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

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

4.8(45)Sofia8 hours
VIATOR4.9(15)TRIPADVISOR4.7(30)
Rila Monastery and St. Ivan Cave History & Nature Trip from Sofia
Rila Monastery and St. Ivan Cave History & Nature Trip from Sofia
Rila Monastery and St. Ivan Cave History & Nature Trip from Sofia
Rila Monastery and St. Ivan Cave History & Nature Trip from Sofia
Rila Monastery and St. Ivan Cave History & Nature Trip from Sofia
+9 photos
Rila Monastery and St. Ivan Cave History & Nature Trip from Sofia
Rila Monastery and St. Ivan Cave History & Nature Trip from Sofia
Rila Monastery and St. Ivan Cave History & Nature Trip from Sofia
Rila Monastery and St. Ivan Cave History & Nature Trip from Sofia
Rila Monastery and St. Ivan Cave History & Nature Trip from Sofia
Rila Monastery and St. Ivan Cave History & Nature Trip from Sofia
Rila Monastery and St. Ivan Cave History & Nature Trip from Sofia
Rila Monastery and St. Ivan Cave History & Nature Trip from Sofia
Rila Monastery and St. Ivan Cave History & Nature Trip from Sofia
Rila Monastery and St. Ivan Cave History & Nature Trip from Sofia
Rila Monastery and St. Ivan Cave History & Nature Trip from Sofia
Rila Monastery and St. Ivan Cave History & Nature Trip from Sofia
Rila Monastery and St. Ivan Cave History & Nature Trip from Sofia

At a glance

Duration
8 hours
Price from
$23 / person
Location
Sofia, Bulgaria
Rating
4.8 / 5 · 45 reviews
Languages
DE, RU, EN, EN
Group
Small group, up to 30
Cancellation
Free cancellation up to 24 hours before
Confirmation
Instant
Ticket
Mobile or paper ticket accepted
Operator
Traventuria
Meeting point
IMPORTANTThe meeting point next to Vasil Levski Monument, in front of the Embassy of Slovakia| | Please, be there 15 min. in advance!

Description

This day tour perfectly combines history, culture, and nature experiences. Enjoy a comfortable ride through the beautiful green countryside as you head toward the majestic Rila Mountains. Discover Bulgaria’s most famous UNESCO site, the Rila Monastery, with a guided or audio-guided tour. Afterward, take a relaxing walk through the woods to reach the Cave of Saint Ivan. You will also have free time to explore the monastery on your own before we drive back to Sofia.

Schedule & prices

Runs
Every day
Start times
8:59 AM, 9:00 AM, 9:02 AM, and 11:00 AM
Next available
Thu, Oct 8
Adult (ages 13+)
$23
Child (ages 6–12)
$23

Prices change with the date; the lowest is shown.

In demand: 42 of the next 120 departures are already sold out.

From the operator’s live schedule on Viator, checked Oct 7.

Tour Options

ENG Guide: Rila & Opt. Cave

⚠ Optional Forest Cave Walk: The pleasant forest walk to St. Ivan's Cave is optional. Choosing to do it will reduce your free time at Rila Monastery. ✔ Live English Guided Tour: with a dedicated English-speaking guide for the large bus transfer and on-site guided tour at the historic Rila Monastery. NO Boyana Church Entry: is included (brief exterior park stop only). You visit Rila Monastery & optional Cave with a dedicated English guide. Vehicle & Group Size: : Transport is provided by large 45 to 65-seater tourist coaches (not small minibuses).

ESP Guide: Rila & Opt. Cave

⚠ Optional Forest Cave Walk: The pleasant forest walk to St. Ivan's Cave is optional. Choosing to do it will reduce your free time at Rila Monastery. ✔ Live Spanish Guided Tour: with a dedicated Spanish-speaking guide for the large bus transfer and on-site guided tour at the historic Rila Monastery. NO Boyana Church Entry: is included. Vehicle & Group Size: : Transport is provided by large 45 to 65-seater tourist coaches (not small minibuses).

