Sofia Day Tour – Find Peace in Borisova Garden
One of the highlights of any Sofia day tour is a peaceful walk in Borisova Gradina Park, which is Sofia’s largest and oldest park. Locals also call it Boris’ Garden or sometimes Central Park. It lies between Eagle’s Bridge (Orlov Most) and Vasil Levski Stadium, which is close to the city centre. Visitors can relax, walk, and enjoy nature in the heart of Bulgaria’s capital.
History of the Garden
Borisova Gradina was created soon after Bulgaria’s liberation from Ottoman rule in 1878. A Swiss gardener named Daniel Neff designed it in 1882 and then started building it in 1884. Originally, the garden was a tree and flower nursery. Neff planted oak trees, fruit trees, acacias, and flowerbeds.
By 1885, it started to look like a real public park. At that time it reached 300,000 square metres. In 1886, it already had four main walking alleys, and in 1889, a large artificial lake was also added. Later, Knyaz Ferdinand ordered planting of more diverse trees like sycamores, ash, birch, and forest oaks.
Garden Development and Later Experts
Other two experts shaped the park after Neff: Joseph Frei and Georgi Duhtev. Each one of them respected the previous gardener’s work and improved it with passion and new ideas. As a result, this cooperation helped make Borisova Gradina the most beautiful and cared-for park in Sofia. Today, it still feels natural and magical, despite the urban development around it.
Enjoy it as part of your Sofia day trips.
A Quiet Place in the Busy City
With heavy traffic and busy streets, Sofia certainly needs green spaces to help people relax. That’s why Borisova Gradina is called “the lungs of Sofia.”
It has tennis courts, playgrounds, restaurants, monuments, and walking paths. But it still feels peaceful.
Even the large stadiums nearby—Vasil Levski National Stadium and Bulgarian Army Stadium—do not break its calmness.
This is the place where you can rest, breathe fresh air, and feel time stop. It’s great for walking, reading, as well as for playing, or just sitting on a bench.
Contact us to include it in your tour.
Don’t Miss It on Your Sofia Day Tour
If you want to enjoy both nature and history, Borisova Garden is the perfect place.
Your Sofia day tour can include monuments from the Socialist era, sports areas, and peaceful green corners. This garden is where locals go to relax, and it can be your peaceful escape too. Make sure to include the park in your visit to Sofia. You’ll leave feeling refreshed and happy.
Plan a tour with us or check out our other tours. Ephesus tour guide in Turkey is something different from Sofia and Bulgaria but it’s an opportunity for you to explore an ancient place. Istanbul and private Bosphorus tours is another option to continue your journey!
