Boyana Waterfall
Boyana Waterfall
4.5
About
From Boyana neighborhood and Boyana church go up in the mountain using the marked green path - about 2 hours or steep ascent along the river for an hour and half. Ask or go with someone local or join the daily tours of Sofia Green Tour
Suggested duration
More than 3 hours
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Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
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4.5
259 reviews
Excellent
159
Very good
81
Average
14
Poor
2
Terrible
3
Vlad
Kyiv, Ukraine5 contributions
Jun 2022
It is a very nice trip in the summer (I was there a couple of times). There are two routes, the one marked green is easier, but longer. It takes about 2 hours going gradually uphill (depending on your strength). The red route goes along the stream. It might be a bit more challenging or a bit dangerous. I do not recommend going there in winter (which was my mistake) or when it rains, it may be slippery
Written August 25, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
vapour84
Cambridge274 contributions
Jun 2022
I took the trail to the left (the longer but less demanding one) and I'm pleased I did because it was still challenging in places. I imagine it is very hard in wet or icy weather. But I did it in June and the ground was reasonably dry. It's about 2 hours up the waterfall. There is a couple of points on the way where you can get great photos of the city far below. The waterfall itself is well worth the effort, really pretty. If you go a little higher you can get a view above the waterfall which is also great. If you go further still you will reach a hut for refreshments. I recommend you then go another 40 mins or so to get to the 'Stone River', it is really cool, great big boulders formed by glaciers. Then it's a long walk back down, hard on the knees but all worth it in the end!
Written June 23, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
islandgirlcityboy
London, UK276 contributions
Aug 2019
Went in summer when it was really hot so took plenty of water - you need it because it's a moderate hike to the waterfall. I was glad of having approach shoes and wouldn't recommend sandals or similar. The trail is well defined once you find the start! We just followed everyone else and had no issues. The route is nice and shady with lots of places to stop for a while. The waterfall is very pretty and we saw a guy on a highwire, which was fun; also rock climbers. You can get the train to Vitosha station from Sofia and a bus from there. A perfect break from the city.
Written January 11, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
James B
2 contributions
Jun 2022 • Solo
Walking up to this mountain is a feat in itself. I was alone and fell over once and tripped a number of times. It is best to go with more than one person! I am physically fit but going up this hill really tired me out a lot I nearly gave up! It is extremely beautiful but if you are old and not good with mobility please do not go up to this waterfall it is very dangerous walking up!!
Written June 24, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
theMattW
Haverhill, UK1,194 contributions
Mar 2019 • Solo
My starting point was Boyana Church, to get there from central Sofia I took the M2 Metro line from Serdika to Vitosha and then caught bus 64, I also did this in reverse to get back later that evening.
I called into Boyana Church as I was passing it, you can get into the grounds for free but it costs 10LEV (£5) to enter the small church. No photos or video are allowed and you can only enter 10 at a time.
About 5 minutes past the church (up the hill) you reach the starting point of the hike. From what I could make out there are 2 pathways that lead to the waterfall, the one on the left and the one on the right.
The one of the left is a gentler climb up the side of the mountain and takes maybe 2 to 2.5 hours on average to complete. The pathway branches off half way so you can visit Boyana Lake.
The path to the right follows the border of a military base for the first 10-15 minutes and then follows the river the rest of the way. It is stepper by quicker if you are fit, it will take perhaps on average 1.5 hours with a few stops. The pathway is a lot more rugged and involved not only a steep incline but climbing over boulders, rocks and loose stones. None of it is reasonably speaking life threatening but it is challenging and you will need to take a lot of care, especially if there is snow and ice on the ground.
I hiked it in March and began to encounter snow and ice about half way up, as you would expect it got thicker the higher I got. There are lots of smaller water falls and features as you make your way up - with it being March (melting snow from the top of the mountain) the falls were large and the river fast flowing.
When you get to the falls you can spend some time taking photos and relaxing near them, I figured it was a good idea to eat my packed lunch and relax for a bit. At selected points near the waterfalls there are some amazing views back of the city.
Once you have visited the falls you can keep walking up and about 30 minutes later you will get to some mountains huts that serve food and drink, best to check that they are open for business at the times you need before travelling if you are planning to use them. Potentially (depending on how much energy you have) you could continue your walk to the Golden Bridges.
