Has your cabin fever turned to spring fever? Well hold onto your hat because the spring weather in Sofia can be very unpredictable. Last year it stayed cold and wet through May. That was good news for skiers but bad news for those of us waiting for "shorts and t-shirt" weather. This year I've gathered a few suggestions for family outings in the Sofia area. All can be accomplished in a day and you can mix and match activities based on the weather. Enjoy!
Park Play, Book Browsing and Lunch at "Dani's in disguise."
If a stroll in the park, browsing for books and a delicious warm lunch sounds appetising, visit Doctors' Garden between Shipka Street and Oborishte Street. The park is slowly being upgraded and contains one of the safest playgrounds in the city (with most of the swings intact). It is located directly across from the British Council library, an English language literary lifeboat.
Yes, there are some bookshops that have some English books in Sofia but that is a time-consuming hunt and gather exercise. Contrary to popular belief, the American Centre does not maintain a library for public use. They have only a small, mostly online, research facility and require users to register through security and the library co-ordinator. So if you really want English selections, The British Council is it.
They offer something for everyone in the family. They have a small children's book section including a large number of "how-to-read" books; a nice magazine assortment covering home and garden, military history and arts and theatre topics; and a variety of videos from the BBC and elsewhere - everything from documentaries and travel videos to general entertainment choices.
The latest addition to the library is a "Dani's in disguise" located in the basement. Owned and operated by the same proprietors of Dani's, Sofia's best sandwich shop, the restaurant is merely referred to as a cafe in the basement. Due to some sort of licensing restriction, they cannot advertise as Dani's, but you will find all the same delicious menu choices available at half the price of the main restaurant.
Membership rates are reasonable at 27 leva for full membership that includes books, video, periodicals, and the CD music collection. WARNING: Bring a passport size photo and your identity papers along with your money to obtain membership, otherwise, you will have to make another trip to accomplish this task.
Swimming and Bowling at Kid-friendly Kempinski Hotel Zografski
The Atama Sports Centre at the Kempinski is the closest thing you'll find to a real recreation centre in Sofia. You can drop by for a swim or a game of bowling anytime from 10am to 10pm. They have a large indoor heated pool, a five-lane bowling alley and a snack bar area on the first floor. (The upstairs areas for weight lifting, massage and suntan treatment are not recommended for children.)
You may pay on a per-visit basis and rates are reasonable (swimming for adults at 10 leva, and eight leva for children under 12). The Diplomatic Club offers comparable activities but membership is restricted, incredibly expensive (you cannot pay on a per-visit basis) and the atmosphere is adult-oriented. Currently, the Kempinski is offering a special promotion for swimming from 10am to 6pm daily for six leva. And if you want your children to learn from the best, three former members of the Bulgarian National Swimming Team offer 12 lessons for 98 leva.
Mind Expansion at the Museum and a Pushchair-friendly Hike in Dragalevtsi
The National History Museum is impressive in size and form. Its collections range from prehistoric times to nineteenth century revival exhibits. It's the perfect venue to tire out your toddlers, engage your teenagers and take a leisurely stroll with babies. On the second floor you will find a special children's exhibition, which usually includes some hands-on learning activity. The displays include English language descriptions and parking is conveniently located in front of the building.
Next you can head over to Dragalevtsi for lunch at Victoria Pizza, a smoky but kid-friendly restaurant. If you want to walk off your lunch, find signs for nearby Sartana Hotel. Once you pass the Sartana, continue going upwards until you reach a dead end. Park here. This is where you can pick up the only push-friendly path I know of for hiking on Mount Vitosha.
Puppet Players and Lunch at McDonalds.
The Central Puppet Theatre operates on some Friday nights but mostly on Saturday and Sunday afternoons. Productions are in Bulgarian, but kids don't seem to care because the costumes are creative and the actors are engaging. We were intrigued by the interaction of live performers and puppet characters. WARNING: Many Western parents find the story lines very violent and quite scary for children under four. Lunch around the corner at McDonalds, the most kid-friendly restaurant on earth.
