Tour Rila
Rila Monastery and Boyana Church Shuttle Day Tour
Enjoy a day in the mountains by exploring 2 UNESCO sites – the Rila Monastery and the Boyana church. The 8-hour day tour will be with a group and a professional guide in English. In the monastery, you will have a 40-minute guided tour and 2,5 hours free time to make photos, check the museums and the shops, and have lunch. The visit of the Boyana church, although short, is definitely worth since you will see its amazing 800-years old frescoes and learn their history from your guide!
*Women should have their knees and shoulders covered in the monastery!
*If your tour is on a weekend day during the summer, the restaurants could be crowded so you can bring your own food from Sofia in order to have more free time and the monastery.
*The Boyana church is closed on the 1st of January, on the Sunday of the Orthodox Easter, on the 24th of December, 25th of December – and on such days the tour is done only to the Rila Monastery.
Rila Monastery and 7 Rila Lakes Self-Guided Shared Trip from Sofia
This self-guided, shared shuttle tour will take you to both the 7 Rila Lakes area in the morning and then in the afternoon to the UNESCO Rila Monastery in the Rila National park – Bulgaria's most famous natural and cultural sites. In the morning the shuttle bus tour bus will take you to the start of the hiking routes ar the Rila Lakes area and base station of the chair lift from where you can take the chair-lift up in the mountain. You have more than 5 hours for your self-guided tour of the Rila Lakes area. After that in the afternoon the shared shuttle will take you to the Rila Monastery – Bulgaria's most visited cultural and historical site. You have more than 1 hour to explore the monastery site on your own.
7 Rila Lakes and Rila Monastery Tour
IMPORTANT: Entrance in the monastery is only allowed with covered shoulders and covered knees. So please make sure you have appropriate clothes.
Often called the 8th wonder of the world, the Seven Rila lakes are legendary for their beauty and awesomeness. They are one of the most visited natural sites of Bulgaria. We combine them with a visit to the Rila Monastery. The Monastery of Saint Ivan of Rila, better known as the Rila Monastery is the largest and most famous Eastern Orthodox monastery in Bulgaria.
The tour starts at 08:00 and finishes around 19:00.
The driver will pick you up, will take you to the Monastery and will show you around. After that he will take you to the lift to the 7 Rila Lakes, you will be able to go up to the lakes, the driver will stay down and wait for you there. When you come back, he will pick you from the lift and bring you back to Sofia.
Rila Monastery Morning Half Day tour

Rated 5 Stars, based on 4 Reviews.
IMPORTANT: Entrance in the monastery is only allowed with covered shoulders and covered knees. So please make sure you have appropriate clothes.
The Monastery of Saint Ivan of Rila, better known as the Rila Monastery is the largest and most famous Eastern Orthodox monastery in Bulgaria. It is situated in the Rila Mountains. The monastery is named after its founder, the hermit Ivan of Rila (876 – 946 AD). Founded in the 10th century, the Rila Monastery is regarded as one of Bulgaria’s most important cultural, historical and architectural monuments and is a key tourist attraction for both Bulgaria and Southern Europe. If you want to be among the lucky ones who have visited this amazing site, join our tours and let’s have a great time together!
The Seven Rila Lakes & Rila Monastery

Rated 4.5 Stars, based on 95 Reviews.
A whole-day guided trek to the Rila Mountains with its top best locations – the Rila Monastery (UNESCO World Heritage Site) and the 7 Rila Lakes. Experience the two most visited tourist sights in Bulgaria in just one day. Combine great hiking with a full of history visit to the biggest and most important cloister in the country.
Self Guided Tour Experience in Rila Monastery

Rated 1 Stars, based on 15 Reviews.
Enjoy a day out at the Monastery of Saint Ivan of Rila, better known as the Rila Monastery is the largest and most famous Eastern Orthodox monastery in Bulgaria. This product gives you an unique conversational audio guide and an electronic guide with full guides notes. Total flexibility and at your own pace.
The Rila Monastery is located in 1147 meters altitude in the middle of the fragrant coniferous forests of Rila Mountain. The monastery is a complex of cultural, dwelling and farming buildings which take about 8800 square meters. The Rila Monastery has an unique architecture.
Outside, the monastery looks like a fortress. It has 24-meter stone walls which forms irregular pentagon. That’s why when some tourist enters the monastery’s yard from some of the two iron gates he is surprised by its architecture: arches and colonnades, covered wooden stairs and carved verandas and the 300-400 monastic cells.
Rila Monastery and Boyana Church Shuttle Tour

