Scenic Hotels in Sofia

"Having stayed in many 5 star hotels across the world, I had high hopes for the Sofia Balkan Palace, that unfortunately were only partially met. First let’s cover the good points! It feels historic without being old, and you feel like you’re really in Sofia. The best thing about the property is easily the location; it’s close to all the main tourist attractions, and there are good transport links right by the hotel, as well as access to some fantastic restaurants, coffee shops, and stores. The hotel rooms are modern and relatively clean, with the usual amenities. However, I was disappointed that housekeeping kept forgetting to replenish the complimentary daily water, as well as pay attention to the ‘Do Not Disturb’ light that I had selected for my room on a few days during my visit. I would say that one of the downsides is the customer service; although staff aren’t rude, I wouldn’t say they’re polite or overly helpful. The hotel has average soundproofing, and I was far too aware of the music outside, my neighbouring guests talking or listening to music in their rooms, as well as guests in the hallway (which is in part due to the layout of my room, which did not have an additional door between the bedroom and front door into the room). The noise outside does lessen and stop by about 11:00 PM, and sometimes by 10:00 PM (depending on the day). Overall, I’d still say it’s a good choice for your stay in Sofia. Especially if your priority is staying in a historical boutique hotel in a good location."

"Excellent hotel located right in the city center, a short walk from Serdica metro station. The room was spacious and comfortable, with very large beds. The green marble bathroom was beautiful."

"It is a very beautiful hotel inside out. What does not make this hotel great is the poor service of at least two sections of the hotel from my personal experience. Number one disappointment is the Beauty Salon. I made an appointment for meniscus at 16:30 on September 22. I showed up on time only to be told by the receptionist that the appointment is at 16:45. I told her that is not true and in fact I confirmed it with her twice. It was apparent that someone cut into the line and from our conversation I know she knew it as well. Yet, she was lying through her teeth that is totally beyond me. The worst was yet to come, I was told when I came down again at 16:45, I had to wait for another 20 minutes. That is the end of the story. Second incident is at the “well known” restaurant Mediterra. To make a long story shot, the Greek style calamari I ordered looked as well as tasted like burned wood log. To the main course “beef cheeks” the only thing I could think about it is what I once tasted on a Lufthansa flight business class section is 10 times better. Other than that I had a very pleasant stay and the receptionists are extremely friendly and helpful. I should also add the location of the hotel is very convenient and has easy access to all the main attractions."

"I traveled to Sofia as a solo female traveler and chose this guesthouse because I love old houses with character. This place not only had the best location but also many lovely touches. It was clean, with tea, coffee, and snacks in the kitchen for everyone to enjoy. I didn’t sit in the garden since the weather was cold, but I was delighted to be greeted by the cats whenever I went out or came back. The friendly neighborhood also made me feel very welcomed. I look Asian, don’t speak the language, and traveled alone, yet at no point did I feel unwelcome or unsafe. I’d definitely stay here again if I visit Sofia in the future."

"Stayed at InterContinental Sofia during a business trip and had a great experience. The hotel is in an excellent location in the center of Sofia, close to major landmarks, restaurants, and business areas. The room was spacious, clean, and very comfortable. Staff were professional and attentive, and the overall service quality was impressive. Breakfast was also excellent with a good variety of choices. A very comfortable and reliable option when staying in Sofia."

"The hotel's location is truly central in Sofia. It's close to the main business district, and Vitosha Blvd, with all its restaurants, is within walking distance. I had no complaints about the hotel facilities; they were perfectly satisfactory. I personally opted for a breakfast-included plan, but I would have appreciated a bit more variety, especially with salads and other vegetables."

"We stayed at Crowne Plaza Sofia for one night on 13 June after receiving recommendations from friends who regularly stay at this hotel. Unfortunately, our experience was extremely disappointing. We booked two rooms for three adults and two children and specifically asked for rooms close to each other. This request was completely ignored. Not only were the rooms not adjacent, they were located on different floors. Since the elevator access cards only work for your own floor, we could not even easily visit each other. Check-in was incredibly slow. Two receptionists spent around 20 minutes checking us in, which is something I have never experienced before. Before going to the pool, we called reception and asked for children’s bathrobes. The receptionist, whose name I believe was Tsvetomira, first insisted that the bathrobes were already in the room and then abruptly ended the phone conversation. The level of customer service was unacceptable. The children’s bathrobes finally arrived about an hour later, after we had already gone to the pool and no longer needed them. The swimming pool experience was by far the worst part of our stay. I strongly advise families with children to think twice before using it. The pool is apparently shared with external visitors who come specifically for training sessions. In a relatively small pool with no physical lane dividers, they expected hotel guests, including young children, to stay out of “their area”. My four-year-old daughter was hit in the head by one of the swimmers. He later claimed that she was on “his side” of the pool. Instead of apologizing, some people present suggested that I was “probably not European” and therefore did not understand “European Union rules”. Such comments were completely unacceptable and felt openly discriminatory. When the pool manager was called, nothing meaningful was done because these swimmers were apparently regular users of the facility. I then spoke with a receptionist, again I believe her name was Tsvetomira, who tried to explain that invisible lines marked on the bottom of the pool should have been respected by our children, despite there being no actual lane dividers. Rather than showing concern for a four-year-old child who had just been hurt and was crying, the staff chose to defend regular pool users. This was easily one of the worst hotel experiences I have had in the last ten years. What shocked me the most was not the accident itself, but the complete lack of empathy, accountability and professionalism afterwards. Families with children should be extremely careful. Based on our experience, I cannot recommend this hotel."

"We chose this hotel because it is close to the airport and offers an airport shuttle service. Unfortunately, all the shuttles that matched our flight time were fully booked, so we had to take a taxi to the airport ourselves. Other than that, the hotel was clean, the beds were comfortable, and the breakfast was good."