The favorable natural conditions allow the development of the holiday resort, sports and tourist sectors. Borovetz Resort is an international skiing center; Iskretz, Kostenetz and Dolna Banya are climatic resorts and the villages in the Iskar defile are villa areas. A recreation and sports complex with golf grounds, stables and sports facilities are built near Ihtiman, about 50 km away from Sofia. There are more than 300 protected sites and natural landmarks in Sofia Region - such as the reserves of Marichini Lakes, Skakavetz, Barikadite, the caves and the cliffs near Laksknik, the waterfalls Skaklia, Skakavitza, Sini Vir, Kostenetz, etc. The woods in the vicinity of Chepan and at the foot of Mount Kom are suitable for tourism and hunting and the courses of the Nishava River and the mountain rivulets and water basins are appropriate for sports fishing.

Vantages of human life dated to the late Paleolithic Age have been found in Sofia Region (in the caves near Lakatnik). There are remains of Roman roadside stations left in the area of Dragoman, Ihtiman, Vakarel, etc. and some remnants of medieval settlements - near Ihtiman and Kostinbrod, Koprivshtitza, Samokov. The Etropole Monastery was a major literary center during the National Revival period. At the end of the 18th century the Samokov Art School thrived. The National Uprising of April 1876 started in Koprivshitza. At the Arabakonak Pass a monument has been erected to commemorate the Russian soldiers who perished in the violent battles there in 1877 during the Russian-Turkish War aimed to liberate Bulgaria from the Ottoman rule.