The National Palace of Culture in Sofia is a beautiful and impressive building that is a focal point for locals and tourists alike. It is surrounded by a lovely park with green spaces and plenty of cafes and seating areas. The park is a popular spot for people to meet up with friends or simply relax and enjoy the atmosphere. The building itself is quite large and spacious, with multiple halls and a main hall that is especially impressive. It hosts a variety of events and activities, including concerts, festivals, exhibitions, and more. The grounds are well-maintained and there are water fountains, a lion statue, a church, and even a fragment of the Berlin Wall. The National Palace of Culture is conveniently located next to a metro station and is within walking distance of other central points in the city. While the building is a must-see, it is worth noting that the toilets could be cleaner. Overall, it is a stunning place filled with life and is definitely worth a visit when in Sofia.
Address:
Bulevard "Bulgaria", Sofia
Phone:
+359 2 916 6300
Comment
20.08.23
Alexandru
Sofia is so joyful and the people are so nice! Everyone said otherwise until I visited it myself. The building looks really impressive even though it gives a cold vibe. Beautiful
28.07.23
Carole
Nice green space with lots of cafes and seating areas close to Vitosha Boulevard. Busy at the weekends much quieter during the week. Next to the Hilton where I stayed so passed through it a lot. Has its own metro station.
10.07.23
Joe
Large popular park that seems to be focal point for meeting or hanging out with friends. Lots of benches around, as well as grassy areas to rest or relax. Huge cultural building, water fountains, lion statue, church and a Berlin Wall fragment.
Ha.. Read more »s its own metro station
10.06.23
Chrysa
It is a multi-purpose place, quite big and spacious. A beautiful park is around it, with lots of cafeterias, planty of green and enough peace, that you don't feel the traffic. The park with this building is right next to the central pedestrian s.. Read more »treet, 5-10 minutes walking from other central points of the city. Nice view from the balcony at the 7th floor. The only negative point that I noticed, is that the toilets could have been a bit more clear.
18.02.23
Zdravka
One of my favourite buildings in Sofia. A soc which place is unique and is very popular for concerts with famous international and Bulgarian artists, ice skating spectacles, ballet, festivals (the book festival every December), cinema festivals, exh.. Read more »ibitions, and many more activities and entertainments. Huge place, with many halls and the main hall is epic. It’s a bit old and needs restoration. The toilets are new at least.
09.10.22
Diana
The National Palace of Culture is hard to miss and a must see when in Sofia. Its a brain child of Lyudmila Zhivkova - both daughter of one of Bulgaria prime ministers and senior member of the Communist party is now a convention centre. I haven’.. Read more »t managed to get and see inside but have been told is impressive as outside.
Grounds are beautiful with fountain, pedestrian friendly and plenty of spaces to rest your feet and admire this architecture.
19.08.22
Diogo
Stunning place filled with life around. There was a small market nearby when I visit, people just chilling, reading, having a drink, skaters, tourists. It packs everything and it's super central. I would definitely recommend a visit to the area .. Read more »if you re in Sofia.
13.08.22
G.
it looks like the main building is permanently closed and no one tells you about it. we asked a waiter in a near café and they said it’s years since it was closed. google says it’s always open but it’s not. Nevertheless, the .. Read more »area around it is very nice, green everywhere and fountains
29.07.22
Karla
A great park for enjoy the evening and very close of Vitosha street, which is super popular. The fountains are amazing and around it there’s some coffees and in the evening the skaters go around. The place have a great vibe
30.06.22
Wafi
A huge and impressive structure, next to the park full of seating areas along the avenue of water fountains. With cafes all around. Near Metro station and Vitosha Avenue...to walk around and just sitting and injoy it.. you sure must visit this site. .. Read more »In the underground floor a nice bar with a hall of pool tables and snooker.?
11.06.22
Petya
Really nice park and gardens in front of the National Palace of Culture. Great place to hang out with friends!!
