Sofia ( www.sofia.bg )
Coordinates |
42º42′N 23º20′E | |
|---|---|---|
City area |
1 349km² (520.9 sq m) | |
Elevation |
550m (1,804 ft) | |
Density |
1 030/km² (2,667.7 sq m) |
(Bulgarian: София Sofija),is the capital (since 03/04/1879) and largest city of the 
Republic of Bulgaria, with a population of 1,270,010 (making it the 14th largest city in the European Union), and some 1,386,702 in the metropolitan area, the Capital Municipality. It is located in western Bulgaria, at the foot of the mountain massif Vitosha, and is the administrative, cultural, economic, and educational centre of the country.
One of the oldest capital cities in Europe, the history of Sofia dates back to the 7th century BC, when Thracians established a settlement there. Sofia has had several names in the different periods of its existence, and remnants of the city's millenary history can still be seen today alongside modern landmarks.
Numerical trivia
5 surrounding mountains (Vitosha, Lyulin, Plana, Lozenska & Stara Planina);
7 railway stations;
11 trolley-bus lines;
16 universities;
18 mineral springs;
21 tramlines;
22 temples;
23 theatres;
24 administrative districts;
29 museums;
31 cinema screens;
37 art galleries;
200 bus lines;
490 libraries,
14 930 shops and
15 168 taxis.
The Latter-day Settlements!
Sofia is the shoes and handbags capital of the world, bling to boring, leather to lacquered, it is here in abundance. There are a plethora of shops around the labyrinth called Vitosha Boulevard, it is not necessary to stray too far from the pedestrianised section in the ‘Centrum’. Please beware, there are designer names to make your gullible friends envious, sadly most of the designers would not recognise the items as their own work. The shopping centres include:
City Center Sofia
865 7285
2 Arsenalski Blvd
www.ccs-mall.com
Mall of Sofia 920 3333
101 Aleksandar Stamboliiski Blvd
www.mallofsofia.com
Sky City 971 0213
52 Kosta Lulchev Str, Geo Milev Quarter
www.skycitycenter.com
TZUM 926 0700
2 Maria Luiza Blvd
www.tzum.bg
It is important to recognise Sofia for what it actually is – a haven for probably over two million (and that is just the cars), bound by systems the majority try to ‘cheat’, hot in the summer and not-so in the winter. However, it is not like the cast of a UK serial soap opera with 000’s of mediocre characters, it is either black or white with grey at a cost. Corruption is rife, from the traffic police (KAT) to politicians, gypsies to ‘Joe the Plumber’. Be aware, there is no complicity with Trading Standards (or whatever their latest UK genre may provide).
Then, there is the bad news? A friend described Sofia as the bad relative you choose to ignore the faults of, and appreciate the qualities instead. The nightlife is fantastic, Vitosha mountain more so, shops in abundance, the women beautiful and finally it is so unlike the rest of Bulgaria. The last part is difficult to comprehend as Bulgaria is diverse, cultured and exciting. The potholes, uphill struggle to achieve the simplest goal and unswerving bureaucracy simply add to the charm of Sofia (and the alcohol manufacturer’s profits).
We believe the important details for inclusion in Sofia.Go are answers to the day-to-day issues, rather than the date of the next trade mission from Kurdistan or the contact details for the Congolese representative in Sofia, until we stand corrected.
Accountants
As with everything in Bulgaria it is important to determine what is required rather than what may be supplied! For instance, for our humble requirements, we received offers (not estimates or quotations) ranging from 300 to 900 leva per month. We settled for 120 leva which can increase to 150 leva a month. There are familiar names from the UK in Sofia including:
Deloitte 802 3300
103 Aleksandar Stamboliiski
www.deloitte.com
Ernst & Young 817 7100
Building 10, Business Park Sofia
www.ey.com
Grant Thornton 980 5500
54 Gladston Str
www.gtbulgaria.com
KPMG 980 5340
37 Frityof Nansen
www.kpmg.bg
Price Waterhouse Cooper 935 5200
9-11 Maria Luiza Blvd
www.pwc.com
The significant advantage of these brands compared with the multitudes of local accountants will generally be that English is spoken and the service specified.
Banks
There is no pretence in Bulgaria, as with the UK, of professionalism or providing a service. The simplest service takes an eternity, is signed and stamped in duplicate, An application is begrudgingly processed or declined with a simple ‘Ne’, more often that not there is no response at all, this also means ‘Ne’?
The majority of banks are now foreign owned, though spoken English remains the exception rather than the rule. Bank transfers into Bulgaria are not complicated, be wary of outgoing transfers exceeding 5,000 euro.