When hiking down you will need to once again take care, in the snow and ice hiking down steep hills can be harder in some respects than hiking up. I know I find it harder to keep traction on the really steep bits. In my case I hiked down the alternative pathway (always try to avoid retracing my footsteps). This was a much easier hike and allowed me to call into Boyana Lake on the way down.
Things to consider before attempting-
-If you plan to travel there from central Sofia via public transport then buy a day card costing approximately 4LEV (£2) this will allow you to ride on the 2 buses and 2 underground trains to get there and back. You can buy a travel card from Serdica Underground station (or any station probably).
-Take some food and drink, I got through 3 bottles of water and it was a cold day so in the summer you will need to take as much as you can carry.
-Wear proper footwear, I would say a minimum would be a decent pair of trainers. Sandals and flip flops would not be a good idea especially if you take the advanced path.
-Remember that as you get higher the temperature will get cooler, this will vary during the year but worth taking a jacket with you.
-Check out the weather before you go, it probably won't be much fun if it rains the whole day. Weather can also change very quickly in the mountains so be prepared for a change.
-If you're hiking alone tell someone that you are going and when you will be back.
I really enjoyed hiking to the waterfall and back again, it was the middle of March and I saw very few other people along the way. Feel free to ask any questions.
I called into Boyana Church as I was passing it, you can get into the grounds for free but it costs 10LEV (£5) to enter the small church. No photos or video are allowed and you can only enter 10 at a time.
About 5 minutes past the church (up the hill) you reach the starting point of the hike. From what I could make out there are 2 pathways that lead to the waterfall, the one on the left and the one on the right.
The one of the left is a gentler climb up the side of the mountain and takes maybe 2 to 2.5 hours on average to complete. The pathway branches off half way so you can visit Boyana Lake.
The path to the right follows the border of a military base for the first 10-15 minutes and then follows the river the rest of the way. It is stepper by quicker if you are fit, it will take perhaps on average 1.5 hours with a few stops. The pathway is a lot more rugged and involved not only a steep incline but climbing over boulders, rocks and loose stones. None of it is reasonably speaking life threatening but it is challenging and you will need to take a lot of care, especially if there is snow and ice on the ground.
I hiked it in March and began to encounter snow and ice about half way up, as you would expect it got thicker the higher I got. There are lots of smaller water falls and features as you make your way up - with it being March (melting snow from the top of the mountain) the falls were large and the river fast flowing.
When you get to the falls you can spend some time taking photos and relaxing near them, I figured it was a good idea to eat my packed lunch and relax for a bit. At selected points near the waterfalls there are some amazing views back of the city.
Once you have visited the falls you can keep walking up and about 30 minutes later you will get to some mountains huts that serve food and drink, best to check that they are open for business at the times you need before travelling if you are planning to use them. Potentially (depending on how much energy you have) you could continue your walk to the Golden Bridges.
When hiking down you will need to once again take care, in the snow and ice hiking down steep hills can be harder in some respects than hiking up. I know I find it harder to keep traction on the really steep bits. In my case I hiked down the alternative pathway (always try to avoid retracing my footsteps). This was a much easier hike and allowed me to call into Boyana Lake on the way down.
Things to consider before attempting-
-If you plan to travel there from central Sofia via public transport then buy a day card costing approximately 4LEV (£2) this will allow you to ride on the 2 buses and 2 underground trains to get there and back. You can buy a travel card from Serdica Underground station (or any station probably).
-Take some food and drink, I got through 3 bottles of water and it was a cold day so in the summer you will need to take as much as you can carry.
-Wear proper footwear, I would say a minimum would be a decent pair of trainers. Sandals and flip flops would not be a good idea especially if you take the advanced path.
-Remember that as you get higher the temperature will get cooler, this will vary during the year but worth taking a jacket with you.
-Check out the weather before you go, it probably won't be much fun if it rains the whole day. Weather can also change very quickly in the mountains so be prepared for a change.
-If you're hiking alone tell someone that you are going and when you will be back.
I really enjoyed hiking to the waterfall and back again, it was the middle of March and I saw very few other people along the way. Feel free to ask any questions.
