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Rila Monastery with Optional Boyana Church Day Trip from Sofia

How to Get Around
Digital
480 minutes
English

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.

Important: As of November 2024, Boyana Church now does not take reservations in advance, so we can not guarantee all visits. If entry is unavailable on your booked day, you will be able to visit St. Ivan's Cave at Rila Monastery as an alternative.

Options

Classic tour incl. Dragalevtsi

English-guided classic tour

English-guided (NO Boyana)

Italian-guided classic tour

Italian-guided (NO Boyana)

Online audio incl. Dragalevtsi

Online audio tour (NO Boyana)

Online audio tour with Boyana

Rila mon. and Melnik 11 hours

Spanish-guided classic tour

Spanish-guided (NO Boyana)

Classic tour incl. Dragalevtsi

English guided: Enjoy the classic tour to the Rila monastery & Boyana church. Visit the beautiful Dragalevtsi monastery extra

From$22.93Per Person

What's included in Rila Monastery with Optional Boyana Church Day Trip from Sofia

(Subject to Option Inclusions)

Itinerary

St. Alexander Nevski Cathedral

09:00 departure from the starting point. Be sure to arrive at least 15 minutes before departure.

Boyana Church

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.

Admission Ticket Not Included

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.

Inclusions

  • Driver/Tour guide in English
  • Transport by air-conditioned minibus
  • Parking Fees
  • Gratuities
  • Hotel pickup and drop-off
  • Audio guide in Spanish, Italian, German, Russian or English (approx. 5 euros per person)
  • Food and drinks
  • Rila Monastery Museum
  • Boyana Church
  • Suitable for all physical fitness levels
  • 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:
  • Boyana church will NOT be visited on the following days: 1st of January (the tour starts at 11 AM on that day only); The day of Orthodox Easter; 24th and 25th December.
  • Hand disinfectant will be provided for free throughout the tour.
  • All touch points in the vehicles will be cleaned frequently.
  • Minimum traveler age is 5 years old

Meet

Pickup and Dropoff

You will make your own way to the meeting points

Meeting / End Points

  • IMPORTANT: The meeting point is BEHIND Alexander Nevski Cathedral (opposite La Cattedrale restaurant) | Google Maps link: https://goo.gl/maps/KY3uaHDALKjDJukQA | GPS coordinates: 42.695601, 23.333790 | Please, be there 15 min. in advance! | This tour is not suitable for children under the age of 5.

Redeem

Ticket Redemption

Direct access

Operator

Traventuria