The Seven Best Churches in Sofia, Bulgaria
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It’s pretty safe to say that the churches in Sofia, Bulgaria are far more than just places of worship.
As well as being architectural masterpieces and windows into the history and culture of the country, they are also some of the most visited tourist attractions in Sofia.
In fact, if you ask most people who have visited what to see in Sofia, they will invariably mention one or two of the city’s churches. They are quite simply ‘must sees’ when you visit.
Quick Guide to Sofia
In a hurry? Here’s a handy guide to Sofia to help you make the most of your trip!
🙋 Best activities & tours in Sofia:
- Visit Alexander Nevsky Cathedral
- Guided Walking Tour of Sofia (excellent small group tour of top attractions.)
- Rila Monastery and Boyana Church Full-Day Tour (top-rated tour!)
🏠 Where to stay in Sofia:
- Art 'Otel (stunning hotel - we stayed here!)
- 5 Vintage Guest House (fabulous value)
- Sentro Boutique Hotel (lovely spacious rooms)
🌤️ When to visit:
- Best weather is shoulder season (April–June, September–October). Summer (especially August) is sweltering but very quiet. Winters are cold 🥶, with snow and rain!
🌟 Don't Forget:
- Stay connected with an Airalo eSIM!
Sadly, this tends to be where the detail ends. You hear that the churches are worth visiting but finding information on which churches to visit, why they are worth seeing, or precisely what it is you’ll be looking at when you get there, is a bit thin on the ground.
But never fear.
Having spent quite some time in Sofia over the years and being the kinds of travellers who like to dig a little deeper (not to mention being fans of religious buildings) we’ve learnt a fair few things about these places that we hope can enrich your visits.
This list of the best churches in Sofia Bulgaria features our favourites - places that are historic, beautiful and truly worth your time. We’ll show you what to expect at each church and unique things to look out for.
Our aim is to give you a better understanding of the history, significance, and quirky must-see details of some of Sofia’s most spectacular churches so you can decide which ones to visit on your trip to Sofia.
If you’re a little strapped for time on your trip, or just want ideas on what you can pack into 24hrs in the city, check out our one day in Sofia itinerary.
No matter if your plans of what to do in Sofia involve seeing every major church or just popping in to one or two of the more famous ones, we’ll give you a better understanding of what to expect and what to look out for when you visit.
Whether it's the jaw dropping splendour of St. Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, the palpable sense of history at St. George Church, the wish-making tradition at the Russian Church, or the stunning frescoes at Boyana Church, this guide covers it all!
Trust us, whether you’re a person of faith or a person of none, these Sofia landmarks are more than worth a visit.
Why Visit the Churches in Sofia Bulgaria?
Before we dive into the specific locations it’s worth mentioning right at the top that many churches in Sofia follow the Orthodox tradition.
Whether that’s the Bulgarian Orthodox Church, the Eastern Orthodox Church or even the Russian Orthodox, churches falling under that banner do tend to have some notable features in common.
One of which, is that more often than not, they are visually stunning.
I mean…just look at this!
Whereas many churches in the more Protestant leaning traditions decided long ago to pare back the pomp and circumstance - stripping away grand designs, luxurious painting and ornate carvings as distractions to be done away with - the Orthodox side of Christianity kinda went full throttle in the other direction.
Drab and dreary isn’t really on the menu.
As a general rule Orthodox churches tend to be architecturally prepossessing as well as beautifully and ornately decorated inside. To followers of the Orthodox tradition, the splendour and magnificence of the church itself is a way of glorifying God and emphasising the importance of the mass.
The result is that in general terms Orthodox churches tend to be far more bejewelled, detailed and visually arresting than your average beige-walled village hall.
Think architectural grandeur, elaborate carvings, tons of gold leaf, magnificent frescoes and acres of marble. What this means in short, is that the churches in this tradition are often a sight to see no matter what your personal beliefs might be. This is one of the main reasons they are worth visiting.
Put simply, they are beautiful.
Iconostasis
Amongst the common features that might be less familiar to those not of the Orthodox tradition is the presence of a large and invariably beautifully decorated ‘wall’ or ‘screen’ at the front of the church.
This screen separates the nave - and therefore the congregation - from the sanctuary, the portion of the altar where the Holy of Holies is kept and the consecration rites are performed.
You can think of this a little like a curtain in a theatre: in fact it is modelled theologically on the curtain behind which the original Holy of Holies was kept in the temple in Jerusalem that only the high priest was allowed to step behind, but I digress.
This wall, known as an iconostasis, usually reaches to just below the ceiling but leaves a gap so that the rites intoned and performed behind the screen can echo and reverberate out to the congregation on the other side.
