Rila Monastery Day Trip with Boyana Church Option From Sofia
Greet your guide at a central Sofia location and climb aboard your comfortable, air-conditioned bus. Admire the verdant splendor of Bulgaria’s countryside as you travel towards the Rila Monastery, a UNESCO-listed structure cradled by pine-carpeted mountains. If you’ve booked the option with a guide or an audio guide, gain additional insights into the legend-shrouded monastery, whose origin dates back to the 10th century. Pay your entrance fee and marvel at vivid, fresco-coated colonnades and richly carved wooden icons. Admire the grand tomb of King Boris III, and venture within the monastery museum to peruse the exhibits. If you’ve booked an option that includes the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Boyana Church, you’ll also enjoy a stop here (with entrance at your own expense). Famed for its impeccably preserved medieval frescoes, the church demands attention; spend a while admiring the depictions of angels, apostles, saints, and rulers, and listen to the historical context of their creation on your smartphone audio guide or from your live guide. Culturally enriched, return to your vehicle and relax during the journey back to central Sofia.
Highlights
- ✓Visit UNESCO-listed Rila Monastery in the idyllic Rila Mountains
- ✓Capture magical photos at one of Bulgaria's signature sights
- ✓Explore UNESCO-listed Boyana Church and its stunning medieval frescoes (depending on availability)
- ✓Enjoy the freedom to explore at your own pace with or without an audio guide
What you'll see & do
- ✓09:00 departure from the starting point. Be sure to arrive at least 15 minutes before departure.
- ✓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.
- ✓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.
- ✓Return to the starting point at approximately 17:00
What's included
- ✓Professional Tour Guide OR Cloud Audio Guide App (depending on the selected option you have booked)
- ✓Visit to Boyana Church, St. Ivan Cave, OR The Bells Monument (depending on the option you booked)
- ✓Parking fees
- ✓Round-trip transport by air-conditioned minibus or coach
What's not included
- ✓Gratuities
- ✓Hotel pickup and drop-off
- ✓Rila Monastery Museum (Optional; entrance to the main courtyard/church is free)
- ✓Boyana Church
Good to know
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Due to uneven surfaces, this tour is not recommended for those with walking disabilities
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.
Minimum traveler age is 6 years old
Cancellation policy
- •A full refund will apply if you cancel more than 24 hours before the activity start time.
- •No refund is possible if you cancel less than 24 hours before the activity start time.
Rila Monastery Day Trip with Boyana Church Option From Sofia
Greet your guide at a central Sofia location and climb aboard your comfortable, air-conditioned bus. Admire the verdant splendor of Bulgaria’s countryside as you travel towards the Rila Monastery, a UNESCO-listed structure cradled by pine-carpeted mountains. If you’ve booked the option with a guide or an audio guide, gain additional insights into the legend-shrouded monastery, whose origin dates back to the 10th century. Pay your entrance fee and marvel at vivid, fresco-coated colonnades and richly carved wooden icons. Admire the grand tomb of King Boris III, and venture within the monastery museum to peruse the exhibits. If you’ve booked an option that includes the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Boyana Church, you’ll also enjoy a stop here (with entrance at your own expense). Famed for its impeccably preserved medieval frescoes, the church demands attention; spend a while admiring the depictions of angels, apostles, saints, and rulers, and listen to the historical context of their creation on your smartphone audio guide or from your live guide. Culturally enriched, return to your vehicle and relax during the journey back to central Sofia.
Highlights
- ✓Visit UNESCO-listed Rila Monastery in the idyllic Rila Mountains
- ✓Capture magical photos at one of Bulgaria's signature sights
- ✓Explore UNESCO-listed Boyana Church and its stunning medieval frescoes (depending on availability)
- ✓Enjoy the freedom to explore at your own pace with or without an audio guide
What you'll see & do
- ✓09:00 departure from the starting point. Be sure to arrive at least 15 minutes before departure.
- ✓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.
- ✓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.
- ✓Return to the starting point at approximately 17:00
What's included
- ✓Professional Tour Guide OR Cloud Audio Guide App (depending on the selected option you have booked)
- ✓Visit to Boyana Church, St. Ivan Cave, OR The Bells Monument (depending on the option you booked)
- ✓Parking fees
- ✓Round-trip transport by air-conditioned minibus or coach
What's not included
- ✓Gratuities
- ✓Hotel pickup and drop-off
- ✓Rila Monastery Museum (Optional; entrance to the main courtyard/church is free)
- ✓Boyana Church
Good to know
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Due to uneven surfaces, this tour is not recommended for those with walking disabilities
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.
Minimum traveler age is 6 years old
Cancellation policy
- •A full refund will apply if you cancel more than 24 hours before the activity start time.
- •No refund is possible if you cancel less than 24 hours before the activity start time.