C
Very positive experience
Our tour was very pleasant. Apostolos acted as our escort and guide. A very attentive, punctual, friendly young man, available for any request, and very careful while driving. In short, highly recommended.
Rila Monastery Afternoon Half Day tour
+2 photos
At a glance
- Duration
- 4–5 hours
- Price from
- $56 / person
- Location
- Sofia, Bulgaria
- Rating
- 4.6 / 5 · 48 reviews
- Languages
- EN
- Group
- Small group, up to 99
- Cancellation
- Free cancellation up to 24 hours before
- Confirmation
- Instant
- Ticket
- Mobile or paper ticket accepted
- Operator
- Smart Trans Bulgaria
- Meeting point
- Iskar 31 street - Big Yellow House
Description
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!
Schedule & prices
- Runs
- Every day
- Start times
- 2:00 PM
- Next available
- Sat, Oct 10
- Adult (ages 7+)
- $56
From the operator’s live schedule on Viator, checked Oct 9.
Tour Options
Itinerary
Rila Monastery
Visit to the Rila Monastery
What's included
Included
WiFi on board
Driver
Air-conditioned vehicle
Not included
Food and drinks
Gratuities
Traveller Ratings
Reviews collected by Viator and Tripadvisor
4.6
48 reviews
How it compares in Sofia
- No. 41 by number of reviews among 609 tours in Sofia
- Starting price $56 is 55% below the typical $126 for tours of similar length in Sofia
Excurgo comparison of 609 Viator tours, recalculated daily.
Important Information
- Wheelchair accessible
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Specialized infant seats are available
- Transportation options are wheelchair accessible
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Rila Monastery is about 1.5 - 2.5 hours driving from Sofia depending on traffic
Cancellation
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
1+ days before100% refund
0–1 days before0% refund
Frequently asked questions
How long does Rila Monastery Afternoon Half Day tour take?
Rila Monastery Afternoon Half Day tour lasts about 4–5 hours. The itinerary has 1 stop.
How much does Rila Monastery Afternoon Half Day tour cost?
Prices start at $56 per person for this Sofia experience, booked through Viator with the price shown before checkout. There is 1 booking option, so the final price depends on the option you choose.
What days does Rila Monastery Afternoon Half Day tour run?
According to the operator’s current schedule, it runs every day, starting at 2:00 PM.
Can I cancel Rila Monastery Afternoon Half Day tour for free?
Yes. Cancel at least 1 day before the start for a full refund. Later cancellations are non-refundable.
Where does the tour start?
The meeting point is Iskar 31 street - Big Yellow House. Hotel pickup is not part of this experience.
What languages is Rila Monastery Afternoon Half Day tour offered in?
The experience is available in EN.
Is this a private or a group tour?
It is a small-group experience with a maximum of 99 participants.
Is the tour suitable for children?
Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller Specialized infant seats are available
Is the tour wheelchair accessible?
Wheelchair accessible Transportation options are wheelchair accessible
Will my booking be confirmed immediately?
Yes, bookings are confirmed instantly.
Is Rila Monastery Afternoon Half Day tour worth it?
Travellers rate it 4.6 out of 5 across 48 reviews on Viator and Tripadvisor; it is run by Smart Trans Bulgaria.
Reviews(48)
Reviews collected by Viator and Tripadvisor
L
Great experience with a fantastic guide
We had a wonderful half-day tour to the Rila monastery with our guide Slavyan. He was very friendly, knowledgeable, and made the whole tour really interesting. He shared lots of interesting facts about the history and culture and was happy to answer all of our questions. Everything was well organized. We really enjoyed the tour and would definitely recommend it to anyone visiting Sofia. Thank you, Slavyan, for a great experience!
E
It was a good tour!
Guide Slavyan contacted me politely from the initial meeting email, so I felt at ease joining the tour! It's a very satisfying tour, with delicious donuts and yogurt too! I recommend it 😊
I
Will do it again for sure!
Alex picked us up on an SUV. There were only 5 attendees that joined the tour so it was spacious. The drive was very pleasant. Alex was a good driver. And he was even a better tour guide when we got to the Monastery. He started us with a delicious Bulgarian donut for breakfast. And then head on around the Monastery and inside the church. Honestly, I would do this tour again next time I come back and bring a water container because the water from the pipes around the Monastery was the freshest and tastiest drink I ever had! Thanks for a wonderful morning, Alex!
J
Well worth it!
We had a great tour to Rila Monastary with Slayan, the tour was interesting, included a delicious snack and everything was explained really well and easy to understand.
2
A magnificent site
The guide is great, passionate, and cheerful! Thanks to him for this excursion, the explanations throughout the trip and on-site, as well as for the fritters and the Bulgarian yogurt! I would also specify an excursion that is either for the full day or from 12:00 PM to 6:30 PM rather than 2:00 PM to 6:00 PM because it is too short with the travel time :)
J
A Bit Of History Outside of Sofia
I really wanted to see Rila Monastery but didn’t have a car. The tour guide drove us is a mini-van and took us to the Monastery. When we got there he gave us a short history lesson and took us to the restaurant to try some local cuisine. Then you have about 45 minutes to take photos. It would have been nice to have more time to take photos as the drive is about 2 hours. However it is a half day.
_
A tour full of information and smiles thanks.
I would like to thank a great guide with whom I was on three tours in Sofia: A trip to the Rila monastery outside Sofia, a tour to know Sofia, its main sites and its historical story and a tour of the Jewish story that was really exciting. The Slavyan guide is knowledgeable, full of humor and courtesy and we and all the tour participants have had a lot of fun with him. He's a Bulgarian patriot and loves people, easy to fall in love with, as much as the Minister of Culture and Foreign Affairs of Sofia and Bulgaria. We highly recommend joining his and his company’s free tours and getting his excellent guidance. We’ll be back...Thank you very much Response from Israel.
3
Rila Monastery afternoon tour
A thoroughly enjoyable afternoon visiting the Monastery. After navigating our way to a somewhat odd pick-up point, we were promptly met by our guide Slavyan and -following a brief introduction-embarked on our 1½ hour journey by people carrier through the scenic Rila mountains. Our English- speaking guide was very personable and knowledgeable about the background to the monastery, but also the context and history of Bulgaria in general. He welcomed questions and was very thorough and well- informed. The monastery itself was breathtaking; a place of beauty and tranquility, which provided an opportunity to pause, reflect and be inspired. We had about 90 mins to explore and take photos and whilst it was busy, it felt unrushed. Despite some problems encountered, such as others in our party who bought tickets to look around the monastery kitchen museum which they then couldn't access; and also a rather speedy, hair- raising drive back to Sofia, I would certainly recommend this tour.
M
Not to be missed
The trip was incredibile: amazing panorama from the mountains , stunning magical monastery and a beautiful torrent nearby. Our guide Slavyan was super prepared and willing to tell us everything about the site and Bulgaria in general. I super recommend this tour: you cannot miss Rila monastery!
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from$56
4.6(48) Free cancellation