The Ultimate Rila Monastery 3-in-1 Day Tour from Sofia
Recommended by 95% of travelers
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Sofia, Bulgaria
- 8 hours (approx.)
- Mobile ticket
- Offered in: English
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Overview
What's Included
- Professional Tour Guide OR Cloud Audio Guide App (depending entirely on the option you have booked)
- Round-trip transport by air-conditioned minibus or coach
- Parking Fees
- Visit to Rila Monastery
- Gratuities
- Food and drinks
- Hotel pickup and drop-off
- Entrance fee - Rila Monastery Museum (Optional; entrance to the main courtyard/church is free)
Meeting and Pickup
Meeting point
- Sofia Center, bul. "Yanko Sakazov" 9, 1527 Sofia, Bulgaria
IMPORTANT: The meeting point is next to the Vasil Levski Monument, in front of the Embassy of Slovakia. Please be there 15 minutes in advance. This tour is not suitable for children under the age of 5.
End point
This activity ends back at the meeting point.Itinerary
1
Vasil Levski Monument
30 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
2
Rila Monastery
2 hours • Admission Ticket Free
3
Rila Monastery
2 hours • Admission Ticket Free
4
Vasil Levski Monument
30 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
Additional Info
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Not wheelchair accessible
- Most travelers can participate
- Due to uneven surfaces, this tour is not recommended for those with walking disabilities
- Comfortable walking shoes recommended
- All touch points in the vehicles will be cleaned frequently.
- Minimum traveler age is 5 years old
- The total duration of the tour includes the travel time
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 50 travelers
Supplied by
Cancellation Policy
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
Traveler Photos
Reviews
4.6
based on 19 reviews
Sort by: Most insightful
Wanda_F, Jul 2026
Somewhat interesting…good guide Christian
worked hard to give very good information on different sites
Carlos_V, Jun 2026
I bought the 3-1 ticket, but I was mixed with people that only had Boyana and Rila, so they got the Bells for free. That's not a problem at all, even if I payed some more euros, but the thing was that the tour guide told me that my place to enter the Boyana church was not confirmed, but the website says that they book the place in advance for you and you have to pay on site. Hopefully there were some extra places and I could visit it. The rest of the tour was good, very well explained by Hristo, the ites we visit and Bulgarian history.
Alex_R, May 2026
Unfortunately I have to leave a negative review for this tour.
The itinerary stated on the Viator site at the time of booking was to leave Sofia at 9am and return at 5pm after visiting Rila Monastery. However, when we left the Monastery (which is very nice) we were taken to a winery, where we stayed for 45 mins, and did not return to Sofia until 7pm. We had to significantly change our evening plans as a result of arriving back late.
When we asked the tour guide Hristo why the winery stop was included, he said it was a standard part of the tour and we would need to speak to the tour company. To be honest, he didn't seem bothered at all. Others on the tour were in the same situation, so this must surely happen all the time. I imagine the winery stop is for the guide to get commission from people buying the wine, regardless of whether it was on their original itinerary.
Overall, very disappointing. I messaged the Bulgarian tour company who runs the tours and who the guide works for (Traventuria) and have not received a reply.
I recommend booking the Rila Monastery tour through a different provider and with a different tour company.
Lucy_S, Apr 2026
Well organized trip for such a big group. Our guide gave us a great explanation and history of Bulgaria as we were driving. He was very specific with departure times which kept us on track. It was nice to leave the city and see the monastery.
Kathleen_B, Jan 2026
Didn't set off on time but considering the number of people going it wasn't surprising. The coach was comfortable and warm. The monastery is well worth a visit but it wasn't comfortable hanging about in such cold weather. Our guide was superb. Restaurant/cafe was well worth a visit and reasonably priced. All round - great day.
Daniela_D, Oct 2025
Tour guide was very nice, driver was very good. The monastery is awesome!
Word of advise: if you have mobility & severe chronic pains issues, do not just state so, speak up before the trip starts that the front seat is for such people, and be brave to ask your tour guide to put you there.
Beware that fellow travellers (like the ones I found) might be egoistic and cruel not caring enough to understand even if you explain your pain, that the level of vibrations in the rest of the bus is unbearable for you! If you stay shy and laid back like I did you are in for a nasty two hour ride.
Normal people though are perfectly comfortable in any part of the bus and vibrations are unnoticeable, apparently
Sijmen_D, Aug 2025
Rila Monestry is amazing. As for the tour: the tour guide was good & funny, everything according was well-planned, and the information was clear.
Rakesh_A, May 2025
The guide Maria was superb. She made it very interesting. She is compassionate, kind and looked after everyone. It was due to her that the trip became from ordinary to extraordinary
Ana_R, May 2026
The guide was very friendly and helpful and the place wonderful. The frescoes, the perfect arches, the peace of the place marked the day without a doubt.
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Rosario_C, Oct 2025
We visited Rila Monastery and Boyana Church with Traventuria agency. We found a coach made up of only Italians with a guide in Italian. In the morning they welcomed us on a cozy and comfortable van. The guide, a Bulgarian girl who spoke perfect Italian was a cicero, very considerate and kind. She made sure, both on the way and on the way back she made the appeal to make sure no one stayed on the ground. 5 stars!
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Emanuela_D, Sep 2025
Excellent experience, great driving and organization. Bus clean and comfortable. Highly recommended
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Raymundo_C, Sep 2025
Rich in knowledge of modern Bulgarian culture and admiration of mountain landscapes....
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Salvo_P, Aug 2025
It is an experience to be had absolutely.
Our guide was attentive and helpful
Rila Monastery is a timeless place.
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Gianluca_F, Aug 2025
Perfect experience, timely and precise organization. Kamen was an excellent guide, explained everything precisely and delighted us with really remarkable anecdotes and curiosities.
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Chelo_P, Aug 2025
Go very carefully with the booking in case you don't find the guides in your list, as I thought
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fabrice_l, Jul 2025
A team at the top , a plus for Yuliana who explained to us everything there is to know with a smile.
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From $26.77
per personup to 24 hours before the experience starts (local time)
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