The gold iconostasis at the Orthodox Temple of the Seven Saints in Sofia.
There are a number of specially designated doors in the screen through which only certain people - by which I mean priests and more specifically only men (sorry ladies) - can pass at particular designated times.
More notably for the visiting tourist, these dividers are covered in rich carvings and as the name might suggest, a whole host of beautifully painted icons.
Usually, these include Christ, his mother Mary, the disciples, archangels and various other religious figures and saints.
You will find an iconostasis in many of the churches listed here and they are well worth approaching for a closer look, provided that this is permitted.
Relics
Holy relics and remains of saints are of importance in most religious traditions. However, relics, by which I generally mean preserved body parts or possessions of saints and religious figures, tend to be more prominently featured and displayed in Orthodox churches.
You can therefore expect that in most of the churches on this list you will find finely decorated boxes in which a piece of skull, a thigh bone, a finger or even an entire hand that once belonged to a saint, might be displayed.
A relic of a saint’s finger at a church in Sofia
Whilst this might be appealingly or unappealingly macabre depending on your disposition, it is fascinating to see the level of reverence shown to these objects by the faithful.
It is also worth remembering at all times that these remains are objects of veneration and should be treated and approached with the utmost respect.
Okay, on to the churches!
Saint Nedelya Cathedral
Like a number of the churches on this list, the Eastern Orthodox Cathedral of Saint Nedelya also known as Sveta Nedelya Church, is considered a major Sofia landmark.
There has been a church on this site since the 10th century and the church was mentioned by a German visitor to the city as far back as 1578!
Designated a cathedral since the 18th century, St Nedelya Church has a long history of being destroyed, remodelled and rebuilt many times and for a variety of different reasons.
For example, the church was demolished in 1856 with plans to be rebuilt. It only reopened in 1867 however, because an earthquake in the intervening years somewhat scuppered the rebuilding (you’ll find that earthquakes play a role in the history of a number of the churches on this list).
The Cathedral of Saint Nedelya AKA St. Nedelya Church, Sofia.
This tendency for the building to get knocked down only to rise phoenix-like from the ashes makes it a potent symbol for many in Sofia.
Indeed, the first time we visited we were treated to an impromptu history lesson just outside the cathedral from an enthusiastic local, who wanted nothing more than to share his love for the building and its history.
He explained how the St Nedelya Church was massively damaged in 1925 by a bomb attack, perpetrated by Communist terrorists.
The attack was an unsuccessful attempt to kill Tsar Boris III - it claimed the lives of 150 people and forced the closure of the church.
However, our local friend pointed out that the church did reopen in 1933 and that the gilded iconostasis at the front is original. Remarkably, it survived the attack and was restored to its place when the church reopened.
The cathedral itself is a huge building with a 31-metre high dome. Seemingly every inch inside the walls is richly decorated with gorgeous Byzantine-style murals and the combination of candlelight and dark marble flooring contrasts beautiful with the vibrancy of the paintings.
The gold iconostasis mentioned by our helpful historian friend is intricately detailed and further illuminated by a series of huge chandeliers.
At night the dome and upper arches are up-lit and the building looks amazing from the outside.
Look out for:
The relics of Stefan Milutin who was a Serbian king during that country's Golden Age.
He is revered for resisting the spread of Catholicism to preserve the Orthodox Church and as a church builder in his own right. As a side note, he also turns up in Dante’s Divine Comedy.
His relics, which were moved here in 1460, now rest in a glass case inside the church. The case looks like it contains a small skeleton with gilded hands sleeping in some sumptuous robes.
The Orthodox Temple of The Seven Saints
A less often mentioned church in Sofia that is actually one of our favourites, is the Church of the Seven Saints or the Orthodox Temple of The Seven Saints, (Sveti Sedmochislentisi).
This is a site with a long history. Archeological studies have shown that this was originally the location of a Roman temple to the God Asclepius, back when Sofia was Roman Serdica.
Incidentally, Asclepius along with his daughters Panacea and Hygea, was a god of medicine and is the source of the snake wrapped staff image we now associate with medical care and hospitals (and of course the words ‘hygiene’ and ‘panacea’).
The Orthodox Temple of the Seven Saints, Sofia
A fascinating building to look at from the outside, the current structure was initially created in 1547 for use as an Ottoman mosque. During that time it was known as the Black Mosque on account of its minarets which were made from dark granite.
Unfortunately - in what will became a running theme with these buildings - the minarets were destroyed in an earthquake.
The building went on to serve several purposes over the years - from a military warehouse to a prison - before finally being converted into a Bulgarian Orthodox Church, which opened its doors in 1903.
