Rila Monastery and St. Ivan Cave History & Nature Trip from Sofia
Overview
Available languages
8 hours
Mobile ticket
This day tour perfectly combines history, culture, and nature experiences. Enjoy a comfortable ride through the beautiful green countryside as you head toward the majestic Rila Mountains. Discover Bulgaria’s most famous UNESCO site, the Rila Monastery, with a guided or audio-guided tour. Afterward, take a relaxing walk through the woods to reach the Cave of Saint Ivan. You will also have free time to explore the monastery on your own before we drive back to Sofia.
Additional Info
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Due to uneven surfaces, this tour is not recommended for those with walking disabilities
Comfortable walking shoes recommended
Minimum traveler age is 6 years old
Tour with ONLINE (cloud-based) Audio-guide in different languages. INTERNET required to download and use.
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
What To Expect
Departure at 09:00 from the car parknext to Vasil Levski Monument, in front of the Embassy of Slovakia
Rila Monastery
Transportation from the Meeting point to the Rila Monastery. Estimated time of arrival - 12:00.
What‘s Included
Driver/Tour guide in English
ONLINE, cloud-based audioguide in different languages. INTERNET required to download and use.
Transport by air-conditioned bus
Parking Fees
A planned visit to the Cave of St. Ivan Rilski
Gratuities
Food and Drinks
Admission fees (7 euro/12 BGN for the Boyana Church)
Rila Monastery Museum
Options
ENG Live: Cave & Winery
Duration: 9 hours
English-guided tour
Audio App: Rila & Cave
Transport only: Explore Rila Monastery&St. Ivan's cave with online audioguide. Live guide, headphones - not included. Own internet- required.
ENG Live: Rila, Cave, Boyana
Add -on visit to Boyana church: Includes: English-speaking guide, Rila monastery, St. Ivan's cave, Boyana church (Entrance fee NOT incl.).
ESP Live: Rila, Cave, Boyana
Add -on visit to Boyana church: Includes: Spanish-speaking guide, Rila monastery, St. Ivan's cave, Boyana church (Entrance fee NOT incl.).
Audio Device: Rila & Cave
Duration: 9 hours
Tour with hardware audioguide
ITA Live Guide: Rila & Cave
Guided Tour in Italian: Experience excellence with Traventuria. Join this tour with Italian-speaking guide to Rila monastery & St. Ivan's cave.
ITA Live: Cave & Winery
Duration: 9 hours
Italian-guided tour
ENG Live Guide: Rila & Cave
English-speaking guide: Experience excellence with Traventuria. Join this tour with a professional English-speaking guide.
FRA Live: Cave & Winery
Duration: 9 hours
French-guided tour
ITA Live: Rila, Cave, Boyana
Add -on visit to Boyana church: Includes: Italian-speaking guide, Rila monastery, St. Ivan's cave, Boyana church (Entrance fee NOT incl.)
ESP Live Guide: Rila & Cave
Guided Tour in Spanish: Experience excellence with Traventuria. Join this tour with a professional Spanish-speaking guide.
Reviews
34 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
Beautiful tour!
Paula P,Apr 10, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00Antonio has been an excellent guide! Perfect English and Spanish management, gave us interesting data and was very fluent
Recommended
Annamaria D,Apr 10, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Precision in organization, friendly staff , Rila Monastery must see if you go to Sofia, the museums inside are for a fee if you want to see (between €1.5 and 4.5€) super suggestive and relaxing atmosphere. Honest tour prices.
Very nice day trip
Helge-Nugh,Apr 2, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Very entertaining excursion. On the way there was a lot of information about the country and people. And a coffee break with free toilet (very clean). At the monastery the essential details were explained and you had enough time afterwards to explore for yourself ... and a very delicious grilled trout in the closed restaurant. The trip to the cave should only be made by those who feel fit enough to climb a steep and unpaved path over rocks and roots. Back there was a stop at a winery. The wine tasting is highly recommended. (You can choose 3 wines from the offer. Very good quality.) Just in time for dinner you are back in Sofia. Highly recommended !!! P.S.: The price is a joke. Driver and guide live off the tips. So please don't be stingy.
Monastery and cave in the snow
Emily1g,Mar 28, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Lubo our tour guide was very knowledgable and friendly - lots of history facts on the way and a quick guided tour in the monastery. Be aware that this tour was for Boyana church, monastery and St Ivan’s cave. We had booked monastery and cave, but spent 30 minutes at Boyana for our first stop (you could pay extra to enter church or just walk around the gardens for free). We spent 1.5 hours at the monastery which was enough time to see the church and buy some bread from the bakery. Then we were back on the bus for the hike to the cave. This was 600m walk up steep rocks - but very manageable, even in surprise snowy conditions! This was the highlight in my opinion. Don’t forget to take the opportunity to be reborn by climbing through the chimney of the cave - thanks Lubo!
Magnificent excursion.
alifX3666PE,Mar 22, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00I recommend this excursion to the magnificent Rila Monastery for its interesting history and for its beauty, both worth admiring. Simeon is an excellent guide, I hope you have to visit with him. The visit to Ivan’s Cave is also worth noting for its history and the exuberant nature of the surroundings. Thank you so much!
Relaxing, fearless and unforgettable
737josemanuelv,Mar 22, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00An unforgettable experience I have had an excellent driver and guide, a relaxed and smooth driving and a guide with detailed information. And the amazing monastery. The cave I recommend for the cold-blooded. I recommend 100% stopping back in the cellar, it is lovely to see the whole landscape, beautiful.
Day trip in Attila
irenelenel,Mar 22, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00We had a great time and the visit was wonderful
Comfortable
Escape32287810235,Mar 22, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Super nice, experience of 10
Excellent day trip
T3990THcristinag,Mar 22, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Very good experience. Great choice to visit the cave! Simeon our guide very well. Super Full Day Rila Monastery Must See
Rila Monastery and Cave Tour 10/10!
troykO5945PF,Jan 13, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Liubomir was the guide on the day trip to Rila Monastery. I was the only one in the group that was interested in going to the St. Ivan Cave, and he went above and beyond to make it happen. Such a friendly and knowledgeable guide. In winter conditions, it was a fantastic walk up to the cave. Highly recommend the trip, it’s extremely beautiful. Give Liubomir a pay rise if you can, such an excellent guide to have on your team. Thanks, Troy.
From €20.00
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