Advertisement
The Red Flat

The Red Flat

The Red Flat
4.5
Art MuseumsHistory Museums
10:30 AM - 7:30 PM
Monday
10:30 AM - 7:30 PM
Tuesday
10:30 AM - 7:30 PM
Wednesday
10:30 AM - 7:30 PM
Thursday
10:30 AM - 7:30 PM
Friday
10:30 AM - 7:30 PM
Saturday
10:30 AM - 7:30 PM
Sunday
10:30 AM - 7:30 PM
About
The Red Flat is not a typical museum, but an interactive experience and a time machine aiming to send you back to the 1980’s - the last stage of the communist regime in Bulgaria. By entering the flat, you will visit the home of an average family and discover what everyday life was like for ordinary Bulgarians during the Cold War.
Duration: 1-2 hours
Suggest edits to improve what we show.
Improve this listing
What is Travelers’ Choice?
Tripadvisor gives a Travelers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travelers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.

Top ways to experience nearby attractions

The area

Address
How to get there
  • Serdika • 6 min walk
  • Serdika II • 7 min walk
Reach out directly

See what travelers are saying

  • Stan P
    Amsterdam, The Netherlands6 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Small museum in the heart of Sofia
    This small museum in the heart of Sofia is an absolute gem! It brilliantly encapsulates the everyday life of communist Bulgaria, offering a fascinating journey through history. The exhibits are curated thoughtfully, providing an insightful glimpse into a significant era, making it a captivating and educational experience for visitors interested in understanding Bulgaria's past.
    Thanks a million!
    Written January 18, 2024
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
    Visited November 2023
    Traveled with family
    Written November 21, 2023
  • Jeffrey M
    Suzhou, China206 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Must-do in Sofia
    Engaging, hands-on experience of socialist Bulgaria. The only problem we encountered was "the guide", who sat in the living room and drank coffee and could not be bothered even to tell us that the stories in the audio program are linked to the numbered locations around the apartment. Best to book in advance from the website. The afternoon previous we showed up without a booking and were told we'd have to wait at least 45 minutes.
    Thank you for the feedback! We have things to improve for sure.
    Written January 18, 2024
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
    Visited December 2023
    Traveled as a couple
    Written December 5, 2023
  • Diversity Mel
    59 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Immersive History - explore without barriers
    Well worth a visit. A unique chance to step back in time with no barriers. Not only can you explore the flat, with the really interesting audio guide, but you can open cupboards, flick through books and sit in the chairs. We learnt a lot about what it would be like to live in Communist era Bulgaria. A great companion to the 365 Communsit Tour too.
    Thanks a million, Mel!
    Written April 19, 2024
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
    Visited April 2024
    Traveled with family
    Written April 15, 2024
  • mathieusanch
    Paris, France22 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Expérience for everyone
    This is an experience about living in the socialist period. It lasts 1 hour with an audioguide included in your ticket. It really enhances your vision of what it could have been and I would recommend it to everyone even people that are not that much into museum but still want to learn about it.
    Thank you so much!
    Written May 21, 2024
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
    Visited April 2024
    Traveled solo
    Written April 25, 2024
  • traveller1968
    Vienna, Austria897 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Loved it!
    A chance to see inside a real flat from the communist period and hear the stories about the people that lived there. You get an audio guide and can look around and stay as long as you want. A great complement to the 365 communist walking tour which is also very good. Highly recommended!
    Thank you!
    Written June 22, 2024
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
    Visited June 2024
    Traveled as a couple
    Written June 17, 2024
  • Guy and Kerri
    Melbourne, Australia156 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Unique attraction if a little hard to find
    This was a real surprise when we did a self guided walking tour of Sofia. It is a little hard to find as tickets are sold in a nearby shop that is not well signed unless you look hard. You are then directed to the flat. The flat is a time capsule of 1980s furniture and ephemera , which would normally mean a short visit , however the audio short stories were fascinating. They have a good glimpse into what it would have bee like in those times.
    Thanks a million!
    Written June 22, 2024
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
    Visited June 2024
    Traveled as a couple
    Written June 20, 2024
  • Cipsontheroad
    Rome, Italy71 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    A blast from the past, NOT TO MISS
    I would certainly consider this one of the top 5 attractions in Sofia. Clever organization of the flat, packed with memorabilia that makes you travel back in time while you listen to the story of the lives of its prior residents. No need for digital images, everything is right there. If the gift shop where the tickets are sold is closed just go straight to the flat. They will be more than happy to welcome you there. Excellent experience for the young generations!!!!
    Thank you so much, really appreciated!
    Written August 23, 2024
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
    Visited July 2024
    Traveled with friends
    Written July 8, 2024
  • Anenne
    London, United Kingdom286 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Step back in time to communist Bulgaria
    My family and I visited the Red Flat on a hot Sunday afternoon. The audio tour guides you around the home of a family from communist Bulgaria. We found it highly educational and nostalgic (having grown up in the United Kingdom at a similar time). There are so many similarities and differences. We found the experience WONDERFUL! HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.
    Thanks a million!
    Written October 14, 2024
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
    Visited August 2024
    Traveled with family
    Written August 25, 2024
  • amycol
    4 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Enjoyable and informative
    Really interesting and enjoyable way to spend a couple of hours in Sofia. Kids (11 and 13) enjoyed it, especially playing with the old typewriter and record player. Great that it’s so interactive.
    Thanks a million
    Written October 14, 2024
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
    Visited September 2024
    Traveled with family
    Written September 22, 2024
  • Wayfaring Libertarian
    Belfast, United Kingdom1,111 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    An extremely well done experience!
    The roughly 90-minute audio guide for this experience could not be better! Visitors should be aware that the experience will take around 90 minutes (even if their booking is only for a specific hour). My only complaint is that the flat ended up feeling quite crowded. But, if that’s a product of taking part in a popular and affordable experience - so be it. Even with the crowd, we had plenty of time to explore the flat at our leisure and we thoroughly enjoyed it.
    Thank you so much. Yes, it is getting crowded, mostly on afternoons and weekends.
    Written October 14, 2024
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
    Visited September 2024
    Traveled with friends
    Written September 25, 2024
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.

Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

Popular mentions

4.5
4.5 of 5 bubbles225 reviews
Excellent
175
Very good
28
Average
12
Poor
3
Terrible
7

Kristen T
Stuttgart, Germany777 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jun 2022
I was very much looking forward to visiting this museum on our trip to Sofia and I was not disappointed. Tickets are purchased in a really cool gift shop (make sure to leave some time to shop for a souvenir or two) and the museum is around the corner from the shop. The lady who greeted us at the museum didn't seem that excited to be there, but she explained everything well. The audio guide is extremely thorough and helpful to understand all areas of this small apartment. I loved all the items throughout the house and it really felt "lived in." It was so interesting to learn about a normal family living through Communist era Bulgaria. The museum is immersive. You can sit on the furniture, touch the objects on display and take as many photos as you want. We visited on a warm day and there is no A/C (understandably) so you may want to factor that in if you are also visiting on a warm day.
Written July 7, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thanks!
Written February 22, 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Yaffa M
Jerusalem, Israel86 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Oct 2020 • Solo
This extraordinary museum was a unique experience i recommend highly!
It feels like you are entering a time capsule and there is a lot of cool stuff to see and really interesting information and stories!
The museum is built in an immersing way and you can walk around by yourself and listen to the audio guide. The history is very intresting and gives a wider perspective and understanding of sofia.
I enjoyed this very much.
Also they are the nicest people they open the museum just for me and i really appreciated that.
To summarize- this is so cool you should definitely visit
Written October 6, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you so much, we do our best for every visitor: ) Really glad that you made it on your last day in Sofia.
Written October 7, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Alex Apostolakis
13 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Apr 2021 • Friends
It was one of the most amazing experiences I have ever had in a “museum”. It felt like we traveled back in time during communist Bulgaria as we were wandering freely in the apartment. We were allowed to touch literally anything we wanted and the way the stories were being told was exceptional. I would highly recommend this to anyone who wants to learn more about the history of Bulgaria and the way of living there in the 1980s.
Written May 15, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you so much for the positive feedback!
Written August 24, 2021
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Vili21
32 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2020 • Couples
This place is one of a kind, it offers one very interesting experience with the unique posibility to travel back in time. The flat is perfectly preserved and all the stuff inside are 100% authentic. Don't miss this spot when in Sofia
Written August 31, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you so much for the positive feedback! Much appreciated: )
Written September 1, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

