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Where to find shopping deals in Sofia, Bulgaria

Posted by (traveler) on

Where to find shopping deals in Sofia, Bulgaria

I am in Sofia for a weekend in October and need to stock up on some supplies before flying to Norway for the autumn. I don't want to buy anything in Norway (because of the ridiculous prices there), so I'm looking for Bulgarian shops to find the following items:

1) Good quality (non-Chinese) winter hat, touqe, scarf, mittens, and coat. For the gloves, it would be nice to find the kind that allows me to use my fingertips without taking them off. I want to stay warm outdoors while doing picky work with my fingertips. Too many bulky gloves are designed such that I have to take them off before working with my hands.

2) Cargo pants, with lots of pockets, and inner layer to stay warm in a Norwegian autumn (passed the arctic circle). I know they sell special clothes in Norway, but I'm not spending $100 on a pair of pants.

3) If you know of any second hand clothing stores in Sofia, please let me know. In North America, they are called Value Village shops. You can find pants, and coats for 3-10euros there. Do you know of the Bulgarian equivalent?

3) Non-expensive simple headphones (without microphone). I bought a set of headphones in Belgrade for 5euros, and they lasted 2 months. I'm looking for a similar pair in Sofia.

Thanks

Posted by
52 posts

Thanks for that, it helped, and I will try to find the largest of these stores all across Bulgaria. Hopefully a good treasure hunt will produce enough light-weight winter clothing to make Autumn in Norway a great, and warm experience.

Posted by
12040 posts

I can't answer any of your questions specifically, but perhaps I can point you in the right direction. One caveat: I haven't traveled to Sofia since 2002, so I can't guarantee this information is still accurate.

First, shopping is Sofia is generally pretty cheap (or was...). Even what appears to be an upscale store offers prices well below what we pay in the West. If you want the cheapest prices, though, don't look in stores, look in the markets, where they sell anything and everything. So, let me give you a few locations you can scout out, in order of decreasing prices.

First, there's a sort of "mall" right next to the Sheraton hotel... I think its called "Traditsa" or something similar. I know there's a sporting goods store in this building, but I can't guarantee they'll have what you want. Nearby (I can't remember the exact location), you'll also find a cluster of underground stores. Look for a tiny ancient church (not the one inside the Sheraton).

Next, underneath Platz Bulgaria by the National Palace of Culture you'll find a huge collection of market stalls selling all kinds of stuff.

Finally... I can't remember exactly where this market was located, but it was so big that if it still exists, you should have no problem finding it. As best as I can recall, one end of the market terminated on the small canal/drainage ditch that runs along the southeastern edge of downtown Sofia.

OK, I hoped you find this information somewhat useful, and not completely out of date.

Posted by
4 posts

Sofia actually became very expensive lately. You can try Iliantzi for cheap (mostly Chinese stuff).
There are lots of thrift stores in Sofia. They are called "Vtora upotreba" (Second hand) in Bulgarian. There is one called Paradise on "Graf Ignatiev" st. Some of them sell the clothes by the kilo and all of the clothes are pre-owned.
Hope this helps.

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