Bulgaria · RILA MONASTERY TOURS

The 15 Best Rila Monastery Tours

59 tours  ·  from $11

The monastery is two hours south of Sofia and almost nobody drives themselves. These 15 differ on group size, whether Boyana Church is included and how long you actually get inside the courtyard, with prices and departure times for each.

From Sofia: Rila Monastery & Boyana Church Day Tour - Boyana Church: a short visit with serious art
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From Sofia: Rila Monastery & Boyana Church Day Tour

1.Rila Monastery & Boyana Church Day Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 5,107 reviews · 8 - 9 hours · from $23Our pick

Travel from Sofia to Boyana Church and Rila Monastery in an international group, with an English, Spanish, or Italian guide. See Boyana’s remarkable frescoes, explore Bulgaria’s grandest monastery, visit museums, taste mekitsi, and enjoy Rila Mountain scenery. Guides such as Lubo, Kamen, Martin, and Hristo are often praised for clear, lively commentary.

“Rila Monastery was really impressive and Svet our tour guide was very friendly, knowledgeable and made the day fun. Our tour was on a full coach and would have been better if it was a smaller group”

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From Sofia: Must-See Rila Monastery & Boyana Church Day Tour - Meeting the bus at the Vasil Levski Monument
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From Sofia: Must-See Rila Monastery & Boyana Church Day Tour

2.Must-See Rila Monastery & Boyana Church Day Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 3,322 reviews · 9 - 10 hours · from $23

Travel from Sofia to Rila Monastery and Boyana Church with a multilingual guide such as Maria, Iva, or Karina. You get about three hours at Rila, a shorter visit to Boyana, mountain views, free time, and optional museum and church entry. The day lasts 9 to 10 hours.

“Thanks for such a nice experience. Unforgettable moments at the Rila monastery- a perfect place to connect to the Divine!”

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From Sofia: 7 Rila Lakes and Rila Monastery Extended Trip - Meeting the shuttle in central Sofia
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From Sofia: 7 Rila Lakes and Rila Monastery Extended Trip

3.7 Rila Lakes and Rila Monastery Extended Trip

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 1,189 reviews · 13 hours · from $64

Join a round-trip shuttle from central Sofia to the Seven Rila Lakes and Rila Monastery. Host Philip or a similar English-speaking coordinator explains the mountain routes, shares maps, and stays in touch by WhatsApp while you explore independently. Expect six hours at the lakes, a 75-minute monastery visit, and a long but rewarding day.

“Everything was on time and as planned. Can’t complain.”

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Rila Monastery and Boyana Church Full-Day Tour - Meeting at the Vasil Levski Monument
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Rila Monastery and Boyana Church Full-Day Tour

4.Rila Monastery and Boyana Church Full-Day Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 918 reviews · 8 hours (approx.) · from $24

Travel from central Sofia to two of Bulgaria’s finest religious sites. An English-speaking guide or driver explains Rila Monastery and Boyana Church, with three hours at Rila for the museum, shops, photos, and lunch. Boyana’s tiny interior allows only 10 minutes per group, so expect a short visit and possible queue.

“The tour guide Vasil was wonderful. Tour was good, and extended by nearly 2 hours. Was not worth the extra £€$ to go up the tower in the monestry ,and the steps are really steep. We went outside the monestry and ordered doughnuts, but the local restaurants/bars would not let you eat them outside, even if you purchased from them. Boyana church was also a nice see. But as we where later here it was really busy, and took longer to enter the church, which you get 10 minutes to see inside, which is enough.”

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From Sofia: Rila Monastery & Boyana Church Day Tour - Boyana Church: a short visit with serious art
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From Sofia: Rila Monastery & Boyana Church Day Tour

5.Rila Monastery & Boyana Church Day Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 866 reviews · 8 hours (approx.) · from $24

Travel from central Sofia to UNESCO-listed Boyana Church and Rila Monastery in an English-speaking group tour. Guides such as Lubo, Lachezar, Martin, and Liubomir add historical context, while free time lets you explore the monastery at your own pace. Boyana entry, museum tickets, food, and audio guides cost extra.

“Excellent tour leader. Lubo is very knowledgeable and courteous. Rila Monastery is great place to visit. We enjoyed the trip”

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From Sofia: The Seven Rila Lakes & Rila Monastery Day Tour - The chairlift: useful, scenic, and easy to underestimate
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From Sofia: The Seven Rila Lakes & Rila Monastery Day Tour

6.The Seven Rila Lakes & Rila Monastery Day Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 699 reviews · 12 hours · from $53

Combine a mountain hike and Bulgaria’s finest Orthodox monastery in one long day from Sofia. You’ll ride an open-air chairlift, walk among the Seven Rila Lakes, and visit Rila Monastery with a guide such as Magi, Radi, or Ivaylo, or follow the route independently with practical advice.