Constructed between 1901 and 1902, work on the interior was declared finished in…wait for it…1996!
The paintings inside this church are mind-blowing.
Despite being called the Seven Saints, the name actually refers to two prominent saints and their five disciples, who are honoured together as a group. The two real big hitters in this septet are Saints Cyril and Methodius.
These brothers are noted for being dedicated evangelists to the Slavs - Cyril devised the ‘Glagotic Alphabet’ in order to translate liturgical works into the Slavic languages.
His disciples built upon this work and created what would later become the ‘Cyrilic’ script, named as an homage to this very saint.
Interestingly, the brothers’ feast day is celebrated in the Catholic church on February 14th. So if Valentines has you down in the dumps next year, maybe write a card to yourself in Cyrillic and celebrate the brother’s feast day instead.
The interior of the church is an explosion of colour and detail. There is a large golden iconostasis and the pulpit and relic stands are carved in dark wood. However, the star of the show here are the frescoes that cover every curve and cornice (to be fair they had quite a lot of time to get them done).
Try not to get neck cramp as you look up into the dome and admire the talent in what is undoubtedly a peaceful and atmospheric space.
Look out for:
The large candlesticks by the altar. They were made in 1903 and formed out of melted-down police badges from before the unification of Bulgaria in 1885.
The Russian Church (Church of St Nicholas the Wonderworker)
One glance at the exterior of the Church of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker - with its arresting Russian Revival architecture, glistening golden domes and vivid green majolica tiles - is enough to know that there’s something special about this place.
Often referred to as The Russian Church and sometimes ‘The Wishing Church’, this striking building is the official church of the Russian Embassy and has served Sofia’s sizeable Russian population since its consecration in 1914.
Prior to that, this patch of land was the site of a mosque that was destroyed during the Russian liberation from the Ottomans in 1882 (presumably it was the earthquake’s day off).
The Church of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker, Sofia.
The interior of the church is richly decorated with painted murals, produced by Vasily Perminov, though these have been somewhat damaged and obscured by decades of soot from the candles constantly burning below.
Luckily Perimov is the same artist responsible for many of the paintings in the St. Alexander Nevsky Cathedral.
What this means in practice is that you can enjoy his work in HD (or at least in a better preserved state) in the cathedral, but also have the opportunity to soak up the undeniably atmospheric gloom created by the darker tones in old St Nick’s.
Incidentally, the reason Nicholas was chosen as the name for the church was to keep in line with the tradition of naming churches after the current ruler of Russia. In this case, it was Nicholas II who was given the honours.
However, what makes this church unique, beyond the architecture and interior decoration, is the tradition amongst both locals and visitors alike to come to this church in order to make wishes. Yes, wishes.
This practice is based upon a story about a real life figure, Saint Archbishop Seraphim, who led the congregation at this church from 1921-1950.
Renowned for his acts of kindness, Saint Seraphim was already said to have been in possession of some extraordinary powers even within his own lifetime, with the faithful claiming he could see into the future, heal the sick and read people’s thoughts.
Toward the end of his life, Seraphim is said to have told a beloved parishioner that after his death they should write letters to him filled with their hopes, prayers and wishes.
If he could, he explained, he would submit these requests directly to God and try to get the wishes granted.
Clearly Seraphim must have kept to his word to some extent because the tradition of submitting these wishes survives to this day and is one that you too can participate in.
Entering the small crypt where Saint Seraphim’s body is kept (adjacent to the main church) you will be given the opportunity to write your petition on one of the scraps of paper provided. This is then placed in a box, in the hope that Seraphim and therefore God, will look favourably upon it.
Look out for:
Pretty flowers! In spring and early summer the park around the church comes alive with a variety of coloured tulips.
Note: no photographs are allowed inside the Russian Church.
St. Alexander Nevsky Cathedral
If your wish at St Nicholas’ was to see the largest cathedral in the Balkans - and one of the 50 largest Christian churches in the world - then within a short walk you’ll find that your wish has been granted.
One of the most iconic Sofia landmarks, the St. Alexander Nevsky Cathedral Sofia, is a sight to see (and if you’re Sasha, photograph from every possible imaginable angle) even if you never actually step inside. Though of course we would definitely recommend that you do.
Standing 148 feet tall at its highest point and able to hold 5,000 people, this Neo-Byzantine church is truly colossal. Its grandeur reflects its importance to the city’s residents - who, notably, funded most of its construction themselves.
St. Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, Sofia
To give an idea of the scale, it is worth considering that the 12 bells in Alexander Nevsky’s belfry come in at a combined weight of over 23 tons - the largest being 12 tons and the tiniest super-cute one being just 1o kilos.
