What to do in Sofia this weekend

The easiest Sofia weekend is one thing outdoors during the day and one thing with people in the evening. On Saturday morning there is a free organised 5 km run in South Park and West Park, a Saturday farmers’ market, and Vitosha mountain about half an hour away by public transport. In the evening you choose between a film, a performance, stand-up, a language exchange or a small meetup with strangers.

You do not have to do everything. One thing on Saturday and one on Sunday is enough for me.

I look in three places. First Haide’s “What is on in Sofia today and this weekend” page, which lists small events for the next few days with a time and a place. Then Programata.bg for concerts, theatre and cinema; it is in Bulgarian, but the listings are easy to follow with a browser translation. For English-language events, the Sofia Expats newsletter comes out every Monday.

I pick one thing for Saturday and one for Sunday. If I want to go somewhere but have nobody to go with, I post in a group: “Anyone up for Vitosha on Saturday?” Sometimes someone answers, sometimes I go alone. Both are fine.

Every Saturday morning 5kmrun holds a timed 5 km run in South Park and West Park. It is free and open to every age and pace. The start time and registration are on 5kmrun.bg; the site is in Bulgarian, but the form is short.

If you do not run, Saturday is farmers’ market day at Rimska Stena market, where local producers sell directly. The market is run by Pazari Iztok, and their site says when it is on. For a walk with no goal, Borisova Garden and Ariana Lake are close to the centre, and the Doctors’ Garden is right in it.

If you are new in town, Free Sofia Tour leaves every day from in front of the Palace of Justice. It is in English and you tip what you like at the end. Times change with the season, so check their schedule.

Vitosha is the best part of a Sofia weekend. Easy routes include the Golden Bridges, Kopitoto with its view over the city, and Boyana Waterfall. Some buses up the mountain run only on Saturdays and Sundays; timetables are on sofiatraffic.bg. Routes and maps are on the Vitosha Nature Park website.

If you do not feel like a mountain, Kambanite (the Bells) park sits above Mladost 4. It has a monument made of bells from around the world, meadows and picnic spots, and you can walk there from Business Park metro station.

• Mountain weather changes quickly. Take a jacket, water and a charged phone.
• The Mountain Rescue Service is on 1470, and 112 works everywhere.

Toplocentrala is a contemporary arts centre with theatre, dance, music, film and talks. The programme changes every month and is on their website. Odeon is the cinema of the Bulgarian National Film Archive and shows classics and themed seasons; foreign films in Bulgaria are normally shown in the original language with Bulgarian subtitles. Comedy Club Bulgaria runs stand-up shows in Sofia, including at its club in Studentski Grad, with the programme on comedyclub.bg. Most stand-up is in Bulgarian, so check the listing for English nights.

If you want to talk to people rather than watch, Sofia Social holds a weekly social and language exchange evening. You sign up through their Eventbrite page, which also gives the venue.

I keep Sunday for something quiet. A museum, for example the National Museum Earth and Man with its hall of giant crystals, or Square 500 behind Alexander Nevsky Cathedral. Many museums close on Mondays, so the weekend works well, but check the hours first.

Another option is to help out. Animal Rescue Sofia organises walks for the dogs at its shelter near Dolni Bogrov on Saturdays and Sundays. You need to sign a volunteer form first, and the details are on arsofia.com. You walk with a dog and with other volunteers, so there is always someone to talk to.

Most of the above works fine alone. If the real question is “with whom”, look for formats where people came to do something together: a run, a hike, a game, a language exchange. You do not have to start a conversation from nothing.

On Haide every event comes from a person who simply wants company for something: a coffee, a walk, a game. You can join one on your own or post your own.

What can I do in Sofia this weekend for free? The Saturday 5kmrun, a walk in Borisova Garden or South Park, a hike on Vitosha, or the excavated Serdica streets at the Largo. Free Sofia Tour runs on tips.

What can I do in Sofia at the weekend if it rains? A museum, a film at Odeon, a climbing gym or a board game club. We also have a separate guide for rainy days in Sofia.

Where can I see what events are on in Sofia this weekend? Programata.bg for concerts, theatre and cinema, the Sofia Expats newsletter for events in English, and the weekly events page mentioned above. Always check times at the source.

Can I go on my own? Yes. Runs, group hikes and language exchanges are all formats where coming alone is normal.