1-Day Rila Monastery and Boyana Church Tour from Sofia

The journey

Trip highlights

• 01 Explore Rila Monastery, a 10th-century UNESCO site in gorgeous mountain scenery
• 02 Admire a landmark of Bulgarian monumental architecture from the National Revival period
• 03 See Boyana Church's artistic wealth of frescoes, carvings, and ancient relics
• 04 Discover relics linked to St. Ivan Rilski and 32 early Christian saints

Discover two of Bulgaria's UNESCO World Heritage Sites on this full-day tour from Sofia. Visit the 10th-century Rila Monastery, set amid gorgeous mountain scenery and regarded as a high achievement of Bulgarian monumental architecture from the National Revival period. Continue to Boyana Church to admire its artistic wealth of frescoes, carvings, and ancient relics, including treasures linked to St. Ivan Rilski and early Christian saints.

Located amid gorgeous mountain scenery, it is considered the highest achievement of Bulgarian monumental architecture from the National Revival period.

From the itinerary

At a glance

What this trip includes

Duration 1 Day

Tour type Shared

Activity level Easy

Accommodation Not included

Transport Included

Wheelchair access No

Cities Sofia, Rila Monastery

Languages English

Day by day

The itinerary

1

Day 01

Rila Monastery and Boyana Church Day Tour from Sofia

• Depart from your hotel in Sofia at 09:00 am.
• Proceed to Rila Monastery. The monastery dates back to the 10th century, although it has been plundered and burned down several times. The present building was constructed in the mid-19th century. Located amid gorgeous mountain scenery, it is considered the highest achievement of Bulgarian monumental architecture from the National Revival period.
• Continue to Boyana Church. The artistic richness of the frescoes, carvings, and ancient material monuments found at these sites is enormous. Safely protected within the museum grounds are also the relics of the founder of the monastery and patron saint of the Bulgarian people, St. Ivan Rilski, as well as the icon of the Most Holy Mother of God Osenovitsa and the relics of 32 early Christian saints.
• Return to the ending point in Sofia at approximately 17:00 pm - 17:30 pm.

The route

Where you'll travel

The fine print

Trip details

What's Included

• Hotel pick-up and drop-off
• Sofia driver/tour guide
• Transport by air-conditioned minibus
• Parking fees

What's Not Included

• Entrance fee for Boyana Church (5 € per person)
• Entrance fee for the Rila Monastery museum (4-8 € per person / 1-5 museums)
• Food and personal expenses
• Gratuities

Know before you go

• Not allowed: short skirts and sleeveless shirts.
• Boyana Church is closed on 1 January, on the Sunday of the Orthodox Easter, on 24 December, and on 25 December - on such days, the tour is done only to Rila Monastery.
• Inside visits within Boyana Church are limited to 8 minutes per group.

Logistics

Meeting & route

Meeting point

Sofia, Bulgaria

Tour start

Sofia, Bulgaria

Tour ends at the same location as the start point.