When ringing on a clear day, their peals can be heard up to 10 miles away. This is a place with huge…bells.
Of course it’s not only the size of the building that makes this place special. Built in honour of the 200,000 men who died in the Russo-Turkish war, the cathedral is not only the largest, but one of the most beautiful churches in Bulgaria.
Just…wow.
The cathedral is named after Aleksander Nevsky, a Russian historical figure so important to Russian culture that he has been voted the Greatest Ever Russian, in a number of popular polls.
Grandson of the spectacularly named ‘Vesevold the Big Nest’, he was Grand Prince of Vladimir and famously fought off German crusaders, which later made him a potent national symbol of resistance for Bulgarians living under occupation during World War Two.
In an interesting inversion of that sentiment, the church was briefly re-named during the First World War because Russia was on the opposing side to Bulgaria in that conflict.
The building was instead named after the saintly brothers Cyril and Methodius who we met earlier at the Seven Saints Church. It was changed back after the war.
And just in case you thought the Nevster’s saintly status as a symbol for Russian sympathy was a thing of the past, it’s worth noting that in 2024 his memorial was removed from the feast day schedule for the Ukrainian Orthodox Church. Take that Putin!
Alexander Nevsky was venerated pretty much from the moment he expired and when his remains were exhumed in 1380 (because someone had a vision prior to the Battle of Kulikovo), they were found to be incorrupt. A sure sign of saintly status!
He was officially canonised by the Russian Orthodox Church in 1547. Some of his relics - including part of his rib - can be found in a gilded case to the left of the altar.
The interior of the cathedral is a picture of religious splendour. The domed ceilings are decorated in large paintings with the Lord’s prayer inscribed in gold around the central dome. Immense chandeliers filled with candle light bulbs hang pendulously over a marvellously detailed marble floor.
The gorgeous iconostasis is made from Italian marble whilst the imposingly solid Tsar’s throne, flanked by two large lion statues, is composed of marble, alabaster and onyx.
The back of the church, close to the entrance, is lined with large standing candelabrums into which you can place one of the thin tapered candles as a votive offering for the sick or someone you wish to pray for.
Seeing this flickering collection of candles, constantly being lit and extinguished by a steady procession worshippers and well-wishers is both a beautiful and meditative sight.
You could easily spend an hour exploring inside the cathedral, soaking in the paintings, statues, carvings and stained glass windows.
However, one of our favourite things to do is sit on a bench near the central pillars and take a moment to quietly observe the faithful moving between relics and offering their prayers.
If you’re lucky enough to attend during one of the services or choral practices, the sound of the chants echoing around the great vaulted ceiling is captivating even for those of no faith.
Look out for:
The gorgeous mosaics at the entrances, on the building’s exterior and above the Tsar’s throne. The mosaics of Tsar Ferdinand and his Queen Eleanor are particularly stunning.
It’s also worth keeping an eye out for the market that takes place outside the cathedral and the literal yellow brick road that leads up to it.
If religious art is your thing, the museum located in the cathedral’s crypt boasts one of the largest collections of Christian iconography in Europe.
Saint Sophia Church, Sofia
Very close to St. Alexander Nevsky Cathedral is the St Sophia Church.
Whilst it might look a little pedestrian in comparison to the majesty of the cathedral, this church is actually of great significance, not least because it is the church that the entire city is named after.
St. Sophia was built in the 4th century during the reign of Justinian I and is believed to be contemporary with the Hagia Sophia in Istanbul.
St. Sophia Church, Sofia
In 343 it was the setting for the Council of Serdica, a notoriously disastrous synod that was intended to heal the rift between the Western and Eastern churches but wound up making matters worse. It ended with the two sides refusing to even meet!
The site upon which the church now stands had previously been a necropolis and a Roman theatre. At one time, during Ottoman rule, it was converted into a mosque, though as you might well be able to predict by now, the minarets of said mosque collapsed after…say it with me…an earthquake.
Today the church has a subterranean museum. This archeological level allows interested visitors to explore remains of three previous churches on this site and a number of tombs, some with murals dating back as far as the site’s time as the necropolis of Serdica.
Look out for:
The Tomb of Honorious. Dating all the way back to somewhere between the mid 5th and early 6th century when Sofia was still Serdica.
This tomb is found in the archeological level below the Saint Sofia Church. Covered with floral decorations, it is the only tomb in Bulgaria from this period where the name of the occupant is specified - in this case in a mix of Latin and Greek.
Church of Saint George (St. George Rotunda)
Another ancient building that is a little more difficult to find but worth the effort, is the Rotunda or the Church of St George.