“The self guided tour of Rila Lakes and Monastery was the way to go! I was able to set my own hiking pace and the trail was very easy to follow. I was able to make 6/7 lakes at a very comfortable pace, and easily could have made 7 if I had gone just a little faster. The amount of time allotted for hiking was plenty and I didn’t feel stressed or anxious about not having enough of it. The monastery was a wonderful addition because it was gorgeous and well worth the drive to get there! I highly recommend this tour to anyone visiting Sofia!”

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From Sofia: Rila Monastery & Optional St. Ivan Cave Day Tour - The one-hour guided visit and free time
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From Sofia: Rila Monastery & Optional St. Ivan Cave Day Tour

7.Rila Monastery & Optional St. Ivan Cave Day Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 647 reviews · 8 - 11 hours · from $23

Travel from Sofia to Rila Monastery in a comfortable air-conditioned vehicle, with live commentary or a cloud-based audioguide. Choose the St. Ivan Cave option for a short but steep forest walk and cramped crawl through the saint’s cave. Guides may include Hristo, Lubo, Maya, Martin, or Dafina.

“I really appreciated the guide, Maria. She expressed her knowledge with such passion and calmness. I’d recommend her for any trip. She is lovely and patient ♥️”

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From Sofia: Full-Day Tour to Rila Monastery with Options - Starting near the Vasil Levski Monument
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From Sofia: Full-Day Tour to Rila Monastery with Options

8.Full-Day Tour to Rila Monastery with Options

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 479 reviews · 8h 30m · from $41

Meet near Sofia’s Vasil Levski Monument for an 8.5-hour shared minibus tour to Rila Monastery and Boyana Church. An English-speaking guide leads the day, with audio guides in six languages. Expect long drives, mountain scenery, church dress rules, and lunch at a local restaurant.

“Very good guide for us,he was really kind and funny guy... Thanks”

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From Sofia: Rila Monastery UNESCO Site & Outdoor Mineral Spa - Meeting near Serdika and settling into the van
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From Sofia: Rila Monastery UNESCO Site & Outdoor Mineral Spa

9.Rila Monastery UNESCO Site & Outdoor Mineral Spa

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 400 reviews · 9 hours · from $42

Leave Sofia for Rila Monastery, where you’ll explore frescoes, mountain scenery, and local mekitsi before relaxing at Sapareva Banya’s year-round thermal pools. English guides such as Mikhail, Philippe, Ivan, and Georgi lead the trip. Spa entry, food, towels, and locker deposits cost extra.

“The trip was great. Ivan the guide is a legend. He gave us all the information we needed at the right time. He answered all questions. He knows his job and cares for people. Iy made all the difference. The price for the trip high compared to the cost of living in Bulgaria. The visit to the monastery is short and doesn’t not give enough time to discover all. Having a guide was very important we didn’t waste much time. The spa was fine but again there is not enough time to enjoy it properly. The price is also high compared to the activities you can do there. They need…”

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From Sofia: 7 Rila Lakes and Rila Monastery Tour - Meeting the van in Sofia
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From Sofia: 7 Rila Lakes and Rila Monastery Tour

10.7 Rila Lakes and Rila Monastery Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 392 reviews · 11 hours · from $69

Travel from Sofia by air-conditioned van to Rila Monastery, then ride the lift toward the Seven Rila Lakes for a self-guided mountain hike. English-speaking guides such as Apostolos, Alexander, Alex, and Vincent share local history and practical trail advice. Bring 30 leva for the lift and sturdy shoes.

“Our driver is very nice and kind and the car is very nice too! This trip is very worth and the price is reasonable!”

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From Sofia: Rila Monastery and Plovdiv Town Full-Day Trip - The early start and meeting point in central Sofia
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From Sofia: Rila Monastery and Plovdiv Town Full-Day Trip

11.Rila Monastery and Plovdiv Town Full-Day Trip

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 382 reviews · 13 hours · from $78

See two of Bulgaria’s finest sights in one day from Sofia. You’ll explore Plovdiv independently for more than four hours, then visit Rila Monastery with maps and practical advice from an English-speaking host such as Philip or Bobby. Expect scenic roads, a small group, and a very full 13-hour schedule.

