National Museum of History
National Museum of History
4
9:30 AM - 7:00 PM
Monday
9:30 AM - 7:00 PM
Tuesday
9:30 AM - 7:00 PM
Wednesday
9:30 AM - 7:00 PM
Thursday
9:30 AM - 7:00 PM
Friday
9:30 AM - 7:00 PM
Saturday
9:30 AM - 7:00 PM
Sunday
9:30 AM - 7:00 PM
About
The National Museum of History has the most impressive collection of national treasures and is the largest museum in Bulgaria. Through more than 650,000 artifacts – Thracian gold and silver, pottery, icons, art & jewelry, mosaics – it tells the story of the European civilization from the dawn of times to the modernity. With focus on the 1300 years history of the Bulgarian state, the museum is a must-see attraction to visit while in Sofia. Closed on national holidays - 1 Jan, 24, 25 Dec.
Suggest edits to improve what we show.
Improve this listingTours & experiences
Explore different ways to experience this place.
Full view
Top ways to experience National Museum of History
The area
Address
Reach out directly
Best nearby
Restaurants
344 within 3 miles
Attractions
261 within 6 miles
Contribute
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
4.0
470 reviews
Excellent
207
Very good
185
Average
57
Poor
14
Terrible
7
These reviews have been automatically translated from their original language.
This service may contain translations provided by Google. Google disclaims all warranties, express or implied, with respect to translations, including any warranties of accuracy, reliability, and any implied warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, and freedom from forgery.
Jeff K
Pittsburgh, PA2,353 contributions
Jan 2020 • Couples
I was very disappointed with this museum. They do a great job with the history of Bulgaria until the end of World War I. I learned a lot and was very impressed with the museum for that period.
I was primarily interested in the history of Bulgaria from World War II until the present, however. There’s nothing after World War I except for a few photos of Bulgaria entering NATO and the EU. Not sure how a true museum of history could skip that period. Extremely disappointing.
I was primarily interested in the history of Bulgaria from World War II until the present, however. There’s nothing after World War I except for a few photos of Bulgaria entering NATO and the EU. Not sure how a true museum of history could skip that period. Extremely disappointing.
Written January 23, 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.
Rob v
Eindhoven, The Netherlands8 contributions
Sep 2021 • Couples
The museum has a nice collection of historic items from the different Bulgarian times. We especially enjoyed the items from the Thracian and Hellenic times.
However we were missing items from the Ottoman and Communist times. The latter we can understand due to the sensitivity however only religious items from the Ottoman time was a bit little to show for a period over 500 years.
The museum is housed in a beautiful old Communist building.
However we were missing items from the Ottoman and Communist times. The latter we can understand due to the sensitivity however only religious items from the Ottoman time was a bit little to show for a period over 500 years.
The museum is housed in a beautiful old Communist building.
Written September 12, 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.
tjaša s
Ljubljana, Slovenia160 contributions
Apr 2023 • Couples
The museum is spread over several floors. Inside there is a lot to look at from different eras. You can drop off your coats at the entrance so you don't have to bring them with you, and the museum also has a toilet, a lift, a gift shop and a small bar. I suggest buying a combined ticket (together with boyana chuch)
Written April 7, 2023
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.
Phillip L
Melbourne, Australia364 contributions
May 2023
Although located away from the city centre, it is worth making the trip to visit the museum. Well laid out over a number of floors, with good English signage, it contains a vast array of artefacts from throughout Bulgaria's history. Notwithstanding that a couple of important eras were not covered - communist era for example - there is still plenty of interest to satisfy any history buff.
The interior of the building itself is impressive; there is a cafe/bar outside at the back; pleasant gardens; toilets inside and not to forget the long walk to the museum from the entrance gate - probably about 300m.
The interior of the building itself is impressive; there is a cafe/bar outside at the back; pleasant gardens; toilets inside and not to forget the long walk to the museum from the entrance gate - probably about 300m.
Written July 1, 2023
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.
ACM1899Pier
Milan, Italy22,362 contributions
Jun 2024 • Couples
The museum is located on the outskirts of Sofia with beautiful views of Mount Vitosha. The building is typical of the years of communism and then was used as a museum. The primitive collections and especially that of antiquity are beautiful and very special. Less interesting is the medieval collection and the ethnographic one on the top floor.
Automatically translated
Written June 20, 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.
Onur Yıldız
Sofia, Bulgaria18 contributions
Jul 2023 • Family
I’ve visited by myself but it could be with the family as well. You can see lots of artifacts of Bulgarian history not only pre historical times, medieval ext. I didn’t see many things about ottoman time and communist time. If you are interested in gold, silver and jewelry you must visit…
Written July 16, 2023
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.
monia71
Treviso, Italy2,468 contributions
Jan 2019 • Family
The building of the museum is very nice and well preserved. Inside you can discover the unbeliveable hystory of bulgaria. We were impressed from the item dated up to 6000 years before Crist. very amazing master pieces of gold and silver from the tracian era. It is a fantastic museum and a Must to visit if you are in sofia. Very good parking in front of the museum. very reccomended to be visited
Written January 5, 2019
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.
nivea359
Moorea, French Polynesia13 contributions
Jun 2016 • Family
The museum had no credit card system.