James M
Qormi, Malta7 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Oct 2020
This museum is a unique experience with special attention to detail on the stories that are told to you. I really appreciated the fact that they opened the museum just for me as I was the only one (during this global pandemic). I really loved it and good value for money considering that your stay is about 1.5hrs (€9).
Written October 14, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you so much, you are welcome: )
Written October 15, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

hutsonl14
Chicago, IL121 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jan 2020
Incredible interactive way to learn about the communist history of Bulgaria. I am not usually a museum-goer when I travel, but I listened through the entire audio-guide. I love how it's self guided and you transition between the various rooms. All of the props and items were so informative and the fact that you can touch something is nothing I've ever experienced before! I hope more exhibits in this style are created.
Written March 16, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you so much for the positive feedback, much appreciated! We hope to back on the track soon:)
Written March 17, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Haude G
2 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Oct 2020 • Friends
We were a group of 6 friends getting back in the time of the communist Bulgaria into the Red Flat. We all had a great free tour of Sofia the day before, and thanks to Mitko, our guide, we heard about this Red Flat where he attended us the next day. It was a great experience, finally a "museum" where you can touch everything! We litteraly put on the clothes of the bulgarian family who could have lived there. The audio is plenty of details and explanations, combined with the decorations and furnitured of the apartment, we all traveled back in time. We felt like we could understand way better the history of Bulgaria and the inhabitants of its capital. Thank you so much to the Red Flat team! This is defintly a must see in Sofia !
Written November 9, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you so much, Mitko is a real gem on his own :)
Written August 24, 2021
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

CrisB
Nevers, France8 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jan 2020
We had a very nice immersive experience in the Red Flat. We found it super interesting, very well conducted and very entertaining. The girl who hosted us was very very kind, she prepared us some toasts and hot tea and guided us at the beginning. We were very happy to do this activity! One of our favorites in Sofia!
Written January 15, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Glad you had good time with us: ) Thank you so much for the positive review!
Written January 16, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Petar Štih
Zagreb, Croatia7 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jun 2024 • Family
A small interactive museum located in a residential building in the center of Sofia. The museum is actually an apartment that takes you back to the year 1980 during communist Bulgaria. The ticket price is 9 euros, and the museum is open from Monday to Sunday. The only drawback is that you first need to go to the souvenir shop, which is a 3-minute walk from the museum, and you need to book an appointment and come back later if it is not available. Headphones and an audio guide are available in the museum where you can listen to 46 short stories about life in communist Bulgaria. All objects in the museum can be touched, and you can also try a traditional sweet from that era. A minimum of 45 minutes is required to visit the museum.
Written October 18, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you!
Written December 4, 2024
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Sam
3 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jun 2020 • Solo
A very interesting, interactive and immersive museum. It is a flat where you learn about the day-to-day life of a Bulgarian family during latest socialist times. It makes this part of Bulgarian history very captivating and I learned a lot being there. It offers a different perspective of late 20th history, which matches well with the other information of the other history museums of Sofia.
Written July 9, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
So glad you liked what we do! Thanks a lot for the recommendation: )
Written September 1, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Showing results 1-10 of 192
*Likely to sell out: Based on Viator’s booking data and information from the provider from the past 30 days, it seems likely this experience will sell out through Viator, a Tripadvisor company.
Is this your Tripadvisor listing?
Own or manage this property? Claim your listing for free to respond to reviews, update your profile and much more.
Claim your listing

The Red Flat - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024)

All Sofia HotelsSofia Hotel DealsLast Minute Hotels in Sofia
All things to do in Sofia
Day Trips in SofiaCasinos & Gambling in Sofia
RestaurantsFlightsVacation RentalsTravel StoriesCruisesRental Cars