Sofia Tours
Rila Monastery with Optional Boyana Church Day Trip from Sofia
4.5

Rila Monastery with Optional Boyana Church Day Trip from Sofia

By Traventuria
Recommended by 92% of travelers
92% of reviewers gave this product a bubble rating of 4 or higher.
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About
The medieval Rila Monastery is one of Bulgaria’s historical must-sees—but it’s challenging to reach independently. Skip the stress on this convenient tour from Sofia, with transport-only, audio-guided, and live-guided packages available. You can also upgrade to experience a second UNESCO World Heritage Site, fresco-filled Boyana Church: Please note, all entrance fees are at your own expense.
Lowest price guaranteeReserve now & pay laterFree cancellation

Ages 5-99, max of 40 per group
Duration: 8h
Start time: Check availability
Mobile ticket
Live guide: English, Italian, Spanish
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Audio guide: German, Russian, English, Italian, French, Spanish
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Highlights
  • Travel through bucolic countryside to the UNESCO-listed Rila Monastery
  • See the monastery and colonnades independently or with a live or audio guide
  • Upgrade to visit the medieval Boyana Church and its remarkable frescoes
  • Hassle-free climate-controlled travel without using public transportation

  • Driver/Tour guide in English
  • Transport by air-conditioned minibus
  • Parking Fees
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)
  • Audio guide in Spanish, Italian, German, Russian or English (approx. 5 euros per person)
  • Food and drinks
  • Entry/Admission - Boyana Church

Greet your guide in central Sofia and see Bulgaria’s countryside, forests, and villages on a drive into the Rila Mountains. Here the remarkable UNESCO World Heritage–listed Rila Monastery—one of Bulgaria’s most famous Eastern Orthodox monasteries—sits on pine-coated slopes. Enter the legend-shrouded monastery, whose origins date to the 10th century, at your own expense. Marvel at the fresco-covered colonnades, wooden icons, and tomb of Bulgaria’s King Boris III. If you’ve booked the tour with an audio guide or live guide, you’ll gain additional insights and likely spot details you might otherwise have missed. If you’ve opted for a package that includes the medieval Boyana Church, another UNESCO-listed site, you’ll also visit here. Head inside (own expense) and view the well-preserved frescoes that adorn the interior: Some date back to the 11th century. Admire the depictions of angels, apostles, and rulers, and hear the full background on their painting, styles, and significance from your audio guide or live guide. Finally, end your tour with a convenient drop-off in central Sofia.

Start:
  • Patriarchal Cathedral of St. Alexander Nevsky, Sofia Center, pl. "Sveti Aleksandar Nevski", 1000 Sofia, Bulgaria
    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.
End:This activity ends back at the meeting point.

    • Not wheelchair accessible
    If you have questions about accessibility, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 6992RILA

    • Confirmation will be received at time of booking
    • 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.
    • Most travelers can participate
    • All touch points in the vehicles will be cleaned frequently.
    • Minimum traveler age is 5 years old
    • This tour/activity will have a maximum of 40 travelers

    • For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours in advance of the start date of the experience.

    If you have questions about this tour or need help making your booking, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 6992RILA

