VITOSHA MOUNTAIN – A 
COOL PLACE TO COOL OFF IN SOFIA
Vitosha is the oldest National park in Bulgaria and one of the most accessible as well – you can reach the starting points of dozens of hiking routes, huts and places for picnic for less than an hour from the city centre! It’s a great one-day adventure – Vitosha can offer you a total of 10 peaks with height more than 2000 m.
Here are the 4 main points in Sofia where you can start your exciting journey! They are all easily reachable by public transport.
Boyana
The most popular hiking route of Vitosha is to Boyana Waterfall. The biggest waterfall in the mountain can be reached by a not-too-difficult hiking route for just less than 2 hours uphill! Marking: green
Simeonovo
There’s a cable car operating only on weekends to Aleko hut (1820 m). From there you can hike to Cherni Vrah peak (2290 m and the highest in Vitosha), Kamen Del peak (with the best panoramic view of Sofia) and enjoy the curious stone rivers. If you’re visiting on weekdays, there are plenty of other hiking routes, by which you can reach the Simeonovo lakes, Aleko waterfalls, Dragalevski monastery and others. Marking: yellow
Dragalevtsi
You can take the yellow path back to Simeonovo or continue uphill to the peaks. Make sure to start early in the morning, because the hikes uphill are long with more than 1000 m denivelation. Marking: red
Knyazhevo
Following the yellow marking, you can reach the Golden Bridges – a great place for picnic! Another route is to Kopitoto TV tower - one of the best panorama spots of Sofia. It will take you about 2 hours uphill. To reach it, follow the yellow marking the first 15 minutes of walking and take a left turn right before the small wooden bridge.
Bonus! The Golden Bridges are reachable directly by bus 63 – initial stop №2543 Tsar Boris III Blvd. is located right where the boulevard crosses Akad. Ivan Evstatiev Geshov blvd. You travel about 50 minutes and get off on the last stop.
Important note: All those routes are connected – you can combine them in whatever way you want. But be careful to estimate your time and start early because Vitosha is a big mountain and some of the routes are longer and more difficult!
Transportation & directions
Vitosha Metrostation is the end of line 2 and is the main transit link to the mountain. From there you can take bus 64 to Boyana (get off at Boyansko Hanche stop). Walk about 5 minutes from the Boyana Church to the south and then follow the signs. To reach the Simeonovo Cable Car, take bus 122 on weekends. If you want to explore the hiking paths, take bus 98 to Simeonovo stop (№0901). To reach Dragalevtsi, take bus 93. Get off on at stop 0834 - Dragalevtsi central square.
Knyazhevo is the fastest way to get to the mountain directly from the city centre. Take tram 5 from behind the Palace of Justice. After 30 minutes take off on the last stop and walk south.
Don’t forget to take your comfortable shoes, raincoat and good mood!
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