8 hour(s)
English
Included
Visit Rila Monastery, Bulgaria’s largest and most famous Eastern Orthodox monastery
Admire the Tower of Hrelyu and 14th-century church structures
Explore Boyana Church, a UNESCO-listed medieval site with 13th-century frescoes
See 89 scenes and 240 human figures in Boyana Church’s preserved artwork
Experience Bulgarian history, culture, and architecture in one day
€ 36.93
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Free cancellation and unlimited rescheduling leads to total flexibility while you plan your travels
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The Rila Monastery, formally known as the Monastery of Saint Ivan of Rila, is Bulgaria’s largest and most renowned Eastern Orthodox monastery. Founded in the 10th century, it stands as one of the country’s most significant cultural, historical, and architectural monuments. Relocated to its present site in the 14th century, the oldest structures still visible today include the Tower of Hrelyu (1334–1335) and a small adjacent church (1343). The monastery faced destruction during the Ottoman raids of the 15th century but was rebuilt and expanded over the centuries. Recognized as a masterpiece of Bulgarian National Revival architecture, it was declared a national historical monument in 1976 and added to the UNESCO World Heritage list in 1983. On May 25, 2002, Pope John Paul II visited the monastery, welcomed by Bishop Ioan, a participant in the Second Vatican Council.
Boyana Church, located on the outskirts of Sofia, is a medieval Bulgarian Orthodox church of immense historical and artistic value. Its eastern wing dates to the late 10th or early 11th century, with a central addition in the 13th century during the Second Bulgarian Empire and a western expansion in the mid-19th century. Boyana Church is internationally celebrated for its frescoes from 1259, which overlay earlier paintings and represent one of the most complete and well-preserved examples of Eastern European medieval art. The frescoes depict 89 scenes and 240 human figures, capturing the rich religious and cultural history of Bulgaria.
Transportation from and to Vasil Levski Monument
English speaking guide
Smart online audio guide
Boyana church entrance fees
Phisycal audio guide device
Meal and beverage
Comfortable shoes
Comfortable Clothes
Water Bottle
Dress modestly, covering shoulders and knees
Wear comfortable walking shoes
Photography may be restricted inside some areas
Tour operates in all weather conditions
Not wheelchair accessible
Confirmation will be received at time of booking
Type in your hotel/accommodation to see how far the attraction or departure point is.
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Amazing tour of Rila Monastery and Boyana Church, perfectly organized and full of fascinating history. Tuni was an engaging, fun guide and made the whole experience unforgettable.
Fair price with accommodative and engaging tour guides. The whole experience was breathtaking and very memorable. Our tour guide Tuni was extremely charming and knowledgeable and even gave us restaurant recommendations in Sofia! I couldn't recommend more if youre planning to go to visit.
This tour was really good! The drive there was super scenic, lots of mountains and scenery around, especially when you get closer to Rila. Iva was really welcoming and friendly, gave us lots of information on our tour there. The monastery is beautiful and speaks for itself, lots of friendly cats around too! The restaurant top left of the area was 10/10 also! Boyana church was also very pretty, especially in the snow!
This day trip was truly amazing. The guide Maria was so gracious and knew the answers to every question. I cannot recommend enough that you take this Monastery tour. An absolutely wonderful day.
This is a wonderful tour and well worth the time and money spent I feel. I’ve booked the combined tour Rila Monastery and Boyana church. Our guide was Tuni who hosts both the English and Spanish speaking tour. Everything was well organised, from check-in just across from the Hyatt Regency Sofia where the tour buses were waiting, transportation to and from the monastery, and the guided tours both in Rila and Boyana. Tuni is very knowledgeable about the history of the sites visited, and the significance of the Christian (Orthodox) Church which is very helpful to gain a deeper understanding about the various frescos. Seeing the frescos in Boyana church is a highlight of the tour for sure. I evenly enjoyed visiting Rila, which is set in a tranquil mountain backdrop. Again, discovering the frescos and understanding the deeper meaning of some of them was both eye-opening and fun with Tuni’s explanations. You even get to act out The Fall of Men (when Adam and Eve, mislead by the serpent, taste the fruit from the tree of knowledge in Garden Eden) in a brief role play. In summary, I found the tour to be both enlightening and a lot of fun. You’ll get back to Sofia by around 6pm with a lot of memories acquired and new stories to tell.
