Rila Monastery Bulgaria is a UNESCO World Heritage site just 2 hours drive from the capital city of Sofia. As you will see it is easy to take a day trip out to the Rila Mountains to see this famous monastery. This is the bus tour we took from Sofia to Rila Monastery.
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How to Find a Bus from Sofia to Rila Monastery
Our favorite online booking platform is Getyourguide.com. This is where we went to find our bus from Sofia to Rila Monastery. There are literally dozens of tour options available on this tour platform, and they are reasonably priced. Check out the current prices by clicking on the below tour options.
Our tour operator was
Most bus tours also include Boyana Church, a second UNESCO World Heritage attraction on the outskirts of Sofia. As you will read below, Boyana Church pales in comparison to the star of the show, the awesome Monastery of Rila.
Bus Pick up from Sofia City Centre
Our bus pick up time was a respectable 9:00 am, we just entered our apartment address at the time of booking the tour on Getyourguide.com. The bus was a 10 seater luxury bus. As it turns out the bus showed up about 15 minutes early, and there was only one other person on board.
After a quick meet and greet, we were on our way to drive directly to Rila Monastery. As we drove through Sofia our friendly tour guide gave us an interesting commentary on the history and layout of Sofia. “Ask me anything,” he said. It was great to have our own personal guide.
The Drive to Rila Monastery
Driving to Rila Monastery from Sofia takes about 2 hours in total. The first 20 minutes of the drive was interesting, driving through the outskirts of Sofia. It is amazing to see the old Soviet apartment
Then it was time to hit the freeways for the next hour or so. If you like to see neverending fields of sunflowers then this drive will amaze you. Otherwise, it’s just like any other freeway drive, not terribly interesting.
After the freeway, you take an exit up into a small winding road into the Rila Mountains. This is a very scenic drive, passing through some small villages and driving along a beautiful scenic valley. This part of the drive takes about 40 minutes.
The Monastery Dress Code
Our tour guide neglected to inform us of the strict dress code at Rila monastery. Women are not permitted to bare their shoulders. In our case, my wife was wearing a sleeveless summer top. Being a hot summer day, we had no other clothing to cover up with. We started scanning for some kind of shop to purchase a scarf or shawl.
The friendly security staff at the gate noticed our dilemma and jumped in to assist, offering us the loan of a shawl for my wife to cover her shoulders. This was a complementary loan, and the guard was very polite through the whole ordeal. It was a happy ending. Thank you nice security man!
At the front of the monastery, there is a free drinking water fountain with fresh mountain water. You will find several of these scattered throughout the monastery. It is clear, fresh mountain water and great for refilling your drink bottle.
The Rila Monastery Tour
We had 2 hours at Rila Monastery. The first 30 minutes was a guided tour, with our knowledgeable tour operator giving us a tour of the magnificent frescos on the outside of the monastery. As it turns out, these depict the stories of the bible and were used for religious education during the Ottoman occupation, when books were banned.
Next was a guided tour inside the church. If you think the outside is amazing, the inside is absolutely mind blowing. Not only is it magnificent in every sense of the word
After our guided tour we were free to wander the grounds or pay to enter the museum. Our chosen activity was to climb the 14th-century tower, the oldest structure on the site. The entrance fee was 5 lev per person. Once at the top we were afforded to spectacular views of the monastery, Rila mountains, and the surrounding countryside.
Souvenir Shopping
At the base of the
There is another entrance to the complex at the rear of the courtyard. If you exit here you will find a cluster of smaller private souvenir shops with much the same thing. There is probably more opportunity to bargain and get some cheap souvenirs there.
Lunch Stop
Our tour included a complimentary lunch. For this, we were back on the bus to a small restaurant about 5 minutes drive up the road. The lunch was tasty and traditional, with a steak, beans and potato dish being served.
There is another opportunity here to purchase more souvenirs. It’s also your opportunity to grab a drink or two.
Boyana Church
Just before reaching Sofia, the bus heads off into the mountain-side to Boyana Church. This would be quite a difficult place to find on your own, and there aren’t many signs to guide you. Once there you would not know that a UNESCO World Heritage site awaits. It is hidden behind a thick forest of trees.
The main attraction at Boyana Church is the medieval paintings inside the church. After our brief guided tour outside the church, we took our allocated spot to have an 8 minute guided tour inside the church. All tours are strictly 8 minutes and heavily booked.
Because of the historic importance of this site, the tours or the interior are strictly controlled and under tight security. You are instructed to leave all cameras with the security guard, and inside photography is strictly prohibited.
The outside of the church is not all that spectacular. It is a rather plain looking church similar to others seen around Sofia. And there is nothing to see except the church. Needless to say, the main attraction here is the 8-minute tour inside the church.
Driving from Rila Monastery to Sofia
The tour duration was 8 hours, and it turned out to be a very easy day. 4 hours were spent on the bus, 2 hours at Monastery Rila, 1 hour for lunch, and 1 hour at Boyana Church.
Highlights of the Tour
The frescos of Rila Monastery are breathtaking. The color and detail are magnificent, and the architecture is unique and interesting. Admiring the frescos of Rila Monastery is hands down the main attraction of the day.
Climbing the medieval tower was my second favorite attraction for the day. I love all things medieval, and this tower is no exception. It was a fun activity, as well as a historically interesting one. The tower is full of little museum exhibitions during the climb.
Don’t Miss Rila Monastery
Don’t miss this bus tour from Sofia to Rila Monastery, it is definitely one of the best day tours you can do from Sofia. I was really looking forward to Rila Monastery as being the highlight of our trip to Bulgaria, and it did not disappoint. I’m sure you will love Rila Bulgaria just as much as we did.
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