We only had euros and they refused to allow us entrance, in spite of repeatedly requesting them to grant us access with Euros.
The ticket agent slammed the door on our face!
Great way of introducing tourists to your history and culture
We only had euros and they refused to allow us entrance, in spite of repeatedly requesting them to grant us access with Euros.
The ticket agent slammed the door on our face!
Great way of introducing tourists to your history and culture
Written June 26, 2016
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.
kiera1999
Leicestershire, UK470 contributions
Jul 2019
This was the highlight of our trip to Bulgaria. The museum is situated inside a former Communist palace which was stunning in itself. The exhibits were also well laid out with lots of visual information which I like and plenty of English translations. We found other museums in Bulgaria to be quite small so it was good to find one with plenty of exhibits and information in it. A great introduction to our Bulgaria holiday. The unceasing attention of the museum staff who followed us around the museum suspiciously only added to the experience!
Tip: get a combined ticket with the Boyana church to save money
Tip: get a combined ticket with the Boyana church to save money
Written August 7, 2019
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.
mihogaja
Valencia, Comunidad Valenciana, Spain12 contributions
Sep 2017 • Business
I visited the museum as a tour leader of a group 47 spanish guests on Sunday 17 th September.
A guided visit was organized for most of the group but others prefered not to take it as they are elderly people and they wished to go to the bar and terrace garden and sit down and relax. The door acces to the open bar area which also leads to the outdoor garden was open, but when I approached it I was informed by two ladies who work at the museum that the bar is closed so to use that door " is forbidden" , next they closed the bar / terrace garden door right in front of me. I explained them that I just wished some people of my group ( elderly people) wish to go outside and sit down and relax in the garden while the others visit the museum; they again replied " No no, it is forbidden to go outside, bar is closed" . I saw that it was impossible to reason with them, and I asked another representive of the museum and her answer was ilogical and even more upsetting: " it is forbidden to go outside using the bar/ terrace door because the bar is closed, but they can walk around the building and arrive to the same terrace garden/ bar area". The building is massive by the way, my elderly guests are not gonna walk that distance. My reply " well, why not to open that bar door which was open just a minute ago, and your coleagues closed it just because I approached it, and the guests will only have to walk some meters instead of walking around the whole building" . Their reply was the same " It is forbidden".
Well dear museum, if it " forbidden" as you say, dont leave it open so your guards can use it to smoke or get some fresh air but when a guest wants to use it you just close it in a rude manner following illogical rules. My group had to stay inside the building for more than an hour waiting for the others to finish while they could have been more comfortable at the terrace garden.
In my opinion many people in the country still have " communist" mentality: follow rules, no matter if they dont make sense; dont have initiative, just follow orders and nothing else".
A guided visit was organized for most of the group but others prefered not to take it as they are elderly people and they wished to go to the bar and terrace garden and sit down and relax. The door acces to the open bar area which also leads to the outdoor garden was open, but when I approached it I was informed by two ladies who work at the museum that the bar is closed so to use that door " is forbidden" , next they closed the bar / terrace garden door right in front of me. I explained them that I just wished some people of my group ( elderly people) wish to go outside and sit down and relax in the garden while the others visit the museum; they again replied " No no, it is forbidden to go outside, bar is closed" . I saw that it was impossible to reason with them, and I asked another representive of the museum and her answer was ilogical and even more upsetting: " it is forbidden to go outside using the bar/ terrace door because the bar is closed, but they can walk around the building and arrive to the same terrace garden/ bar area". The building is massive by the way, my elderly guests are not gonna walk that distance. My reply " well, why not to open that bar door which was open just a minute ago, and your coleagues closed it just because I approached it, and the guests will only have to walk some meters instead of walking around the whole building" . Their reply was the same " It is forbidden".
Well dear museum, if it " forbidden" as you say, dont leave it open so your guards can use it to smoke or get some fresh air but when a guest wants to use it you just close it in a rude manner following illogical rules. My group had to stay inside the building for more than an hour waiting for the others to finish while they could have been more comfortable at the terrace garden.
In my opinion many people in the country still have " communist" mentality: follow rules, no matter if they dont make sense; dont have initiative, just follow orders and nothing else".
Written September 17, 2017
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.
I am thinking of visiting this Museum whilst on a short break in Sofia, thinking of grabbing a taxi, from City centre, How does one get back is there a Taxi rank outside to get back into the city?
Alternatively how easy is the public transport around this area ?
Written October 21, 2019
I used the Taxi Me app in Sofia and it worked really well. Like uber.
Written February 20, 2020
Yes, Just outside in front of the main entrance you may find several parking places.
Written September 11, 2018
Hello! i would like to ask if the museum is open the 1 January?? thank you!
Written December 30, 2017
con che mezzo pubblico posso arrivarci? da dove e a che fermata devo scendere?
Written May 4, 2017
Se non ci sei andata per risparmiare TRE EURO di taxi, perché parli male di un gioiello???
Written January 4, 2015
Showing results 1-5 of 5
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