Sofia was founded 7000 years ago. It is the second oldest city of Europe. In the course of history, Sofia has undergone several changes as different rulers and different empires have shaped the city's present image. Thanks to the inter-mingling of different - Romanian, Bulgarian, Ottoman cultures the city has a wide range of historic relics. The historic buildings melting into the pace of modern city traffic overwhelm the visitors.

By today, Sofia, like any other European metropolis, has grown into a political, business and cultural centre. This is why galleries, museums offer such a wide range of programs. The city often hosts international congresses and conferences too. The 5-, 4- and 3-star hotels offer an excellent rest for their guests. The unique atmosphere of the small shops makes shopping in Sofia a memorable experience. Offices operate from 10 am to 6 pm from Monday to Friday, the opening hours of banks are 9 am to 5 pm and shops are open from 10 am to 6 pm.

We must not miss to see the Sveta Sofia dome, the world-famous murals of the Alexander Nevski cathedral, and last but not least, the unique murals of the suburban Boyana church having earned their place on the UNESCO list of World Heritage  - due to their exceptional beauty. Special tourist spots are the Turkish bath, the indoor market and the Clock Tower too.

In the restaurants of Sofia, we can savour the delicacies of both the European and Bulgarian cuisine. The range of cultural venues is very wide. Every evening, we can enjoy unique moments in the jazz or piano bars. Of course, visitors can have fun in the most up-to-date disco-s too. Those who would prefer to change the big city's pace to a calmer environment, the Vitosha Mountain embracing the city offers excellent opportunities with a plethora of its natural beauty. Its 2290 metres high peek can be approached by cable car, car, or even by public transport vehicles. From there, the view is breathtaking. The peek offers an opportunity to test the visitor's mountaineering talents in the summer, whilst, in the winter, it offers excellent slopes for skiing.

In 1992, the day of Saint Sophia, the town's protecting saint, 17th of September was declared as the "Day of Sofia". The motto of Sofia is: "The growing city is never growing older".