Written March 30, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Detelin Z
Sofia, Bulgaria69 contributions
Mar 2014 • Friends
Put your most comfortable shoes and start before noon ;) This an amazing adventure! Make sure to pick the steep ascend path, otherwise you're gonna run away from the fun. When you are finally there not less than 2 hours(no matter what the sign in the beginning says), you can enjoy the waterfall from all sides - one can get on top, in front, behind(yep that's right - check my photo), and down.
One advice, I know it may be hard for most people, but try to save power and after you see the waterfall top, start following the path towards 'Zlatnite Mostove'. This will take you to the top of the hill where there is a restaurant called 'Momina Skala'. It is a bit expensive and not for picky customers but after the whole climbing a beer would be nice ;)
Finally try to start going back at least 1 hour before your app tells you that the sun will go away, cause you do not want to be in the dark in the forest. The place is not for night picnic as a fire is also forbidden. And don't worry, on the way down, you can take the normal ascend and I even enjoy running down, just you have to stop on every turn.
One advice, I know it may be hard for most people, but try to save power and after you see the waterfall top, start following the path towards 'Zlatnite Mostove'. This will take you to the top of the hill where there is a restaurant called 'Momina Skala'. It is a bit expensive and not for picky customers but after the whole climbing a beer would be nice ;)
Finally try to start going back at least 1 hour before your app tells you that the sun will go away, cause you do not want to be in the dark in the forest. The place is not for night picnic as a fire is also forbidden. And don't worry, on the way down, you can take the normal ascend and I even enjoy running down, just you have to stop on every turn.
Written May 3, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Joelkik
Katowice, Poland43 contributions
Sep 2015 • Friends
It's a waterfall. What can I say. If you need to get away and you want to enjoy the nature, take bus 64 up to Boyana church or take a taxi. The taxi shouldn't cost you more than 12 leva. Take the easy path which should take around 2.5 hours to get to the waterfall or take the path straight up. That one will get you to the waterfall in less than 1.5 hours. The waterfall is definitely beautiful. Don't try the difficult path in winter though. That is far too dangerous.
Written October 15, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
forever
Tel Aviv, Israel84 contributions
Jun 2019 • Couples
Boyana waterfall is easy accessible - 15 minutes of taxi drive from the city. Option to use public transport exists, but we were short on time, so we used Yellow (and reliable) taxi company. The trail started behind the Boyana church compound, and the trail signs show 1 hour and 45 minutes of hike. We walked a little bit longer. Somewhere in the middle of the trail, there is a viewpoint where you can see Sofia city below. The hike request basic fitness, appropriate walking shoes and enough drinking water. Hiking poles might help.
Written June 20, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Danks Knows
Shoalhaven, Australia2,012 contributions
Jan 2018
To get to Boyana waterfall we caught a taxi to Boyana Church. We looked at going by subway or bus but the taxis are cheap and it saved a lot of hassle and time by going by taxi. From the centre of Sofia the taxi to the church took 15 minutes and cost 10LEV (US$6).
From the church walk uphill to the forest, turn left and walk to the corner. There you will see the entrance to the hiking trail.
The trail is well signposted in both Bulgarian and English. It is a 90 minute to 120 minute uphill hike to the waterfall. It is not too hard and the trail is easy to follow.
We had problems with ice on the trail for the last 20 minutes of the hike up. The trail became very slippery and we were glad we had hiking poles with us - we hiked in January.
The waterfall itself was 75 percent frozen and looked rather spectacular as I had never seen a frozen waterfall before. The round trip for us was four hours back to the church. We then walked down past the church to the main road and soon caught a taxi back to Sofia.
There were no shops after the church so you need to bring your own water.
From the church walk uphill to the forest, turn left and walk to the corner. There you will see the entrance to the hiking trail.
The trail is well signposted in both Bulgarian and English. It is a 90 minute to 120 minute uphill hike to the waterfall. It is not too hard and the trail is easy to follow.
We had problems with ice on the trail for the last 20 minutes of the hike up. The trail became very slippery and we were glad we had hiking poles with us - we hiked in January.
The waterfall itself was 75 percent frozen and looked rather spectacular as I had never seen a frozen waterfall before. The round trip for us was four hours back to the church. We then walked down past the church to the main road and soon caught a taxi back to Sofia.
There were no shops after the church so you need to bring your own water.