Rated 4.5 Stars, based on 67 Reviews.
Rila monastery shuttle will take you to Bulgaria's most important and visited historical site and even more – two UNESCO places, amongst with Boyana church. Enjoy the wonderful frescoes from 19th century, representing the achievement of the Bulgarian Revival painting school, feel the amazing spirit of the largest monastery in the country, surrounded by the indescribable beauty of Rila mountain. V travel team will represent to you all the secrets of this place. In the afternoon we will visit Boyana church, where murals from 13th century will show you the majesty of the Bulgarian medieval country.
Rila Monastery Day Tour from Sofia

Rated 5 Stars, based on 1 Reviews.
Discover one of the 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, spend some time to explore independently. Entrance fees not included.
The tour offers 3 different options:
1. The guided tour option is with an English-speaking live guide.
2. Tour with an an audio guide in Spanish, Italian, German, Russian or English.
3. Transport only (that option might not be bookable for some dates).
Rila Monastery and Boiana church private tour

Rated 5 Stars, based on 15 Reviews.
You have the chance to visit two UNESCO world heritage sites in one day- Boyana church and Rila Monastery.
Rafting Tour & Rila Monastery visit from Sofia

Rated 5 Stars, based on 4 Reviews.
This tour is an excellent option for you to experience a wonderful adventure and see the most-visited UNESCO site in Bulgaria – Rila Monastery. We are offering day trip to Struma river gorge, where you will have 12 kilometers of rafting and fun and a sel-guided visit of RIla Monastery with audio-guide in Spanish, Italian, German, Russian, English.
Rila Monastery Express Day Tour

With this day trip, you will be able to visit the Rila Monastery – UNESCO World Heritage sites. Learn its old history and legends as your guide's commentary takes you back into time.
This shuttle-group tour departs at 9.00 in the morning from Alexander Nevsky square, behind the Cathedral.
The traveling time to the Rila Monastery is 2 hours.
There, you will witness the unique architecture and paintings, while learning all about the stories behind them.
The duration of the guided tour at the Monastery is about 40 minutes.
After this, you will have about 3.0 hours of free time.
You'll be able to visit the local museum, take photos, eat at the bakeries around the Monastery, or enjoy a quiet walk by yourself.
At about 15:00 you will depart back to Sofia, with the duration of the traveling time on the way back being 2 hours again.
Rila Monastery Afternoon Half Day tour

Rated 4 Stars, based on 21 Reviews.
IMPORTANT: Entrance in the monastery is only allowed with covered shoulders and covered knees. So please make sure you have appropriate clothes.
The Monastery of Saint Ivan of Rila, better known as the Rila Monastery is the largest and most famous Eastern Orthodox monastery in Bulgaria. It is situated in the Rila Mountains. The monastery is named after its founder, the hermit Ivan of Rila (876 – 946 AD). Founded in the 10th century, the Rila Monastery is regarded as one of Bulgaria’s most important cultural, historical and architectural monuments and is a key tourist attraction for both Bulgaria and Southern Europe. If you want to be among the lucky ones who have visited this amazing site, join our tours and let’s have a great time together!
The Seven Rila Lakes Self – Guided Hiking Tour

Rated 5 Stars, based on 13 Reviews.
This whole-day trek to the Rila Mountains is meant for people, who would like to walk in a leisurely pace among its jewels – The Seven Rila Lakes. You will have enough time to get to the highest of all lakes and enjoy the super scenery revealed from there.
Enjoy a self-guided hike among nature
Marvel at the views of the Seven Rila lakes
Walk at your own pace
Small Group Tour: Rila Monastery and Melnik

