The National Palace of Culture (NDK) was built in the beginning of the 80s. It is a huge building in the center of Sofia and there is no chance you could miss it if you visit Sofia. It is located in the middle of Vitosha boulevard.
NDK is the largest congress center on the Balkans and it has 12 halls in total. Each of the halls is a different size and they are used for concerts, theatre and cinema festivals. The largest hall is Hall No. 1 which is very modern for the time when it was decorated and furnished. Today it has a bit of a retro look but it is still very nice and spacious.
I really like the long square with beautiful fountains in front of the main entrance of NDK ending with a waterfall. Currently the square in front of NDK is being fully renovated and is expected to return to its previous glory in 2015. There are also many cafes, bars, nightclubs, restaurants and entertainment places in and around NDK, including a bowling hall, a cinema (Lumiere cinema), a live concert stage and even one of the largest TV stations in Bulgaria – bTV. The live stage even has stand-up comedian shows. I think of NDK and its surroundings as a mini city that has the most essential things you would expect to find in a city center.
