Dress respectfully and combine the visit with a short marked Vitosha walk rather than roadside stopping.
Stays 
Vassia Atanassova - Spiritia · CC BY-SA 3.0Places · Dragalevtsi, Vitosha
Dragalevtsi Monastery
Драгалевски манастир
A medieval monastery linked with Vasil Levski sits in forest above Sofia and preserves valuable old murals.
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Visiting advice
Photos & short video
Bulgarian food
Local food →Local food
Shopska salad · Sofia banitsa · kebapche · craft beer
Viktorija N. Ivanov / Wikimedia CommonsSalad · vegetarian
Shopska salad
The classic first order: tomatoes, cucumber and peppers under a generous snowy layer of white brined cheese.
What's in it Tomatoes, cucumber, roasted or fresh pepper, onion, parsley and sirene cheese.
Biso / Wikimedia CommonsBreakfast · pastry
Banitsa
Crisp filo layers wrapped around eggs, yogurt and white cheese—a warm Bulgarian breakfast staple.
What's in it Filo pastry, eggs, yogurt, sirene cheese and butter or oil.
Biso / Wikimedia CommonsGrill · street favorite
Kebapche
Seasoned minced meat shaped into long rolls and grilled over high heat for a smoky crust.
What's in it Minced pork or mixed meat, cumin, black pepper and salt.
Wikimedia Commons contributorsFermented grain drink
Boza
A thick, sweet-tart fermented grain drink traditionally paired with banitsa.
What's in it Wheat, millet or mixed flour, water, sugar and fermentation culture.
Sumit Surai / Wikimedia CommonsCold soup · vegetarian
Tarator
A cooling yogurt and cucumber soup served cold—simple, fresh and especially popular in summer.
What's in it Yogurt, cucumber, garlic, dill, walnuts, water and a little oil.
Jeroen Kransen / Wikimedia CommonsSlow-cooked main
Kavarma
Rich meat and vegetables slowly cooked with paprika and savory, often arriving sizzling in a clay pot.
What's in it Pork or chicken, onion, peppers, tomatoes, mushrooms and spices.NEARBY
Public transport
Драгалевци, Витоша
© OpenStreetMap contributors · Open Database License · availability depends on local mapping
Map
Directions
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Directions
Buses and trains
First reach Sofia by train or intercity bus. Confirm the local bus in advance; when it does not match your return time, pre-book a licensed taxi for the last kilometres.
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Nearby places
Jose Ligero Loarte · CC BY-SA 4.0SofiaAlexander Nevsky & monumental centre
Александър Невски и монументалният център
Golden domes anchor a walk through parliament squares, galleries, churches and the university quarter.
Read the guide
Elena Chochkova · CC BY-SA 3.0SofiaAncient Serdica route
Маршрут Антична Сердика
Roman streets, gates and buildings appear beneath modern boulevards around the city centre.
Read the guide
Todor Bozhinov / Тодор Божинов · CC BY-SA 3.0BoyanaBoyana Church
Боянска църква
A tiny UNESCO church protects some of medieval Europe's most expressive 13th-century frescoes.
Read the guide