Rated 5 Stars, based on 10 Reviews.
– Get more of your holiday by booking an intensive small group guided tour to the highlights of southwest Bulgaria;
– Tour the smallest Bulgarian town, famous for its architecture, stunning surroundings, and wine production.
– The Melnik Pyramids are a fantastic phenomenon. Use wisely the recommended photo stops! 🙂
– In Melnik discover the impressive Rivaval Period style house of Kordopoulo’s family and peek into its tunnel-like wine cellar.
– Enjoy the sights of the tranquil Bulgarian countryside and its sleepy villages, while your guide introduces you to Bulgarian everyday countryside life;
– Visit the overwhelming Rila Monastery and let the guide relive its history and enlight you on its present-day status;
– Admire the priceless frescoe masterpieces of the most notable 19th-century Bulgarian painters
– Enrich your experience by tasting local delicacies and in this way involve all your senses;
Plovdiv and Rila Monastery tour in one day

Rated 3.5 Stars, based on 79 Reviews.
We are the only company that offers this unique combination of tour to Rila Monastery and Plovdiv in just one day. Visit the two most visited locations in one day with this amazing tour. The Monastery of Saint Ivan of Rila is the largest and most famous monastery in Bulgaria. Plovdiv’s history spans 8,000 years, it’s the second biggest city in Bulgaria.
IMPORTANT: Entrance in the monastery is only allowed with covered shoulders and covered knees. Please have appropriate clothes.
We won't have time for a restaurant meal, just packed lunch or fast food.
Approximate schedule, it can be plus/minus 30 minutes at those stops depending on the day and the traffic:
08:30 Meet and leave Sofia
11:00 Joining the Free Plovdiv Tour (this is a donation based tour, and the tip for the guide is not included in the price of the tour)
13:30 Little time for packed or fast food lunch
14:00 We leave Plovdiv
16:45 We explore the Rila Monastery
18:00 We leave for Sofia
19:30 We arrive back in Sofia
The Seven Rila Lakes Day Tour From Sofia

Rated 4.5 Stars, based on 88 Reviews.
Spend a day exploring the idyllic Seven Rila Lakes on this group hiking tour from Sofia. Accompanied by expert mountain guides, travel from the Bulgarian capital Sofia, to the Rila Mountains – Bulgaria's highest range. Be wowed by sweeping mountain panoramas during a 30-minute chairlift ride, and then set off on foot to explore the lakes. During your 4- to 5-hour hike, you’ll see all seven lakes and enjoy frequent stops to capture photos and rest your legs. Enjoy personalized attention from our professional mountain guides.
Private Horseback Riding the Rila Range

Rated 5 Stars, based on 4 Reviews.
Embark on an unforgettable horseback riding adventure! Explore breathtaking scenery on gentle trails, perfect for riders of all levels, from beginners to experienced equestrians. Create memories that will last a lifetime with our bespoke horse riding tours.
Self-Guided Tour of Rila Mountains and Seven Rila Lakes

Rated 3.5 Stars, based on 3 Reviews.
The Seven Rila lakes are amazing. Use our self-guided tour to visit, go around them and see everything spectacular on your own. All the guides notes and full gps tracks will be personalized and sent to you. Super convenient and cheap.
Enjoy it with us professionally!
Seven Rila Lakes Day Tour from Sofia

Rated 5 Stars, based on 1 Reviews.
This tour of the Seven Rila Lakes provides a great experience and unforgettable natural views. See one of the Bulgaria’s 100 National tourist sites in this day tour. Hike through the natural landscape and get acquainted with Bulgaria's picturesque scenery.
Unique experience to sleep in Rila Monastery

Rated 5 Stars, based on 6 Reviews.
Very unique experience to stay overnight in Rila Monastery and touch the spiritual life of this sacred place! If you interested in this very special opportunity we'll arrange everything for you, including a private transport if you need such (additional cost). Keep in mind you have to travel from Sofia to the monastery in Rila, which take around 3,5 hours by bus and 2,5 hours by car! The Cave of St. Ivan Rilski is a sacred place to visit and its only a very nice walk away – 3,4 km!