Sofia the capital of Bulgaria has some really fascinating sightseeing around the city centre. This the second oldest city in Europe, and there are so many historic attractions to see. Possibly the best walking tour in Sofia Bulgaria is the Yellow Paves tour, which takes in many of the main Sofia attractions along the way.
Note: This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy for more information.
The Yellow Brick Road Free Walking Tour in Sofia
If you’re looking for a free walking tour, Sofia is a great place to be. And the Yellow Brick Roads walk is one of the best. The yellow bricks stretch from TZUM in the city centre out to the Tzar Liberator Monument, next to the famous Alexander Nevsky Cathedral.
Along the way, you will pass by many of the major tourist attractions of Sofia, whilst walking along those amazing yellow cobblestones. Whilst you hum the tune of Elton John’s “Goodbye Yellow Brick Road“. And here’s how to navigate this amazing free walking tour in Sofia.
What are the Sofia Yellow Paves?
These yellow cobblestones were given to King Ferdinand I as a wedding present way back in 1893. Back then Sofia was not well developed and did not even have a single paved road! The construction of these royal yellow paved roads in 1907 was intended to transform Sofia into a fashionable city, up there with the best in Europe.
And so the Yellow Brick Roads were constructed between the royal residence and the National Assembly building, a few blocks away. The yellow bricks are now famous now a symbol of Sofia city and one which is truly unique. In fact, you can only find similar Hungarian yellow bricks in Budapest and Vienna.
1: Serdika Metro Station
Begin your walking tour at the remarkable Serdika Metro Subway station. This is no ordinary subway station, for it also doubles as an archaeological museum. You will find semi-preserved ruins of a 4th century Basilica, and a collection of Roman ruins and historical objects from the same period.
Serdika is an astounding subway station to visit, as you pass under the busy roadway to your next stop. Make no mistake, y
2: Church of St.Petka of the Saddlers
Next stop is just outside the subway station, the remarkable church in the centre of Sofia. The church is Bulgarian
Be sure to pay the small entry fee to go inside and see the mural paintings dating back to 14th, 15th, 17th and 19th centuries. You will be instantly transported back into turbulent medieval times when you enter this incredible little church.
3: TZUM
Right next to the Church of St.Petka of the Saddlers is the gargantuan department store TZUM. This is located in the city centre of Sofia. TZUM was built in 1955 as a massive 7 storey department store. Back in the day, it was very popular with 120,000 shoppers per day using TZUM.
After the 1989 revolution, the number of daily shoppers dropped sharply to 7,000 and is now somewhat deserted, with just a sprinkling of expensive boutique stores available. It’s still worth a peep inside, especially the lovely courtyard inside the main
4. Church of St. George
This is the oldest building in Sofia, built in the 4th century by the Romans. Amazingly it is still standing and is famous for its fresco paintings inside, dating back to the 12th Century.
The church is a little tricky to find, surrounded on all sides by multi-storey buildings. There is a public entrance just to the west of the National Archaeological Museum, right at the start of the yellow cobblestones. In my opinion, this is the most amazing of all Sofia sights. That’s because it carries tremendous historical significance, and it’s not really one of the well known Sofia tourist attractions.
5: National Archaeological Museum
This building is a former Ottoman mosque in the heart of the city built way back in 1474. The museum was established here in 1905. If you don’t want to enter the museum, there are many ancient Roman carvings on display out the front.
Around the back of the museum, you will find a chic cafe, which happens to be open 24 hours. One of the more popular spots in Sofia for the local hipsters, and a great place to refuel for the rest of the walking tour.
The National
6: Prince Alexander of Battenberg Square
This is the largest square of Sofia, named after Prince Alexander Joseph of Battenberg, the first prince of modern day Bulgaria. Battenberg Square is also the site of the infamous coup in 1944 which transformed Bulgaria into a communist state.
The square backs onto City Park, a popular place for Sofia locals to come to relax and
Be sure to admire the “Ivan Vasoz” National theatre at the rear of City Park, one of the most beautiful structures in Sofia.
7: National Art Gallery
The former Royal Palace was transformed into Bulgaria’s National Art Gallery in 1946 after the monarchy was abolished. The palace itself was built back in 1880.
Closed on Mondays, this Art Gallery is open to the public. It is well worth a look inside, particularly if you are interested in medieval art. The gallery holds Bulgaria’s largest collection of Medieval paintings.
8. The Russian Church
The Church of St.Nicholas the Miracle Maker is a Russian Orthodox Church with striking golden domes. This was built in 1907 in the style of 16th-century Russian churches and makes for a striking sight in the middle of the city. You are welcome to go inside and admire the magnificent artwork, just remember to remove your hat.
Note that you will need to leave the beloved yellow pavers to see this church, for it’s across on the other side of “Tsar Osvoboditel Boulevard”.
9. Tzar Liberator Monument
This striking monument was built in 1901 to honour the Russian Emperor Alexander II who freed Bulgaria from the Ottoman Rule in the 1877 Russo-Turkish War. It is quite an impressive black granite monument depicting a mixture of Gods and military
The Tzar Liberator Monument is surrounded by the striking yellow cobblestones. In fact, this is the end of the Yellow Brick Road, which stretches over 1km from the National Archaeological Museum.
10: Best Sightseeing in Sofia
You might say that this is saving the best for last. From the Tzar Liberator Monument, if you cross the busy Tsar Osvoboditel Boulevard you will find a collection of some of the best sightseeing. If you’re still wondering what to do in Sofia, you can fill in a few hours at this group of nearby attractions. They are all within about 2-minutes walk of each other.
- National Assembly of the Republic of Bulgaria
- Alexander Nevsky Cathedral
- National Academy of Arts
- National Gallery
- St.Sophia Church
- Monument of Tzar Samuil
- Monument Volunteer
I can highly recommend a small cafe at the front of the National Academy of Arts. Whilst it’s a little expensive, the food is amazing, and you are treated to million dollar views of the most impressive of all Sofia attractions – the Alexander Nevsky Cathedral. Priceless.
Getting Back to the City Centre
It is about a 15-minute walk back to the city centre starting point, or you should be able to easily hail a taxi from this busy tourist district.
Alternatively, there is a subway station at the front of the Museum of Palentology (near the Alexandar Nevsky Cathedral). For a very small cost, you can easily catch a subway back 1 station to the Serdika Metro station. Just purchase a ticket at the vending machine inside the station.
I hope you get to enjoy this wonderful Sofia tour of the Yellow Brick Road. Catch this on a nice summer day and you will have one of the most delightful and memorable tours imaginable. Sofia is really so full of scenic beauty and ancient history, and this walking tour helps you to see a lot of it. Enjoy your walk!
Would you like a free copy of our Ultimate Bucket List?
Not sure where to travel to next? We have created the Ultimate Bucket List to help you plan your next trip. 1170 awesome travel destinations in 167 countries. And we want you to have it for FREE.