    From
    $28.22
    per adult
    Select date and travelers

    Similar experiences

    Itinerary
    • Sofia Center, pl. "Sveti Aleksandar Nevski", 1000 Sofia, Bulgaria
      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.
    • 1
    • 2
    • 3
      Pass by
      St. Alexander Nevski Cathedral
    About the operator
    Don’t take it from us – here’s what people have to say about this operator:
    • Traventuria
      1,649
      Sofia, Bulgaria
      Joined in March 2011
    • globalhealthmidwife
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Great day trip
      Great day trip, I highly recommend. In Canada, we don’t have historical cites less than 150 years old. So, it’s really amazing to see the historical sites, very walkable, but cobblestones.
      Written September 5, 2024
    • 754jelmerk
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Decent value for money
      Plovdiv should not be missed when visiting sofia. It has that fairytail village kind of vibe about it. Our guides presentation was so so but i was very knowledgeable. all in all good value for money
      Written August 26, 2024
    • kriskY9157SL
      0 contributions
      1.0 of 5 bubbles
      Misleading tour description, inflexible and rude tour guide
      The tour is advertised at 7 am, and according to the description that also includes a 15 minute entrance into the cathedral which opens at 7 am, so that means the bus should leave at 7:15 am. I called the tour guide Martin Krastev at 7:02 am and informed him that I would be there within less than 10 minutes as I walking to the destination. Again, based on the information provided on Viator. He said that he cannot wait for me and that the bus is already in the highway (this being at 7:02 am)!! and then hung up and never picked up the phone again, I tried to ask if I can take a taxi and meet him at a destination during the day and received not response. I followed up the company and no offer of rescheduling or refund.
      Written August 24, 2024
    • nadiawX4837YB
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Great help in an emergency situation!!
      A week ago I traveled from Rila Seven Lakes to Sofia with Traventuria and 2 of their drivers with the same name : Radi & Radi. I want to thank both of them for the big help and support they have been for me in an emergency situation 😍their kindness, reactiveness, sense of organization, and absolute efficiency saved my day ! I totally recommend them and I’ll definitely travel with them again 🙏☀️
      Written August 21, 2024
    • T5597ZEjennas
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      BEST TOUR GUIDE OF THE CITY
      my boyfriend and I booked this tour last minute and it was AMAZING! the organization of the entire tour was outstanding. We felt safe, comfortable and our tour guide, Maria was so so good! She had amazing facts that kept us very engaged throughout the entire day. If you are visiting, you absolutely must visit Plovdiv!!!!!
      Written August 20, 2024
    • 858sallyf
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Amazing ancient city
      Our guide, Hristo was knowledgeable, enthusiastic, and helpful. The city of Plovdiv is a cultural and architectural treasure. The Roman theater is spectacular.
      Written August 10, 2024
    • Y370LHharryl
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Brilliant staff
      Really lovely driver called Yanko K that went out his way to drop me at my hotel instead of just the usual place. Friendly throughout and happy to communicate in English.
      Written August 6, 2024
    • pallabs2022
      0 contributions
      4.0 of 5 bubbles
      toue was great.please clarify to other user beforehand that you would cover only five lakes
      Maya -our tour guide was great with all the informations. the trip was organised well. Maya provided relevant necessary informations. Only thing i would like to add- we did five lakes ,not seven. It has not been clarified in the description and kept as bit grey area. I did read few previous reviews mentioning the same. So we didnot visit the two lakes at the peak. I think they shoule make it clear in the itinerary rather than keeping it as grey area . This is the only part i would like to point out as bit cheeky things to do
      Written August 3, 2024
    • s0ltraveller
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Seven lakes hike
      Seamless. Booked day before spontaneously. They had a message to me v quickly w logisitics. Radi our tour guide was awesome. Super chill and easy to hang out with. Made it super fun.
      Written August 1, 2024
    • DebbieLynnG3
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Stunning views
      An amazing experience! The views were breathtaking, and our guide was wonderful. I really appreciated the way he allowed everyone to go at their own pace and meet back at the chairlift at a specified time rather than making us all stay together in a group. I was able to hike fast to the top and spend more time enjoying the spectacular views. Then on the way back down, I did join up with others from the group and had some great conversations. The monastery was also beautiful. Overall, a great experience which I highly recommend.
      Written July 25, 2024
    • goec2023
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Go for these two places
      Initially I did not see this tour on trip advisor. But someone told me of this company and I checked it out. These two places are both worth it. Hristo the guide was good and knowledgeable . He did two hrs walking tour in Plovdiv and 1 hr walking tour in the K place. Both places we got some free time to roam around. We were driven by Todor who is a great driver.
      Written July 7, 2024
    • woman2be
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Amazing trip! Highly recommended 👍🏻🤩
      I really enjoyed this trip to the 7 lakes. Everything was well organized. Team is very friendly and helpful. Of course the tracking was not easy and you should be in a good physical shape to manage it, but it definitely worth it.
      Written July 7, 2024
    • Atamasi
      0 contributions
      4.0 of 5 bubbles
      Fantastic excursion
      Aan excursion in Bulgaria no to be missed. Incredible buildings, fresoes and scenery. Visit to cave truly an experience. Our guide Hristo of Traventuria was great. Friendly, very informative and amusing. Recommend highly
      Written July 3, 2024
    • Mirmkins
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Great day trip
      Martin was a great tour guide. He had the best playlist and made sure everyone was very safe the whole time. It really was a great tour and perfect for a day trip.
      Written June 30, 2024
    • Beatrise D
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      We had the most amazing guide, Maya! She made the trip really worth it ! Hike was beautiful and breathtaking. The facts she told
      We had the most amazing guide, Maya! She made the trip really worth it ! Hike was beautiful and breathtaking. The facts she told were really interesting. Thanks for the best guide made the trip worth every cent!
      Written June 12, 2024
    See all 1,649 reviews
    These reviews are the subjective opinions of Tripadvisor members and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

    Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

    Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

    Popular mentions

    4.5
    4.5 of 5 bubbles434 reviews
    Excellent
    335
    Very good
    66
    Average
    18
    Poor
    2
    Terrible
    13

    Sofia C
    35 contributions
    3.0 of 5 bubbles
    Apr 2023 • Friends
    The two sites are both amazing and definitely worth the long journey. It is nice to have a guide who can give context and details, but going with such a large group (50+ people, a full bus) is pretty inefficient and doesn't allow you to explore the area as well as you could do by yourself.
    For example to visit the Boyana Church you need first to queue to buy your tickets and then to wait as only 10 people at a time are allowed to go in. Our guide tried to organise it as efficiently as he could, but it would have been more practical if the tour provider could just buy the tickets for the group and include them in the price.
    The area around the monastery is beautiful and we would have loved to go for a walk in the woods or a short hike but with just 1-1.5 hour of free time you cannot do that. It would have been better maybe leaving earlier or coming back later and have more time to enjoy the place.
    I think overall I would recommend to go there with a shuttle service or by car to have more freedom and flexibility.
    Written April 10, 2023
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
    Dear Sofia! Thank you for your feedback! Please take in mind that it is a cultural tour,not a hiking one. We always strive to be the best and we keep on investing time, money and knowledge in improving our service, so it will be great if you give us another chance to impress you, this time with 5 out of 5 stars! Come again! Kind regards, Maria kamenova
    Written April 15, 2023
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

    Sairah79
    Essex, UK44 contributions
    3.0 of 5 bubbles
    Oct 2022 • Couples
    This is a place worth visiting, no doubt. But I'd only recommend this if you have more than four days in Sofia as there's plenty to do in the city centre, and this is one of those excursions where you spend longer driving in an uncomfortable bus than you do at the destination itself.

    City Tours organised this day trip and the two guides we had were very nice, but lacklustre and not very engaging in their tours. The restaurant we stopped at was freezing cold and lacked vegetarian menu options.

    I would recommend this tour but perhaps go with another operator.
    Written October 1, 2022
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
    Dear Sairah, Note that we are Traventuria, not City Tour. We are two different companies. Please, be kind to remove that review and submit it at the right place. We are doing our best to always provide new, comfortable buses. All our guides are licensed and well trained. We never stop at any restaurants along the way. We advise our guests to bring their own snacks so they could have more time at the Monastery where there are also 2 restaurants and 1 bakery. Kind Regards, Lubo
    Written October 3, 2022
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