Galen 951 6632
1 Skobelov Blvd
Pharmatel 962 2222
1 G M Dimitrov Blvd
Saldzhi 980 5896
35 Vitosha Blvd
Sofilski Apteki 987 5089
5 Sveta Nedelya Sq
City Express
91212 - 24/7 service
www.city-express.com
DHL Express Bulgaria EOOD 93094
4 Narodno Sabranie Sq
M T W T F 09.00 to 17.30 S 10.00 to 14.00
50 Patriarh Evtimij Blvd
M T W T F 09.00 to 12.30 & 13.30 to 17.30
36 Dragan Tzankov Blvd
M T W T F 09.00 to 17.30
10 Prodan Tarakchiev Str
M T W T F 08.30 to 19.30 S 10.00 to 14.00
www.dhl.bg
SEMA Express OOD 942 4110
Room 1, Aviation Business Center, Sofia Airport
www.sema-bg.com
The property boom in Sofia over the last five years was indeed an explosion, a plethora of real estate agents emerged. The more reputable and remaining include:
Anima-M 953 1766
43 Kniaz Boris Str
www.anima-mbg.com
Aristo Real Estate Advisors 91144
9 Tsvetan Minkov Str
www.aristo.org
Bulgaria 21 961 6556
77 James Bauchier Blvd
www.bulgaria21.bg
Bulgarian Properties 868 1188
19 Yakubitsa Str fl.5
www.BulgarianProperties.com
Colliers International 976 9976
Building 7, Business Park Sofia
www.colliers.com
El-Em Real Estate Agency Ltd 986 8010
21A Dondukov Blvd
www.el-em.net
ERA 975 3399
Bl.302, Maldost 3
www.ERABulgaria.com
Kivass-100 989 0791
22B Dondukov Blvd
www.kivass.com
Iris Trade Real Estate Agency 963 2460
7 Arsenalski Blvd
www.iristrade.net
Mirela 851 3131
98 Patriarch Evtimi Blvd
www.mirela.bg
Olimp – UV 987 0775
21B Moskovska Str
www.olimp-uv.com
Sofia Casa Ltd 953 0116
21 Ivan Rilski Str fl.4
www.sofiacasa.com
The two main business exhibition centres in Sofia are the National Palace of Culture (known locally as NDK) which is located in the Centrum and Inter Expo Center located near the airport. Both websites are available in English, details below:
Congress Centre – Sofia, National Palace of Culture
1 Bulgaria Sq
916 6369 - Ticket Office
www.ndk.bg
Inter Expo Centre 965 5230
147 Tsarigradsko Shosse
www.bulgarreklama.com
Business Park Sofia 489 9081
Mladost 4
www.businesspark-sofia.com
Interpred World Trade Centre 969 5220
36 Dragan Tsankov Blvd
www.wtcsofia.bg
Regus 805 7575
53-55 Totleben Blvd
www.regus.com/bulgaria
Sterling Serviced Office Group 926 4111
2A Saborna Str
www.sterlingoffice.com
Multirama 400 6620
2 Solunska Str
www.multirama.bg
Office 1 Superstore 070 010 700
139 Tsarigradsko Shosse
www.offic1.bg
Office Express 080 018 080
135 Tsarigradsko Shosse
www.offex.bg
As with the UK, the majority of Solicitors tend to specialise so ensure that your chosen Solicitor is ‘fit for purpose’. There is a particularly useful legal guide printed in English, called Invest Bulgaria 2008, which contains special editorials by leading law firms in Bulgaria. The website www.investbg.government.bg is also has an English-language option.
The cost of legal representation is generally cheaper, by the hour, than in the UK. Please consider, briefs will be strictly adhered to but the notion of not commercially viable will often be overlooked. A number of reputable practices follow alphabetically, fee rates vary from approximately 40 to 200 euro per hour, E indicates English spoken:
Borislav Boyanov & Co 981 3007
24 Patriarch Evtimi Blvd
www.boyanov.com
Dimitrov, Deevska, Vitanova & Antonov 980 4166
42 Alabin Str fl.3
lawoffic@bol.bg
Djingov, Gouginski, Kyutchukov & Velichkov 932 1100
10 Tsar Osvoboditel Blvd
www.dgkv.bg
Georgiev, Todorov Co 937 6500
27 Parchevich Str
www.georg-tod.com
Lega Consulting 852 7511
3 Gladston Str
www.legaconsulting.org
LM Legal Services 963 3636
19 Dobri Voinikov Str
www.lmlegalservices.com
Novel Consult 988 5709
4 K Shapkarev Str fl.2
www.novelconsult.net
Seplex Law Offices 930 0907
19A Patriarch Evtimi Blvd
www.seplex.bg
Toncheva & Partners 963 4700
78 Hristo Smimenski Blvd fl.4
www.modus-bg.com
Galleries & Museums
Xenon NOTE: Be advised, photography is frowned upon in many places in BG and absolutely forbidden in a number of the following:
