Where you choose to live in Sofia depends on your personal needs, budget and other important factors, such as proximity to work and/or school. We can give you some basic information on the most popular neighborhoods expats are choosing, so that you have a foundation to start your search for a new home. (See general map overview of these areas) The most common neighborhoods among expats are Boyana, Dragalevtsi, Simeonovo and Bistritsa. They are all villages located on the south side of Sofia, outside the Ring Road at the foot of Vitosha Mountain. Though they began as villages, they are now more like residential areas, or suburbs, all with simple central squares. In general, older houses have charming gardens, sometimes with fruit trees and outdoor fireplaces. The new houses are being built more and more to Western European standards. Most of these places have nice views, either toward the city, forest or mountain. Streets in general are in poor condition, a problem that is common throughout Sofia. In general, urban planning is lacking or nonexistent, and this in turn affects all aspects of the general infrastructure in Sofia .

Boyana The traditional place where diplomats and Heads of State have their residential houses. The village possesses a small, beautiful church, the Boyana Church, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Not far from here is a new supermarket and a good swimming pool facility. The majority of the houses in this suburb are located in wooded areas; therefore, they are a bit more humid during rainy months than other neighborhoods but also cooler in the summer. Boyana lies on a steep area of the mountain, so small side streets can be difficult to drive on after heavy snows. For the same reason gardens tend to have a slope, so children will find it difficult to play football, nevertheless, in the winter they can have fun with a sleigh. Boyana is the only suburb with a “highway” (Bulgaria Boulevard) leading practically to the center of the village, making it very accessible to and from the city. This same boulevard connects with the Ring Road which circles Sofia. In our opinion this is a good location if you are looking for a green area and your work and children have activities located in the city center.

Dragalevtsi This village lies next to Boyana, but you will find that gardens are less steep and small streets, in general, are more accessible, provided you do not choose a house on the upper end of the village. It is a more open area than Boyana, so you can see a bit more of your surroundings. Dragalevtsi has a few good restaurants and a good 24 hour supermarket. At one of its hotels you can find a large swimming pool complex. Most of the new houses are being built near the Simeonovo side. Dragalevtsi is connected by two main roads to the city center; Cherni Vrah and Simeonovsko Shosse, the latter being wider and more accessible. Not far from Dragalevtsi square, (Ivan Alexander square) you will find the road that takes you to the Dragalevtsi Monastery and to the ski slopes. From here you can also find good trails for walks into the wooded hills above.

Simeonovo Lying next and below Dragalevtsi, Simeonovo has a flatter terrain than previous locations and also a wider view toward the mountain but less forest areas. Streets in general do not have big accessibility problems during winter if they are paved. In this area you will find only small size shops. Simeonovo is the closest to the ring road and is connected to the city through Simeonovo Shosse Boulevard. From this neighborhood you have a gondola that takes you to mount Vitosha (Aleko Station). You also have here some well-known, not too expensive hotels and restaurants. Simeonovo and Dragalevtsi are little further to the city than Boyana but closer to the schools like the AAS and the American College, which makes them an ideal location if you have children in these educational centers.