Vitosha by car

The nature park

Vitosha has been protected since 1934: it is the first park in Bulgaria and the Balkans. The nature park now covers more than 27,000 hectares, and its summit, Cherni vrah, rises above 2,290 m.

The roads

• Through the Boyana district, the road climbs to Zlatni mostove, the “Golden Bridges”, at about 1,390 m above sea level.
• Through the Dragalevtsi district, the road climbs to Aleko, which is also served by the gondola lift from Simeonovo.

In winter, at weekends

An order of the Mayor of Sofia dated 9 March 2026 prohibits vehicles from entering the Boyana–Ofeliite and Dragalevtsi–Aleko roads from 1 December to 31 March, at weekends, on non-working days and on public holidays, from 11:00 to 16:00. Exemptions include public transport, taxis, vehicles carrying people with disabilities, and guests of hotels or mountain huts with a booking.

All year round, the police may temporarily close access, for example in bad weather or when the car parks are full. In bad weather, stopping and parking are prohibited from 22:00 to 06:00.

Without a car

Bus 66 links Sofia Zoo with Aleko, bus 63 climbs to Zlatni mostove, and a gondola lift runs from Simeonovo to Aleko. The park advises checking timetables before you set off.

Boyana Church

At the foot of Vitosha, in the Boyana district, Boyana Church and its frescoes of 1259 have been on the UNESCO World Heritage List since 1979. It is a branch of the National Museum of History; photography is prohibited inside.