Hotels in Centrum, Sofia

I would highly recommend this hotel to anyone visiting Sofia for their vacation, as it is very close and walking distance to the popular tourist attractions and also you can travel easily to and from the Sofia airport. Moreover, the hotel allows contactless check-in and checkouts which are very easy to plan, but you should check your email about the instructions from the hotel near to the booking time. The hotel also has good customer service and is very willing to help.

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.

The hotel has an excellent location, right in the city center, within walking distance of major attractions and business districts. The rooms are very spacious, considered very roomy by European standards, fully equipped, clean, and the beds are comfortable. The staff are very friendly, and overall I was very satisfied with my stay. It's a relatively high-value five-star hotel in Sofia, although the facilities are somewhat dated.

The hotel's location is great, and it's a traditional Russian-style hotel. However, I might have booked a subpar room. It was small, the mattress was hard, and there was no air conditioning, so I woke up feeling hot in the middle of the night. I had to sleep with the window open. Also, the breakfast was just average. Since I only stayed one night in Bulgaria, I can't compare it to other hotels, but I'd say this hotel is equivalent to a 2-3 star in China.

Everything was excellent, except for the fact that parking had to be paid. I still cannot wrap my head around the fact that a 5-star hotel with private parking onsite is charging its guests a parking fee. Common sense is not very common in Bulgaria.

The hotel was amazing best i’ve ever stayed at It was our first anniversary and my girlfriend really loved the room and everyone was very nice and helpful we would definitely be back

In general, the hotel is very good, close to Vitosha blvd and city center and clean, Standard Double Room is spacious enough The continental breakfast is sufficent but is served in the lobby and it is very weird, also it is overpriced to my opinion (15 Euro/person) Hot water in the rooms on the higher floors starts after several minutes of waiting after opening the handle of the faucet I would rate it as good 3 star hotel rather than 4

📍 Location & Pricing • Location: Sofia, Bulgaria. Strategically located near the main transport hubs. • The metro station (coming from the airport) is very close.  • Tram stops are on the corner, and the main bus/train station is just a couple of blocks away.  • The city center is about 1.5 km away.  • Price Range: 79€/d. 🛏️ The Room Experience • Room Type: Twin room on the 11th floor.  • Size & Cleanliness: Adequate size and clean.  • Bed: 110cm firm mattress, reported to be very comfortable, with two soft pillows.  • Amenities: Flat-screen TV, coffee maker, fridge, and hairdryer included.  • Drawbacks: No major issues mentioned. 🚽 Bathroom Details • Cleanliness & Setup: The bathroom was clean.  • Shower/Bath: High and slippery bathtub. Water pressure was very good.  • Products & Towels: Basic amenities were provided. Some towels showed signs of wear with frayed edges.  🍳 Food & Beverage • Included: Yes, breakfast was included.  • Variety & Quality: A very complete breakfast buffet, offering both hot and cold, sweet and savory options, including some local specialties.  • Negative Point: The only drawback was the juice, which tasted artificial, like a powdered mix.  🏊 Common Areas & Facilities • Facilities: The hotel features a spa, sauna, indoor pool, a restaurant, a cocktail bar, and a ******.  👨💼 Service Evaluation • Reception: Morning staff was serious. Evening staff seemed bothered by questions regarding the spa.  • Cocktail Bar: Staff here was very kind and friendly.  • Spa Staff: Described as serious, speaking only the bare minimum of words.  • Daily Housekeeping: Room cleaning was minimal; they only straightened the duvet, leaving the pillows as they were. Coffee and tea amenities were not replenished.  🚗 Transport & Access • Public Transport: Excellent connection. Very close to the metro line from the airport, with tram stops nearby and the main stations within walking distance.  🔐 Security • Access Control: Access is managed via a key card.  • Safe: There is no safe deposit box in the room.  Final Verdict: ✔ Top Strength: The super comfortable bed combined with the excellent location near major transport links (metro, bus, train). ❌ Main Drawback: The service was inconsistent, particularly the minimal housekeeping (no coffee/tea refill) and the unenthusiastic staff at reception and the spa.

The hotel was clean and tidy, everything was great, the only minor issue was the difficulty in adjusting the air conditioning in the room.