Upscale brands and the biggest  names in world fashion have made their  appearance in Bulgaria, so regardless of whether you are bargain-hunting for clothes, cosmetics, accessories or shoes, you have a very good chance of finding what your looking for. Bulgaria  has also placed a stronger emphasis on the total shopping experience, and this means that shops are  often set amongst some of the finest  Bulgarian restaurants and cosy cafes.

If its old world charm you're after, Bulgaria offers excellent locally made textiles, handicrafts, embroidery, carpets, ceramics and woodcarvings. Buying a genuine Bulgarian national costume is also an option. The most common locally produced gifts  include table cloths embroidered with intricate patterns, lace, Trovan pottery, handmade toys, as well as a variety of art, featuring wooden sculptures, oil paintings and antique furniture. A must-buy for Bulgaria is the local rakia, home-made schnapps sold in little ceramic urns or in bottles.

Shopping in Sofia is concentrated on the district flanked by Vitosha Blvd, Rakovski Street, Graf Ignatiev Street plus the tiny lanes leading off from them. Another  place is the Central Department Store (TSUM), a 4-story building housing designer clothing stores, gifts, hand-made soaps, cell phone equipment, accessories, shoes, furniture, etc. Yet another popular venue  is the shopping district dominated by Shipka St, San Stefano St and Oborishte St. This is an interesting place to browse through tiny quaint  shops, cosy boutiques and antique shops, which offer a much more personal approach than the  larger more trendy stores. Bargain hunters will simply love the city’s market stalls.

The open-air craft market near Alexander Nevsky Cathedral in Sofia is a perfect place to shop for gifts, old books, cheap antiques, coins and vintage clothing. Slaveikov Square is another place to go shopping for used books, and this spot  offers  frequent sales on CDs, computer games, etc. The Central Halls (Halite) at Maria Luiza Blvd are the best place in town to go shopping for food. This historic building houses some hundreds of stores packed with fresh groceries, with the facility’s food court offering local cuisine  and  several good cafes.