site.btaSofia Records 10% Increase in Tourists from January to September

Sofia has recorded a 10% growth in tourists for the period January-September 2025 compared to the same period in 2024, with over 1 million tourists visiting the Bulgarian capital, the Tourism Municipal Enterprise said on Wednesday.

According to data from the Unified Tourist Information System (ESTI), the capital also recorded a 6% increase in overnight stays for the same period compared to 2024, reaching 2.26 million overnight stays. "The growing interest in Sofia in 2025 shows that the capital is establishing itself as an attractive destination for tourists from all over the world. In the focus of unique experiences and events, we continue to inspire guests to stay longer and come back again," emphasized Tourism Municipal Enterprise Director Anton Penev.

According to ESTI, 63% of visitors were foreigners, with the top five countries consisting of Italy, Greece, Israel, Turkiye and Germany. Significant growth is observed among visitors from Israel (50%) and Poland (30%).

The average stay of tourists was just over two days, while the preferred accommodation type were 4-star hotels (35%), 5-star hotels (21%) and 3-star hotels (21%). 13% of tourists in Sofia chose to stay at an AirBnB apartment, which shows the diversity and flexibility of the tourist offer in the capital, Penev noted, adding that the number of families visiting Sofia with their children is increasing as well.