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These are the things to do outdoors in Sofia we book most, checked again in November 2026. Six are close to the city and run all year: horse riding, the carriage and paintball on Vitosha, about 20 minutes from the centre, plus bubble football, karting and a shooting range. From spring the rivers open, with rafting, canyoning and the Kazanite day, and a zipline at the same rafting base. Prices start at €10 for paintball and most cost €20 to €60 per person. Pick one below, send us your date, and real people on WhatsApp check it for free and arrange the rest.
Ask on WhatsApp for 2 people"Organised a stag do in Sofia and the stag wanted to try a shooting range… quick replies via WhatsApp, clear information and they were able to source an equivalent at short notice. Good value service."
"It gave me and my family a great number of cool activities in Sofia… the kids rode a horse for the first time 😍"
"We went rafting for a mates stag do… we all had a brilliant time. Easy and efficient to book and get picked up from Sofia, the rafting was great fun, would definitely recommend!"
"A great experience: I took my son and five other kids for his birthday and they all had a wonderful time…"
"Took my wife, 10 year old son and 82 year old mother rafting… a great introduction for all of them. The Iskar was gorgeous, with kingfishers, herons and birds of prey."
| Activity | From | Season | Card |
|---|---|---|---|
| Horse riding | €50 | All year | 10% |
| Horse carriage | €200 per carriage | All year | 10% |
| Paintball | €10 | All year | - |
| Bubble football | €25 | Covered pitch | - |
| Airsoft | €30 | Sat and Sun, groups any day | - |
| Karting | €15 | Dry track | 10% |
| Shooting range | €80 | All year | - |
| Struma rafting | €40 | Mar to Oct | 5% |
| Iskar rafting | €40 | Apr to Oct | 5% |
| Canyoning | €45 | Jun to Oct | 5% |
| Rafting + canyoning | €55 | May to Oct | 10% |
| Zipline and ropes | €20 | Daily, 9:00 to 20:00 | 5% |
Rides start in Dragalevtsi, about 20 minutes from the centre. An hour in the forest suits beginners; longer routes go to Aleko waterfall or the Simeonovo lakes (€80), the Zhiva Voda spring (€105) or a half-day loop (€120), and there is a romantic ride for two for €180. You pay a 20% deposit to book and the rest at the base. Best for beginners, couples and families.
The carriage is yours alone, for two or a couple with children, and goes to Dragalevtsi Monastery or towards the Aleko rock and waterfall for the same price. You pay a 20% deposit and the rest on site; if the weather turns, we move the ride or refund the deposit. Best for anniversaries, proposals and parents with small children.
Every pack includes the marker, mask, overalls and gloves: 100 paintballs for €10, 200 for €15 or 500 with a T-shirt for €30, and you play until they run out. Games start at 09:00, 13:00 and 16:30. For children there is a smaller field in the city, just ask us. Best for stag dos, groups of friends and team days.
Two teams of five, with games like Sparta, Sumo and Protect the Captain between matches; bigger groups take turns. The pitch is covered, so rain does not stop it, and players are 7 and over, younger on request. Bring sportswear and trainers without studs. Best for stag dos, team building and birthdays.
Realistic replica rifles firing 6 mm plastic BBs, with protective gear and unlimited BBs included. Anyone can join the open game on Saturdays and Sundays at 11:00, even alone, and groups of 10 or more can book a private game on any day. Players are 16 and over, and the game can run in English. Best for stag dos, team building and groups of friends.
Adults race a kart that reaches about 70 km/h for €19 (10 minutes) or €22 (15 minutes). Children aged 7 to 16 have their own karts from €15, and in a double kart a parent drives with a child aged 4 to 12. Karting only runs on a dry track; if it is wet, you get a new date or a full refund. Best for families and friends who want to race.
Six packages from €80 to €145 per person, about 30 minutes from the centre, with an English-speaking instructor throughout. You shoot from under a roof, so rain does not stop it, and the sniper packages aim at a 100 m target with a live camera. Bring your original ID or passport. Best for stag dos and first-time shooters.
Four of these start between March and June and run until October; book them now for spring. The zipline and rope garden are at the same rafting base in the Kresna Gorge.
About 12 km of rapids in spring and 8 km in summer, 90 minutes south of Sofia, with an instructor in every boat, full gear and insurance. You need no experience and do not have to be a swimmer. It runs from 2 people, and children from 4 can come; ask us first. Best for friends, stag dos and active couples.
Rapids of different strength with calm stretches between them, which is why families like it. Children are welcome with an adult. It runs from 4 people, and smaller groups can often join another boat. You can get there by car, by train or with a transfer we arrange. Best for families and first-timers.
You walk, slide and jump down the Vlahi river with an instructor and full gear, and the drive from the base to the canyon is included. No experience is needed. It runs from 6 people; fewer of you can often join a shared group. Best for active groups, stag dos and rafters who want more.
You start with the longest rafting run of the season in the Kresna Gorge, then walk up to Kazanite, a cold mountain stream with round pools where you jump from the waterfalls. Instructor, full gear and insurance are included. It runs from 4 people; ask us about children. Best for groups who want a full day.
A warm-up level about a metre off the ground, then 24 elements at around 5 metres, and a ride of about a minute on the zipline. Harness, helmet, briefing and insurance are included. It is 90 minutes south of Sofia, so it fits best on the same day as rafting or canyoning.
Horse riding and the carriage run all year on Vitosha, weather permitting; if it is not safe, the base moves your ride or refunds the deposit. Paintball goes on in the snow, bubble football is on a covered pitch and the shooting range works under a roof. Karting needs a completely dry track, so on a wet day you get a new date or a full refund. The rivers open in spring: the Struma from March, the Iskar Gorge from April, Kazanite from May and canyoning from June. The yacht and the self-drive motorboat on Iskar Reservoir are back in spring too, so ask us if you are planning ahead.
Want more adrenaline? ATV tours near Sofia run all year, snow included, and our extreme sports picks add snowmobiles, a balloon and flights.
Tell us your dates, your group and what you feel like. We suggest the right things to do outdoors in Sofia for you and organise everything, from €10 per person.
