Boyana Church
Boyana Church
4.5
Historic SitesPoints of Interest & LandmarksArchitectural BuildingsReligious SitesChurches & Cathedrals
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Located at the foot of Mt. Vitosha, Bojana Church is about 900 years old. The church houses the National Museum, which focuses on regional history, art and cultural artifacts.
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- Félix Faure • 4 min walk
- Boucicaut • 4 min walk
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- TravellingdocLondon, United Kingdom13,373 contributionsSmall but beautifulTicketing office at 50meters after the entrance Of the path after the wooden doors. There is a closure form 2-2.30pm. Bought the ticket at the national history museum as a dual ticket for 15le( this component is 5lev). On arrival, took about 10mins to enter as queue was not long and only allows 8 persons for 10mins. The small church is surrounded by a beautiful and serene gardens. The interior is stunning with it being three separate constructions built over time with an extension to the church then a further to protect it from the elements. Loads of frescos which is from 11century and then painted over later for Saint Nicholas. Eye rubbed out of painting as sight of good luck from the saints. 10mins is adequate. It’s a Miniature Rila church.Visited May 2024Traveled soloWritten May 11, 2024
- GherardinoVienna, Austria924 contributionsIndescribable and unforgettableThe Boyana Church is too small to be called the most important tourist destination in Bulgaria. It deserves to be the first place to be placed next to the Rila Monastery, which dominates tourism. Anyone interested is strongly advised to make timely bookings, because the little church can only accommodate a "hand-picked" number of visitors at a time. The visit is as indescribable as it is unforgettable, even if it was only ten minutes in which you were able to crane your neck and admire these early medieval frescoes. Don't forget to bow at the tomb next to the church to thank the woman who saved the little church, Queen Eleonore. Even if a visit to this world heritage site is a must for every visitor to Bulgaria, the experts should agree on a solution to "relieve" Boyana and its original paintings by creating an attractively designed copy. GherardinoVisited May 2024Traveled as a coupleWritten May 29, 2024
- LuisaAcitrezza, Italy1,143 contributionsNot to be missedIt is definitely worth seeing even if quickly to ensure its preservation. It is composed of three different builder parts in three different periods: 10th, 13th and 19th centuries. Beautiful frescoesVisited June 2024Traveled as a coupleWritten June 2, 2024
- Jela80Weilheim, Germany109 contributionsSmall and fineThe church itself is rather small and very inconspicuous from the outside. The interior can only be visited in small groups and for 10 minutes. We had booked the visit as part of a tour and our guide explained everything to us about the beautiful frescoes. We wouldn't have noticed the details otherwise in the short timeVisited June 2024Traveled with friendsWritten August 25, 2024
- nuskaProvince of Bari, Italy87 contributionsTo visit if you buy the tour together with the Rila monastery.The church is a few kilometers from the center of Sofia. We booked a day tour that brought us first here and then to the Rila monastery. I suggest booking a guide to better understand the whole story. The church is small and they let in a maximum of 9 people at a time. Inside it is not possible to take pictures. Admission costs €5 per person and if there is so much queue outside they do not stay more than 5 minutes. Around the church there is a cemetery, the place is really suggestive.Visited November 2024Traveled with friendsWritten November 17, 2024
- TomasEonCuritiba, PR640 contributionsA historic jewelThis small church is a historic gem. Its construction began in the tenth century. It has 13th-century frescoes. Only limited groups enter, due to the size of the site, who have only ten minutes timed to stay in the site. The employee was inflexible about it, even though there was no one waiting after us. "You can stay outside all day," he said (!). The ticket costs 12 Levs, excessive for ten minutes of visit. Photos from the interior are not allowed.Visited November 2024Traveled with familyWritten November 21, 2024
