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
Prices change with the date; the lowest is shown.
From the operator’s live schedule on Viator, checked Oct 6.
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.
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Excurgo comparison of 605 Viator tours, recalculated daily.
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Rila Monastery Full Day Guided Tour lasts about 8 hours. The itinerary has 1 stop.
Prices start at $23 per person for this Sofia experience, booked through Viator with the price shown before checkout. There are 6 booking options, so the final price depends on the option you choose.
According to the operator’s current schedule, it runs every day, starting at 9:00 AM.
Yes. Cancel at least 1 day before the start for a full refund. Later cancellations are non-refundable.
The meeting point is 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. Hotel pickup is not part of this experience.
The experience is available in DE, ZH-TW, RU, PT, UK, EN, EN, IT, IT, PL, FR, RO, ES, ES.
It is a small-group experience with a maximum of 100 participants.
Specialized infant seats are available
This tour is unsuitable for wheelchair users.
Yes, bookings are confirmed instantly.
Travellers rate it 4.5 out of 5 across 2 reviews on Viator and Tripadvisor; it is run by City Tour Ltd..
Reviews collected by Viator and Tripadvisor
Well organised trip - Alex was very personable and knowledgeable. Would have given 5 stars but for the transportation coach was older and did not have AC which resulted in a lack of clean air. Word of warning - it gets very cold at times in the mountains so bring a warm jacket.
Fantastic excursion, the details were very clear and transparent even before purchasing the packages, perfect punctuality: a special mention to Diana, who accompanied us in a passionate and helpful way and with so many details and information to make us all passionate about the history of the Rila Monastery and all the numerous historical implications.
| Tour | Duration | Rating | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rila Monastery Full Day Guided Tour | 8 hours | 4.5 (2) | $23 | |
 Rila Monastery and Boyana Church Full-Day Tour | 8 hours | 4.6 (1,173) | $23 | View |
 From Sofia Rila Monastery with Boyana Church or St. Ivan’s Cave | 8 hours | 4.6 (1,018) | $23 | View |
 Rila Monastery and 7 Rila Lakes Self-Guided Shared Trip from Sofia | 13 hours | 4.8 (336) | $54 | View |
 Private Day Trip to Boyana Church and Rila Monastery | 8 hours | 4.8 (121) | $228 | View |
 Rila Monastery Afternoon Half Day tour | 4–5 hours | 4.6 (48) | $56 | View |
 Rila Monastery and St. Ivan Cave History & Nature Trip from Sofia | 8 hours | 4.8 (45) | $23 | View |