Key facts
Club: CSKA 1948 | Opening: 1953 | Capacity: 43,358 seats
History and description
Vasil Levski National Stadium got built in the 1950s to provide the city of Sofia with a large football venue. Until then, the national team had played their matches at a small ground of 10,000 spectators that had stood roughly at the same site.
Vasil Levski Stadium officially opened on 5 July 1953. The stadium could initially hold just over 40,000 spectators but got later expanded to a capacity of close to 80,000.
By the 2000s, the state of the stadium had severely deteriorated and the stadium was closed for a while to undergo refurbishments to keep it eligible for hosting international matches. Plans were made for the construction of an entirely new national stadium, but these never came to fruition.
At the moment, tentative plans exist to renovate the stadium, which would be required if Bulgaria would succeed in their joint bid with Romania, Greece, and Serbia to host the Euro 2028 tournament.
Save from hosting national team matches, Vasil Levski Stadium did not have a permanent club occupant for most of its history (though did regularly host European matches). Since 2018, newly formed CSKA 1948 has used the stadium as their home.
How to get to Vasil Levski National Stadium
Vasil Levski National Stadium is located centrally in Sofia on the south-eastern edge of the city centre. The stadium lies in Borisova Gradina park, the city’s main park that also includes CSKA’s Balgarska Armia Stadion.
The stadium lies a 15-20 minute walk from most city centre destinations including Aleksander Nevski Cathedral, Vitosha Boulevard, and Sveti Georgi Rotunda.
From other destinations, the stadium can be reached by metro or tram. Metro station Vasil Levski Stadium lies right next to the stadium. It is on line M1 and M4 which runs through the centre to the north-west coming from the south-east. From the main railway station, which is on line M2, a transfer to line M1 or M4 is required, though you can also get off at stop NDK and walk 15 minutes to the stadium.
Tram 10, 12, and 18 furthermore pass by the stadium. They all run through the city centre and tram 18 can be boarded a little south from the main railway station at Ul Kozloduy.
Address: 38 Evlogi & Hristo Georgievi Blvd, Sofia
Eat, drink, and sleep near Vasil Levski National Stadium
Vasil Levski Stadium is located on the edge of the city centre so there are plenty of places to eat and drink in the vicinity of the stadium.
Likewise, there is a large choice of hotels spread around the city centre at 10 minutes walking from the stadium (or apartment rentals even closer). Click here for an overview of hotels near Vasil Levski National Stadium and elsewhere in Sofia.
CSKA 1948 Tickets
Tickets for CSKA 1948 games can be bought online through the official website or the eventim network.
Tickets are also available at the stadium before the start of the match.
Tickets for Bulgarian national team games can also be bought through the eventim network.
Useful websites
Cska1948.bg – Official website of CSKA 1948.
Photo credits: railroadwiki