Rila Monastery private tour will take you to Bulgaria's most important and visited historical site and even more - Bulgaria's most visited UNESCO place, the 14th century defensive tower and a local wine cellar. Enjoy the wonderful frescoes from 19th century, representing the achievement of the Bulgarian Revival painting school, feel the amazing spirit of the largest monastery in the country, surrounded by the indescribable beauty of Rila mountain. In the afternoon we will visit a special winery where you will try 3 different wines.
Schedule & prices
Runs
Every day
Start times
9:00 AM
Next available
Sun, Oct 18
Adult (ages 2+)
$193
Prices are per person when two book together; a solo traveller pays $342.
Larger groups pay less per person.
From the operator’s live schedule on Viator, checked Oct 15.
Tour Options
Private day tour
5 wines tasting with snacks
Inclusions:: transfer to/from your hotel/accommodation in Sofia, guide in English, parking fees, entrance fees. Meals and personal expenses are not included.
Pickup included
Itinerary
Rila Mountains
60 min
The highest Balkan peninsula mountain!
Rila Monastery
120 min
Rila Monastery visit
Medi Valley Winery
Admission included120 min
Excellent wine, winery, views and wine tasting
What's included
Included
Professional guide
Private tour
Wine tasting
Driver/guide
Transport by air-conditioned minivan
Hotel/port pickup and drop-off
Not included
Food and drinks
Gratuities
Pickup Locations & Times
Please let us know your hotel name in Sofia. We will message you 2 days before departure with pick up time.
Traveller Ratings
Reviews collected by Viator and Tripadvisor
4.2
9 reviews
5
6
4
1
3
1
2
0
1
1
How it compares in Sofia
Starting price $193 is 47% above the typical $131 for tours of similar length in Sofia
Excurgo comparison of 607 Viator tours, recalculated daily.
Important Information
Specialized infant seats are available
Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
Service animals allowed
Public transportation options are available nearby
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
A dress code is required to enter places of worship and selected museums. No shorts or sleeveless tops allowed. Knees and shoulders MUST be covered for both men and women. You may risk refused entry if you fail to comply with these dress requirements
Comfortable walking shoes are recommended this tour does involve a moderate amount of walking
Minimum age is 2 years
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 and Wine Tasting Tour take?
Rila Monastery and Wine Tasting Tour lasts about 8 hours. The itinerary has 3 stops.
How much does Rila Monastery and Wine Tasting Tour cost?
Prices start at $193 per person for this Sofia experience, booked through Viator with the price shown before checkout. That is the per-person price when two book together; a solo traveller pays $342. There is 1 booking option, so the final price depends on the option you choose.
What days does Rila Monastery and Wine Tasting Tour run?
According to the operator’s current schedule, it runs every day, starting at 9:00 AM.
Can I cancel Rila Monastery and Wine Tasting Tour for free?
Yes. Cancel at least 1 day before the start for a full refund. Later cancellations are non-refundable.
Is hotel pickup included?
Yes, pickup is offered. Please let us know your hotel name in Sofia. We will message you 2 days before departure with pick up time. Pickup points include Hotel Latinka, Aparthotel Bon Bon.
What languages is Rila Monastery and Wine Tasting Tour offered in?
The experience is available in DE, RU, EN, EN, IT, ES.
Is this a private or a group tour?
It is a small-group experience with a maximum of 18 participants.
Is the tour suitable for children?
Specialized infant seats are available Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
Will my booking be confirmed immediately?
Confirmation is sent by the operator within 24 hours of booking.
Is Rila Monastery and Wine Tasting Tour worth it?
Travellers rate it 4.2 out of 5 across 9 reviews on Viator and Tripadvisor; it is run by V Travel Ltd..
Reviews(9)
Reviews collected by Viator and Tripadvisor
V
Vijay_P
March 3, 2025 · via Viator
Culture and wine
If you're looking for a perfect blend of history, culture, and wine, this day trip to Rila Monastery and Medi Valley Winery is an absolute must! Our guide, Georgi, made the experience truly exceptional with his deep knowledge, professionalism, and warm personality.
5
508nadezhdam
September 11, 2024 · via Tripadvisor
Unreliable service provider
The trip was canceled last moment although it was booked well in advance. The operator excused themselves with the grape picking season :o. "Because it was the grape picking season the winery they partnered with could not offer the wine tasting." :-0. As if grape picking happened by surprise and could not be planned accordingly. Or the one hour wine tasting would jeopardise the whole harvesting. No other options were offered to compensate for the inconvenience. Unreliable service provider.
F
FellowTraveler623488
November 6, 2022 · via Tripadvisor
Would Recommend
The monastery is truly a must see, one of the most beautiful places I've ever visited. Ivan was a brilliant tour guide who was very passionate about the monastery and had a lot of knowledge about Bulgarian wine. Would recommend to anyone
J
JehanCarew
February 28, 2020 · via Tripadvisor
Great Trip
This is a place not to be missed. It has a certain about of charm and the artistry on the wall is immense/ strikingly beautiful. We went to the Rila Monastery and the Boyana trip for as the wine tasting tour is out of season at the moment. Michael the tour guide looked after us and explained the history of the place. We went in February and it even snowed. They also stop for lunch at a quaint restaurant that had a fire. Try the fresh trout if you like fish.
Definitely a lovely trip to go on.
1 people found this helpful
Operator response
Thank you for the nice words! We wish you all the best!
S
Sherri_D
June 4, 2019 · via Viator
Rila and Wine tasting review
My friend and I had a great trip to the Rila Monastery and Wine Tasting. Our guide Victor was excellent and gave us much information about the Monastery that we would have never known had we gone on our own. We had a nice lunch in a cozy restaurant where Victor continued to share personal stories of the Bulgarian history with us, which was all very eye opening. The winery part was good, perhaps a little rushed, but the wine was excellent. I highly recommend this tour for a personalized experience with loads of information. It was a great combination of sightseeing, walking and relaxation.
E
Ebonnie M
May 28, 2018 · via Tripadvisor
Historical and educational
The monastery was very picturesque against the mountain backdrop. The paintings on the wall of the church, both inside and outside, were very historical and educational, which makes the visit very interesting. Although the travel time was long, more than 2 hours, but it was well worth it. The wine tasting after the monastery visit was an added plus, a needed break from the bus travel. The sommelier was very knowledgeable and the wine offered for tasting was of very good quality.
3 people found this helpful
C
Christiane M
May 1, 2018 · via Tripadvisor
Visit to recommend
Very nice site, very nice and competent guide.
Wine tasting ok without more
The tour starts at 9:00 am and lasts until about 5:30 pm.
D
Danielle F
December 12, 2017 · via Viator
I really enjoyed this tour. It was...
<p>I really enjoyed this tour. It was me, my husband and the guide. This is a nice side tour when visiting Sofia. It gets you out of the city and you are able to explore more of Bulgaria. The Monastery was beautiful and our guide was able to explain things to us that I would have missed otherwise if I went on my own. We also had time on our own to explore. After the monastery we went to a winery, had a tour and got to taste several wines...they were tasty so we brought some home with us as a souvenir won't last long.</p>
P
philip m
May 19, 2016 · via Viator
Good tour and wine tasting excellent...
<p>Good tour and wine tasting excellent. Poor value for money.</p>
1 people found this helpful
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