Experience in Sofia, Bulgaria by Krista

What is it like to live in Sofia? Would you recommend it? What is the city like?

I would definitely recommend Sofia to everyone not only because I love it since it is my home town but also because you can experience a different culture, mentality, food, people, lifestyle... especially if you come from Western Europe. Sofia has something which attracts people even though its chaotic look. It is loud and crowded but also quiet and peaceful. You can easily fall in love with the people, the lifestyle, the little streets, bars and coffee shops. Definitely living in Sofia would not be boring as a student. Visiting other cities like Plovdiv, Varna, or Burgas in Bulgaria is also worth it. You can enjoy the beach with really nice beach bars and music in summer or drink hot chocolate after a long day of skiing or snowboarding during winter. On the other side, there are also a lot of fancy shopping malls which you can find whatever you want even carting!

What is the student lifestyle like in Sofia?

The student lifestyle in Sofia I would define as "amazing and unforgettable". There are so many students coming from all around the world in Sofia which creates a very social, diverse and open-minded atmosphere. There are a lot of nice bars, big clubs and Erasmus student parties which you can go to. Young people in Sofia like having fun, going out, creating memories and really know how to enjoy their student life. Meeting with locals would really help you have even more fun.

How much does it cost to live in Sofia?

Compared to Western Europe, Sofia is really not expensive. Actually, that's why students like to come to study in Bulgaria. I am not familiar with accommodations but otherwise, lifestyle is not expensive if you are used to the Western Europe prices. Cocktails cost around 3.50- 5 euros, coffee around 1,50 euros, cabs are really not expensive, restaurants depends but I would give around 5-10 euros for a nice/normal meal, and public transport (0.80 cents per ticket). When going to a club with 5-6 friends you should definitely make reservations beforehand and you would probably give around 20-25 euros or a bit more per person which is fine compared to the Netherlands for example where one bottle costs at least 200-300 euros. Of course like in every country you can easily go to very expensive places and spend a lot of money but if you are on a budget you can easily manage and spend less money.

Is it difficult to find accommodation in Sofia? Is there any advice you can give?

As I said, I am not very familiar with the accommodations in Sofia but I know that there are a not of students and they usually live in the center where there a lot of apartments which are especially rented for students. So, I suggest looking for apartments in that area.

What is the food like? What are your favourite dishes?

Food is definitely one of the things Bulgarians are really proud of. We love our fruits and vegetables because they taste like real fruits and vegetables especially those coming from your grandparent's ward. We have a lot of traditional dishes such as banitsa, mousaka, and many many other delicious things.

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What places would you recommend visiting in Sofia?

There is a lot of history as well in Sofia so you could visit a lot of different museums. Also, Alexander Nevski, Boyana waterfall, Ivan Vazoz National Theater, National Palace of Culture... There are also a lot of churches, parks (Borisova gradina, South Park... ) and the mountain Vitosha really close by where you can see Sofia from above.

Is it good to eat out in Sofia? Can you tell us your favourite spots?

Mom's food is always the best but - Happy, Raffy, Vodenitzata, Made in Blue, Divaka, Edo sushi, Umami are really nice places.

Is the nightlife good in Sofia? Where is good to go?

YES! If you go out at around 23:00-00:00 at night, you would probably gonna end up eating somewhere at 6:00-7:00 in the morning before finally going to bed. Places like Bedroom, The Museum, PM, The One, The Cocktail Bar, Oscar are some of the places I could think of. The music is nice, the interior design is amazing and service is also good which makes going out even more fun. Honestly, the best parties I've been to were in Sofia.

What advice would you give future students heading to Sofia?

I know how it feels like and how difficult it could be to move to a new city where you don't know anyone and anything. The advice I would give to future students heading to Sofia would be to be social, open-minded, crazy, to experience, eat, drink, have fun and enjoy these happy years with nice friends and company. Don't be afraid to just go out, do something that you never thought you would do because maybe this would lead to unforgettable experiences and lifetime friendships.

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