Kopitoto in May 2026

I've been dealing with a health issue for almost a month now and though nothing can stop me from hiking, unless I am bedridden or dead, we try to choose shorter and easier trails to be on the safe side.

For today's hike we chose a favourite circular trail on Vitosha in the mid-altitude zone, that we hike at least twice a year and which is absolutely spectacular in May.

We started from Zlatnite mostove and took the path to Kopitoto peak.

The warm wet weather in May has turned the mountain into a green paradise.

Hike info:

Date: 25 May 2026 

Destination: peak Kopitoto (1345 m)

Mountain: Vitosha

Total length: 8 km

Elevation gain: 140 m

Total duration (plus picnic): 3 hours

Average difficulty: 3 / 10

Kopitoto TV Tower

The views from Kopitoto towards Lulin mountain and Sofia

Me-made items, worn on this hike:

 

Husband: men's boxers, Burda grey hoodie, cargo pants

I: lingerie, Sinclair Lotte sweater, leg warmers

After Kopitoto we continued to Boyana river and had our lunch on our favourite meadow along this trail - our delicious tortillas - yes, we are still obsessed with them and homemade muffins.

The Boyana river is very full-watered at this time of the year

We passed by Momina skala meadow, where I picked a bag of nettles and some docks leaves, and from there on we closed the circle back to Zlatnite mostove.

Kopitoto 2026

While Friday and Saturday were rainy, Sunday promised pleasant winter temperatures and even a bit of sunshine. For our hike this week we chose the circular route from Zlatnite mostove to Kopitoto and then back along an alternative trail by Boyanska river and Momina skala.

We also tried a new transportation strategy for getting to Zlatnite Mostove on a winter weekend: we left the car in a parking lot in Boyana and took the bus the rest of the way. The plan worked perfectly, and we already have other ideas for hiking this part of the mountain using public transport.

Contrary to our expectations of sunshine and hiking above the clouds, the mid-altitude trails on Vitosha weren't quite high enough; the sun remained hidden behind the cloud cover for the entire duration of our hike. 

The bus to Zlatnite was full of tourists and plenty of young families with children, enjoying some sledding on the slopes of the meadows nearby.

Hike info:

Date: 08 February 2026 

Destination: peak Kopitoto (1345 m)

Mountain: Vitosha

Total length: 9.5 km

Elevation gain: 140 m

Total duration (plus picnic): about 2 and a half hours

Average difficulty: 3 / 10

The trail to Kopitoto is fairly easy, with ups and downs altitude-wise, but the soft snow and patches of ice turned the hike into a substantial work out for our legs.

A view to Lulin mountain across the way:

Kopitoto TV tower

While some parts of Sofia enjoyed partially sunny weather, the clouds clung to the mountain

Me-made items, worn on this hike:

 

Husband: men's boxers, socks, dark grey longsleeve, blue longsleeve, Burda grey hoodie, cargo pants

I: lingerie, Sinclair Lotte sweater, brown hat, socks

On peak Kopitoto

We had our traditional tortillas and hot herbal tea on "our" meadow with a view to Sofia. During our short picnic the cloud cover thickened even further.

The Boyanska river

I tried my new gloves with conductive fingertips for the first time on this hike - they worked just fine and i was able to take photos on my phone without taking the gloves off. The weather was mild and the gloves were warm enough. For colder weather, however, I'll need my much more solid winter gloves.

The section of the forest between Momina skala and Zlatnite  has been recently updated with bird feeders — some of which were quite ingenious!

All in all, we are very satisfied with our hike and the combination of private and public transport for access to the higher mountain and will definitely use this method again, especially in winter.

Kopitoto, February 2025

Today's was a quick, but very satisfying hike from Zlatnite to Kopitoto and back through Momina skala. The round trail is one of my favourites, when we are looking for something short in the higher parts of the mountain. 

The day was cloudy, but warmish, even at the 1500 m altitude. To my surprise the snow at the skirts of the mountain had completely melted, at the higher altitudes there's still plenty of it, but the trails are well trodden and easy to hike.

Hike info:

Date: 28 Feb 2025

Destination: peak Kopitoto (1345 m), lowest point of the hike

Mountain: Vitosha

Total length: 9.5 km

Elevation gain: 140 m

Total duration (plus picnic): 2 and a half hours

Average difficulty: 3 / 10

Although the trail is easy and fairly popular, there were no other people but us on it. Maybe because it is Friday, a work day, maybe because of the forecasts for rain, which turned completely false, maybe because it is the long weekend here in Bulgaria and most Sofia residents are travelling further to take full advantage of the holiday.

Me-made items, worn on this hike:

 

Husband: men's boxers, Burda cargo pants, Burda longsleeve, Orange Hat

I:  lingerie, socks, Sinclair Lotte blouse, CC copycat hat, gloves

Without blue skies, the pictures look mostly black-and-white :)

We had our picnic on our favourite bench on the meadow, with a view to the city down in the distance. It was so satisfying to be back in the mountains, I hope the cold weather is behind us and I'm looking forward to our spring hikes.

Kopitoto in December

This Friday's hike on Vitosha was like from a winter fairy tale. The sun shone brightly, the sky was crystal clear and blue, the trees were covered with frost and everything was just out-of-this-world beautiful.

Sofia remained under a thick cover of clouds and smog, but once we were near the 1500 m altitude mark, the clouds cleared and the sun was finally visible.

We followed our usual round route from Zlatnite mostove (Golden bridges) to peak Kopitoto, then up to Momina skala hut and back to Zlatnite.

I couldn't stop taking pictures of the frost-covered forests, I always find these views simply breath-taking.

Hike info:

Destination: peak Kopitoto (1345 m)

Mountain: Vitosha

Total length: 8.8 km

Elevation gain: 140 m

Total duration (plus picnic): 2 and a half hours

Average difficulty: 3 / 10

A group of children with their supervisors were playing on a hill near Momina skala. We were actually impressed, knowing how much effort it takes to take on a trip and supervise your own children, not to mention a whole class.

Once we got near the tv tower, which is situated lower than Zlatnite, we were again in the clouds. The tower itself looked very impressive, like a launching rocket.

The "view" from the peak, or rather the lack thereof :)

Me-made items, worn on this hike:

 

Husband: men's boxers, Burda cargo pants, Burda longsleeve, Orange Hat

I:  lingerie, Grasser black top, Chaika pullover, CC copycat hat, brown shawl in the backpack

We had our lunch on our favourite bench, overlooking the city and the nearby Kamen Del peak.

It was amazing how clear one could see the ridge of the Balkan mountains on the horizon, rising higher than the clouds, covering Sofia valley.

Friday was a rare exception and I am so glad we took advantage of the extraordinary weather. back in Sofia, it's been rainy and cloudy again all weekend.