ITA Guide: Rila & Opt. Cave

✔ Live Italian Guided Tour: Enjoy a fully guided experience with a dedicated Italian-speaking expert guide on the bus and on-site at Rila Monastery. ℹ 1-Hour Sofia Logistics Stop: The bus usually makes a 1-hour logistics stop in Sofia (no entry anywhere). Please be patient during this transport pause. ⚠ Optional Forest Cave Walk: The pleasant forest walk to St. Ivan's Cave is strictly OPTIONAL. Skip it to enjoy significantly more free time at Monastery. Vehicle & Group Size: : Transport is provided by large 45 to 65-seater tourist coaches (not small minibuses).

ESP Live: Rila, Cave, Boyana

Vehicle & Group Size: : Transport is provided by large 45 to 65-seater tourist coaches (not small minibuses).

App: Rila & Cave (NO Boyana)

★ Self-Guided Audio Tour: to Rila Monastery & Cave via phone app. ℹ 1h Sofia logistics stop + Cave walk limits Monastery time. Bring phone & headphones ⚠ Skip Cave for More Rila Time: The steep forest walk to the Cave is strictly OPTIONAL. If you skip the cave, you enjoy much more free time at the Monastery. ❌ Big Bus / NO Live Guide: This is an AUDIO app tour on a big shared coach with ES/IT live commentary. Bring headphones! Host gives basic EN logistics.

Itinerary

30 min

Departure at 09:00 from the car parknext to Vasil Levski Monument, in front of the Embassy of Slovakia

Rila Monastery
120 min

Transportation from the Meeting point to the Rila Monastery. Estimated time of arrival - 12:00.

Rila Monastery
Admission not included120 min

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.

60 min

Visit the Cave of Saint Ivan Rilski - one of the most sacred places in Bulgaria. Pass through the tunnel of St. Ivan Rilski. The belief is that only people with clean souls can pass through and that magical powers keep the sinners away. While you’re there, do not forget to drink some water from the holy spring. It is believed that this water never stops, nor freezes even when it is extremely cold.

120 min

Return to the starting point at approximately 17:00

What's included

Included
Visit to Rila Monastery
Professional Tour Guide OR Cloud Audio Guide App (depending entirely on the option you have booked)
Visit to St. Ivan Cave, OR The Bells Monument (depending entirely on the option you have booked)
Parking Fees
Round-trip transport by air-conditioned minibus or coach
Not included
Gratuities
Food and Drinks
Rila Monastery Museum (Optional; entrance to the main courtyard/church is free)
Hotel pickup and drop-off

Traveller Ratings

Reviews collected by Viator and Tripadvisor

4.8
45 reviews
5
39
4
3
3
2
2
0
1
1

How it compares in Sofia

  • No. 43 by number of reviews among 607 tours in Sofia
  • Starting price $23 is 83% below the typical $132 for tours of similar length in Sofia

Excurgo comparison of 607 Viator tours, recalculated daily.

Important Information

  • Suitable for all physical fitness levels
  • Due to uneven surfaces, this tour is not recommended for those with walking disabilities
  • Comfortable walking shoes recommended
  • Minimum traveler age is 6 years old
  • Tour with ONLINE (cloud-based) Audio-guide in different languages. INTERNET required to download and use.

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 this tour take?

Rila Monastery and St. Ivan Cave History & Nature Trip from Sofia lasts about 8 hours. The itinerary has 5 stops.

How much does this tour cost?

Prices start at $23 per person for this Sofia experience, booked through Viator with the price shown before checkout. There are 5 booking options, so the final price depends on the option you choose.

What days does this tour run?

According to the operator’s current schedule, it runs every day, starting at 8:59 AM, 9:00 AM, 9:02 AM, and 11:00 AM.

How much does this tour cost for children?

Children aged 6–12 pay from $23, adults from $23.

Does this tour sell out?

It can: 42 of the next 120 departures are already sold out, so booking ahead is a good idea.

Can I cancel this 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 IMPORTANT: The meeting point next to Vasil Levski Monument, in front of the Embassy of Slovakia| | Please, be there 15 min. in advance! Hotel pickup is not part of this experience.

What languages is this tour offered in?

The experience is available in DE, RU, EN, EN, IT, IT, PL, FR, ES, ES.

