Borisova Gradina

The basics

Founded in 1884, Borisova Gradina has something to offer travelers year-round. The northern end, with the stadiums, feels more like a conventional city park, but as you head south away from the center, the terrain becomes wilder and the forest landscape takes over. In the winter, Ariana Lake transforms into an enormous ice rink, covered by a tent; at warmer times of year, attractions include tennis courts, a formal rose garden, and a lily pond.

Things to know before you go

• Borisova Gradina is a great choice for runners, walkers, nature lovers, ice skaters, and families alike.

• There are a number of places to eat inside the park, mostly at the busier northern end.

• Borisova Gradina’s northern end is more accessible for visitors using wheelchairs and strollers than the southern end.

How to get there

Borisova Gradina sprawls southeast of the city center, beginning about a 0.5-mile (800-meter) walk south of Alexander Nevsky Cathedral. For the northern end and the stadiums, catch the metro to Vasil Levski Stadium (M1); for the eastern end and the Mound of Brotherhood, you can take the #76 bus; for Sofia Zoo and the southern end, bus options include #120, #122, and #102.

When to get there

Borisova Gradina is open 24 hours daily, but not all areas are lit after dark. While the winter holiday season is a great time to skate around the ice rink, for most travelers mid-May to mid-September is the sweet spot. The rose garden is at its loveliest in June.

Getting out into nature around Sofia

Sofia is one of Europe’s greenest capitals, and you’re rarely far from a park when walking around the city. But it’s also rewarding to head a bit outside of town. Vitosha Mountain, just south of the city, offers waterfall hikes, snowshoeing, mountain biking, and nature walks. On the far southeastern edge of the city, Vrana Palace (Park-Museum Vrana), the site of the regal grounds Bulgaria’s royal family once enjoyed, is open to visitors every weekend.