Visiting the city of Sofia with a rental car allows you to move around without constraints and enjoy all the cultural, historical, and artistic beauties present in the city center and its surroundings. It is a city that truly offers a lot to tourists.
Sofia Airport is the largest infrastructure in Bulgaria with an annual traffic of approximately 7 million passengers. It is located 6 km from the city center and has two terminals. The first terminal was built in the early 20th century and opened in 1937, mainly used for low-cost flights. The second terminal was inaugurated on December 27, 2006, and primarily serves flights operated by traditional airlines. Once you land in Sofia, it is advisable to visit all the various points of interest and pick up the rental car previously booked on the Acarent website. This way, you will have a private vehicle to move from one place to another without having to rely on the schedules of public transportation.
What to see in Sofia
Sofia is the capital of Bulgaria and also the most important center from a cultural, economic, and social point of view. Organizing a stay in this context means being able to visit monuments that attract hundreds of thousands of tourists from all over the world. Among the most appreciated attractions is the Boyana Church, which has been included in UNESCO’s exclusive list of World Heritage Sites since 1979. It is a medieval church located in the neighborhood of the same name, in a very picturesque area. The church was partly built around the year 1000, while other areas date back to the early IX century.
From the Nevsky Cathedral to the former Royal Palace
Thanks to the Sofia airport car rental service, it is possible to move from one part to another, which is crucial in such a geographically vast city. On board your own car, you can easily reach the St. Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, which is probably the most important monument in the entire city, along with the Boyana Church. It is significant because it was built in memory of the 200,000 Russian soldiers who were killed during the war that took place between 1877 and 1878 between Turkey and Russia. The architectural style is typical Byzantine, with elements in turquoise and gold. Its dimensions are imposing, with a dome reaching a height of 45 meters, while the bell tower exceeds 50 meters. This majestic work can accommodate up to 5,000 worshipers inside. Another religious building that best represents Bulgarian culture is the Church of St. George. It is a true circular-shaped monument whose construction began in the early Christian era. Its exterior is made of classic red bricks, and inside, there are affreschi depicting the 22 Prophets. The frescoes date back to the period between the 12th and 14th centuries. Furthermore, it is worth noting that this is the oldest church in all of Bulgaria.
The former Royal Palace
Moving smoothly thanks to the Sofia airport car rental service, you can reach the former Royal Palace, now known as the National Gallery, in just a few minutes. The building is located in Battenberg Square, right where the ancient Ottoman mosque Chelebi once stood. It is a palace built during the 20th century and houses various collections of paintings ranging from the Renaissance period to modern art. This achievement is the result of the genius of the first Bulgarian female architect, Victoria Angelova. For history and culture enthusiasts, it is also possible to take a look at the National Museum of History of Bulgaria, which is the largest in the country. Inside, approximately 650,000 historical monuments and objects representing the cultural evolution of Bulgaria over the centuries are preserved. There are ten permanent exhibitions with corresponding collections that tell the entire history of Bulgaria from various perspectives.
