Central Sofia Market Hall (Halite) Tours and Activities

Browse orderly shops and stalls of Central Sofia Market Hall (Halite) in search of souvenirs, snacks, and bargains. Pay attention to the structure, opened in 1911, as the market is widely considered to be architect Naum Torbov’s finest work, blending neo-baroque with neo-Byzantine features, in a neo-Renaissance structure.

The Basics
See the centrally located Central Sofia Market Hall on a city tour, combining your visit with other Sofia highlights for a comprehensive overview of the city. Food tours generally include lunch or tasters, as well as a local’s perspective on the city’s dining culture, helping you avoid the tourist trap restaurants common in capital cities. Take advantage of small-group or private tours for personalized shopping and dining recommendations from your guide.

Things to Know Before You Go

• Central Sofia Market Hall is distinguished by its architecture, and it’s generally less busy than other city markets.
• Locally led tours are ideal for seeking out authentic foods, wines, and goods at the best prices.
• Most products are sold at a fixed price, and haggling is uncommon.

How to Get There
Most tours offer guided accompaniment for hassle-free navigation throughout the sprawling city. Otherwise, the market is a 20-minute walk south from Sofia Central station, and less than a 5-minute walk from Serdika metro station.

When to Get There
Central Sofia Market Hall opens daily. Take advantage of the covered structure to seek shelter from harsh summer or winter weather, or join the local lunch crowd by visiting in early afternoon.

Who was Naum Torbov?
Naum Torbov was a Bulgarian architect, born in Ottoman Macedonia in 1880. He studied architecture at Bucharest’s National University of Arts, and then became chief architect in Sofia. Torbov’s designs famously included features of Slavic Revival. Unfortunately, many of these structures were damaged in World War II.