31.05.22
Wafi
A huge and impressive structure, next to the park full of seating areas along the avenue of water fountains. With cafes all around. Near Metro station and Vitosha Avenue...to walk around and just sitting and injoy it.. you sure must visit this site
27.05.22
Georges
The National Palace of Culture is a very large building that was opened in 1981. It's a large meeting and congress center which is also used as a major venue for concerts. The building's architecture is not atypical of that era. It uses siz.. Read more »e to impress. Where the building fails, the landscaping of the area in front of it is memorable because it makes the best of its wide open space and of the water fountains that adorn it. This open space is also used for temporary popular exhibitions.
05.05.22
Dog
Great place for events. The organization is just a bit messy and all the workers seems quite confused and not very well informed about the conditions of their job.
27.04.22
David
I've had the chance to actually enter NDK and visit all the floors. The inside is very clean, spacious, intimidating, and simply, beautiful. There are wonderful lamps and structures also, and most importantly, the view from every floor is... bre.. Read more »athtaking. Should you have the opportunity to enter, don't miss it. The park around it is also wow.
13.03.22
ASHRAF
A great place to spend a wonderful day with yourself or with friends and loved ones, you can also attend some events inside and visit the city center. The garden in front of the building is more than wonderful, especially when the sun is clear, and i.. Read more »t connects to VI Tosha Street - a pedestrian street full of shops and restaurants. I really liked Turkish restaurants and one of the most famous places nearby is the Love Bridge (the meeting place for loved ones)
31.12.21
Petya
Beautiful place, with the gardens and fou rains I front, perfect for a tourists to have a walk and feel the vibe of the city.
23.12.21
Sara
Very nice atmosphere! The waitress super kind. I loved the cocktails and the music!
10.11.21
Patric
Depending what is going on inside, it can be really interesting or as today, slightly boring. Be sure to check what is going on before visiting.
22.10.21
me
Very impressive theatre. Seats need refurbishment but the theatre has a good size stage. The area around the Palace is very enjoyable with a park, restaurants and cafe.
25.09.21
Valentin
Great place to walk around with friends or if you're visiting the city. There are events inside almost every day. The park just infront of the building is beautiful, connects to boulevard Vitosha - pedestrianized street full of shops and restaur.. Read more »ants. The bridge of love can also be found nearby.
16.09.21
Ramona
This place has some of magic energy
Maybe because of the history of it or because of the place.
But if you want to be in nice and famous place in Sofia center,you have to visit.
Enjoy
05.09.21
klouna
Pretty Nice And Beautiful Building, I havent visited it since 2014, hope ill get the chance to look it up again!
30.06.21
Blue
Its a great place to take photos and hang out with friends. There are interesting events and such inside the building every once in a while, but the outside is generally more interesting. The big fountains and giant plaza are a welcome sight in such .. Read more »an otherwise gray and dusty city center.
30.06.21
Gergana
Amazing photos spot in Sofia , also there is always something happening there , either in the National palace of culture or in the park in front or in the nearby bars :)
21.06.21
Gene
Impressive building surrounded with nice park with fountains. The BNR Children's Choir 60 years anniversary concert was amazing
19.06.21
Bingle
They do great shows there and the place is gorgeous inside and outside. It gives Sofia a great sense of richness in culture. It's a little sad however that the mayor doesn't seem to be putting enough money into maintaining the beauty of it.
09.03.21
Lex
Well, while not the winner of any building beauty contests, this piece of socialist architecture has become just another landmark of the city. Dominating one of Sofia's numerous parks, this is your selfie spot if you want to let people know your.. Read more » are here. The building houses many exhibitions, a concert hall and several meeting halls. In the park surrounding it you may find many spots to rest yourself on your walk through the city, you can enjoy beautiful fountains or take a selfie with the Sofia sign and in some time, maybe the building will stop looking so disgusting to you :)
07.03.21
Eram
Wonderful iconic place in Sofia. Must visit. Main hall attracts major worldwide venues.
