Rila Monastery Full Day Guided Tour
- 8 hours
- Free cancellation up to 24h before
- 11 languages
- Instant confirmation
Highlights
Visit the stunning Rila Monastery, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, on this full-day tour from Sofia. Depart at 9:00 AM from Vasil Levski Monument (Yanko Sakuzov Blvd 7) and enjoy a scenic 2-hour drive through Bulgaria’s beautiful landscapes. Take a guided tour of the monastery’s breathtaking architecture and frescoes while learning its fascinating history and legends. Then enjoy your free time to explore the museum, stroll the grounds, take photos, or relax at nearby bakeries. Return to Sofia around 15:30 PM with memories of an unforgettable cultural and historical experience. Highlights: Explore Bulgaria’s most famous monastery Learn stories, legends, and artistic treasures from your guide Free time to visit the museum, walk, or take photos Convenient round-trip transport from central Sofia
Inclusions
What's included
- Trip to the Rila Monasetry
- Transportation by a comfortable A/C bus/ van
- Professional local guide In-person guide - different languages
What's not
- Food, drinks, personal expenses
- Gratuities (optional)
- Rila Monastery MUSEUM Entrance /optional/
Itinerary
This shuttle-group tour departs at 9.00 in the morning from Alexander Nevsky square, behind the Cathedral. First, you will travel about 2 hours on a scenic road to the Rila Monastery- the biggest and most important monastery in Bulgaria. It was established back in the 10th century. The current buildings are from the mid. 19th century, with a defensive tower that survived from the 14th century. In the monastery complex, you will admire the impressive architecture and frescoes, while the guide tells you its story and legends. The guided tour is about 40 minutes. After this, you will have about 4 hours of free time during which you can visit the history museum, take photos, check the shops and have a lunch break. At about 15:30 you will depart back to Sofia. The traveling time on the way back is 2 hours.
Cancellation
Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the experience starts, for a full refund.
Reviews
4.5
- 51
- 41
- 30
- 20
- 10
Ratings come from 2 reviews collected by our booking partner. They are travellers' own words, in the order they were written — never reordered to flatter the experience.
Know before you go
- Meeting point
- The meeting point for the tour is Vasil Levski Monument, Yanko Sakuzov Blvd 7 . Please be there at 8:40 am. The van/bus departs at 9 am and will not wait for you if you are late.
- Pickup
- Everyone meets at the starting point; there is no pickup.
- Ticket type
- Mobile or paper ticket accepted
- Group size
- Up to 100 travellers
- Operated by
- City Tour Ltd.
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Specialized infant seats are available
- Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
- Not recommended for pregnant travelers
- Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Women should have their knees and showders covered in the monastery.
- Bring cash with you – the shops and the restaurants in the area of the monastery accept mostly cash payments so it is important to have some money with you.
How it compares in Sofia
- Its from-price is 78% below the median of the 174 day trips we list in Sofia.
- Its length is typical for the group.
- By number of reviews it ranks 100 of 174.
- The operator lists free cancellation on it.
About Sofia
Sofia, the capital of Bulgaria, lies below Vitosha mountain, mixing Roman ruins, golden-domed churches, mineral springs and a busy café culture.
Sofia sits in a high basin at the foot of Mount Vitosha, and its centre layers Roman Serdica, Orthodox Bulgaria and the Ottoman and Soviet eras. The gold-domed Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, completed in the early twentieth century, is the city's best-known building. Close by are the fourth-century rotunda of St George, the Banya Bashi Mosque and the remains of Roman streets that show through glass in the metro stations.
Top-ranked sights in Sofia: Rila Monastery, Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, Ivan Vazov National Theatre.
Special offers in Sofia
Was/now prices come from the operator, never from us.
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