{"license":"CC BY 4.0 — attribution: IsMyTripSafe.com","source":"https://ismytripsafe.com/bulgaria/sofia","updatedAt":"2026-07-28T01:31:49.453Z","place":{"city":"Sofia","country":"Bulgaria","countryCode":"BG","lat":42.69751,"lon":23.32415},"safety":{"score":79,"level":"SAFE","answer":"Yes — generally safe","saferThanPctOfCountries":85,"confidence":0.91,"caps":[],"databaseScore":78,"travellerSentiment":{"score":84,"label":"Mostly positive","summary":"Recent traveler reports indicate visitors generally feel safe walking during daylight, but many note heightened awareness of petty theft in busy zones.","weightInScore":0.18,"components":[{"label":"Reported feel","score":78,"weight":0.35},{"label":"Robbery risk","score":92,"weight":0.45},{"label":"Pickpocket risk","score":78,"weight":0.2}]},"categories":[{"key":"crime","label":"Crime","score":75,"tier":1},{"key":"sentiment","label":"Traveller Sentiment","score":84,"tier":1},{"key":"advisories","label":"Advisories","score":97,"tier":2},{"key":"stability","label":"Stability","score":69,"tier":2},{"key":"health","label":"Health & Air","score":83,"tier":2}]},"advisories":[{"source":"UK Foreign Office (FCDO)","level":1,"label":"No advisory against travel","updated":"2026-04-20T13:27:07Z","url":"https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/bulgaria"},{"source":"Government of Canada","level":1,"label":"Exercise normal security precautions","updated":"2026-07-29T14:31:46.2003107-04:00","url":"https://travel.gc.ca/destinations/bulgaria"}],"indicators":[{"key":"homicide","label":"Homicide rate","value":1.08890737415431,"display":"1.1 / 100k","year":"2023","score":93,"source":"World Bank Open Data"},{"key":"crime_major_constraint","label":"Crime seen as a major business constraint","value":1.8,"display":"1.8%","year":"2019","score":95,"source":"World Bank Enterprise Surveys"},{"key":"terrorism_deaths_pm","label":"Terrorism deaths (latest year)","value":0,"display":"0 recorded","year":"2021","score":100,"source":"Global Terrorism Database"},{"key":"road_deaths","label":"Road traffic deaths","value":8.4,"display":"8.4 / 100k","year":"2021","score":71,"source":"WHO Global Health Observatory"},{"key":"stability","label":"Political stability & no terrorism","value":66.5764069,"display":"67/100","year":"2024","score":67,"source":"World Bank Governance Indicators"},{"key":"rule_of_law","label":"Rule of law","value":56.3908659,"display":"56/100","year":"2024","score":56,"source":"World Bank Governance Indicators"},{"key":"corruption","label":"Control of corruption","value":42.9964948,"display":"43/100","year":"2024","score":43,"source":"World Bank Governance Indicators"},{"key":"gov_effectiveness","label":"Government effectiveness","value":52.1730773,"display":"52/100","year":"2024","score":52,"source":"World Bank Governance Indicators"},{"key":"regulatory","label":"Regulatory quality","value":59.4055004,"display":"59/100","year":"2024","score":59,"source":"World Bank Governance Indicators"},{"key":"voice","label":"Voice & accountability","value":60.5840325,"display":"61/100","year":"2024","score":61,"source":"World Bank Governance Indicators"},{"key":"city_population_scale","label":"Urban scale factor","value":1152556,"display":"1.2M residents","year":null,"score":73,"source":"City Geocoding"},{"key":"numbeo_crime_index","label":"Crime index (crowdsourced)","value":35.2,"display":"35.2 / 100","year":null,"score":72,"source":"Numbeo Crime Index"},{"key":"safe_walking_dark","label":"Feel safe walking alone after dark","value":86.1,"display":"86.1%","year":"2020","score":91,"source":"UN SDG Global Database"},{"key":"human_trafficking_victims","label":"Detected human-trafficking victims","value":0.16,"display":"0.16 / 100k","year":"2024","score":90,"source":"UN SDG Global Database"},{"key":"bribery_contact_rate","label":"Bribery during public-official contact","value":19,"display":"19.0%","year":"2021","score":60,"source":"UN SDG Global Database"},{"key":"air_quality","label":"Air quality","value":45,"display":"US AQI 45 · Good","year":null,"score":91,"source":"Open-Meteo Air Quality"},{"key":"health","label":"Travel health notices","value":null,"display":"3 global notices","year":null,"score":92,"source":"CDC Travelers' Health"},{"key":"hospitals","label":"Hospitals nearby","value":81.997644135,"display":"82 beds / 10k · country avg","year":"2023","score":92,"source":"WHO Global Health Observatory"},{"key":"weather","label":"Extreme weather","value":37,"display":"July: highs ~37°C · high heat","year":null,"score":80,"source":"Open-Meteo"},{"key":"natural_hazards","label":"Natural hazards","value":0,"display":"No active alerts · 3 quakes ≥M4.5 past yr","year":null,"score":94,"source":"GDACS / USGS"},{"key":"advisory","label":"Government travel advisory","value":1,"display":"Level 1 — Exercise normal security precautions","year":null,"score":97,"source":"Government of Canada"},{"key":"research_robbery_risk","label":"Mugging & robbery risk","value":4,"display":"Low risk","year":null,"score":92,"source":"City Web Research"},{"key":"research_pickpocket_risk","label":"Pickpocketing & theft risk","value":3,"display":"Moderate risk","year":null,"score":70,"source":"City Web Research"},{"key":"research_sentiment_score","label":"Visitor safety sentiment","value":78,"display":"78 / 100 (Mostly positive)","year":null,"score":78,"source":"City Web Research"}],"healthNotices":[{"level":"Alert","title":"Global Polio","url":"https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/notices/level2/global-polio"},{"level":"Watch","title":"Global Dengue","url":"https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/notices/level1/dengue-global"},{"level":"Watch","title":"Global Measles","url":"https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/notices/level1/measles-globe"}],"hazardAlerts":[],"fieldResearch":{"verdict":"Yes — Sofia is safe for visitors, with low violent crime and rare political unrest.","summary":"Sofia scores high on safety metrics: low homicide, minimal terrorism risk, and strong official guidance. Recent data shows no major threats to travelers, though petty theft remains the most common issue.","robberyRisk":{"level":"Low","note":"Mugging and armed robbery are rare for tourists and virtually never occur in central areas."},"pickpocketRisk":{"level":"Moderate","note":"Pickpocketing is common in crowded places like Vitosha Boulevard and on public transport, especially during peak summer months."},"safeAreas":["Oborishte","Ivan Vazov","Lozenets"],"avoidAreas":["Studentski Grad (late night)","Mladost (after dark)"],"scams":["Overpriced taxi rides from the airport","Fake charity collectors in tourist areas"],"zones":[{"name":"Oborishte","level":"safe","note":"well-lit, central district with heavy police presence and popular cafes; low petty crime after dark"},{"name":"Studentski Grad","level":"caution","note":"university area with vibrant nightlife but occasional pickpocketing incidents reported late evening"},{"name":"Ivan Vazov","level":"safe","note":"commercial hub with steady foot traffic and visible security patrols; safe for daytime and evening visits"},{"name":"Mladost","level":"caution","note":"residential expat enclave with mixed reports of petty theft; advisable to stay alert after dark"},{"name":"Lozenets","level":"safe","note":"quiet residential zone with low incident rates and active community watch; generally safe for travelers"}]}}