Bulgaria · RILA MONASTERY TOURS

The 15 Best Rila Monastery Tours from Sofia

22 tours  ·  from $11 a head

Rila is 120km south of the capital and the road takes about two hours, which is why almost nobody drives it themselves. These 15 differ on departure time, whether Boyana Church is included and how long you actually get in the courtyard.

Rila Monastery and Boyana Church Full-Day Tour - Boyana Church rewards a short visit
Boyana Church Tours, Full-Day, Rila Monastery Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours, Tours in Sofia

Rila Monastery and Boyana Church Full-Day Tour

1.Rila Monastery and Boyana Church Full-Day Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 918 reviews · 8 hours (approx.) · from $24Our pick

Spend about eight hours visiting Rila Monastery in the mountains and Sofia’s small Boyana Church. Expect a 40-minute monastery tour, 2.5 hours of free time, and only 10 minutes inside Boyana Church. Guides such as Maria, Ina, Vasil, and Tuni have led especially well-received departures, though language and guide arrangements can vary.

“We really enjoyed seeing the monastery and church and thought it was a worthwhile trip from Sofia. It’s in a beautiful setting in the mountains.”

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From Sofia: Rila Monastery & Boyana Church Day Tour - What the Sofia departure is like
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From Sofia: Rila Monastery & Boyana Church Day Tour

2.Rila Monastery & Boyana Church Day Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 866 reviews · 8 hours (approx.) · from $24

Spend a full day visiting Sofia’s Boyana Church and the mountain-set Rila Monastery with an English-speaking guide such as Lubo or Liubomir. Expect an air-conditioned minibus, free time to explore, optional audio commentary, and extra fees for both church and museum entry. The schedule also allows time for the monastery bakery, museum, or optional St. Ivan’s Cave walk.

“Svet was an awesome tour guide, made everything super engaging. Very knowledgeable about all things Bulgaria and a lot of historical references.”

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Rila Monastery and 7 Rila Lakes Self-Guided Shared Trip from Sofia - The Seven Rila Lakes: six hours to choose your route
Guided, Rila Monastery Tours, Self-Guided Tours, Seven Rila Lakes Hikes, Tour Reviews, Tours in Sofia

Rila Monastery and 7 Rila Lakes Self-Guided Shared Trip from Sofia

3.Rila Monastery and 7 Rila Lakes Self-Guided Shared Trip from Sofia

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 280 reviews · 13 hours (approx.) · from $54Top rated

Leave central Sofia at 7:00 am with driver Philip and a shared minivan. Hike the Seven Rila Lakes at your own pace, using route advice and paper maps, then visit Rila Monastery. The 13-hour outing includes transport but not the 25 BGN chairlift, food, guide services, or mountain rescue insurance.

“A great and well organised journey which allows you to combine nature with a very impressive UNESCO site, the Monastery of Rila. Trustful company”

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7 Rila Lakes and Rila Monastery Tour - Weather can rewrite the whole itinerary
Rila Monastery Tours, Seven Rila Lakes Hikes, Tour Reviews, Tours, Tours in Sofia

7 Rila Lakes and Rila Monastery Tour

4.7 Rila Lakes and Rila Monastery Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 165 reviews · 10 to 11 hours (approx.) · from $71

This full-day trip from central Sofia pairs the peaceful Rila Monastery with a mountain hike to the Seven Rila Lakes. Expect a 1.5 to 2.5-hour drive each way, about five hours at the lakes, and a chairlift fee of roughly €15. Guides such as Alexander, Apostolos, and Stoyan have led recent departures, but the hike is largely self-guided.

“To take the trip to the rila monastery and the Rila lakes was the best decission we made during our visit of Sofia. My girlfriend and I had an amazing experience exploring the beautiful nature of Bulgaria. Our guide/driver Stoyan made the trip even more memorable with his enthusiasm and knowledge about the place and Bulgarian history. He was really helpfull and ready to answer all our questions, we would really recommend him as a guide! Bulgaria had a lot more to offer than I expected. I would really recommend this trip!”

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The Seven Rila Lakes & Rila Monastery - Riding the chairlift into Rila National Park
Rila Monastery Tours, Seven Rila Lakes Hikes, Tour Reviews, Tours in Sofia

The Seven Rila Lakes & Rila Monastery

5.The Seven Rila Lakes & Rila Monastery

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 109 reviews · 12 hours (approx.) · from $54

Leave Sofia early for a chairlift ride into Rila National Park and a guided hike among the Seven Rila Lakes. You’ll then visit Rila Monastery, with guides such as Maya, Todor, Peter, or Megi Ski depending on the departure. Expect a long day, steep paths, mountain weather, and roughly six hours of road travel.

