Situated in the heart of Sofia, the National Archaeological Museum is housed in the Buyuk Mosque, one of the city’s oldest preserved buildings dating back to the 15th century. The museum is a treasure trove of exhibits with exceptional artistic and scientific value, showcasing artifacts from the earliest traces of human activity in Europe, dating from 1.6 million BC to the 17th century, marking the end of the Middle Ages.
Among the remarkable artifacts is the vessel figure depicting the Mother Goddess, discovered near the village of Mursalevo and dating to the early Neolithic period around 6000 BC. The museum’s Treasury features grave finds and treasures from the time of the Thracians, including the Valchitran golden treasure, the bronze head-portrait of the Odrisian ruler Sevtus III, the golden mask of a Thracian ruler, and various masterpieces of ancient jewelry art.
Visitors can explore highlights from Thracian, Hellenic, Roman, Byzantine, Bulgarian, and Ottoman cultures that flourished on Bulgarian lands. The exhibits include gold and silver ornaments, a unique stone poster inviting the inhabitants of ancient Serdika to gladiatorial games, a bronze head from a portrait statue of the Roman emperor Gordian III, and the only copy of the rock relief Madarski Konnik, a monument related to the formation of the Bulgarian state, under UNESCO protection.
The museum also houses the oldest Bulgarian icon, the ceramic icon of St. Theodore from the 9th century. It operates in tandem with the National Archaeological Institute, the largest research institution for archaeology in Southeastern Europe, playing a pivotal role in field archaeological research on the Bulgarian territory.
Prices:
Adults: BGN 10.00.
Pupils and students: BGN 2.00.
Groups of students, students, children (over 10 people): BGN 1.00.
Parent/parents with children up to 16 years old – group ticket: BGN 10.00.
People with physical disabilities and soldiers: Free
Guided talk in Bulgarian: BGN 10.00.
Guided talk in English: BGN 20.00.
Days of free visit: Every second Thursday of the month for pensioners; Every last Sunday of the month for all categories of visitors.
Work time:
May – October:
Every day:
10:00 – 18:00
November – April:
10:00 – 17:00
Day off: Monday
The museum is closed on December 25 and January 1.
Opening hours on December 24 and 31:
10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