09.12.20
Ιωαννης
The National Palace of Culture (Национален дворец на културата, Natsionalen dvorets na kulturata; abbreviated as НДК, NDK), located in Sofia, the capital of Bulgaria, is the largest, multifunctional conference and e.. Read more »xhibition centre in south-eastern Europe. It was opened in 1981 in celebration of Bulgaria's 1300th anniversary.
18.11.20
nikita
Nice place overall, but you have to be lucky to avoid big groups of people.
27.10.20
Ognian
Built during socialism, it is the largest congress center in Southeast Europe. It is now used mainly for cultural events. The building is very interesting and the place is always very lively.
13.09.20
Petko
Best Hall for big events, gatherings, meetings, concerts etc...
07.09.20
Zdenko
The building is not fully in function, but fountains and bars around it makes it a grat spot in city!
07.09.20
Emilian
THE go-to place for tourists!
23.08.20
Vinh
The National Palace of Culture (Национален дворец на културата, Natsionalen dvorets na kulturata; abbreviated as НДК, NDK), located in Sofia, the capital of Bulgaria, is the largest, multifunctional conference and exhibition centre in south-eastern E.. Read more »urope. It was opened in 1981 in celebration of Bulgaria's 1300th anniversary.
The centre was initiated at the suggestion of Lyudmila Zhivkova, daughter of the communist leader of the former People's Republic of Bulgaria Todor Zhivkov. The project was designed by a team of Bulgarian and foreign architects led by Alexander Georgiev Barov (1931–1999) along with Ivan Kanazirev. The landscaping of Bulgaria Square in front of the National Palace of Culture was designed by another team of architects and landscape engineers, led by Atanas Agura. Internally, the building exhibits a unified style, employing an octagonal motif and heavy, dark colours. Large bright murals depicting historical figures and events cover the main wall of many of the smaller halls.
During the '90s, immediately following the change of the political model in the country, the NDK lost a significant portion of its property, including infrastructure, commercial areas, and car parks. Since 2011, the NDK has been restructured into a commercial company, but it remains a state property. It is self-sustaining, receiving no subsidies. The first public financial report of the Palace was released in 2012. A substantial part of the revenues are invested annually in new projects and its own cultural events.
The Festival and Congress Centre (FCC) is the Varna branch of the NDK. It was founded in 1986 and it is gradually becoming the center of some of the most prestigious events in the field of art and culture. FCC is host to artistic events and festivals, scientific meetings, seminars, and more. FCC is the face of Bulgaria when it comes to prestigious international congress organizations such as ICCA, EFCT, AIPC and it is included in the only pan-European network of cinemas, Europe Cinema, in the European Union (EU).
In July 2005, the National Palace of Culture was proclaimed the best congress centre in the world for the year by the International Organization of Congress Centres.
The conference centre is equipped to host a variety of events, including concerts, multilingual conferences, exhibitions, and shows. It has an area of 123,000 square meters on eight floors and three underground levels. The National Palace of Culture has 13 halls and 15,000 square meters of exhibition area, a trade centre and a car park. The main hall can seat over 3,000 people.
The Sofia International Film Festival takes place in the NDK.
Excerpt from Wikipedia
19.08.20
Mad
Is good for skating, although it feels unsafe since gypsies go there, once this gypsy started chasing me and asking me for money during the night, I suggest you go with friends
14.08.20
Michelle
Nice place to hang out, it's a unique landmark which makes it extremely easy to organise a meet-up.
25.07.20
Бранимир
Nice place for different type of events and nice panorama from the top
20.07.20
Киви
Amazing building representing the socialistic style of architecture. One of the treasures in Sofia with amazing fountains in front. Amazing park as well to chill and relax.
18.02.19
Vivok
It was really great. I went to a jazz night. It was very nice. I liked a lot my cocktail too. The atmosphere was very cozy.
4.6 / 73
