I will be spending 4 days in Sofia, Bulgaria next week and am interested in ideas for sites. I understand that I should see the Rila monastery. Are there quaint towns nearby? Museums?

Thank you!

Two hours away by train lies Plovdiv, second city of Bulgaria. Founded by the son of Alexander the Great, it has three roman fora, one in use, a mosque, some museums, and houses and schools connected with the growth of Bulgarian national feeling against the Turks about 1860. A good site is http://www.bulgaria.com/plovdiv/index.html, though it dates from 1996

A buffet car train leaves Sofia at 0640 and reaches Plovdiv at 0850. A restauirant Car train leaves Sofia at 1010 and reaches Plovdiv at 1238. A buffet car train leaves Plovdiv at 1948 and reaches Sofia at 2200.

Sofia has less to show, but the national museum does have a fine treasury of gold and silver jewellery. A useful site is http://www.sofia.com/sightseeing/, though it dates from 1997.

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I will also be travelling to Sofia from November 11 to the 14. I do not yet have a hotel reservation and wonder if anyone has some recommendations for moderately priced hotels. I will be meeting friends there but staying alone in the hotel so I dont want any place that might not be safe.

Thanks.

HOW WAS SOFIA?
I will be going to Sofia for 3 weeks, arriving on DEC 3. Did you find an inexpensive but safe hotel? Got any tips for us?
Thanks,
Tom Strickland

http://www.sofiahotels.net/