- Roberto FRome, Italy6 contributionsSofia why not!!Sofia a city on a human scale. It doesn't take much time to shoot it, 2 full days is enough. Good reception and variety of food. Costs favorable to us, 1 euro is worth 2 Lev. Must be visited at least once.Visited October 2024Traveled as a coupleWritten November 24, 2024
- lelloaconeMassa Lubrense, Italy650 contributionsA Piece of History of ChristianityI enter this little church through the small metal door pierced by Ottoman artillery shells and you find yourself catapulted a thousand years back. Listen to the history of the original chapel and its subsequent extensions to meet the demands of the faithful. Frescoes that have withstood time and retain their poetry. Images hosts of artists at work to pay tribute to their God. Prayer at the snowy tomb of Queen Eleanor is a mustVisited January 2025Traveled with friendsWritten January 19, 2025
- S-Man283Philadelphia, Pennsylvania138 contributionsHighlight of SofiaOf the various wonderful sites in Sofia, this was the one we are still talking about. The frescos are lovely, and the history of the church, with different parts being built in different parts of the medieval period, makes it a particularly worthwhile experience. It is a bit out of the way from the center, but the "TaxiMe" app (which works like Uber) made it easy to get there. It's a pity you can't take pictures inside, but totally understandable to preserve the frescos. Be aware that they only allow small groups to enter at a time (which is a good thing, considering how small the space is), but it's worth the wait.Visited September 2024Traveled as a coupleWritten January 20, 2025
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4.5
1,928 reviews
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dgjohansson
Ronneby, Sweden1,637 contributions
Dec 2023 • Couples
It is a very small building with an even smaller area of interest. Maximum 10 persons at the time are allowed and there is a no photo policy inside. IT is still a very nice visit just to be able to see this very, very old frescoes. This place was inscibed already 1979 which make it one of the oldest World Heritage Sites proclaimed.
Written January 1, 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.
Marco S
Foggia, Italy1,041 contributions
Nov 2023 • Couples
The Boyana Orthodox Church is made up of three sections, each dating back to three different historical periods: the 10th, 13th and 19th centuries but there are also different levels of frescoes inside which originated from the 11th century. The church is in fact very renowned for its frescoes and especially those present in the second section. They represent a testament to the evolution of artistic expression over the last 800 years and, in particular the frescoes painted in 1259, are among the most important collections of medieval art in the world.
Fortunately, since the times of the Second Bulgarian Empire, the structure has not suffered damage and managed to survive even the period of the Ottoman invasion. Historians and archaeologists are still trying to establish and confirm exactly which artist created the frescoes found in the temple. At the time of their creation, the Orthodox canons did not allow the artist to sign his own work as they believed that the artist was an instrument of God and, therefore, that it was His power that inspired and moved the artist's hand . This is why the creator of the frescoes is simply known as “Master Boyana”; his identity was supposed to remain a mystery… and still is. Each of the more than 240 figures painted in the church contains individual and unique subtitles and enormous artistic ability shines through them. The portrait of ktitor Sebastocrator Kaloyan and his wife Desislava, and that of Constantine Tikh Asen (who reigned between 1257 and 1277) with Tsaritsa Irene, are among the oldest paintings of historical figures still in existence. The 18 scenes in the narthex section include elements of the daily lives of artists of the time, as well as a portrait of St. Nicholas, one of the temple's patron saints. Among the frescoes it is also possible to admire the oldest portrait of Saint John of Rila, who founded the Rila Monastery in the 10th century, and the portrait of Saint Ephrem the Syrian, whose bewitching eyes seem to follow you everywhere in the church. The structure is surrounded by a small fenced park that protects it from the road. Here you can enjoy moments of peace and quiet and even imagine being transported back in time to the 13th century.