Written March 5, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
aearroyo
Seattle, WA10 contributions
Jul 2016
There are two paths to the waterfall: a shorter, steeper one, and a longer, gentler one. As an experienced backcountry backpacker, I strongly urge 99% of hikers to take the longer, gentler route. When a post-communist Eastern European country advises you that something is steep, what they mean is "the trail isn't maintained, very steep, less than a foot wide in places, with only rusty Soviet-era barbed wire between you and a long fall into a stony gorge." If that doesn't sound like your cup of tea, take the longer route. It's prettier, has better views throughout, and never forces you to contemplate your own mortality.
All that said, the waterfall is lovely, and there are usually families and children hanging out and enjoying the cool breeze.
If you're a climber, there is excellent--albeit extremely challenging--climbing next to the waterfall, and they allow you to do ice climbing on the frozen waterfall in winter.
All that said, the waterfall is lovely, and there are usually families and children hanging out and enjoying the cool breeze.
If you're a climber, there is excellent--albeit extremely challenging--climbing next to the waterfall, and they allow you to do ice climbing on the frozen waterfall in winter.
Written July 12, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Dobrý den jak je možné se podívat a dostát se k vodopadu hromadou dopravou že sofie.
האם ניתן להגיע למפלים עם עגלת תאומים?
shiloalon1
Tel Aviv District, Israel134 contributions
לא המסלול לא נגיש מכוון הכנסיה
האם ניתן להגיע מהכנסיה לתחילת המסלול של המפלים באמצעות תחבורה אחרת (רכבת, אוטובוס)?
אין לנו רכב איתנו.
shiloalon1
Tel Aviv District, Israel134 contributions
רק מונית אמנם העליה קשה אבל זה כלום לעומת העליה למפל.
Brit1179
England, UK143 contributions
Is there a way to visit the waterfalls without the hiking? I have a young child with me but really want to see the waterfall. If I get a taxi from Sofia to the cable cars, how much walking is involved from there?
pmc1966
Sofia, Bulgaria149 contributions
Hiking only i'm afraid...
ניתן להיכנס למים באתר?
shiloalon1
Tel Aviv District, Israel134 contributions
כן בשיא הקיץ לא בשאר העונות.
mukki80
maglie234 contributions
Ciao a tutti. E' possibile raggiungere la cascata, partendo dalla chiesetta, da soli o c'è bisogno di una guida? ci sono delle indicazioni chiare?
grazie
Sveta U
Israel14 contributions
Гид не нужен. Достаточно гугл карты. Можно идти в одиночку но необходим запас воды и еды. В некоторых местах есть указатели. На пути вам встретится много таких же туристов
Lowrie C
Newport, UK18 contributions
How do we get here.. We are staying in central sofia in an apartment.. We would rely on public transports and walking.. Also the cable cars are something we are interested in where do we get them
Kim M
Walnut Creek, CA116 contributions
From the Sofia Serdika Metro Station, we took Metro Line 2 to the Vitosha station. You can't miss the Paradise mall with the roller coaster on top -- in the summer, at least! From the main drag in front of the mall, we took bus #64 to Boyana Church. The bus stop is actually a few minutes downhill from the church. From the church, we walked uphill to the Boyana waterfall trailhead. It's the trailhead with two route options, long or short.
Boyana Waterfall (Sofia) - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go
Frequently Asked Questions about Boyana Waterfall
- We recommend booking Boyana Waterfall tours ahead of time to secure your spot. If you book with Tripadvisor, you can cancel up to 24 hours before your tour starts for a full refund. See all 6 Boyana Waterfall tours on Tripadvisor
- According to Tripadvisor travelers, these are the best ways to experience Boyana Waterfall:
- Mt. Vitosha and Boyana Waterfall Hiking Tour from Sofia (From $71.61)
- Dragalevtsi Monastery Self-Guided (From $13.22)
- E-guide for Any Sight, Tour, Trip or Experience in Bulgaria (From $16.53)
- From Sofia: The magnificent Vitosha (From $82.63)
- Vitosha hiking tour (From $82.63)
- Hotels near Boyana Waterfall:
- (5.23 mi) Casa Ferrari B&B
- (5.99 mi) InterContinental Sofia
- (6.25 mi) Hyatt Regency Sofia
- (6.90 mi) Novotel Sofia
- (5.76 mi) Grand Hotel Sofia