Bulgaria · UNESCO Heritage Sites

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

9 Hours Round trip from Rilski manastir Easy pace

See the stunning frescoes at Rila Monastery on this full-day tour

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The journey

Trip highlights

01 Visit the UNESCO-listed Rila Monastery in the Rila Mountains
02 See the remarkable pre-Renaissance frescoes of Boyana Church
03 Travel from Sofia by air-conditioned bus
04 Enjoy a guided tour if the selected option includes guiding services
05 Explore one of Bulgaria’s most important religious and cultural landmarks
06 Take in views of rural Bulgaria along the way

Discover two of Bulgaria’s most remarkable heritage sites on a full-day trip from Sofia. Travel through the Bulgarian countryside to the famous Rila Monastery, a UNESCO World Heritage Site set in the heart of the Rila Mountains, and explore its striking architecture, frescoes, and spiritual atmosphere.

Depending on the option selected, the day also includes Boyana Church near Sofia, known for its extraordinary pre-Renaissance frescoes. With round-trip transport included and time to visit the sites, this tour offers an easy way to experience some of Bulgaria’s most important cultural landmarks in a single day.

Boyana Church is a small temple at the outskirts of Sofia with frescoes dating back to three separate periods: 11th, 13th and 19th century.

From the itinerary

At a glance

What this trip includes

Duration 9 Hours

Tour type Shared

Activity level Easy

Accommodation Not included

Transport Included

Wheelchair access No

Cities Sofia, Rila Monastery

Languages English, French, German, Italian, Russian, Spanish

Day by day

The itinerary

Day 01

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.

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.

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.

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

The route

Where you'll travel

Tour route map — Round trip from Rilski manastir 2 cities · 9 Hours

The fine print

Trip details

What's Included

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

What's Not Included

Gratuities
Hotel pickup and drop-off
Admission to Boyana Church (approx. 5 euros per person) and Rila Monastery Museum (approx. 4 euros per person)
Food and drinks

Know before you go

Due to uneven surfaces, this tour is not recommended for those with walking disabilities
Not wheelchair accessible or stroller friendly
Comfortable walking shoes recommended
Exceptions to the standard program:
01.01.2020 departure at 11:00 AM without Boyana Church
Boyana church will NOT be visited on the following dates: the 18th of May, the 19th of April, 24th and 25th December
Not wheelchair accessible
Not stroller accessible
Not suitable for pets
No public transportation nearby
Infants must not sit on laps
Infant seats unavailable
Hand disinfectant will be provided for free throughout the tour
All touch points in the vehicles will be cleaned frequently.