It's definitely worth checking out the drop-dead gorgeous Cathedral of St. Alexander Nevsky during the day, and to wander along Vitosha Boulevard to check out the designer shopping and sneak down some side streets to see quirky craft shops and trendy boutiques. Sofia has a thing about baths - so get into the spirit of it and visit the ruins of the ancient Roman baths and then wander over to the most beautiful building in the city, which also happens to have once been the city's Turkish mineral baths (it's now a gallery). After all that talk of bathing, it's time to hit the spa! Luxuriate in preparation for a glorious night out on the town.

If wandering the town and lounging with bottles and bottles of wine aren't your style, then opt for the action-packed avenue and go up the stunning Mount Vitosha for hiking in the summer or snow mobiles in the winter. You can go white-water rafting, quad biking, or go-karting with your girlfriends to get amped up for the evening, because night-time is when Sofia really wakes up. It's not uncommon for people to take their sunglasses out with them so that the sun doesn't get in their eyes come the morning when they emerge from the basement venues. Head out on an epic guided bar crawl or splashy cocktail tour until midnight when the bars shut their doors (don't worry, they open again at 6am) and the clubs burst open. Yalta Club and Escape host internationally renowned DJs (and the latter is free for ladies).

Oh, and don't believe all the tired stereotypes about Bulgarian men - there are tons of lovely, respectful, and actually gorgeous cuties out there to dance with! And if you like your men on stage, Sofia's got a liberal enough attitude that there are actually a couple of clubs where you can watch chiseled men strip down for you - or you can hire a private dancer for your blushing hen! The Sofia hen do is a perfect place for female bonding, with just enough of an edge to make it exciting.