Name: From Sofia:Rila Monastery with Boyana Church or St. Ivan’s Cave
Price: 20 EUR

See the stunning frescoes at Rila Monastery on this full-day tour

Discover two of 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, after time to explore independently, continue to Boyana Church, near Sofia, to marvel at its spectacular pre-Renaissance frescoes. Entrance fees not included.

Group Size & Transport: This is a popular, budget-friendly day tour operating with large 45 to 65-seater coaches. This is not a small-group or minibus tour. You will share the transport with other international travelers.

What's included

Transport by air-conditioned bus
All transportation costs

Guiding services (if option selected)

Visitation to Rila monastery - a UNESCO world heritage site

What's not included

Gratuities
Hotel pickup and drop-off
Admission to Boyana Church (10 euros per person) and Rila Monastery Museum (approx. 4 euros per person)
Food and drinks

What do I need to bring

Comfotable shoes. And please, be aware of the monastery strict dress code: no short pants, no short skirts, no flip-flops/sandals and no sleeveless shoulders.

Attention

Due to uneven surfaces, this tour is not recommended for those with walking disabilities
Not wheelchair accessible or stroller friendly
Comfortable walking shoes recommended
Exceptions to the standard program:
01.01.2020 departure at 11:00 AM without Boyana Church
Boyana church will NOT be visited on the following dates: the 18th of May, the 19th of April, 24th and 25th December
Not wheelchair accessible
Not stroller accessible
Not suitable for pets
No public transportation nearby
Infants must not sit on laps
Infant seats unavailable
Hand disinfectant will be provided for free throughout the tour
All touch points in the vehicles will be cleaned frequently.

Itinerary

Departure from Vasil Levski Monument (Embassy of Slovakia)

09:00 departure from the starting point - Vasil Levski Monument (Embassy of Slovakia), Sofia.

Be sure to arrive at least 15 minutes before departure.

Boyana Church tour - optional

Arrival at Boyana Church - 09:30am.

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 Tour

Around 12pm arrival at the Rila Monastery.

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.

Arrival at Sofia, Vasil Levski Monument (Embassy of Slovakia)

Return to the starting point (Vasil Levski Monument, in front of Embassy of Slovakia) at approximately 17:00pm