“Seven Rila Lakes was a gorgeous hike! We managed to get to all seven lakes in the three hours that we had, which took a bit of hustling! I had expected us to have more time scheduled at Rila Lakes but when we got on the tour we found out we'd only have 2.5-3hrs (but this is because I hadn't realized that Rila Monestary is 1.5hrs from Rila Lakes). The Monestary was very beautiful and the tour guides had a lot of great information about it! There is a small bakery at the Monestary that serves great bread and for very cheap! The bus was large and comfortable. If you…”

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Private Day Trip to Boyana Church and Rila Monastery - The art inside Boyana Church
1-Day Tours, Boyana Church Tours, Private, Rila Monastery Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours in Sofia

Private Day Trip to Boyana Church and Rila Monastery

6.Private Day Trip to Boyana Church and Rila Monastery

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 108 reviews · 8 hours (approx.) · from $193

You’ll visit two UNESCO-listed Bulgarian sites in one day: Rila Monastery, with its frescoed courtyard and museum, and Boyana Church, famous for its 13th-century paintings. A private English-speaking driver-guide collects you at 9 a.m. and returns you to Sofia around 5 p.m. Past guides have included Alexander, Julian, Maria, Nikola, and Ivan.

“We had a wonderful time with Maria, our guide. She is such a cheerful, delightful person, very knowledgeable and passionate about history and Bulgaria. Her backpack is full of pamphlets, maps, alphabet and little things about Bulgaria. At Boyana Church and Rila Monastery, she took the time to explain everything about the places and even took us to try Mekitza, at the original bakery in front of the monastery. Lunch was also fabulous, in a small locally run restaurant. Overall, we are grateful to meet Maria, and highly recommend this experience!”

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Plovdiv and Rila Monastery tour in one day - Three hours in Plovdiv Old Town
1-Day Tours, Plovdiv Day Trips, Rila Monastery Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours, Tours in Sofia

Plovdiv and Rila Monastery tour in one day

7.Plovdiv and Rila Monastery tour in one day

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 87 reviews · 10 to 11 hours (approx.) · from $119

This 10 to 11-hour English-language trip pairs Plovdiv’s Old Town with Rila Monastery from Sofia. You get an air-conditioned vehicle, WiFi, and round-trip transport for up to six people. Drivers such as Apostolos, Tony, Alexander, and Abi have led the day, though the Plovdiv walk may join a much larger public group.

“This was a long day, but it was worth the time and money. Our driver/host Apostolos inew a lot about the country and kept us on track while ensuring we had opportunity to stop for food and bathroom. We very much enjoyed the 2hr walking free tour (tip based) that Apostolos arranged for us( we learned a lot about Plovdiv from our very knowledgeable local tour guide. We had enough time at the Rila Monastery to walked around and admire the architecture and religious wealth. We wished that we had received the audio tour hyperlink from the company that runs the tour one day in advance, as we had planned…”

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Rila Monastery and Boyana Church Shuttle Tour - The two-hour visit and what it really includes
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Rila Monastery and Boyana Church Shuttle Tour

8.Rila Monastery and Boyana Church Shuttle Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 69 reviews · 8 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $42

Spend about 8.5 hours visiting Rila Monastery and Boyana Church from central Sofia. An English-speaking driver-guide leads the day, with audio commentary available in six languages. Expect a scenic minibus ride, Bulgarian Renaissance art, 13th-century frescoes, a monastery visit, and a separate church admission fee.

“Éramos cuatro adultos y tres niños pequeños y nos llevaron a todos juntos en una furgoneta de 9 plazas. El guía muy amable”

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From Sofia: Rila Monastery and Plovdiv Day Trip - The long road from Sofia to Rila Monastery
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From Sofia: Rila Monastery and Plovdiv Day Trip

9.Rila Monastery and Plovdiv Day Trip

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 52 reviews · 12 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $71

See two of Bulgaria’s major sights in one 12.5-hour day from Sofia. An English-speaking host, often Philip, leads the shared minibus trip while you explore Rila Monastery and Plovdiv on your own. Expect long road time, useful WhatsApp updates, free stops, and a small group of up to 15 people.

“We didn't know much about Bulgaria before coming to Sofia. We decided to take this tour because of all the good ratings. Have to say, they were all speaking the truth. We had the same guide that the other reviews referenced. Our guide was Philip and he was a storehouse of great knowledge. He knew so much about the places we were visiting, but also gave us some great insights into Bulgaria and the recent history from Communism to Democracy. Our driver was excellent and was a very pleasant guy to be around at all the stops. I will say, this is a VERY LONG day. Out of 12+ hours,…”

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Rila Monastery and Boyana Church Self-Guided Day Trip from Sofia - The road trip and vehicle question
1-Day Tours, Boyana Church Tours, Guided, Rila Monastery Tours, Self-Guided Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours in Sofia

Rila Monastery and Boyana Church Self-Guided Day Trip from Sofia

10.Rila Monastery and Boyana Church Self-Guided Day Trip from Sofia

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 41 reviews · 8 hours (approx.) · from $36

Travel from Sofia to Boyana Church and Rila Monastery in about eight hours. See Boyana’s remarkable 13th-century frescoes, then explore Bulgaria’s best-known monastery with a driver, air-conditioned minivan, and online audio guide. The trip is mostly self-guided, with drivers such as Lubo or Constanza sometimes adding helpful local information.

