Sofia
A fantastic city to visit - only once all the snow has melted.
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The capital of Bulgaria, is a city simultaneously embracing history and modernity.
A mix of ancient Roman, Ottoman, and Soviet influences can be identified creating a unique urban landscape.
If you're already in the Balkans, it's definitely worth a stay of up to a month during the warmer months. However, it would be towards the bottom of the list in winter.
If you're already in the Balkans, it's definitely worth a stay of up to a month during the warmer months. However, it would be towards the bottom of the list in winter.
If you're already in the Balkans, it's definitely worth a stay of up to a month during the warmer months. However, it would be towards the bottom of the list in winter.
If you're already in the Balkans, it's definitely worth a stay of up to a month during the warmer months. However, it would be towards the bottom of the list in winter.
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Summary
Having spent a couple of months in Budapest and with aspirations of being in Greece over the summer, i was wary of running close to my Brexit enforced 90 day EU limit. Being one of the few options outside of the Schengen zone, Sofia provided a useful alternative.
Accommodation
If booking a little in advance you should have no problem finding a good quality apartment at a great price by Western European standards.
Places to work
The city has a big range of coworking options, from both independent operators to more corporate chains. There are no shortage of coffee shops to work from.
Value
General day to day expenses are considerably less than what you may expect in Western Europe, with lots of options for an inexpensive meals for lunch and dinner. More expensive than some of it's other Balkan neighbours.
Working hours
Bulgaria operates on Eastern European Time (EET), pushing it an hour ahead of Western Europe throughout the year.
🇪🇺 Consider working European hours from Asia?
Where to stay
Not an enormous city, but I would recommend being in one of these two areas where you will be close to the best items the city has to offer.
Doctors' Garden
City Center
Where to work
Korner Sofia Coworking
Situated a 2 minute walk from the bustle of Vitosha Boulevard, Korner Coworking provides a peaceful and homely base to work from whilst being in the centre of the city. Dedicated desks are available and the kitchen is equipped with a decent coffee machine.
The only drawback is that there is somewhat limited space for taking calls, however if this is not an issue then I would 100% recommend it. Plenty of great lunch and coffee options available within the immediate vicinity.
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Remote work visa
If staying for a prolonged period, you may want to consider a dedicated visa for this destination.
This country is actively working on a visa support for remote workers.
Check your government website for details of how to obtain a tourist visa.
Citizen Remote is a great source of up to date knowledge for everything to do with remote work visas.
Safety
Off-work
Hike in Vitoshia Mountain
Enormous national park with an endless supply of hiking routes and some limited options for Skiing. Hiking up in winter can be challenging but look out for some log cabins selling hot drinks and food which make a welcome respite from the harsh conditions
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Day trip to Plovdiv
Accessible within a few hours on the train, Plovdiv is one of Europe's oldest cities featuring a well-preserved Old Town with cobbled streets. Worth a day trip, especially if you have any interest in archeology,
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Visit St. Alexander Nevsky Cathedral
Probably the city's most recogniseable landmark, a Bulgarian Orthodox church with Neo-Byzantine architecture & an underground museum.
Duration & season
I arrived in early March and the first two weeks were an awful mix of snow, rain and clouds. Vitosha Mountain which usually over the city was barely visible until half way through the month. From late March onwards the temperatures steadily rose leaving only faint scatters of snow on the mountains peak.
Unless you are explicitly looking for snow, it's difficult to make a compelling argument for visiting prior to April, where the city feels like it comes to life and the outdoor amenities can be fully enjoyed.
There's enough in Sofia to comfortably stay for a month.
Food & drink
People
There is a sizeable international community in Sofia, particularly after the Russian invasion of Ukraine where those who have been displaced ave relocated to the city. It has also become a home to numerous Russian's who have relocated there in the previous decade leading up the recent events. There is a sizeable expat community with many European companies having chosen to set up base in the city.
There is a small remote work community in the city, but you are more likely to find people in Bankso, a two hour drive from Sofia which has become a hub for remote workers.
Exercise
Eurovelo 6
Vitosha
Verdict
Positives
- Surprisingly international audience.Whilst it is by no means as multicultural as some other cities, there is a good mix of people from across Europe.
- If travelling from Western Europe, great value.Compared to many other European capitals it is still comparatively inexpensive, but more pricey than some other neighbouring counties in the Balkans.
- The metro makes the city well connected.It's not the most frequent service but it's cheap and you can pay with contactless and connects well to the airport.
- Outside of the Schengen Zone.If for whatever reason you have reached your limit of time available within the Schengen group of countries, Bulgaria is an alternative.
Negatives
- It's really bleak in winter.There were few benefits I could imagine being in Sofia before April time. My main memories of March were of snow filled streets and poor visibility.
Tips
- Bansko is a renowned hub for remote workers.I didn't make it up there but if you are looking to connect with people in a renowned hub, it would be worth exploring.
- You can reach Istanbul via an overnight train.It is comfortable but the prolonged border crossing in the middle of the night makes it something of an unpleasant journey.
- The countryside is great for cycling.The roads are mainly deserted and of reasonable quality, making it a great place to cover some ground. Train service makes it easy to get to a starting point and cycle back.
- Well worth visitng for the Film Festival.The Sofia Film Festival is in March of each year and is a well run event, with multiple cinemas across the city showing a range of regional and international films.
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