    MLandiu
    Cork, Ireland89 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Jul 2021
    This was a good day trip in a comfortable and safe vehicle. Heading off early in the morning from central Sofia, the tour takes you towards the mountains and you will have a brief visit to Boyana Church - it is a UNESCO WH Site and only 5 people are allowed to enter the church for 10 minutes at a time, After the guide will drive you to Rila monastery. It is really up to the tour group how they want to use this transit time. Our guide Martin suggested different music we could listen to, but was also open to answering questions as I thought of them, and on the way back most of the group was sleeping. I chose to have a guided tour of Rila with Martin. This was good but he was trying to cover a lot and so we rushed through the cathedral and the museum a bit too quickly for my liking. I think I would choose to have free time if I had the chance to do the tour again. I am really interested in religious culutre, popular religion and comparative Christianity, however, when I said I wasn't raised as Orthodox (I was raised as Catholic) I think Martin took it for granted that I wouldn't really be interested in the pilgrimage, hagiographic or prayer aspects of visiting Rila. Overall it was a good tour, I think it is a little expensive because there aren't many competitor operators. In other European cities I would expect a complimentary museum entrance or coffee or something extra included in the ticket price.
    Written August 26, 2021
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
    Thank you very much for the review! During these hard times, it's really important to heаr good feedback from our customers. This gives us the will to keep on working and improving despite the hard situation that tourism is in right now! I hope you'll be back one day when the situation is back to normal so we can show you more of the beauties in Bulgaria! Stay safe! Kind regards, Maria Kamenova
    Written September 22, 2021
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

    TeddyLuProductions
    Seville, Spain28 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    We enjoyed a full day of intriguing Bulgarian history and some delightful surprises with our guide and driver Ana. She is very knowledgable and has a terrific sense of humor—the best possible combination for a guide! The Rila Monastery was quite astounding in person, much more impressive than in the photographs. Ana accommodated our wish to visit the National Museum of History with a short detour there and her narration regarding artifacts over 2000 years old!
    Written September 27, 2021
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
    Dear Teddy! Thank you for rating us for a second time! Ana is one of our best guides and we are really happy she was above and beyond your expectations! We have an amazing team, for whom it will be a pleasure to host you again for a longer time in order to show you the beauty of Bulgarian history and nature! Safe travels, Maria Kamenova
    Written September 29, 2021
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

    DesertDuneStarGazer
    Riyadh, Saudi Arabia217 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    This was the second guided tour I signed up with Traventuria. I signed up for this tour at 6 pm on the evening prior to the tour. The website has the number of availability on the tour and have immediate confirmation upon payment of the tour online. The instructions on where to meet and the name of the guide etc was sent via email and clear cut.
    The meeting point was central and the bus was clean. We left even earlier to beat the traffic once everyone was on board.
    Martin our guide was knowledgeable, informative and enthusiastic with a sense of humour.
    He managed to arrange our schedule such that we arrive at the Rila Monastery before it gets too busy. Martin also gave us tips for food options (your own packed lunch, monastery donut or the sole restaurant.) I managed to try the trout at the restaurant and made it back in time to the bus and was quite pleased. Martin also had good knowledge of the toilet conditions at the monastery which is very useful.
    We also made it in good time to the Boyana Church and skipped the queu to get a brisk tour of the church.
    There is an additional charge of EUR5 for the Boyana Church which I purchased online together with my tour ticket so I didn’t have to purchase on arrival.
    I enjoyed my experience on this tour and would recommend it.
    Written July 20, 2023
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
    Thank you once again for your lovely review and feedback. We greatly appreciate it. Martin was very happy with your kind words, too. Looking forward to having you again on a tour with us next time you visit Bulgaria. With best regards, Nora Dobrinska (Traventuria Team)
    Written July 26, 2023
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

    javie c
    Madrid, Spain4 contributions
    3.0 of 5 bubbles
    The trip with Traventuria was good, they are helpful and kind, and they provide you with a lot of knowledge about Bulgaria and its monuments, but in my opinon, they should the possibility to offer just a trip to Rila Monastery (for those people who are not interested in Boyana Church) and another trip to both places.
    Also, I think they should not segregate the people who paid for the guidance from the people who didn’t ( in my opinon, they could just charge everyone a little more, like 2.5€, and offer guidance to everyone to not split the groups)
    In general I recommend traventuria to everyone coming to Bulgaria. The trip was worth it!
    Written November 12, 2022
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
    Dear Friend! Thank you for reviewing our service! You could have booked a tour to the Rila Monastery only. It starts at 10 am. Many of our clients are non-English speakers and they prefer to book a transport-only tour, and many others just prefer to pay for transport and explore the sights on their own. We want everybody to have a choice. Kind regards Maria Kamenova
    Written November 22, 2022
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