Agrion Gallery 0889 233 993
16A Iskar Str
T W T F 11.30 to 19.30 S 11.00 to 16.00
Alexandar Nevski Cathedral Crypt 981 5775
Alexander Nevski Sq
T W T F S S 1.30 to 17.30
admission 4 leva
Archaeological Museum 988 2406
2 Saborna Str
M T W T F S S 10.00 to 18.00 admission 10 leva
Art 36 Gallery 986 4824
40 Slavyanska Str
M T W T F S 11.00 to 18.00
Art Alley Gallery 986 7363
51A Gladston Str
T W T F S S 10.30 to 20.00
Art Centre Altera 969 3230
36 Dragan Tsankov Blvd
M T W T F 09.00 to 17.00
Art Club 946 1377
6 Tsar Ivan Asen II Str
M T W T F S S 09.00 to 01.00
Art Gallery Paris 980 8093
8 Paris Str
M T W T F S 10.30 to 19.00
www.gallery-paris.com
Art Yoga 843 5468
6 Varbitsa Str
M T W T F S 10.00 to 20.00
Bulgaria Concert Complex 987 7656
1 Aksakov Str
M T W T F S S 09.00 to 18.00
Debut Gallery 980 0511
62 Vasil Levski Blvd
M T W T F 12.00 to 18.00
Earth & Man Museum 865 6639
4 Cherni Vrah Blvd
T W T F S 09.00 to 17.00 admission 3 leva
www.earthandman.org
Economic & Investment Bank 939 9280
2 Slavyanska Str
M T W T F 15.00 to 19.00 S S 11.00 to 18.00
Fanita Gallery 0888 821 599
3 11th August Str
M T W T F 10.30 to 19.00 S 10.30 to 14.00
Goethe-Institut Sofia 939 0100
1 Budapeshta Str
M F 10.00 to 14,00 T W T 14.00 to 19.00
www.goethe.de/sofia
Gritta Gallery 0888 408 602
14 Vrabcha Str
M T W T F 11.00 to 19.00 S 11.00 to 17.00
Hadjistoyanovi Art Gallery 916 6206
NDK, 1 Bulgaria Sq
M T W T F S 11.00 to 19.00
Icons – BG 0898 505 531
10 Layosh Koshut Str
M T W T F 10.30 to 17.00
www.icons-bg.com
Irida Gallery 980 0641
24 Gladston Str
M T W T F S S 10.00 to 20.00
www.iridaart.com
Krug 988 2579
5 Budapeshta Str
M T W T F 10.00 to 19.00 S S 10.00 to 18.00
Lessedra Gallery 865 0428
25 Milin Kamak Str
M T W T F 15.00 to 19.00
Maksim 988 1062
11 Lom Str
M T W T F 11.00 to 18.30
Minerva Gallery 0896 247 546
Grand Hotel, 1 Gurko Str
M T W T F S S 00.00 to 24.00
www.minerva-artgallery.com
Natalie Gallery 980 7603
38 Gurko Str
M T W T F S 10.30 to 19.00
National Art Gallery 980 0093
1 Battenberg Sq
T W T F S S 10.00 to 17.00 admission 4 leva
National Ethnographic Museum 987 4191
1 Battenberg Sq
M T W T F 10.00 to 16.00 admission 3 leva
National Gallery of Foreign Art 980 7262
19 February Str
M W T F S S 11.00 to 18.00 admission 4 leva (except M)
www.ngfa.icb.bg
National History Museum 955 4280
Vitoshko Lale Str, Boyana
M T W T F S S 09.30 to 18.00 admission 10 leva
www.historymuseum.org
National Military- History Museum 946 1805
92 Cherkovna Str
W T F S S 09.00 to 17.00 admission 2 leva
www.nvim.big.bg
National Polytechnic Museum 931 8018
66 Opalchenska Str
M T W T F 09.00 to 17.00 admission 3 leva
www.polytechnicmuseum.org
National Museum of Natural History 988 5115
1 Tsar Osvoboditel Blvd
M T W T F S S 09.00 to 17.00 admission 5 leva
www.nmnh.bas.bg
Palitra Art Shop & Gallery 981 5705
1 Uzundjovska Str
M T W T F 09.00 to 19.00 S 12.00 to 18.00
Rakursi Gallery 981 2617
4A Han Krum Str
T W T F 11.00 to 19.30 S 11.00 to 17.00
Rafaela 0888 790 813
12B Vrabcha Str
M T W T F 10.00 to 12.00 & 16.00 to 18.00 S 10.00 to 12.00
Sezoni Gallery 946 3056
2A Krakra Str
M T W T F 10.00 to 18.00
Shipka 6 846 7113
6 Shipka Str
T W T F S S 10.00 to 18.00
www.sbhart.com
Sibank Galeria 939 9280
2 Slavyanska Str
M T W T F 11.00 to 19.00 S S 15.00 to 19.00
Shipka 6 846 7113
6 Shipka Str
T W T F S S 10.00 to 18.00
www.sbhart.com
Sofia City Art Gallery 987 2181
1 Gurko Str
T W T F S 10.00 to 18.00 S 11.00 to 17.00
www.sghg.cult.bg
Sofia Press Book-Shop Gallery 988 5831
29 Slavyanska Str
M T W T F 11.00 to 19.00
Sculpture Park 948 2036
2 Alexander Zhendov Str
S S 11.00 to 17.00
www.sic.mfa.government.bg
Triadiss 843 5063
7 Gerlovo Str
M T W T F 11.00 to 20.00
Vaska Emanuilova 944 1175
15 Yanko Sakazpv Blvd
T W T F S 10.00 to 19.00
Zekman Gallery 989 6520
88 Rakovski Str
M T W T F 10.30 to 18.30 S 11.30 to 18.30