Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
( 811 9219;
www.nationaltheatre.bg
; ul Dyakon Ignatiy 5; ticket office
9.30am-7.30pm Mon-Fri, 11.30am-7.30pm Sat & Sun; 9)
One of Sofia's most elegant
buildings, the Viennese-style National Theatre opened in 1907, and is the city's main
stage for Bulgarian drama.
Red House
( 988 8188;
www.redhouse-sofia.org
; ul Lyuben Karavelov 15; ; 10)
Occupying
a unique, early 20th-century mansion, this avant-garde institution hosts everything from
political and cultural debates (in various languages) to poetry readings and dance perform-
ances. Many events are free; check the website for the current program. There's also a
hotel here.
ARTS CENTRE
Sport
Football (soccer) is Bulgaria's main sporting passion, and Sofia alone has four teams. The
main clubs are
CSKA
(
www.cska.bg
)
, which plays at the CSKA Stadium in Borisova
Gradina, and
PFC Levski,
(
www.levski.bg
)
based at the Georgi Asparoukhov Stadium
(bul Vladimir Vazov, Poduyane). Lokomotiv and Slavia are Sofia's two smaller teams.
No other spectator sport comes close to the popularity enjoyed by football, although
basketball has a keen, if relatively small, following. The main teams are
Lukoil Academ-
ic
(
www.lukoilacademic.net
)
and
Levski
(
www.levskibasket.com
)
.
Vasil Levski Stadium
(Borisova Gradina; National Stadium Vasil Levski)
This is the main venue for interna-
tional football matches, athletics and other big sporting events.
STADIUM
Shopping
Bul Vitosha is Sofia's main shopping street, mostly featuring international brand-name
boutiques interspersed with restaurants. More shops cluster along ul Graf Ignatiev, while
ul Pirotska is a central pedestrian mall lined with cheaper shops selling clothes, shoes and
household goods. There are also a few big modern shopping malls, housing international
fashion chains, cinemas and supermarkets. Street stalls and markets are the best places to
seek souvenirs.