“Worth to do a guided daytrip to Rila Monastery and Boyana church by an enthusiastic guide. It's a lovely place to visit.”

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Rila Monastery & Thermae Full-Day Tour from Sofia - Entering Rila Monastery’s historic courtyard
Full-Day, Rila Monastery Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours, Tours in Sofia

Rila Monastery & Thermae Full-Day Tour from Sofia

11.Rila Monastery & Thermae Full-Day Tour from Sofia

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 34 reviews · 9 hours (approx.) · from $43

Travel from Sofia to Bulgaria’s remarkable Rila Monastery with an English-speaking guide such as Georgi or Ivan, then spend time at Aqua Club Kotvata’s indoor and outdoor mineral pools. The day mixes Orthodox art, mountain scenery, free time, lunch at your own cost, and a relaxing spa visit. Bring modest clothing, swimwear, flip-flops, and a towel.

“The guide is very sweet and very prepared, arrived at the monastery the guide told us in great detail about the frescoes outside the church and inside the church, explained many details of the Orthodox religion, Then we went to relax in the thermal waters. The monastery is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, not to be missed. The two-hour bus ride is worth the effort, mostly by highwayAuto-translated”

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Rila Monastery and St. Ivan Cave History & Nature Trip from Sofia - The 9:00 departure from central Sofia
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Rila Monastery and St. Ivan Cave History & Nature Trip from Sofia

12.Rila Monastery and St. Ivan Cave History & Nature Trip from Sofia

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 25 reviews · 8 hours (approx.) · from $24

Spend about eight hours traveling from Sofia to Rila Monastery and the Cave of St. Ivan Rilski. You’ll have time to explore the monastery, use an online audio guide, and walk through the forest to a sacred cave and spring. English-speaking guides such as Anthony, Lyubomir, Krisa, and Todor have led this outing.

“With my husband I visited the monastery of Rila and the cave, nothing short of perfect organization and a special thanks to Viator and especially to the guide Zechariah very professional and at the same time nice and pleasant It will remain a beautiful memory of the. Bulgaria, Sofia and the beautiful monasteryAuto-translated”

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Rila Monastery Afternoon Half Day tour - What the 3:30 pm departure really means
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Rila Monastery Afternoon Half Day tour

13.Rila Monastery Afternoon Half Day tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 24 reviews · 4 to 5 hours (approx.) · from $59

Leave central Sofia at 3:30 pm for Rila Monastery in an air-conditioned vehicle with WiFi. Expect about 1.5 to 2.5 hours each way, a two-hour visit, and return to Sofia. Guides such as Dennis and Apostolos have led past departures. Confirm whether Boyana Church is included, since the advertised details are not fully consistent.

“Nos vino a recoger Apostolos, el guía, a nuestro airbnb en un monovolumen y nos llevó al monasterio. En todo momento encantador, conduciendo correctamente, y explicándonos de tanto en tanto la historia del monasterio. Una vez allí, nos dejó a nuestro aire, pero siempre al lado por si queríamos preguntar algo o que nos hiciera fotos. Lo recomiendo un 10. Después de un par de horas, volvimos, ya que nevaba. Bajamos con el mismo guía y el mismo coche, y nos devolvió a la puerta del Airbnb otra vez. Todo salió según nos prometieron.”

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Rila Monastery and Boiana church private tour - Boyana Church: a short visit with serious art
Private, Rila Monastery Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours, Tours in Sofia

Rila Monastery and Boiana church private tour

14.Rila Monastery and Boiana church private tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 23 reviews · 6 to 9 hours (approx.) · from $120

Travel from Sofia in a private, air-conditioned vehicle with WiFi and bottled water. Your English-speaking guide takes you to Boyana Church and Rila Monastery, explains the murals and Bulgarian history, and adjusts the day to your group when possible. Pickup is available from hotels, apartments, stations, the airport, and private addresses.

“The flexible starting time, the adjustment of per person cost based on group size, vehicle was very clean and comfortable. Vlad our driver was very friendly informative English speaking guide. The Boyana church and monastery were amazing. You do need local currency at tje monastery.”

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Small Group Tour to Rila Monastery and Boyana Church - The mountain drive and vehicle expectations
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Small Group Tour to Rila Monastery and Boyana Church

15.Small Group Tour to Rila Monastery and Boyana Church

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 22 reviews · 7 hours (approx.) · from $108

Travel from Sofia into the Rila Mountains with an English-speaking guide such as Ilian, Daniel, Maria, or Lubo. Explore Rila Monastery, then view Boyana Church’s remarkable medieval frescoes. Hotel pickup, transport, guide, and admission are included, while food is not. Expect a long mountain drive and a short visit inside Boyana Church.

“It is about a 2 hour drive to to get to Rila Monestary with the last 45 minutes on a windy mountain road. The only thing to see is the Monestary, which is not that big, so be sure to go to the museum to extend your visit. The day we were there most vendors were closed, it was a fairly short visit. We then drove back towards Sofia to the Boylan church, which had interesting frescoes. Again, a short visit and we were back by 3pm.”

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