The Socialist Art Museum is a small but interesting museum located in Sofia. It consists of a single room with around two dozen paintings, with one standout piece that is definitely worth seeing. Additionally, there is a sculpture garden outside the museum that can be viewed without a ticket. The museum is not very big, but it is still worth a quick visit. It was not busy when visited on a weekend, and tickets can be purchased with a bank card. The museum is full of different statues from the Soviet era, and there is also an indoor exhibit featuring posters and manifests from the 60s to the collapse of the Soviet Union. The museum offers a unique opportunity to learn more about the communist period, with an interesting and informative video on socialist propaganda. The sculpture park is particularly atmospheric and showcases diverse sculptures from around the eastern bloc. However, some visitors have found the indoor gallery with paintings to be underwhelming and not as extensive as expected. Overall, the museum is a great way to spend an afternoon and is easily accessible via the nearby GM Dimitrov train station.
Comment
26.07.23
Matthias
The museum consists of a single room with two dozen paintings. One of the paintings was worth seeing. Then there is the sculpture garden which one can view without a ticket.
Not enough considering the effort to get there.
20.07.23
Anton
Nice little museum, outside you can find sculptures and inside they have mostly paintings and propaganda pamphlets.
It's not that big but interesting enough to give it a quick visit.
It was not busy in the weekend and you can buy tickets by ba.. Read more »nk card.
03.11.22
Matteo
Very good museum, full of tons of different statues from the Soviet era! There’s also an indoor exhibit with different posters and manifests from the 60s to the collapse of the Soviet Union! Definitely worth a visit!
15.10.22
楊儒
Very nice place to see sculptures and you are you fan of socialist ….
Museum is Quite small ~ but workers are so friendly
03.10.22
Colleen
Didn't go inside museum, but wandered the gardens and it was very sureal. The oppression can be felt by this magnificent art.
11.09.22
Fern
A great place to learn more about the communist period, the video on socialist propaganda is interesting and informative, and there is plenty of art to see indoors and outdoors. The sculpture park is particularly atmospheric. For 6 leva it is a great.. Read more » way to spend an afternoon, and easy to access on the metro
05.08.22
Георги
The idea is great. The statues outside (free) are worth the trip. The video and paintings not so much. You have to pay and the place disappoints with how little there is to show to the visitors. Socialst art had much more and of greater quality than .. Read more »the one displayed inside.
16.07.22
Kostas
There not much to see. There are statuses and paintings for some communists leaders (most of them for Lenin and Dimitrov), for workers and some other paintings. You can see a half hour video from age of communism. Low cost ticket 6 BGN for adults and.. Read more » 3 BGN for others.
02.06.22
Mohammed
I'm very happy they still have this park in Sofia. Diverse sculptures from around the eastern bloc.
08.05.22
Taiani
The entrance of the museum is on the parking of the Ministry of culture.
Nice collection of sculptures from the communist era. The gallery with painting is almost needless.
If you appreciate the art from soviet regime you should go!
The nearest tr.. Read more »ain station is GM Dimitrov, 5 minutes walk.
10.04.22
Vlad
Surreal experience. A really wonderful place to visit.
17.03.22
Brian
A taxi ride out of Sofia centre (which is relatively inexpensive). The statues and sculpted pieces in the garden were interesting, the art collection was small but good. There is a film to watch in the gift shop. Worth a visit, put aside a couple of .. Read more »hours.
24.02.22
Sakura
Nice little museum. The CCCP statues are amazing. You can watch some propaganda films for 4 lev. The museums artwork collection was nice but they did not feature any propaganda posters.
23.02.22
Seif
i liked how the museum is structured,
part in park,
part inside building,
room for video and story telling
i like the stuff they just leave you alone enjoying the museum without any distraction or silly inquiries, even the ticket.. didn't ask fo.. Read more »r.
the art itself is unique on average from my lil point of view, i like the park the most.
i found the entrance hardly but it's okay we can deal with it. also some statues without badge or lil information. but i did enjoy.
08.01.22
Stéphane
There were interesting sculptures in the garden. Entry to the rest of the museum is cash only so i was refused access and can’t comment on the rest.
