Why Sofia, Bulgaria’s Capital, Shout Be On Your Travel Radar

It feels a touch unjust that Sofia is only now shuffling into public consciousness for reasons that are good to know about but completely unsexy. Last year, Bulgaria was finally absorbed into the EU’s Schengen Area, instantly making it easier to incorporate a visit into a broader European itinerary. This January, the nation adopted the euro, streamlining the travel process further.

Go ahead and visit the capital, though, and you’ll tell friends much more interesting stories. At over 7,000 years old, Sofia is one of the world’s longest-standing cities. Amble from the gargantuan, copper-domed neo-Byzantine Alexander Nevsky Cathedral and you’ll bypass cobbled bouleva...