Rila Monastery and Boyana Church: A UNESCO Sites Shuttle Day Tour Experience

Embark on a captivating 8-hour day tour to the Rila Monastery and Boyana Church, both UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Explore ancient frescoes, learn their history, and enjoy free time in the picturesque mountains.

Duration: 8 hours
Cancellation: 1 day learn more
Highlights
  • St. Alexander Nevski Cathedral - The meeting point for the tour is Behild Alexander Nevsky Cathedral at 8:45. The departure is at 9am. Please be on time!
What's Included
  • Trip to Boyana Church and Rila Monastery
  • Transportation by comfortable bus/minibus
  • Parking fees
  • English-speaking guide or driver (depending on option)
What's Not Included
  • Boyana church entrance ticket - approx. 6 euro per person (12 lev)
  • Rila Monastery museum + monk room entrance ticket - approx. 4 euro per person (8 lev)
  • Food and drinks
  • Gratuities
  • Hotel pick up and drop off
Additional Information

Experience a day amidst the mountains touring 2 UNESCO heritage sites - Rila Monastery and Boyana Church. This full-day tour of 8 hours, conducted in English, is organized for a group led by a professional guide. Your time at the monastery will include a 40-minute guided tour and you will be given 2.5 hours of free time for photography, visiting museums and shops, and for your lunch. Despite the brief visit to Boyana Church, it is undeniably worthwhile as you get to see centuries-old (800 years old) wall-paintings and understand their historical significance from your guide.

For women, it’s mandatory to have their knees and shoulders covered within the monastery! On summer weekends, the restaurants might be bustling, so bringing your own meal from Sofia is suggested for additional free time at the monastery.
*The Boyana Church remains closed on January 1st, Orthodox Easter Sunday, and December 24th and 25th, hence on these days, the tour is restricted only to Rila Monastery.

  • Women should have their knees and showders covered in the monastery.
  • There are not many dining options around the monastery, so in the period April – October we recommend you to bring your own food. In the period November – March we organize a stop at a nearby restaurant, since the weather is colder and it is not comfortable to eat outside.
  • Bring cash with you (preferably local currency) – the shops and the restaurants in the area of the monastery accept mostly cash payments so it is important to have some money with you.
  • Please warn us if you have a 0-2 years old baby when you make the reservation so that we can prepare a special seat for them
Location
Rila Monastery Trip from Sofia
ulitsa "Oborishte"
The meeting point for the tour is BEHIND Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, near to cafe La Cathedrale. Ask for travel agency City Tour. Please be there at 8:45am. The van/bus departs at 9am and will not wait for you if you are late.
Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Customer Ratings
4.7
(578 Ratings)
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Nathaniel_p
Aug 29, 2024
A must when visiting Bulgaria - Tuni is the best tour guide ever 😉 very informative. Knows his history and craft about Bulgaria. A must when visiting Sofia. My family had a great time.
Review provided by Viator
Jeff_b
Aug 25, 2024
Beautiful! - It’s worth going to see. Underrated is the drive in, particularly the last 30-45 minutes. 2-3 hours at the Monastery is enough unless you want to deep dive on artifacts and history. Very much worth doing. Boyana Church is an add-on that is really specific to art historians and those who love small scale local history. It’s fine, but the Rila is the overwhelming star of the show. Very enjoyable and a must-do.
Review provided by Viator
Peter
Aug 24, 2024
Both great places to visit - Both very interesting sites, especially liked Boyana. The guide was very informative and it was great to have free time at Rila Monastery to explore
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Ok_o
Aug 21, 2024
Well paced day trip! - Fantastic day trip! Antonio was an excellent guide and shared interesting information and insights. It is well paced and you get to see several important points in a day.
Review provided by Viator
Marcocd243vn
Aug 21, 2024
To visit - The monastery of Riila is a must visit. Breathtaking views and the entrance to the monastery is breathtaking. The only flaw, there are only two dining options and maybe it's better to start from Sofia with a couple of sandwiches. The tour is very well organized
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Iris_c
Aug 19, 2024
Good and efficient - Everything was good. We departed on time, arrived on time, the info was relevant and complete, the guides were nice, well informed, respectful and amicable. Our book and tour wete on English but we were in a bus with Antonio,who was delivering the Spanish tour. He was brilliant.
Review provided by Viator
Sneaky87
Aug 18, 2024
Rila Monastery. - Really nice tour to an old monastery.Our guide, Tuni, was really funny and informative. Monastery itself looks beautiful. Where are four museums to visit, and even the possibility to rent a room for a night, where monks used to live. Just don't forget to follow dress code! Behind Monastery, there are plenty of souvenir shops, restaurants, and coffee shops. And you should try "Mekitsa" traditional Bulgarian treat, you can choose different toppings as well.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Shasurita86
Aug 27, 2024
Good Value for Award - Tour with a large bus in which there was a Spanish translator and an Italian translator, but no instructions given in English. The English translator was in fact in a minibus with some clients. Too bad for us. But everything else went very well: message received the day before the excursion, clear instructions given at each site, places that are really worthwhile and friendly translators.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
754jelmerk
Aug 26, 2024
Interesting locations, poor guide - Beautiful locations but this might have been one of the few cases where you might have been better off with the self guided tour. Our guide alexander could barely string together a sentence in english let alone tell an engaging story.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Emichac
Aug 15, 2024
Recommended site - Good place to spend the morning, difficult to walk through the type of brick floor if you go with cart, we were not allowed in if my wife did not lie a little, went with suspenders, I respect it but I do not share it to the heights we are, the qc fireproof, disgusted the smell and dirt. Otherwise, great food and lovely access.
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up to 15 guests
1 Adult
September 2024
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