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Tours

Rila Monastery and Boyana Church Full-Day Tour

4.61147 reviews
Sofia
by Viator
Duration8 hours
DifficultyEasy
SeasonSee calendar when booking
LanguageGerman, Russian

The Experience

Join an 8.5–10 hour guided group tour to Rila Monastery, with select options also including Boyana Church — please check your chosen option before booking. Enjoy a 40-minute guided tour at Rila Monastery, followed by 2.5 hours of free time for photos, museums, shopping, or lunch. On options that include Boyana Church, admire its stunning 800-year-old frescoes with a brief guided visit.

How to book

Booked on Viator, who runs this experience. Inclusions and cancellation are theirs.

  • Book with Viator

    4.6(1,147 reviews)

    Free cancellation · 24h before

    from₹2,254

    Includes: A trip to Boyana Church and/or Rila Monastery, depending on the booked option · Smart audio commentary in 12 different languages (depending on the chosen option) · Transportation by a comfortable bus/ minibus · +2 more

Badges are worked out from the providers' own prices, reviews and cancellation terms. Hich is never paid for placement. You book and pay on the provider's site.

What to Bring

Recommended

  • 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.
  • 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.

Food & Drink

Food

Provided

Drinks

Not provided

Logistics & Transit

Transport included
Pickup and drop-off arranged by the host
Location
Sofia

Difficulty & Fitness

Easy1/5

Easy — suitable for all fitness levels, no experience needed.

About the guide

Guide type
Self Guided
Group experience
No — private booking

Know before you go

Public transportation options are available nearby Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health Suitable for all physical fitness levels Women should have their knees and shoulders covered in the Monastery. 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. 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. 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.