One of Sofia’s greatest assets is the proximity of Mount Vitosha, a 2290-metre-high ridge of pine forests and rocky uplands that hovers majestically above the city’s southern suburbs. Boasting a plethora of marked trails through the woods and an abundance of open heathland around the summit, it’s the perfect place for picnics, short rambles or ambitious day-long hikes. Best of all it’s easily accessible from the apartment as the cable car is a mere 70 metres from the complex!

Vitosha nature park - the River of Boulders.

 The most obvious part of the mountain to head for is Aleko, which lies just below Vitosha’s highest point, “Black Peak” or Cherni Vruh. If the cable car is not operating (closed on Mondays) you can still get to Aleko by car or taxi.
Once you get to Aleko, the 50-minute walk to Cherni Vruh takes you through a stunning landscape of upland meadows, stunted conifers and granite boulders. The bare plateau stretching west from Cherni Vruh is a hauntingly beautiful place, covered in large part by a peat bog which supports all manner of wild flowers and insects. The bog itself is a protected area, but paths round either side give you a chance to savour this environment at its stark best.
Vitosha is also famous for its rock formations, some of which have volcanic origin whilst others have been formed as a result of climatic changes. Easily accessible is the Stone River, an awesome cascade of massive boulders deposited here by retreating glaciers several millennia ago. From the top of the Stone River, eastbound trails will bring you to Cherni Vruh in about 2-3 hours.
Due north, Sofia’s television tower (“Kopitoto”) spears up from a ridge overlooking the city. There’s a superb view from the terrace café of the nearby Kopitoto Hotel, which can be accessed by chair lift. 
Vitosha also offers walls for rock climbing in its Eastern part. The mountain is also popular with the longest cave in Bulgaria - Duhlata, which is 17.5 km long, sprawls on seven levels and six underground rivers run through it.

SOFIA                     HOME                    VLAS                  CONTACT