Located in a quadrangle behind the parliament and part of a larger archeological complex, this memorably shaped red brick structure dates back to the 4th century and is considered to be the oldest still standing building in Sofia.
The building was once used as a Roman bath, back when Sofia was still Roman Serdica. In fact, the remains of a Roman street, complete with a drainage system can be seen just outside the church walls.
Church of St. George, Sofia.
The Church of St George, which interestingly has a twin building in Thessaloniki, is mostly comprised of a single cylindrical room with semi-circular niches and a domed roof.
Adorning the walls of this room are several layers of wall paintings added at different points in the building’s history. The oldest date back to the 10th century.
The interior of the church is quite simple, especially compared to the opulence and splendour of churches like Nedelya and Alexander Nevsky, with only a dark wooden iconostasis, a pulpit and a few other items in the space, but there is something very charming about that simplicity.
If you look up, you can see detailed frescoes of 22 prophets - each stretching up to over 6 feet tall - covering the central dome. These frescoes were painted over during Ottoman times but have now been carefully restored.
Notably, St George’s was once home to the relics of Stefan Mulian now housed in the Nedelya Cathedral and also the relics of Bulgaria’s patron saint, John of Rila.
According to the legend, these later relics were used to cure the Byzantine Emperor and also to take away a Catholic bishop’s ability to talk, after he participated in an ‘indecent act’ with the relics. The less said about that the better, I reckon.
Look out for:
Ancient underfloor heating. The church is situated on an archaeological site and the remains of a Roman street can be seen just outside. In this part of the complex, visitors can see the remains of a hypocaust, a Roman underfloor heating system. They were clever buggers them Romans.
Boyana Church
Technically, this UNESCO world heritage site is on the outskirts of the city in a place called, (you guessed it) Boyana.
However, it is easy to reach, either as part of a larger organised tour - day trips to the spectacular Rila monastery usually make a stop here - or by public transport. Public buses 64 and 107 also stop here.
Whilst time inside this building is limited, with only 8 visitors being allowed in at a time and even then only for a period of ten minutes, the church is well worth visiting for its religious and artistic significance.
The Boyana Church or the Church of St Nicholas and St Pantelon, Boyana
The Boyana Church AKA the Church of St Nicholas and St Pantelon was built in three stages and displays well-preserved frescoes from several different periods.
The frescoes make up 89 separate scenes and 240 human images. Most significant amongst these are those in the second layer of frescoes from 1259.
The frescoes are considered important because in style and technical progression they seem to anticipate and preempt some of the advances in art that would become far more prevalent and widespread during the Renaissance.
During your visit, you’ll notice that while some of the older frescoes maintain the flat, easily repeated ‘iconic’ style - where every face appears two-dimensional, with the same expression and largely identical to others you’ve seen - others break away from this mould.
In these later frescoes, we begin to see far more tonal modelling to make things more 3D and attention to more realistic proportions.
Moreover, the figures are not just repetitious and uniform - they have distinct facial features and seem to express a wide variety of emotions and reactions to the events depicted.
This represents something of a leap forward in the history of art and figurative painting. Looking at some of the frescoes you can see in the faces the beginnings of more modern portraiture. How cool is that?
Look out for:
Sequoia trees. The Boyana Church is situated in a park created at the start of the 20th century - where Queen Eleanor, wife of King Ferdinand and a leading voice for preserving the historic church, is also buried.
As part of his preservation efforts, Eleanor’s husband, King Ferdinand - renowned park builder, amateur botanist, butterfly collector, and bisexual - commissioned the park around the church and planted giant sequoias: the towering redwoods rarely seen beyond North America.
We say ‘look out for’ but to be fair, at their size they aren’t really something you can miss, so ‘enjoy’ might be better advice.
That's (almost) All Folks!
So there you have it, our guide to the best and most interesting churches in Sofia, Bulgaria.
There are of course many other smaller but still very beautiful churches to discover in the city - each with their idiosyncrasies.
Not to mention religious buildings of other faiths like the Banya Bashi Mosque and the Central Synagogue of Sofia which are both well worth your time…but that’s for another post.
Hopefully, this guide will have armed you with enough information to decide which churches to visit during your trip and gives you some insight into what you’ll find there and what to look out for.
Enjoy!
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Before you go, make sure to check out some of our other Sofia guides and guides to the rest of Bulgaria:
🥑 A Foodie's Guide to the Best Vegetarian and Vegan Restaurants Sofia Has to Offer
🍸 Hambara Sofia: A Hidden Candlelit Bar in Sofia
⛲ An Epic One Day in Sofia Bulgaria Itinerary
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