Rila Monastery and Boyana Church Full-Day Tour
792 Reviews
4.67 out of 5 stars Based on 792 traveler reviews collected by Cool Destinations and TripAdvisor
|
Recommended by 94% of reviewers
|
Badge of Excellence |Badge of Excellence This experience is highly rated by travelers and has met our top quality standards.
Sofia, Bulgaria
8 hours (approx.)
Mobile ticket
Instant confirmation
Offered in: English
and 9 more
French, German, Italian, Spanish, Portuguese, Russian, Polish, Ukrainian, Romanian
Overview
Join an 8.5–10 hour guided group tour to two UNESCO sites – Rila Monastery and Boyana Church. Enjoy a 40-minute tour at Rila Monastery, followed by 2.5 hours of free time for photos, museums, shopping, or lunch. At Boyana Church, admire its stunning 800-year-old frescoes with a brief guided visit.
Note: Women must cover shoulders and knees in the monastery.
Tip: On busy summer weekends, bring lunch from Sofia to save time.
*Boyana Church is closed on Jan 1, Orthodox Easter Sunday, and Dec 24–25. On these dates, the tour visits only Rila Monastery.
This tour offers a perfect mix of cultural heritage, scenic mountain landscapes, and insightful storytelling from your professional English-speaking guide. Transport is provided by a comfortable air-conditioned vehicle, and the group size allows for a more personal experience. Ideal for history lovers and nature enthusiasts alike!
What's Included
- A trip to to Boyana Chuch and Rila Monastery depending on the booked option
- Transportation by a comfortable bus/ minibus
- Parking fees
- English speaking guide OR driver, depending on the booked option
- Boyana Church – Adults 6.14 EUR. Children over 7 years and students - 1.53 EUR
- Rila Monastery museum & monk room entrance ticket- 4 EUR
- Food and drinks
- Gratuities
- Hotel pick up and drop off
Meeting Location
Meeting point
Sofia Center
bul. "Yanko Sakazov" 7, 1527 Sofia, Bulgaria
Detailed check-in instructions, including the exact address, are provided with your booking confirmation.
End point
This activity ends back at the meeting point.
What To Expect
Book Online
Our secure website provides real-time availability, instant confirmation, and free, no-hassle cancellations up to 24 hours before your tour begins.
Safe & secure • Easy breezy • Hassle-free
Vasil Levski Monument
The meeting point for the tour is Vasil Levski Monument, Yanko Sakuzov Blvd 7 at 8:40am . The departure is at 9am. Please be on time!
30 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
Rila Monastery
The Rila Monastery is the biggest 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. You will have 40-mintue guided tour and 2.5 hours free time to check the museum, the shops, take photos and have lunch break.
3 hours • Admission Ticket Free
Boyana Church
Your other stop is at the great UNESCO historical place – Boyana church, dating back to the 11th century, which has unique and very well preserved frescoes and pictures from the period of 11 to 14 century. You will have the chance to explore the church and learn its amazing history from your guide. Please have in mind that the inside visit of the church is limit to 10 minites per group because of its small size. Additionally, you will also spend some time in the yard of the church where you can take photos and also learn some of the interesting historical facts.
30 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
Vasil Levski Monument
At the end of the tour, the van/bus returns to the same starting point, Vasil Levski Monument, Yanko Sakuzov Blvd 7
5 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
Additional Info
- Confirmation is instant and will be received at time of booking
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Women should have their knees and shoulders covered in the Monastery.
- There are not many dining options around the Monastery - there are bakeries where you can enjoy pastry. As an alternative, you can always bring your own food with you.
- Bring cash with you (preferably local currency) – the shops and the restaurants in the area of the monastery accept mostly cash payments so it is important to have some money with you.
- Please warn us if you have a 0-2 years old baby when you make the reservation so that we can prepare a special seat for them
- The visits within the Boyana Church itself are limited to 10 minutes per every group of 8 to 10 people. If you'd like to enter inside, you may also need to queue.
- On certain days, such as around holidays in Bulgaria, or when in groups over 100 people, delays are possible and the estimated tour finish time in Sofia could change as far as 18:30.
- The Boyana church is closed on the 1st of January, on the Sunday of the Orthodox Easter, on the 24th of December, the 25th of December - and on such days the tour is done only to the Rila Monastery.
- Safety Notice: For the safety and enjoyment of all guests, anyone who appears intoxicated or behaves in a way that makes guides uncomfortable may be removed from the tour. No refunds will be issued in such cases.
- The order of visits to the Rila Monastery and Boyana Church may be adjusted due to weather conditions or circumstances beyond our control.
- On certain days as 18th of May , 17th of September and 1st of November - Your entry to the Boyana church might NOT be guaranteed.
- Please note that some of the tour options do not include a visit to Boyana Church, even if it may appear in general destination descriptions. We kindly ask you to read each tour description carefully to ensure it includes the sites you wish to visit before booking. If you are unsure, feel free to contact us for clarification.
- Customers who book the Self-Guided Tour (Transportation Only) option do not have guaranteed entry to Boyana Church. Due to the church’s strict timed entry regulations and limited visitor capacity, access inside the church depends on ticket availability at the time of arrival.
- Guides are not obligated to provide guided commentary while inside the bus. Explanations and guided tours typically take place at designated stops and attractions rather than during transit.
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 100 travelers
- Operated by a business
Frequently Asked Questions
(6)Q: What is the cancellation policy for the Rila Monastery and Boyana Church Full-Day Tour?
Cancellation Policy
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the tour for a full refund.
Still have questions?
We're here to help.
