A Perfect Day in Sofia

9.00am

Breakfast

Head for the Radisson, whose enormous breakfast buffet – in summer held on the terrace – is open to all comers and offers the only breakfast in town with views towards the Alexander Nevski Cathedral.

10.00am

A trinity of churches

The heart and soul of Sofia, the Alexander Nevski never looks better than at mid-morning, sunlight reflecting off its domes. Take in nearby Sveta Sofia and Russian Churches too.

11.30am

Souvenirs

The streets around the Nevski cathedral are home to a wide variety of stalls and street hawkers. Look out for naïve art, lace and embroidery. At weekends a flea market sells all sorts of enjoyable junk.

12 noon

Museums

Check out the two museums which share the Tsar’s former palace on Boulevard Tsar Osvoboditel: the Ethnographical Museum and the National Art Gallery.

1.30pm

Halite lunch

Head inside the Halite – Sofia’s 19th-century market hall – and join local people lunching on great-value food from the stalls on the lower ground floor, which incorporates Serdica ruins. You can also find local produce ranging from meat and fish to cheese and sweets.

2.15pm

The Rotunda

Sofia’s oldest building houses some amazingly well-preserved 10th-century frescoes and is surrounded by Roman ruins ripe for exploration.

3.00pm

Ancient and modern Sofia

Take a look at the icons inside the Sveta Nedelya church before heading over to TZUM for a whizz round the trendy new stores. The Sheraton Hotel Balkan’s smart bar is a great place for an expensive pit-stop.

5.00pm

Street life

Remind yourself that this is a truly Balkan city – where life happens on the street – by promenading the city’s busiest and most famous avenues, Vitosha and Graf Ignatiev.

7.30pm

Dinner

Take yourself to Sofia’s best restaurant – Secret. The work of one of Bulgaria’s best-loved chefs, Secret serves contemporary twists on Bulgarian classic dishes in a luxury setting.

10.00pm

On the town

Sofia stays up late. Choose a spot in one of the many cafés and bars around the National Theatre on Alexander Battenberg Square and settle in for a long night.