Fortunately, since the times of the Second Bulgarian Empire, the structure has not suffered damage and managed to survive even the period of the Ottoman invasion. Historians and archaeologists are still trying to establish and confirm exactly which artist created the frescoes found in the temple. At the time of their creation, the Orthodox canons did not allow the artist to sign his own work as they believed that the artist was an instrument of God and, therefore, that it was His power that inspired and moved the artist's hand . This is why the creator of the frescoes is simply known as “Master Boyana”; his identity was supposed to remain a mystery… and still is. Each of the more than 240 figures painted in the church contains individual and unique subtitles and enormous artistic ability shines through them. The portrait of ktitor Sebastocrator Kaloyan and his wife Desislava, and that of Constantine Tikh Asen (who reigned between 1257 and 1277) with Tsaritsa Irene, are among the oldest paintings of historical figures still in existence. The 18 scenes in the narthex section include elements of the daily lives of artists of the time, as well as a portrait of St. Nicholas, one of the temple's patron saints. Among the frescoes it is also possible to admire the oldest portrait of Saint John of Rila, who founded the Rila Monastery in the 10th century, and the portrait of Saint Ephrem the Syrian, whose bewitching eyes seem to follow you everywhere in the church. The structure is surrounded by a small fenced park that protects it from the road. Here you can enjoy moments of peace and quiet and even imagine being transported back in time to the 13th century.

Written December 4, 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.
Abovetheclouds
2,487 contributions
Apr 2023 • Solo
Definitely worth visiting. Small but impressive UNESCO World Heritage Site. Located around twenty minutes from central Sofia. Most people like me do a guided day tour which combines Rila Monastery and this. The Church was much smaller than I expected. Once you are inside, the details on the frescoes are quite something. Well preserved and like stepping back in time. We had a very good guide. This is the fun part. Inside is very small. You cannot photograph inside. They have to limit numbers due to how small it is and then you are only allowed in for ten minutes. I suppose it is fair to give each group a chance otherwise you will be waiting ages. If you are a large group, then you will be split. Our guide had to talk fast as the ten minutes are literally timed! If you have questions, ask outside. Use the ten minutes wisely inside. I could have done with more time. For those that are claustrophobic, this wasn't bad at all. Small souvenir shop on the premises but this appeared to be closed on the day we went.
Written April 29, 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.
valerio v
Rome, Italy1,179 contributions
Dec 2023 • Friends
My vote is not for the monument (unfortunately seen from the outside immersed in snow) but for the terrible organization and rudeness of the staff. We arrive there and we are told that you can only enter with a guide to be booked in advance: there is no one there, we ask to show us for two minutes since it is one of the few world heritage sites in Bulgaria and given the impossibility of visiting it elsewhere day to leave, we are denied with rudeness and cynicism... moreover the guides say nothing about the need to go with a tourist guide! Too bad...unfortunately this is Bulgaria too...ah, book early!

Written December 11, 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.
Howard S
Albany, NY841 contributions
Oct 2024 • Solo
Boyana Church is famous for its remarkable medieval frescoe and is a UNESCO World Heritage site that is located on the outskirts of Sofia. However, getting into the church to see the frescoes can be frustrating as only 8 eight people can get in at a time for 10 mintues, and supposedly at a reserved time. It was frustrating because there really was not a line, but rather more like a mob who were shouting and jostling to get into the entrace because it appeared that the reservations were not kept and people were waiting a long time to get in. I found that this "chaos" took away from the experience.
Written November 5, 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.
Basia_Poznan
Poznan, Poland85 contributions
Aug 2021
This great gem of history and culture disappointed my expectetions. Not because it's not worth its fame and the place on the Unesco List, but because of the way it is presented. The history of the church started in the 10thC and the first paintings are a 1000 years old. Most of them are covered with new layers, but still a great experience. What makes me sad/angry is that after over an hour long trip (metro to Vitosha station, then bus 46) and paying 10 leva we had to wait over 2 hours for the entrance (they let 6 people at a time) and were allowed to stay in the interior for 10 minutes (first letting the previous group out which made it really 8 min). No guidance included, there was hardly any time to see everything not to mention reading extra info. And taking pictures was prohibited.
I strongly recommend to read all you can about the place BEFORE you get there or pay extra for the guide.
PS. you cannot eat or drik in the surrounding garden = you have to go outside the gates, using the toilet is allowed only after presenting the entrance ticket.
Although I appreciate the spiritual, historic and cultural value of the place, I did not feel welcome at all.
I strongly recommend to read all you can about the place BEFORE you get there or pay extra for the guide.
