Rila Monastery and Optional Museum, Cave or Spa Day Tour
Overview
Available languages
9 hours
Mobile ticket
Day trip from Sofia to Rila Monastery. Explore the UNESCO site, admire frescoes, visit the museum,explore St. Ivan’s Cave, add National History Museum stop or relax at a spa.
Additional Info
Public transportation options are available nearby
Specialized infant seats are available
Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
Not recommended for pregnant travelers
Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
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
For the safety and enjoyment of all guests, any customer who appears intoxicated at the time of the tour will not be permitted to participate. In such cases, no refunds will be issued.
Please note, women should have their knees and shoulders covered in the monastery
If the weather is rainy, the hike to the cave is substituted with a full day at the Rila monastery
Please note that the options for a visit to National History Museum and Spa complex have separate entrance fees that are paid on spot
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
What To Expect
This full-day tour from Sofia is the perfect combination of history, culture, and nature – featuring the magnificent Rila Monastery and an optional experience of your choice. The meeting point for the tour is Vasil Levski Monument, Yanko Sakuzov Blvd 7 – please arrive at 8:45 AM. Departure is at 9:00 AM sharp. As this is a group tour, we kindly ask you to be punctual. Visit to Rila Monastery We begin with a scenic two-hour drive through beautiful mountain landscapes to Rila Monastery – the largest and most important Bulgarian monastery, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Surrounded by the dramatic peaks of the Rila Mountains, the monastery impresses visitors with its striking striped arcades, vibrant frescoes, and remarkable architecture. If you have booked the guided option, you will enjoy a 40-minute guided tour of the monastery complex. You will learn about the life of Saint John of Rila (Saint Ivan Rilski), the founding of the monastery in the 10th century, and its development through the centuries until today. The guide will explain the symbolism behind the most important frescoes, introduce you to the miraculous icons inside the main church, and share the story of the relics of the saint. After the guided visit, you will have additional free time to explore the monastery courtyard, browse the souvenir shops, and enjoy a lunch break. Dining options around the monastery are limited, so we recommend bringing some food with you from Sofia. Continue with Your Selected Optional Experience After the monastery visit, the tour continues with one of the following options, depending on what you have booked: National History Museum Visit Travel back to Sofia for a visit to the National History Museum – one of the largest and most significant museums in the Balkans. Explore fascinating exhibitions covering ancient Thracian treasures, Roman artifacts, medieval history, and Bulgaria’s more recent past. This visit provides a broader historical context to everything you have learned during the day. Monastery Museum Visit Stay within the monastery complex and visit its museum, where you will see valuable manuscripts, religious artifacts, and the famous Raphael’s Cross – an extraordinary miniature wood-carved masterpiece. Cave of Saint John of Rila Take a short 5-minute drive to the beginning of the path leading to the sacred cave where Saint John spent the last years of his life. The walk to the cave takes about 15 minutes and is of moderate difficulty – a refreshing and scenic experience in nature. At the site, you can also drink from the nearby spring, believed to never freeze, no matter how cold the winter. ♨️ Spa Experience Relax and unwind in nearby mineral hot springs – the perfect way to end a day filled with culture and history. Return to Sofia After your selected activity, we will head back to Sofia. The expected arrival time is between 17:00 and 17:40, depending on traffic and group size.
What‘s Included
Hike to the Cave of Saint John of Rila
English- speaking guide or driver, depending on the booked option.
Spa visit
Scenic drive through the Rila Mountains
Entrance to Rila Monastery (UNESCO World Heritage Site)
Optional experience of your choice:
Air-conditioned vehicle
National History Museum visit
Monastery Museum visit
Personal expenses
Gratuities (optional)
National Museum of History entry fee (7,50 EUR)
Entrance ticket to SPA complex ( 15 Euro - Monday to Friday) (20 Euro - Saturday and Sunday)
Options
Rila + National History Museum
Rila + National History Museum: Discover an amazing tour to Rila Monastery & National Museum of History! See 2 unique sites in just one day.
Rila Monastery Only - EN guide
Rila Monastery Only - EN guide: Rila Monastery, a UNESCO site, is Bulgaria’s spiritual heart—famed for its vivid frescoes, striking architecture, etc.
Rila Monastery and SPA tour
Rila Monastery and SPA tour: Bulgaria’s spiritual jewel, enchants with its frescoes and history, followed by relaxation in nearby spa pools.
Guided tour in English
Rila Monastery - Guided tour : With this option you have a guided tour in English at the Rila Monasrery.
Self - guided tour
Self - gudied tour
Reviews
16 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
Interesting and pleasant
giannicaracci,,Apr 20, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
4.00Nice, well-organized tour. The attractions are two hours away from Sofia but really worth it. The cave, more than religion, is adventure. Very recommended
Wow place
Evelyn G,,Jul 7, 2024
- Review from Viator
5.00Rila is a wow. Boyana is small. St. John cave only if you enjoy hiking. Antonio is a great guide and very knowledgeable. We set off at 9am and got back at 530pm
Unforgettable cultural experience
Issy V,,Jun 24, 2024
- Review from Viator
5.00An unforgettable day at the Rila Monastery filled with a great spiritual experience and lots of learning about Bulgarian history. Our knowledgeable and highly professional guide Tuny made sure we all get immersed in the local culture, shared engaging stories and answered all our questions. What a day!
Recommended
W2757TVjustines,,Apr 29, 2024
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00The trip was very pleasant. Not too long, not too short. A nice combination of culture, history and nature. A fantastic guide called Antonio who was very well informed, friendly and easy to understand.
Visit rila monastery and cave
Virginieginette,,Apr 19, 2024
- Review from Tripadvisor
4.00Very good excursion, magnificent landscapes, very friendly guide, entries to the different places are almost all free
Do not miss it.
losnardos30,,Feb 7, 2024
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Our guide Philip was magnificent, friendly, prepared and very professional. The Rila monastery is spectacular and the Boyana church is amazing. We highly recommend this visit and tour.
Diving into history
izquierdoe,,Nov 29, 2023
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Sensational, our guide Antonio, super attentive and friendly, the visit is more than recommended, the Rila monastery is amazing and the icons and relics are very well preserved. The small church that we visited at the end with paintings from the 12th century are fantastic We went to eat on Antonio's recommendation to a restaurant a little further down from the monasteries and the food was brutal, delicious, very good price and quality, traditional Bulgarian food. The service was very good, we were so delighted with the guide that we will repeat tomorrow visit plovnid!12/10.highly recommended
Superb experience for magical places
pierreaubertb,,Oct 30, 2023
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Very nice experience, superb visits, we were amazed!! Top driver and guide, very good price ratio and a great day!! We highly recommend this experience
Recommended day trip
tonyu637,,Oct 26, 2023
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Incredible trip, the Rila Monestry was stunning, in a fabulous location. Boyana church home to amazing mediaeval wall paintings.
Very good tour!
Voyager789619,,Sep 27, 2023
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00The tour was on time. The guide was nice and responsible. Both churches were beautiful and worth the time. We took our luggages to the bus. It's convenient to people who has one day time to see the wonder.
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Operated by City Tour Ltd.