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From Sofia:Rila Monastery with Boyana Church or St. Ivan’s Cave

Rilski manastir9 hours
  • Hotel pickup

About this experience

Discover two of Bulgaria’s UNESCO World Heritage gems on this day trip from Sofia. Traveling by minibus, admire rural Bulgaria on route to the Rila Monastery in the pine-carpeted Rila Mountains. Take a guided tour of the medieval treasure with its fresco-coated church, and visit its fascinating museum. Then, after time to explore independently, continue to Boyana Church, near Sofia, to marvel at its spectacular pre-Renaissance frescoes. Entrance fees not included.

Group Size & Transport: This is a popular, budget-friendly day tour operating with large 45 to 65-seater coaches. This is not a small-group or minibus tour. You will share the transport with other international travelers.

Next available dates

What’s included

  • Parking fees
  • Transport by air-conditioned bus
  • All transportation costs
  • Guiding services (if option selected)
  • Visitation to Rila monastery - a UNESCO world heritage site

Not included

  • Tips and gratuities
  • Gratuities
  • Hotel pickup and drop-off
  • Admission to Boyana Church (10 euros per person) and Rila Monastery Museum (approx. 4 euros per person)
  • Food and drinks

Itinerary

  1. 1

    Departure from Vasil Levski Monument (Embassy of Slovakia)

    09:00 departure from the starting point - Vasil Levski Monument (Embassy of Slovakia), Sofia. Be sure to arrive at least 15 minutes before departure.

  2. 2

    Boyana Church tour - optional

    Arrival at Boyana Church - 09:30am. Boyana Church is a small temple at the outskirts of Sofia with frescoes dating back to three separate periods: 11th, 13th and 19th century. The most important and fascinating are the frescoes dating from 1259. They are Renaissance frescoes that predate the Italian Renaissance (triggered by the works of Giotto) and brake the strict Christian canon law to present pure human emotions, royal figures and folklore elements.

  3. 3

    Rila Monastery Tour

    Around 12pm arrival at the Rila Monastery. Rila Monastery is one of Bulgaria’s symbols and a popular tourist destination. The monastery is set deep in the heart of Rila Mountain, between the Rilska and Drushliavitza Rivers, at 1147 metres (3760 feet) above sea level. It is situated 120 kilometres south of Sofia.

  4. 4

    Arrival at Sofia, Vasil Levski Monument (Embassy of Slovakia)

    Return to the starting point (Vasil Levski Monument, in front of Embassy of Slovakia) at approximately 17:00pm

Good to know

Difficulty
Easy
Minimum age
5+ years
Languages
British English, Bulgarian
Start times
08:15 · 08:53 · 08:55 · 08:59 · 09:00 · 09:02 · 09:43 · 09:44 · 09:45 · 09:50 · 10:53 · 10:55 · 10:56 · 10:58 · 11:00 · 14:45

Know before you go

  • Comfotable shoes. And please, be aware of the monastery strict dress code: no short pants, no short skirts, no flip-flops/sandals and no sleeveless shoulders.

Cancellation policy

This booking is non-refundable once confirmed.

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Meeting point

View on map

Rila Monastery Trip from Sofia

Address
Sofia Center, Yanko Sakuzov Blvd 9, 1527 Sofia (GPS coordinates: 42.69677705130451, 23.336332286917877) - behind Vasil Levski Monument - IN FRONT OF Embassy of Slovakia, Sofia, 1527, BG
How you meet
Meet on location, or hotel pickup
Coordinates
42.69676, 23.33676
Get directions

Illustrative map. Open it in Maps for the exact spot and live directions.

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From AED 107 per person