PS. you cannot eat or drik in the surrounding garden = you have to go outside the gates, using the toilet is allowed only after presenting the entrance ticket.
Although I appreciate the spiritual, historic and cultural value of the place, I did not feel welcome at all.
Written August 21, 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.
Jasmina T
5 contributions
Feb 2022
This church is on the World Heritage List for a reason. Every time I visit I imagine the artist painting the frescoes 11 centuries ago. Extreme value for a very low entrance fee. Only 8 people are allowed to enter at the same time in order to preserve the paintings. You might need to wait on a busy day.
Written February 20, 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.
DavieU
Dubai248 contributions
Apr 2022
UNESCO site about 15 mins taxi from the centre. Very historic with nice frescos. You're only allowed 10 mins inside though it's very small. The hike to the waterfalls is very close by so can combine the two.
Written April 30, 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.
Vladimir K
Orleans, France10 contributions
Sep 2023 • Couples
We were enormously upset and amazed by the behavior of the church caretaker. We came to visit the church with tickets and came from one stand to another enjoying the first hall expositions, and when we entered the second hall the person gave the order in the form of cry: come out away. What happened? Why? The answer was: the time of visit is 10 minutes, it is finished. We could not understand this strange rule, when we bought the tickets no one told us that it is 10 minutes, on the tickets itself there is no any indication either, no one told that he switches the timer, we are not sure that 10 minutes were really passed. The whole day was smashed by this strange rule and by this boorish action. After we left the guy showed us that there is a cardboard about 50 meters on the left of the entrance. Really very strange action of the Ministery of culture who owns this historical onject.
Written September 12, 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.
Ronald L
Denver, CO3,148 contributions
Oct 2022
Drove back towards Sofia and up Vitosha mountain to Boyana Church. This church is now a museum and you cannot take photos inside. Costs 10 Lev to enter the museum. The first room of the church is from the 11th century with a second addition in the 13th century and a final addition in the 19th century. After the first room was finished it was abandoned until the 13th century when the second room was added. At that time the paintings in the original room were painted over. There is a Last Supper painting from 1259 that predates Leonardo da Vinci’s painting (1495-1498) by over 200 years. Sections one and two have the same architecture. Section 3 used stone instead of brick. Exterior of church from different sides. Pine trees supposedly only 150 years old. Tall candle holder to celebrate those still living and the shorter one to celebrate those who have died. Short front door full of holes used to be on the 2nd section. The Ottomans thought there was something of value inside and shot holes in the door until it opened.
Written October 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.
Secondo voi devo prenotare Bojana e Rila o non ce n'è bisogno? Grazie
Written April 6, 2019
Non c'è bisogno, noi ci siamo andati sotto Natale e non abbiamo prenotato...
Written April 7, 2019
We went by taxi and the driver waited until we completed our visit. He then took us up to the view at the top of the mountain and again gave us time to take photos etc. before taking us back to our hotel in the centre of Sofie. Cost less than ÂŁ25 for three of us.
Written April 13, 2019
Vorrei andare con i mezzi pubblici ...trovo.pareri discordanti, anche in hotel a Sofia ...qualcuno può darmi qualche indicazione ? GRAZIE !!!!
Written October 13, 2018
Non saprei, io ho preso il taxi condividendolo con altri turisti. Spero ti sia piaciuta
Written October 27, 2018
Can anyone tell me if there are any half day tours to the Boyana Church? I see a lot of full day tours. I would be interested in a morning or afternoon only tour.
Written May 11, 2017
You need nt any half day tour but nly half day to visit Boyana s Church;I suggest you to get a taxi or public bus.
Written October 16, 2018
susa414
Madrid, Spain
Hay alguna pagina en la que se pueda reservar con antelación la entrada a esta iglesia?? O todo debe ser a través de tours??? Es fácil quedarse sin entrada?
Written May 8, 2017
Sorry, my Spanish is not very good. You can buy a ticket there, it's not expensive... then you can see the interior of the church for approx. 10 minutes, only a few people are allowed at the same time. It's worth a visit!!! 🙂
Written May 14, 2017
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