Sofia Food & Tasting Tour with Communist-Era Tram Ride





Description
On this small-group tour, you'll taste your way through the city with 5 authentic Sofia food stops off the beaten path: from flaky banitsa and grilled cheese on a tile, to peppers stuffed the old way, slow-cooked lamb, and a surprise dessert. Each stop reveals a piece of local life, history, and flavor — all guided by a passionate local host. Taste authentic Bulgarian specialties at multiple stops while traveling on Sofia’s historic public tram with a city card for the day! Please note: the tasting menu is optional and may be adjusted according to availability or seasonal ingredients. We recommend coming with an empty stomach and skipping a big breakfast beforehand!
Tour Options
Itinerary
Built in Neo-Byzantine style it is the is one of the biggest Eastern Orthodox cathedrals in the world, as well as one of Sofia's symbols and primary tourist attractions.
The design of that Building, in Neoclassical style, by the Viennese architect Friedrich Schwanberg was realised in the period between 1881 and 1883.
With its 8.5 million documents the National Library “St. St. Cyril and Methodius” is the largest book treasury in Bulgaria. Visitors will see temporary exhibitions inside. The collection of old, rare and valuable books includes a total of about 17 000 volumes of books and periodicals printed in the period 15th-21st centuries. The materials are organized in separate collections.
The building National Assembly sits is of historic significance and it is a monument of culture. It was built in 1884-1886 at the design of architect Constantin Yovanovic
Sofia University "St. Kliment Ohridski" and The "St. St. Cyril and Methodius" National Library are near the Eagles' Bridge. The university was founded on 1 October 1888. Monday-Friday visitors could also see the amazing central hall with the big stained glass windows.
Established more than 140 years ago, it has become one of the most important trading centres in the metropolitan city. Almost 60 000 visit Zhenski Pazar Market every day. The market is located in the so-called Area of Tolerance in Sofia. The name itself is coined after the close proximity of the temples of all the official religious communities in Bulgaria. Here you can find the church “Saints Cyril and Methodius“, the “Banya bashi” Mosque, and the Central Synagogue of Sofia.
The first fortification wall of Serdica was erected in the second half of the 2nd century AD. It had a width of 2.20 m. At the end of the 3rd , the beginning of the 4th c.АD, a remodeling of the wall was undertaken and a ditch was dug in front of it - 14 m west of the Western gate at about 2 m deep and 5 m wide, functioning in the 4th century.
Ancient cultural and communication complex “Serdica” combines areas with various purposes, divided into two zones. The “Largo” zone, situated underneath Nezavisimost Square, integrates the unearthed archaeological remains into a site for cultural events. The remains of one of the two main streets of the Roman town, the decumanus maximus, which connects the eastern and the western gate of the city, can be seen here. A large residential building, covering an entire insula (urban block), can be seen south of it. The building also had small shops, from which travelers and the town’s inhabitants could purchase food and various goods.
The building of the Central Sofia Synagogue is rightly described as the pride of the Bulgarian Jewish community. It is one of the three largest Sephardic (Spanish-Jewish) synagogues in Europe and the largest on the Balkan Peninsula.
Visitors will go to see the Natural Hot Springs of the city-46 degrees Celsius The current Central Mineral Baths building was designed in the Vienna Secession style, but integrating typically Bulgarian, Byzantine and Eastern Orthodox ornamental elements, by the architects Petko Momchilov and Friedrich Grünanger in 1904–1905 and approved on 30 January 1906, as projects by an Austrian (in 1889)
It was built by the initiative and with the financial support of Mullah Effendi Kada Seyfullah and is also known as Mollah Effendi Mosque. It was designed by the famous Ottoman architect Mimar Sinan, who also built the mosque of Sultan Selim on Edirne and the Suleymaniye Mosque in Istanbul. Because of the number 974 above the entrance arch, the mosque is considered to be built in 974, the Hijri (Islamic calendar) or in 1566 – 1567 AD.
