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This Rila Monastery and Boyana Church day trip from Sofia covers two UNESCO sites in one day, and with the 3-in-1 option you also walk through the forest to St Ivan's Cave, where the founder of the monastery lived as a hermit. The bus collects you at one of seven central points from about 08:00, stops at Boyana Church on the edge of the city, then drives 120 km into the Rila Mountains and brings you back around 17:00. You explore with a live English-speaking guide or an audio app, and book and pay online in a couple of minutes. If you have a question, real people answer on WhatsApp, Viber or email.
A question? Ask us on WhatsApp"Hristo was an outstanding guide for this trip. … Boyana Church was just as impressive, and Hristo’s storytelling made both stops feel like stepping back in time."
"I booked to visit the two UNESCO sites and the day turned out to be very pleasant. Upon arrival at the meeting point, two guides and the bus were already there."
"I took part in a day trip to Rila Monastery and St. Ivan Cave … and everything went perfectly. … We started the journey with a short stop at Boyana Church, which was a wonderful surprise."
"Phenomenal experience. The Rila Monastery is a beautiful place rich with history. Our guide Simeon was very knowledgeable and personable. The excursion to the Cave of St. Ivan was a wonderful adventure as well, making the whole trip worthwhile."
"The experience was really excellent, the guide Simeon is really nice, as are the driver Rosen and the escort Maria."
Everyone on a live-guide option travels with an English-speaking guide on the bus and on site. The 3-in-1 adds the cave walk to the classic Rila and Boyana day. On the Rila and cave option the bus still stops at Boyana, but you stay in the park outside. The audio app options are cheaper because you ride a shared Spanish, Italian or French bus and listen on your phone, so bring headphones. Children aged 6 to 12 pay the same as adults.
Boyana Church is a small medieval church on the edge of Sofia. Its best-known frescoes date from 1259 and show real human faces and emotions, long before the Italian Renaissance made that the norm. Visits run in short timed slots, which is why the €10 ticket is pre-booked for you and paid in cash on the day.
Rila Monastery, founded in the 10th century and on the UNESCO list since 1983, sits at 1,147 metres between two rivers in the Rila Mountains. You see the painted main church, the 14th-century Hrelyo's Tower and the striped arcades of the courtyard, then have free time for lunch and the museum.
St Ivan's Cave is where St Ivan of Rila, the hermit who founded the monastery, is said to have lived. A forest trail leads up to it from the monastery. The walk is optional and fairly steep, and taking it means less free time at the monastery and over lunch.
Rila is a working monastery, so cover shoulders and knees: no shorts, short skirts, sleeveless tops, flip-flops or sandals. A scarf can be added at checkout, and comfortable shoes help on the cobbles and on the trail to the cave.
Extras you can add at checkout, with prices shown there: an audioguide in another language, a guided museum visit (ticket extra), a seat in the first two rows, a suitcase or backpack on board, a child seat or booster, a scarf for the dress code and drop-off in Blagoevgrad.
The main meeting point is the Vasil Levski Monument in the centre of Sofia, in front of the Embassy of Slovakia. You can also be collected at one of six other central points, which you choose when you book; your exact time is in the confirmation. Please be there 15 minutes early. If you take a taxi, use Yellow or Volt; Bolt does not operate in Bulgaria. Open in Google Maps →
€30 with a live English guide, €35 with St Ivan's Cave, the same for children. Every day from central Sofia, back around 17:00.
