Sofia is one of the oldest cities in Europe with ruins spread across the city center. It was founded because of the quality of its mineral waters. In the city alone there are 7 independent mineral water springs. One of the springs is in the central area of the city and is accessible for everybody - cross the square behind the mosque, next to TSUM (the intersection of Iskar and Ekzarh Yosif streets).
In the administrative center of Sofia the streets are covered with a specific yellow pavement. It was laid in the beginning of the 20th century and were a present to the Bulgarian Tsar Ferdinand for his wedding from the Austria-Hungarian royal family.

Popular attractions:
National Assembly of Bulgaria: 2 Narodno Sabranie Sq.

SS. Cyril and Methodius National Library: 88 Vasil Levski Str., 08:30 to 20:30.

National Palace of Culture: 1 Bulgaria Sq., The biggest congress center in the Balkans (a massive monolithic communist-style building). If asking for directions, ask for NDK (en-de-ka), as most Bulgarians refer to it by this acronym.

Central Military Club: It's a multi-purpose monument of culture building in the city center.

Museums:
National Museum of Military History: 92 Cherkovna Str., 10.00 to 18.00.

Ethnographic Institute with Museum: 6A Moskovska Str., Has a permanent collection of traditional Bulgarian costumes as well as a changing exhibition.

Earth and Man National Museum: 4 Cherni Vruh Blvd. 10.00 to 18.00. 2 leva.

National Museum of History: 16 Vitoshko lale str. (Take trolley #2 southwest from the corner of Praga Blvd. and Patriarch Eftimi Blvd. Get off at the roundabout at the end of the bus line. Cross the busy Okolovrustino Shosse (ring road) and walk through the trees. The museum is not visible from the road, nor are there any signs.). The National Museum of History in Sofia contains more than 650,000 exhibits and is one of the largest history museums on the Balkans. The aim of the museum is to provide a comprehensive view on Bulgarian history from the prehistory to present, in as broad an European context as possible. Be prepared to spend several hours as the museum is quite large. About half of the exhibits have English captions. 4 leva.

Galleries:
National Gallery for Foreign Art: 1 St. Aleksander Nevsky Square. 11:00 to 18:00. 4 leva.

National Art Gallery: 1 Batenberg Sq. Has old Bulgarian art, icons, etc. 4 leva.

Sofia Art Gallery: 1, Gen. Gurko Str. (The entrance is from Kniaz Al. Batenberg Str.). 10:00 to 19:00. free.

Sofia City Art Gallery:1, General Gurko St.