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."

"This is the best hotel in Europe in this price range. It is located in the best place in the city center of Sofia, walkable to various kind of restaurants of all kinds. 5 minutes walk to subway station. The hotel room is huge and provided with adequate amenities. Not to mention the high standard of services , staff are friendly and endeavor to help."

"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."

"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."

"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"

"Breakfast is good enough. Stuff is polite and I got a better room for free because the one first given to me was noisy because of the elevator."

"The hotel is in Sofía city center, 5 mins away from the metro station, ideal for budget travelers. The only disadvantage of this hotel is all the rooms are not soundproof, you can hear what others do in their room"

"I recently stayed at the Sofia Novotel and overall had a pleasant experience. The rooms were very clean and well-maintained, providing a comfortable space to unwind after a busy day. The beds were perfect—not too firm and not too soft, ensuring a great night’s sleep. The hotel’s location is fantastic, situated just across the street from a shopping mall, which made it incredibly convenient for dining, shopping, and entertainment. The staff were friendly and helpful, always ready to assist with a smile. The breakfast was excellent, offering a good variety of fresh and tasty options to start the day. The only downside was the gym, which is quite small and lacks heavy free weights and a pull-up bar. While it’s fine for a basic workout, those looking for a more comprehensive fitness setup might be disappointed. All in all, Sofia Novotel is a great choice for its location, comfort, and service, but fitness enthusiasts might find the gym facilities limited. I would definitely stay here again!"