17.12.21
Veronica
Stunning conservation of sculptures. Crazy to find that amound of figures in just one garden however the maintenance of the place could be much better. The gallery was exhibiting a photography biennale and the stories were very impactful. Be mindful .. Read more »that the museum consists of the garden and one gallery, that’s it. There are no labels or historic info. The star which once was adorning the communist party headquarters in Sophia lays at the entrace of the garden, don’t miss it.
05.12.21
Pavel
Nice set of monuments with Lenin. But inner exposition is just photo exhibition not related to socialism.
18.11.21
Dina
Travel through time to reunite with the Cold War and communism’s key figures. Glad they kept these statues rather than destroy them, we can learn so much from history.
14.11.21
Diana
Brief exposition, the main attraction is the statue garden. Good for a quick visit, ticket price is fair
16.10.21
Stefano
A lot of statues and nice photo gallery
12.08.21
Jan
It was merely OK. 25-30 paintings in one room. A yard with decent amount of statues. That’s it. Considering the massive amount of art produced in the era, this was a disappointment.
30.06.21
Jan
Disappointed. There is not much to see. Many uninteresting statues, two dozens pantings of which I liked one, one historical propaganda movie and NO POSTERS at all.
30.05.21
Robin
Hard to find but worth your time
29.04.21
Yanitsa
Honestly, I was expecting more! However it’s an interesting getaway to the past! Nice yard suitable for kids!
20.11.20
jonas
Worth a visit. Entry is cheap and you can see some socialist art. Takes about 25min (+25min for the movie if interested about socialist propaganda)
27.09.20
Jan
It was a nice visit.
Interesting made us think and réalisé things.
What you want more.
24.09.20
Stefan
Great hour of history about after www2 era in bulgaria. Excelent prop movie and many posters and paintings inside museum. This is must see sofia attraction. Cover cost only 6 lev.
21.04.20
Kostas
You will see statues of the socialist era of Bulgaria and how is reflected ideology in art.
04.03.20
Soghomon
After monuments of Sofia’s and Bulgaria’s communist past was graffitied, vandalized, or otherwise creatively modified - e.g. the Soviet Army monument was turned into cartoon characters - it was decided to remove the objects from general v.. Read more »iew.
The result is the park adjacent to the museum of Socialist Art - aka Museum of Totalitarian Art - where mementos of the country’s communist era have been relocated. Among the artifacts to be encountered is the red star once prominently situated on top of Communist Headquarters as well as the giant statue of Lenin which was removed from the Largo soon after the wall came down in Berlin.
The museum is easily reached by Sofia’s Metro.
27.02.20
Martin
Fortunately enough, this is a museum,not reality (which it used to be). The museum features the outside collection of statues (Lenin, Dimitrov and other real-socialist motives), an indoor collection of propaganda posters and a room where they show pr.. Read more »opaganda short films. If you haven't lived in that period of time, it is good to get a rough notion about the then public "art".
26.02.20
Yazan
Not as big as expected, good place for an hour or two at most, since ther isn't alot to see but nonetheless it's good to visit if you can
24.02.20
hattula
Good museum with many sculptures outdoor und agitprop from different countries socialistic history. We were lucky to see a excellent temporary exhibition about ZDRAVKO MANOLOV ceramic works from the seventies.
27.10.19
Oscar
I really enjoyed this museum, the outdoor part is the main attraction for me. After communism collapsed I understand they took all the Soviet monuments and bronzes and put them here, outside of town. There is a small room where a video plays on loop .. Read more »and then a separate room which houses all the posters and painting. Worth a visit
13.08.19
MortenCopenhagen
This is a strange place. Not really what I would expect from the title of the museum. It is 6 Lev to get in. There is a garden with sculptures and one hall with mostly paintings. On a sunny day and with windows blinded you can't properly see the.. Read more » painting. A guard was kind to turn on the lights fir me. Later another guy just turned them off again before I was done looking. I think it is the former communist headquarters. Enjoy my photos. PS the few propaganda posters are behind very reflecting glass in a dark area. Lighting should be improved.
3.9 / 29
