Iztok, a neighborhood in Sofia, is distinguished by its excellent transportation links that facilitate easy access to various parts of the city. Key boulevards like “Dragan Tsankov” and “Tsarigradsko shose” traverse the area, enhancing its connectivity. The central location of the Interpred World Trade Center and the presence of the Joliot Curie metro station on Dragan Tsankov Boulevard contribute to the neighborhood’s accessibility. Bus 413 operates along Dragan Tsankov Boulevard, connecting Central Station to Mladost 1.
The public transport hub, “Hotel Pliska,” situated on “Tsarigradsko shose” boulevard, serves as a pivotal stop for trolleys (3, 4, 5, and 11) and buses (76, 84, 184, 204, 213, 280, 305, 604). Additionally, bus 72, with its turning wheel, operates between Hotel Pliska and the West Park residential complex. “Tsarigradsko shose” boulevard extends beyond Sofia, transforming into the “Trakia” highway that leads to Burgas.
Iztok is home to numerous embassies, including those of Azerbaijan, Iraq, Cuba, North Macedonia, Sudan, Finland, Japan, Russia, Germany, and Mongolia, contributing to the international character of the neighborhood.
Educational institutions within the neighborhood include Sofia Vocational High School of Electronics “John Atanasov,” 119 Secondary School “Akademik Mihail Arnaudov,” SU “Kliment Ohridski,” Vocational High School of Hairdressing and Cosmetology “Princess Evdokia,” as well as several kindergartens.
The late Bulgarian artist Professor Nenko Balkanski’s house at 12 “Latinka” Street has been designated a house museum, though it has remained uninhabited and deserted for nearly three decades.
Iztok boasts three squares: “Captain Petko Voivoda,” “José Martí” with a bust of José Martí and green spaces, and “Radoj Ralin” square featuring a statue of Radoj Ralin. The Dragalevska river, known as Novachitsa in this section, flows through the neighborhood.
Several hotels, including Pliska (***), Park-hotel Moscow (***), Europe (****), and Latinka (***), the latter located on the corner of “Latinka” and “Konstantin Shtarkelov” streets near the Joliot-Curie metro station entrance, contribute to the neighborhood’s hospitality infrastructure.