Additional Resources:
- The British Council - www.britishcouncil.org/bulgaria
- Kempinski Atama Sports Centre - Phone: 962-0999
- The Central Puppet Theatre - www.puppets-bg.com. Located at 14 Gurko Street.
Park Play, Book Browsing and Lunch at "Dani's in disguise."
If a stroll in the park, browsing for books and a delicious warm lunch sounds appetising, visit Doctors' Garden between Shipka Street and Oborishte Street. The park is slowly being upgraded and contains one of the safest playgrounds in the city (with most of the swings intact). It is located directly across from the British Council library, an English language literary lifeboat.
Yes, there are some bookshops that have some English books in Sofia but that is a time-consuming hunt and gather exercise. Contrary to popular belief, the American Centre does not maintain a library for public use. They have only a small, mostly online, research facility and require users to register through security and the library co-ordinator. So if you really want English selections, The British Council is it.
They offer something for everyone in the family. They have a small children's book section including a large number of "how-to-read" books; a nice magazine assortment covering home and garden, military history and arts and theatre topics; and a variety of videos from the BBC and elsewhere - everything from documentaries and travel videos to general entertainment choices.
The latest addition to the library is a "Dani's in disguise" located in the basement. Owned and operated by the same proprietors of Dani's, Sofia's best sandwich shop, the restaurant is merely referred to as a cafe in the basement. Due to some sort of licensing restriction, they cannot advertise as Dani's, but you will find all the same delicious menu choices available at half the price of the main restaurant.
Membership rates are reasonable at 27 leva for full membership that includes books, video, periodicals, and the CD music collection. WARNING: Bring a passport size photo and your identity papers along with your money to obtain membership, otherwise, you will have to make another trip to accomplish this task.
Swimming and Bowling at Kid-friendly Kempinski Hotel Zografski
The Atama Sports Centre at the Kempinski is the closest thing you'll find to a real recreation centre in Sofia. You can drop by for a swim or a game of bowling anytime from 10am to 10pm. They have a large indoor heated pool, a five-lane bowling alley and a snack bar area on the first floor. (The upstairs areas for weight lifting, massage and suntan treatment are not recommended for children.)
You may pay on a per-visit basis and rates are reasonable (swimming for adults at 10 leva, and eight leva for children under 12). The Diplomatic Club offers comparable activities but membership is restricted, incredibly expensive (you cannot pay on a per-visit basis) and the atmosphere is adult-oriented. Currently, the Kempinski is offering a special promotion for swimming from 10am to 6pm daily for six leva. And if you want your children to learn from the best, three former members of the Bulgarian National Swimming Team offer 12 lessons for 98 leva.
Mind Expansion at the Museum and a Pushchair-friendly Hike in Dragalevtsi
The National History Museum is impressive in size and form. Its collections range from prehistoric times to nineteenth century revival exhibits. It's the perfect venue to tire out your toddlers, engage your teenagers and take a leisurely stroll with babies. On the second floor you will find a special children's exhibition, which usually includes some hands-on learning activity. The displays include English language descriptions and parking is conveniently located in front of the building.
Next you can head over to Dragalevtsi for lunch at Victoria Pizza, a smoky but kid-friendly restaurant. If you want to walk off your lunch, find signs for nearby Sartana Hotel. Once you pass the Sartana, continue going upwards until you reach a dead end. Park here. This is where you can pick up the only push-friendly path I know of for hiking on Mount Vitosha.
Puppet Players and Lunch at McDonalds.
The Central Puppet Theatre operates on some Friday nights but mostly on Saturday and Sunday afternoons. Productions are in Bulgarian, but kids don't seem to care because the costumes are creative and the actors are engaging. We were intrigued by the interaction of live performers and puppet characters. WARNING: Many Western parents find the story lines very violent and quite scary for children under four. Lunch around the corner at McDonalds, the most kid-friendly restaurant on earth.
Additional Resources:
- The British Council - www.britishcouncil.org/bulgaria
- Kempinski Atama Sports Centre - Phone: 962-0999
- The Central Puppet Theatre - www.puppets-bg.com. Located at 14 Gurko Street.