Activity code: C-42558P86
Traveler Photos
Reviews
4.67
792 reviews
Average 4.67 out of 5 stars based on 792 traveler reviews collected by Cool Destinations and partner sites such as Trustpilot, Viator, and TripAdvisor
5 stars
617
4 stars
126
3 stars
28
2 stars
8
1 star
13
Additional Info
Similar Tours & Activities
8 hours • Free Cancellation
8 hours • Free Cancellation
5.0 (3)
from
$43.97
$43.97
2 hours • Free Cancellation
2 hours • Free Cancellation
4.9 (118)
from
$183.77
$183.77
2 to 4 hours • Free Cancellation
2 to 4 hours • Free Cancellation
4.6 (17)
from
$24.15
$24.15
6 to 9 hours • Hotel pickup offered • Free Cancellation
6 to 9 hours • Hotel pickup offered • Free Cancellation
5.0 (22)
from
$123.47
$123.47
Travelers Who Bought This Tour Also Bought
11 hours • Free Cancellation
11 hours • Free Cancellation
4.7 (155)
from
$24.15
$24.15
8 hours • Free Cancellation
8 hours • Free Cancellation
4.7 (671)
from
$25.32
$25.32
30 minutes • Free Cancellation
30 minutes • Free Cancellation
4.9 (16)
from
$20.65
$20.65
1 hour • Free Cancellation
1 hour • Free Cancellation
4.9 (527)
from
$36.98
$36.98
Frequently Asked Questions (6)
The answers provided below were previously given in response to questions from Cool Destinations customers.
Filter by:
Q:
What is the cancellation policy for the Rila Monastery and Boyana Church Full-Day Tour?
A:Apr 2025
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the tour for a full refund.
- For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the tour start time.
- If you cancel less than 24 hours before the tour start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
- Any changes made less than 24 hours before the tour start time will not be accepted.
- Cut-off times are based on the tour local time (EEST).
Q:
What's included in the price?
A:
Apr 2025
The following is included:
- A trip to to Boyana Chuch and Rila Monastery depending on the booked option.
- Transportation by a comfortable bus/ minibus.
- Parking fees.
- English speaking guide OR driver, depending on the booked option.
The following is NOT included:
- Boyana Church – Adults 6.14 EUR. Children over 7 years and students - 1.53 EUR.
- Rila Monastery museum & monk room entrance ticket- 4 EUR.
- Food and drinks.
- Gratuities.
- Hotel pick up and drop off.
Q:
What is the minimum age for this tour?
A:
There is no minimum age for this tour, so bring your wee one along for an adventure. This tour requires at least one adult to accompany children..
Apr 2025
Q:
My date is not available in the calendar, I am just checking to see if it is available?
A:
If a date or time is not listed on the calendar, it’s sold out or unavailable for another reason. Support cannot assist further if a date or time is not on the calendar.
If you find a date and time that works for you, book it NOW because things always sell out at this time of year.
Apr 2025
Q:
Is this an accessible tour?
A:Apr 2025
Accessibility information for the Rila Monastery and Boyana Church Full-Day Tour is as follows:
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Q:
Where is the meeting point for this activity?
A:
Detailed check-in instructions – including meeting point address, Google map, and parking information – for Rila Monastery and Boyana Church Full-Day Tour will be included in your confirmation email from Cool Destinations. Please be sure to double and triple check your email address is correct at checkout so this important email makes its way to you!
Mar 2024What's Included
- A trip to to Boyana Chuch and Rila Monastery depending on the booked option
- Transportation by a comfortable bus/ minibus
- Parking fees
- English speaking guide OR driver, depending on the booked option
- Boyana Church – Adults 6.14 EUR. Children over 7 years and students - 1.53 EUR
- Rila Monastery museum & monk room entrance ticket- 4 EUR
- Food and drinks
- Gratuities
- Hotel pick up and drop off
Additional Info
- Confirmation is instant and will be received at time of booking
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Women should have their knees and shoulders covered in the Monastery.
- There are not many dining options around the Monastery - there are bakeries where you can enjoy pastry. As an alternative, you can always bring your own food with you.
- Bring cash with you (preferably local currency) – the shops and the restaurants in the area of the monastery accept mostly cash payments so it is important to have some money with you.
- Please warn us if you have a 0-2 years old baby when you make the reservation so that we can prepare a special seat for them
- The visits within the Boyana Church itself are limited to 10 minutes per every group of 8 to 10 people. If you'd like to enter inside, you may also need to queue.
- On certain days, such as around holidays in Bulgaria, or when in groups over 100 people, delays are possible and the estimated tour finish time in Sofia could change as far as 18:30.
- The Boyana church is closed on the 1st of January, on the Sunday of the Orthodox Easter, on the 24th of December, the 25th of December - and on such days the tour is done only to the Rila Monastery.
- Safety Notice: For the safety and enjoyment of all guests, anyone who appears intoxicated or behaves in a way that makes guides uncomfortable may be removed from the tour. No refunds will be issued in such cases.
- The order of visits to the Rila Monastery and Boyana Church may be adjusted due to weather conditions or circumstances beyond our control.
- On certain days as 18th of May , 17th of September and 1st of November - Your entry to the Boyana church might NOT be guaranteed.
- Please note that some of the tour options do not include a visit to Boyana Church, even if it may appear in general destination descriptions. We kindly ask you to read each tour description carefully to ensure it includes the sites you wish to visit before booking. If you are unsure, feel free to contact us for clarification.
- Customers who book the Self-Guided Tour (Transportation Only) option do not have guaranteed entry to Boyana Church. Due to the church’s strict timed entry regulations and limited visitor capacity, access inside the church depends on ticket availability at the time of arrival.
- Guides are not obligated to provide guided commentary while inside the bus. Explanations and guided tours typically take place at designated stops and attractions rather than during transit.
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 100 travelers
- Operated by a business
Protecting you
For your protection and stress-free bookings, use our secure platform to pay for bookings. City Tour Ltd.
