiko

Muzeiko turned out to be the perfect place to visit with the girls. We spent two enjoyable hours there (and could have spent even more). The museum is modern and new, and there weren’t many people, probably because we visited in the middle of the week. It is spread over three floors and divided into themes of past, present, and future. All the exhibits are interactive and engaging for both children and adults. There is also an area suitable for little ones with games and a slide. Each floor has restrooms, and the ground floor has a nice café with hot and cold drinks, ice creams, and desserts. Maya and Sophie were very interested in the exhibits, and Maya wanted to try everything we saw. Although Sophie didn’t understand everything, she wasn’t bored because everything was interactive, and she tried everything Maya did.

Entry fee: Children under the age of two enter for free. For adults and children, the cost is 12 leva (about 6 euros). If you arrive between 4:00-6:00 PM, the entrance fee is 10 leva.
Opening hours: The museum is open from Tuesday to Sunday, from 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM.

Borisova Gradina Park

A beautiful park that’s nice to walk around in. It is the oldest and most famous park in Sofia. There is a lake, walking trails (you can also rent bikes and ride around), a restaurant by the lake, and food stalls. Directions.

Studentski Park

About a 10-minute walk from the museum, we reached a lovely park with lots of trees, lawns, and a cute playground that the girls enjoyed. I think it’s a great park to visit with kids if you’re in the area. Directions.

Instagrammable Stairs

When I saw these stairs near our hotel, I thought it would be a great place for a photo of the girls, but it turned out to be an attraction they really enjoyed as well. The stairs are covered in graffiti and are right outside the Eurostars Hotel. Maya and Sophie enjoyed climbing the stairs and sliding down the ramp. Directions.

Café with Great Cakes: Altruist Urban Cafe

If you love cakes, we found a café with a great selection of delicious cakes — Altruist Urban Cafe, which offers seating both inside and outside. They have excellent coffee and cakes. Our favorites were the chocolate cheesecake and the pistachio-raspberry cake.

Tsentralna Banya Gardens

From the Altruist Urban Cafe, we continued to the gardens (about a ten-minute walk with a stroller). On a previous visit, the gardens were more well-kept, but this time there were many pigeons, which the girls enjoyed feeding and running around with. The gardens are home to Sofia’s old city bathhouse (Central Mineral Baths), an impressive historic building with beautiful Ottoman architecture and mineral water fountains that attract many visitors. Directions.

Vitosha Boulevard

The most popular area in the city. On this pedestrian street, you will find plenty of restaurants and shops. If you are looking for a lively place to be throughout the day and night, this is the place.

Restaurants in Sofia

Amazing Italian Restaurant: Unica

We arrived at Unica on the first day of our family vacation for dinner. I found the restaurant by chance on Google Maps and saw that it was just a five-minute drive from our Eurostars Hotel. I called ahead to make sure there was a table available. Luckily, there was (I recommend making a reservation in advance and asking for a table by the window). Our first impression was excellent, and the food was even better than expected. We ordered focaccia for a starter, which came cut into squares with cheese and sausage — it was so good that we finished it immediately and ordered another one. We also ordered a tartare dish, which I found less impressive. For the main courses, we had risotto with baby calamari and peas (the winning dish of the evening) and spaghetti with tomatoes, which was very tasty and a big hit with the girls. Additionally, we ordered local wine, which was excellent. If you’re in Sofia, this restaurant is highly recommended for a delicious dinner.

Korean Restaurant: Korean Restaurant Korea

When we returned to Sofia from Bansko, we looked for a place for lunch near the Zoo Hotel. I found a restaurant called Korean Restaurant Korea, just a four-minute drive away. It is a small, homey restaurant with a few tables inside and outside. When we arrived, we were the only customers, and we were a bit apprehensive, but soon realized it was a great restaurant, and we loved the dishes. We ordered a delicious seafood soup and a vegetarian bibimbap that was so good we were disappointed we didn’t have time to come back. For the girls, we ordered a vegetable omelet and a clear noodle soup with vegetables, which they loved. Additionally, several small side dishes, such as kimchi and tofu in sauce, were served to the center of the table.

Local Chain Restaurant: Happy Bar & Grill

On our last night in Sofia, we had dinner at Happy Bar & Grill, a Bulgarian restaurant chain with branches all over the country. We had eaten at their branch in Varna during a previous vacation in Golden Sands. This is a chain with tasty food at good prices, making it very suitable for those traveling with children. Directions to the branch we visited.

More Things to Do in Sofia with Kids

We had limited time in Sofia, so we didn’t get to experience all the attractions in the city. However, I did some research beforehand, and here are some additional suggestions for things to do:

• Zoo Directions
• Vazrazhdane Aqua Park Directions
• Stuart Little Kids Zone Cafe Directions
• Kokolandia Adventure Park — A rope park with a climbing wall and trampolines
• Paradise Kids AVIGEA Play Area Directions
• Museum of Illusions Directions

in conclusion, I believe you can easily spend 3-4 enjoyable days with kids in Sofia, as there is always something to do. The city has plenty of parks and playgrounds, which is a significant advantage for those visiting with young children in spring or summer. I really loved combining a visit to Sofia with a trip to Bansko, allowing us to experience both the city and nature.

I hope my post has been helpful to you. If so, I would love for you to leave a comment below. If you have any further questions, feel free to ask in the comments or reach out to me on the blog’s social media pages: Facebook and Instagram.
Looking for more information about Bulgaria? I have more posts about Bulgaria on my blog!

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