    Marina_Moscow_Russia
    Moscow, Russia196 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Mar 2024 • Solo
    Rila Monastery is a great spot in Bulgaria. An amazing place, a gorgeous view of the mountains. Nice guide from Traventuria gave us a lot of interesting information about the monastery and the history of the country. Our group was small, only 7 people, we traveled in a comfortable minivan
    1.5 hours of free time turned out to be too little for me to take a leisurely walk around the monastery, go to the church and museum, go outside the wall to look at souvenirs and have lunch. In the museum, I recommend paying attention to the Rafail's Cross, a stunningly beautiful work
    After the monastery, we went up to the cave of St. Ivan, it was a pleasant walk through the forest before the returning to the city. There is a small church next to the cave, and there is a spring nearby
    The monastery is located at an altitude of 1100m, and it is ~5 degrees colder there than in Sofia
    Written March 27, 2024
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

    TLAOrangeville
    Sanibel Island, FL501 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    I had originally signed up for the Rila Seven Lake Hike and Monastery tour but there was too much snow for the hike so switched to this tour instead. Phillip G. Was very helpful when communicating about this issue in advance. Boyana Church is a little gem…even if you have to pay 10lev on top of the tour price , only get ten minutes inside and can’t take pics. The frescoes are amazing.
    Our Tourguide: Liubomir Petkashev was outstanding. I’m always impressed with guides who run the sane tour day in and day out who still manage to be enthusiastic and supportive.
    The bus was comfy and the trip there went fast with the beautiful views of the countryside.
    The Rila Mountain region is stunning and the Monastery is definitely worth the trip. We also had the option of joining the St. Ivan cave tour group (again for an extra 10lev) but I would say go for it if you don’t mind a 15 minute uphill hike there.
    Really glad I booked this day trip from Sofia.
    Written May 17, 2024
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

    ariel
    1 contribution
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    May 2021 • Solo
    I had a great experience in this tour. The guide, Lubo, is super professional, knowledgeable, and an excellent driver. He can talk about the history of Bulgaria and the Balkans freely and with excitement.
    The Boyana church and the monastery are both very interesting, and you can see a lot of the legacy of Bulgaria condensed in those two places.
    The way is beautiful, going through mountains and woods, what makes the trip enjoyable as well.
    I truly recommend this tour.
    Written May 7, 2021
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
    Dear, Thank you for the nice review. Such words give us the courage to keep going in these difficult times. We are happy that you have enjoyed the trip, and we wish you to come to the Balkans once again someday, as there is a lot more to explore! Kind Regards Lubomir Botev (another Lubo)
    Written May 8, 2021
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

    The Truth
    London, UK262 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Jun 2022
    Joined a minibus near the Cathedral Cafe in Sofia
    There was a group of about 10 people.
    About an hour drive to Boyana Church , very old , small and atmospheric.
    Not allowed to take photos inside , but guide very informative.
    About a 30 minute stop.
    A further hour or so to Rila.
    Excellent location at the foot of the mountains.
    Great photo opportunities apart from the inside of the chapel , not allowed.
    Plenty of time to climb up the tower , look in the museum , have a short walk in the woods and have lunch.
    Back to Sopia by about 4pm
    Written November 23, 2022
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
    Dear Friend! Thank you for sharing your feedback with others here on TripAdvisor! We are lucky we had you as our guest! Looking forward to many new trips! Best regards, Maria Kamenova
    Written December 2, 2022
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

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