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- We can accommodate dietary restrictions such as vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, etc. If you have dietary requirements. Please indicate it to the special requirements at the time of booking
- The tour includes the travel time from place to place
- Alcoholic drinks is not suitable for children 17 years old or under!
- The 14 allergens are: celery, cereals containing gluten (such as wheat, rye, barley, and oats), crustaceans (such as prawns, crabs and lobsters), eggs, fish, lupin, milk, molluscs (such as mussels and oysters), mustard, peanuts, sesame, soybeans, sulphur dioxide and sulphites (if the sulphur dioxide and sulphites are at a concentration of more than ten parts per million) and tree nuts (such as almonds, hazelnuts, walnuts, brazil nuts, cashews, pecans, pistachios and macadamia nuts).
Reviews(37)
What a great tour! Perfect timing to sample traditional Bulgarian cuisine and drinks, coupled with local history and a lot of insights on key landmarks of Sofia.
Thank you very much!
What a great tour! Perfect timing to sample traditional Bulgarian cuisine and drinks, coupled with local history and a lot of insights on key landmarks of Sofia. Great job Peter!
Peter took us to restaurants we would never have found ourselves and we would not have ordered the food that way. It was very good!
Vielen Dank für Ihr tolles Feedback! Es freut mich sehr, dass Ihnen die Tour und das Essen gefallen haben
Do yourself a favour and if in Sofia do this tour with Petar. I just spent the day with him and the places he took me were amazing. Places a tourist would never find or they did not walk into to. Through the different neighbourhoods and even a couple of tram rides. And you get to keep your day pass to use up til midnight. The food I had was amazing and food that I would never think to try or even knew existed. I cannot recommend Petar enough, he was knowledgeable, funny and great fun to talk with and have a beer with. Thankyou Petar for an amazing day. Andy the Aussie
Thank you so much for that great review!
Peter was great, took us to delicious spots with lots of food, and was able to accommodate to everyone. He was passionate and you could tell how much he enjoyed what he did as well. He knew the history of the area well and gave good recommendations for the rest of the trip
Thank you so much~
If you like Bulgarian food and drink as well as visit hidden gems this tour is for you. Here there is more focus on good mood than dry facts about Sofia's culture and origins
Thank you so much for your kind words! I’m thrilled to hear you enjoyed the food, drinks, and hidden gems of Sofia. It was a pleasure showing you around, and I’m glad the tour’s fun and relaxed atmosphere made the experience memorable. Hope to see you again on another adventure in Sofia!
I had a really good time on this food tour. Peter took me to several interesting places for traditional Bulgarian food and drinks. I was very full by the end of it! You should definitely take the tour if you’re in Sofia.
Thank you John! Thanks for your wonderful recommendation! if your friends sign up for the tour, and to everyone reading this,- skip breakfast at the hotel so you can try everything we offer on the tour :-)
Leading a group of 6 people was not seem to be a problem for Peter on this tour, as he is very well organized, have a clear plan what menu to taste and what story to tell. Everything runs smooth without rushing. Peter leads us to some kind of hidden-gem restaurants, where normal tourist wont find them easily :). We cant remember all the drinks and dishes name, but all were fantastic and authentic. Thank you Peter, we wish you more success with your upcoming tours!
Thank you so much for your kind words! I’m very happy to hear you enjoyed both the hidden spots and the authentic food and drinks. It was a real pleasure guiding your group, and I appreciate your warm wishes and Hope to see you again in Sofia one day!
Peter was a great Food Tour Guide, everything was very organized, he has a wealth of knowledge about the architecture, historical events, and of course recommended the best food at the best places.
Thank you so much for your wonderful feedback! I’m really happy you enjoyed both the food and the stories behind Sofia’s history and architecture. It was a pleasure guiding you, and I hope to welcome you again on another tour in the future! Best wishes!
Peter is informative, friendly & fun. He introduced us to places & local food we wouldn’t have discovered on our own. And was happy to answer any questions. It was the perfect start to our trip to Sofia.
Thank you very much!