Is this a private or a group tour?

It is a small-group experience with a maximum of 30 participants.

Will my booking be confirmed immediately?

Yes, bookings are confirmed instantly.

Is this tour worth it?

Travellers rate it 4.8 out of 5 across 45 reviews on Viator and Tripadvisor; it is run by Traventuria.

Reviews(45)

Reviews collected by Viator and Tripadvisor

M
mareesperanza
September 26, 2026 · via Viator
An unforgettable trip

Magnificent experience... guide was great, and although it was a long trip, the views along the way were wonderful. TRULY WORTH VISITING!

P
Polkaguy
September 6, 2026 · via Tripadvisor
Nice day trip!

Llubomir was a very friendly and knowledgeable guide, and this was a worthwhile trip. The bus was large and comfortable, and had power outlets at every seat. The monastery is pretty spectacular, and pictures don't really do it justice. The cave hike is just long enough, and make sure to eat at the monastery bakery!

C
claudia_marco_roma
August 11, 2026 · via Tripadvisor
Good, but not great.

Trip itself very interesting and worthwhile if you are in Sofia. Guide Simeon was very knowledgeable and professional (a little less so the other blonde guide who was with him). Impeccable driver, but the bus air conditioning was at a minimum: we suffered from the heat for all 4-plus hours of the trip.

A
alimQ2469HX
August 3, 2026 · via Tripadvisor
Our guide Krasi made the trip unforgettable.

Our experience has been very satisfactory. They picked us up at the indicated time and, as a courtesy from the company, they included a visit to the Bell Park. It is well worth spending some time visiting this park, as the history, the values behind it, and the meaning of unity between countries, especially for preserving childhood, are very interesting. Afterward, we continued the trip to the Rila Monastery, making a 20-minute stop at a service station before arriving. During the bus ride, the very professional and dedicated guide kept giving us information about everything we were seeing. She informed us in great detail about everything, her name is Krasi, and we were very lucky that she was the one who accompanied us throughout the day. The bus was not entirely comfortable since it had little legroom and the seats were not comfortable. On the other hand, it is worth highlighting the skill and caution of the driver who parked in difficult places and drove very well on the mountain roads; it was a pleasure and at all times we felt very safe. Without a doubt, it was a great decision to choose Traventuria because of the attention from Krasi, our guide. The monastery is beautiful and impressive; later we went to the Cave of Saint Ivan and it was an unforgettable experience with a lot of spiritual content. Without a doubt, the best part of the visit was our guide, since without her we would not have known so many details nor taken such advantage of the visit. Her level of knowledge about the Rila Monastery, the cave, and Bulgaria in general was amazing. She also knew a lot about Bulgarian flora and species. A pleasure to travel with her.

C
cheche0369
July 21, 2026 · via Tripadvisor
Superb monastery

Very beautiful monument with an amazing cave exit

N
Nicci A
June 8, 2026 · via Tripadvisor
Brilliant Day Trip

Highly recommended. Our tour guide Ludo was great. A really interesting, fun day.

M
MariaGloria_R
May 24, 2026 · via Viator
Excellent

A very well-organized tour. The guide explained everything to us very well. They have given us enough time to complete all the visits.

Z
Zekiye_S
May 21, 2026 · via Viator
Brillant day

Excellent day trip. Rila monastery was incredible. The guide Hristo was great amd knowledgable and shared many good stories.

M
Montse_S
May 8, 2026 · via Viator
Highly recommended

Rila Monastery is spectacular. The cave is not easily accessible. The Vayana guide very nice and has given us many details along the way and in the destination.

4
465qingc
April 27, 2026 · via Tripadvisor
Recommend this tour

Very good tour and the tour guide Maria was very nice and helpful.

$23/ person
4.8(45)
Duration8 hours
LanguagesDE, RU, EN
ConfirmationInstant
Check availability on Viator →
Booked and paid on Viator.com
Free cancellation up to 24 hours before

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

No booking fees from Excurgo
Payment and confirmation are handled by Viator
Excurgo support

Excurgo earns a commission from Viator when you book through this link, at no extra cost to you.

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