“Nice trip, guide was lovely and very friendly, very clear meeting point, van was comfortable. Great day out :)”

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Rila Monastery and 7 Rila Lakes Self-Guided Shared Trip from Sofia - Reaching the Seven Rila Lakes by chairlift
Guided, Rila Monastery Tours, Self-Guided Tours, Seven Rila Lakes Hikes, Sofia Tours, Tour Reviews

Rila Monastery and 7 Rila Lakes Self-Guided Shared Trip from Sofia

12.Rila Monastery and 7 Rila Lakes Self-Guided Shared Trip from Sofia

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 280 reviews · 13 hours (approx.) · from $54Top rated

Join Philip and the Rila Shuttle for a 13-hour self-guided escape from Sofia to the Seven Rila Lakes and Rila Monastery. You’ll get transport, trail advice, maps, and WhatsApp updates, while hiking independently. Bring 25 BGN for the chairlift, food, water, and mountain clothing.

“7 lakes trail was fantastic even if the queue for the chair-lift was interminable and I had to jump it to avoid at least one-hour wait”

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From Sofia: Rila Monastery and Optional Museum, Cave or Spa - Entering Rila Monastery’s painted courtyard
Massage & Relaxation, Museums, Rila Monastery Tours, Sofia Tours, Spa & Hot Springs, Tour Reviews

From Sofia: Rila Monastery and Optional Museum, Cave or Spa

13.Rila Monastery and Optional Museum, Cave or Spa

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 270 reviews · 8 - 9 hours · from $35

Travel from Sofia to Rila Monastery with an English-speaking guide, then choose a museum visit, Saint John’s Cave hike, or mineral spa. Expect a two-hour mountain drive, monastery time, and return to Sofia around 17:00 to 17:40. Guides may include Antonio, Toni, Ceco, or Yani.

“Great trip. Fantastic sightseeing. Guide was experienced, however we booking an English tour, but he was talking 80% in Spanish, because of a lot of Spanish people. We (dutch) and the Italian people feel left out sometimes. Also, you don't have to plug the restaurant for more than one hour in the bus, talking about all the menu options and promoting everything.”

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7 Rila Lakes and Rila Monastery Tour - The road to the Seven Rila Lakes
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7 Rila Lakes and Rila Monastery Tour

14.7 Rila Lakes and Rila Monastery Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 165 reviews · 10 to 11 hours (approx.) · from $71

Travel from Sofia in a small-group vehicle to Rila Monastery, then ride or arrange transport toward the Seven Rila Lakes for a five-hour mountain outing. Guides such as Alexander, Apostolos, and Stoyan may provide history and practical help, but the hike is mostly self-guided and depends heavily on weather and lift operation.

“guide that doesn't say anything about the trip, the trip is not feasible in such a winter, we were not informed about the difficult conditions, nor about the alternatives”

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From Sofia: Rila Monastery Day Tour - Leaving Sofia in an air-conditioned minibus
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From Sofia: Rila Monastery Day Tour

15.Rila Monastery Day Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 162 reviews · 8 - 12 hours · from $23

Travel from Sofia to Rila Monastery in a modern air-conditioned minibus with an English, Italian, Bulgarian, or Spanish-speaking guide. Learn how St. Ivan Rilski shaped Bulgaria’s spiritual life, then enjoy free time for the museum, shops, photos, and mekitsi.

“There could be a little bit more free time. Waiting time for food is long and therefore there is little time for walking around the monastery by yourself.”

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New in Rila Monastery Tours

★ 5.0Rila Monastery and hiking to the Stob Pyramids- Private Day Trip from SofiaFrom $1895 reviews
★ 5.0Rila Monastery and Melnik, Day Tour from Sofia with PickupFrom $1016 reviews
★ 5.0Rila Monastery and Boyana Church Eco Private TourFrom $1383 reviews
★ 4.5Rila Monastery Private TourFrom $1263 reviews
★ 5.0Rila Monastery Bike Tour from SofiaFrom $1786 reviews
★ 4.0Rafting Tour & Rila Monastery visit from SofiaFrom $384 reviews
★ 5.0Luxury Day Trip to Boyana Church and Rila MonasteryFrom $3087 reviews
★ 4.5Private tour to Rila monastery, Wine degustation, Boyana churchFrom $1803 reviews
★ 5.0Rila Monastery Tour with Wine & Food degustationFrom $957 reviews
★ 5.0Rila Monastery and Boyana Church Eco Private Tour from SofiaFrom $1883 reviews
★ 4.2Guided Rila Monastery Tour from BanskoFrom $586 reviews
★ 5.0Rila Monastery National park & Boyana churchFrom $589 reviews
★ 4.0Rila Monastery and Wine Tasting TourFrom $2039 reviews
★ 4.7Rila Monastery & Melnik Day Trip with TransfersFrom $10010 reviews
★ 5.0Incredible Day tour from Sofia to 7 Rila lakes and Rila monasteryFrom $15610 reviews

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