Running in Bulgaria – From Saturday 5Ks to the Sofia Marathon

Running has been part of my life in Bulgaria almost since I first arrived here, although I certainly didn’t arrive with plans to start entering races! It was actually the Saturday 5kmrun events in Sofia that first got me interested. They’re friendly, free and easy to join, and before long a Saturday morning 5K had led to other organised runs, trail races and eventually the Sofia Marathon weekend.

More than a decade later, I’m still running here, and the Wizz Air Sofia Marathon has become one of the events I look forward to most each year, whether I’m lining up for the 10K or taking on the half marathon.

If you enjoy running and you’re visiting Bulgaria, bring your running shoes. There are some lovely places to run and, even better, there are events that visitors can easily join.

Start with a Saturday 5kmrun

The 5kmrun is probably the easiest introduction to organised running in Bulgaria. Every Saturday morning throughout the year, runners get together for a free, timed 5K in parks around the country. You register once, then you can take part in any of the events.

Runs start at 9:00 am during summer time and 10:00 am during winter time, making them an easy addition to a weekend in Bulgaria.  In Sofia, the regular events currently take place in South Park and West Park, both of which are lovely green spaces for running. Elsewhere in the country you’ll find events in Varna, Burgas, Plovdiv and Pleven. 

The atmosphere is relaxed and welcoming, with a real mixture of runners. You don’t need to be fast and you certainly don’t need to treat it as a race. You can simply turn up, run your 5K and enjoy being part of it. For me, these Saturday runs were where it all started. Taking part regularly gave me the confidence and motivation to start signing up for other events.

Running by the Sea in Varna

One of the nice things about 5kmrun is that once you’ve registered, you’re not limited to your usual location. I took part in the Varna 5kmrun a few years ago and it’s a particularly lovely one. The route is through Varna’s Sea Garden, so instead of my usual Sofia park run, I got to run alongside the Black Sea. If you’re visiting Varna and happen to be there on a Saturday, it’s a great way to start the weekend and see a different side of the city.

From Park Runs to Trail Runs

5kmrun isn’t only about Saturday mornings in city parks. The organisers also hold other running events, including trail runs, which gave me another reason to venture beyond my usual routes. I’ve taken part in a couple of their trail events around Plana, in the mountains near Sofia.

The scenery is beautiful and it’s a completely different experience from running on city paths and parks. Depending on the weather, it can get quite muddy, which I discovered first-hand! That’s part of the fun though, and events like these are a great way to combine running with seeing some of Bulgaria’s countryside.

The Wizz Air Sofia Marathon

If there is one running weekend I look forward to every year, it’s the Wizz Air Sofia Marathon. Held every October, it has grown enormously over the years. The organisation, number of participants and atmosphere seem to get bigger and better each time, and it now attracts runners from Bulgaria and all over the world.

The 2026 event has more than 12,000 registered runners from 70 countries, including almost 2,000 international participants. There are several distances, so you don’t need to be a marathon runner to take part.

The weekend currently includes a 5K mass participation run, 10K, half marathon and full marathon, as well as a 2 x 21K relay introduced for 2026. The shorter 5K and 10K events take place on Saturday this year, with the half marathon, marathon and relay following on Sunday. 

I’ve taken part in both the 10K and half marathon, and for me the atmosphere is what makes the weekend special. There is something very different about running through streets you normally drive or walk along, surrounded by thousands of other runners and people supporting from the side of the course. Even after taking part several times, it’s still the running event I get most excited about each year.

10K or Half Marathon?

One of the things I like about the Sofia Marathon weekend is that you can choose a distance that suits where you are with your running.

I’ve run both the 10K and half marathon, and they obviously feel like very different challenges. The 10K lets you enjoy the atmosphere of the weekend without months of long-distance training, while the half marathon gives you much more of that big-race experience. And then, of course, there’s the full marathon for anyone looking for the ultimate challenge.

You don’t have to be chasing a fast time either. There are runners of different abilities taking part, and plenty of people are simply there to enjoy the experience and make it to the finish line.

Running in Sofia

Even when there isn’t an organised event, Sofia is a surprisingly good city for runners. The parks are one of the biggest advantages. South Park and Borisova Gradina are both popular places to run, with plenty of paths and enough space to put together anything from a short jog to a longer training run.

One of the things I’ve always appreciated about running here is how quickly you can go from busy city streets to somewhere green. And if you’re looking for something more challenging, Sofia’s position at the foot of Vitosha Mountain means trails and mountain running are never very far away.

Fancy a Run While You’re in Bulgaria?

If you already run at home, there’s no reason to stop while you’re visiting Bulgaria. A Saturday 5kmrun is probably the easiest event to join. Registration is free, you don’t need to belong to a club and there are locations in several Bulgarian cities. You can check the current locations, registration details and upcoming events on the official 5kmrun website.

If you’re planning an autumn trip to Sofia, it’s also worth checking the dates of the Wizz Air Sofia Marathon. The event normally takes place in October, and with distances from 5K through to the full marathon, you don’t necessarily need months of marathon training to be part of the weekend.

For me, running in Bulgaria started with those fun Saturday morning 5Ks. They encouraged me to try longer races, trail running and eventually half marathons. All these years later, I’m still doing them. And every October, there’s a very good chance you’ll find me somewhere on the start line in Sofia.