Sofia, Bulgaria hotel recommendations
 

Hello,

Two of my relatives, female, in their 40s, are visting Sofia, Bulgaria for 5 days in early February, 2017.

It is their first time there, and they want to do some sightseeing, and have some meetings to attend.

None of them have status with any hotel chain.

Can anyone please recommend some nice hotel, 4 or 5 star, which is central and safe.

They do not mind spending a bit extra for a nice hotel.

Is the Grand Hotel Sofia really the best, or are they other nice hotels out there?

Thank you very much,
wonderfultravels

It will be difficult to find better option than, Grand Hotel Sofia.
Maybe, only Sofia Hotel Balkan, A Luxury Collection Hotel, having the glory for most luxury hotel in Sofia more than 50 years.
Hilton is not a good option only because of location, you have to pass trough park around National Palace of Culture, which is not pleasant experience during the cold and windy winter days.

We are visiting for the first time next month; we are staying at the Senses Hotel (looks modern and hip). Rooms are decent sizes. We were going to stay at the Sofia Balkan but felt it might be a bit too old for us.

I can heartily recommend the Sense hotel, where I stayed for 3 days over NYE. It is a new and modern boutique style hotel. Great location, wooden floors, the beds face the floor to bottom windows, a fantastic feel. The view from their roof top bar/restaurant (where breakfast is served) is fabulous. Very nice pool and spa area also. Next time I am back in Sofia I won't look anywhere else.

February, Sofia is still extremely cheap. The Hilton can be had for <60€ per night. The location is not super central, but convenient next to the subway, but that still means a short walk (around 300m) to the station, taking the subway to the centre from there.

Considering in February the differences from "downtown 5*" hotels to the Hilton aren't that big, I'd probably stay in the centre (Serdika) itself.

Sofia Hotel Balkan is probably the "can't take it wrong" choice.

Arena di Serdica has the most unusual lobby and is also a fairly safe bet, especially if you're into history.

Also, if you like to tell me when exactly they're there, I can give them a personal tour ;)

How come no mentions of the Le Fleur Botique Hotel? It looks really nice and has the best location out of any Hotel in Sofia on Vitosha Street?

https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/inte...er-thread.html

This would be the case with both hotels, but the Balkan is closer to the very center of the city.

The southern parts of Greece definitely get hotter, but you can see the figures for yourself:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sofia#Climate

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Athens#Climate

The IC gets my unqualified recommendation. Upgrades to the top floor balcony suites are worth begging/bargaining for, or if you are feeling flush....

There's a metro station by the hotel, making the airport transfer easy and cheap if you are lightly loaded

I'm thinking of trying the new Hyatt Regency but can be persuaded to another option (IC?) if location is better.

Both are similar in terms of location. They are quite close to each other. The IC is a little more convenient for the metro (which takes you to the airport), the HR a little closer to a tram line.

I think Sofia is pretty much walkable from both locations. But I'm European and as such perhaps don't mind walking as much (I assume you're hailing from the US). Otherwise, public transportation is dirt-cheap, a single ride costs like BGN 1.60 (which is around $1) and a day pass is BGN 4.00. Taxi is not unreasonably priced, either. But I don't speak Bulgarian and would be at least somewhat worried about being taken on the scenic route.

The best-located of the upscale chain hotels is probably the Luxury Collection. I never stayed there. You'll most likely pass by it when exporing the city, though.