Belgrade and Sofia are two of the largest cities in Eastern Europe. They are also two of the most affordable cities in all of Europe. You can expect to see grand churches and beautiful architecture throughout both cities. If you are trying to decide whether you should visit Belgrade or Sofia, here is the ultimate guide to help you decide which city you should visit.
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Belgrade or Sofia Overview
Belgrade
Belgrade is the capital and largest city in Serbia with 1.25 million people living within city limits. The city has been fought over in over 100 wars and has also been destroyed 44 times which is why the architecture is so varied throughout the city.
Belgrade is a city full of rich culture and is not overrun with tourists. Your money will take you a long way here as Belgrade is one of the cheapest cities in Europe. The city is also known for its fashion, film industry, and for having one of the best nightlife scenes in the world.
Sofia
Sofia is the capital and largest city in Bulgaria with over 1.2 million people living within the city. The city is known as “the triangle of religious tolerance” because it is home to major temples of Christianity, Islam, and Judaism. It is also known for having many mineral springs that you can even drink out of throughout the city.
The city has many different styles of architecture from Baroque and communist/socialist to contemporary designs. The city sits at the base of the foothills of the Vitosha Mountains which gives the city a spectacular setting.
Things to See
Belgrade Fortress has been added on to and rebuilt since the 2nd century AD.
The Church of Saint Sava is one of the largest Orthodox churches in the world and one of Belgrade’s most iconic structures.
House of the National Assembly of the Republic of Serbia has served for the Yugoslavian Parliament and the Parliament of Serbia and Montenegro.
National Museum in Belgrade was established in 1844 and is the city’s largest and oldest museum. image
St. Mark’s Church is one of the largest churches in Serbia and is right next to Tašmajdan which is one of the city’s largest parks. image
Sofia
St. Alexander Nevski Cathedral is an Orthodox cathedral and is one of the most famous structures in Bulgaria.
Ivan Vazov National Theater is the national theater of Bulgaria and one of Sofia’s most famous buildings.
Regional History Museum is known for its beautiful architecture and the mineral springs in the garden.
The Largo is a part of the city that shows the classic socialist architecture that once had an overwhelming presence in Sofia.
The National Assembly is home to the parliament and legislative sector of Bulgaria.
Food
Belgrade
Sarma is one of the most popular classic dishes in Serbia. Sarma is a cabbage wrapped around rice and little pieces of meat. Ćevapi is a dish you should definitely try when you’re here. It is a dish of grilled meat and typically served with onions. Pljeskavica is the equivalent of the Serbian hamburger but the meat patties are typically thinner and larger than the typical American burger. I popular dish to end meals or to just eat as a snack is Gibanica which is a multi-layered pastry mainly made up of cottage cheese and eggs.
Sofia
One of the most popular street foods in Sofia is kebapche which is a piece of ground meat about in the shape of a hot dog or brat, served with fries and a beer. Shopska salata is a Bulgarian salad that consists of tomatoes, cucumber, peppers, onions, and cheese. Printsesa is an open-face sandwich that is quite simple, consisting of one piece of bread with a mixture of cheese and sauce and cooked golden brown. Banitsa is a cheese pastry that can be eaten as a dessert or as a snack and it can be found almost anywhere in Sofia.
Getting Around
Belgrade
Belgrade is a walkable city, especially the old town and the area around the fortress. You may want to use public transportation if you want to see sights like the Church of St. Mark, Belgrade City Museum, or the Nikola Tesla Museum. The public transport here is made up of buses, trams, and trolleys. When you use public transportation here, it might seem like no one is paying for their ride but this is only because you pay ahead of time by purchasing a Bus Plus Card. This city also has many biking lanes so renting a bike might not be a bad idea. Taxify and CarGo are Belgrade’s versions of Uber.
Sofia
Most of the main landmarks in Sofia are located in the center of the city which is quite easy to explore on foot. If you want to see things like the National Museum of History or Boyana Church Museum, you will definitely want to use public transportation. Sofia’s public transportation consists of buses, trams, and the metro. Sofia just got a brand new metro system in 2016 so don’t be afraid to use it to get around the city. If you decide you want to take a taxi, it is best if you have your hotel, restaurant, or cafe to call on for you because there are fake companies that will charge you excessively.
Nightlife
Belgrade
Belgrade has one of the best nightlife scenes in Europe and even in the world. It is often referred to as the “city that never sleeps” because of its nightlife. During the winter there are incredible indoor clubs and during the summer there are many outdoor clubs on the river (floating clubs!). One thing to keep in mind while partying in Belgrade is that you should research where you want to go before hitting the city because you usually need a reservation to get into the best places. There are too many incredible nightclubs to list in Belgrade but some of them, like Drugstore and Freestyler, are known around Europe.
Sofia
Sofia is yet another Eastern European city that has an excellent nightlife. Like Belgrade and Bucharest, a huge draw to the nightlife in Sofia is how cheap it is compared to Western Europe. There is an abundance of places to explore in the center of the city so no matter where you are staying, you can find somewhere to go. Some of the best nightclubs in Sofia are Yalta, Terminal 1, PM Club, and Carrusel. If you are still unsure of where to go, there are many places to go between the National Museum of Culture and the Nevski Cathedral.
Day Trips
Belgrade
Novi Sad is a city to the north of Belgrade, known for its fortress and impressive cathedrals.
Golubac Fortress is a large fortress sitting on the banks of the Danube River.
Fruška Gora National Park is an area of beautiful nature and 16 medieval monasteries.
Sofia
The 7 Rila Lakes are glacial lakes in the mountains less than two hours to the south of Sofia.
Spend the day exploring Vitosha Mountain and the surrounding nature.
Rila Monastery is an Eastern Orthodox monastery that was established in 927. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Other great cities to visit near Belgrade are Sarajevo and Skopje. If you visit Sofia, Skopje is was again a great option to explore. Bucharest is also easy to get to from Sofia.
Overall
More people than ever are trying to explore Eastern European cities like Belgrade or Sofia. Belgrade is known for its nightlife and the friendliness of Serbian people. Sofia is known for its many types of architecture and its setting near the mountains. Belgrade and Sofia are also two of the most affordable cities in Europe. Both cities have many things to see so you can take comfort in knowing your decision won’t make or break your trip.