Rila Monastery and Boyana Church Full-Day Tour
Traveler rating
4.6/5
Based on 1,194 traveler reviews. Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.
Quick answer
Is Rila Monastery and Boyana Church Full-Day Tour worth booking?
Rila Monastery and Boyana Church Full-Day Tour is a 8-hour experience in Sofia, Bulgaria, from $23 per person. It scores 85 out of 100 on the Outty Ranking, which we label “Exceptional”, based on a 4.6/5 rating across 1,194 reviews. Cancellation is free up to 24 hours before the start time. Same-day spots are currently showing.
- Outty Ranking
- 85 / 100
- Rating
- 4.6/5 (1,194)
- Duration
- 8 hours
- From
- $23 per person
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. Note: Women must cover shoulders and knees in the monastery. Tip: On busy summer weekends, bring lunch from Sofia to save time. *Boyana Church is closed on Jan 1, Orthodox Easter Sunday, and Dec 24–25. On these dates, the tour visits only Rila Monastery. This tour offers a perfect mix of cultural heritage, scenic mountain landscapes, and insightful storytelling from your professional English-speaking guide. Transport is provided by a comfortable air-conditioned vehicle, and the group size allows for a more personal experience. Ideal for history lovers and nature enthusiasts alike!
What you get
About this 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. Note: Women must cover shoulders and knees in the monastery. Tip: On busy summer weekends, bring lunch from Sofia to save time. *Boyana Church is closed on Jan 1, Orthodox Easter Sunday, and Dec 24–25. On these dates, the tour visits only Rila Monastery. This tour offers a perfect mix of cultural heritage, scenic mountain landscapes, and insightful storytelling from your professional English-speaking guide. Transport is provided by a comfortable air-conditioned vehicle, and the group size allows for a more personal experience. Ideal for history lovers and nature enthusiasts alike!
What's included
Included
- 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
- Expert guide in English, Spanish or Italian – (depending on the chosen option)
- Parking fees
Not included
- Boyana Church entry: 10 € adults, 3 € ages 7+/students, cash only - if the option is chosen
- Rila Monastery museum & monk room entrance ticket- 4 EUR
- Food and drinks
- Gratuities
- Hotel pick up and drop off
What you'll see and do
Vasil Levski Monument
The meeting point for the tour is Vasil Levski Monument, Yanko Sakuzov Blvd 7 at 8:40am . The departure is at 9am. Please be on time!
30 minutes here
Rila Monastery
Your day begins with comfortable, air-conditioned transport from Sofia city centre, travelling through green valleys and forested mountain scenery with an international group. Upon arrival at Rila Monastery – the largest and most important Eastern Orthodox monastery in Bulgaria and one of the country's most visited landmarks – you'll have guided or free time to explore its striking black-and-white arcades, richly coloured frescoes, gold iconostasis and peaceful courtyards. Founded in the 10th century, the monastery sits dramatically among the Rila mountains and offers plenty to see, photograph and learn about. During your free time you can also visit the monastery museum, browse for local souvenirs, or try traditional Bulgarian food such as homemade mekitsi and local yogurt.
180 minutes here
Boyana Church
If you have booked an option that includes Boyana Church, your tour continues from Rila Monastery to this UNESCO-listed medieval church, famous worldwide for its exceptionally preserved 13th-century frescoes – considered among the most important examples of medieval European art, and noted for the realism that influenced later Renaissance painting. Entry is time-slotted and visits are limited to small groups in order to protect the fragile artwork, so please allow extra time for queuing.
30 minutes here · Admission not included
Vasil Levski Monument
At the end of the tour, the van/bus returns to the same starting point, Vasil Levski Monument, Yanko Sakuzov Blvd 7
5 minutes here
Where it starts and ends
Meeting point
Sofia
The meeting point for the tour is Vasil Levski Monument, Yanko Sakuzov Blvd 7 . Ask for travel agency City Tour. Please be there at 8:40 am. The van/bus departs at 9am and will not wait for you if you are late.
Hotel pickup
No pickup: everyone meets at the start point.
Ends at
The meeting point for the tour is Vasil Levski Monument, Yanko Sakuzov Blvd 7 . Ask for travel agency City Tour. Please be there at 8:40 am. The van/bus departs at 9am and will not wait for you if you are late.
Options you can book
[AG] Tour with Audio Guide
Tour with Audio Guide: Travel in comfort to Rila Monastery and Boyana Church and discover both sites with an audio guide (NO LIVE GUIDE).
[TR] Self-guided Tour
Self-guided Tour : With this option, you can discover the two UNESCO sites WITHOUT A GUIDE.
RILA ONLY/SMART GUIDE- NO GUIDE
RILA ONLY/SMART GUIDE-NO GUIDE: ★ Includes: Transport, Rila Monastery visit, Smart Guide Access ☆ Excludes: Live guide , No Boyana Church visit
[ES] Guided Tour in Spanish
Guided Tour in Spanish : Enjoy a Spanish-guided tour of the Rila Monastery and the Boyana Church.
RILA MONASTERY ONLY - ITALIAN
Rila ONLY ITALIAN (NO BOYANA): This options includes an Italian-guided visit ONLY to the Rila monastery WITHOUT a visit to the Boyana church.
Rila Monastery Only - ENGLISH
Rila ONLY ENGLISH (NO BOYANA): This options includes an English-guided visit ONLY to the Rila monastery WITHOUT a visit to the Boyana church.
RILA ONLY/TRANSPORT - NO GUIDE
Rila ONLY Transport-NO BOYANA: Enjoy All Day visit to Rila monastery ONLY, NO VISIT TO BOYANA CHURCH WITHOUT A LIVE GUIDE - visit local museums (optional)
[EN] Guided Tour in English
Guided Tour in English: Enjoy an English-guided visit to both Rila Monastery and Boyana Church.
RILA MONASTERY ONLY - SPANISH
Rila ONLY SPANISH (NO BOYANA): This options includes an Spanish-guided visit ONLY to the Rila monastery WITHOUT a visit to the Boyana church.
[IT] Guided Tour in Italian
Guided Tour in Italian: Enjoy a Italian-guided tour of the Rila Monastery and the Boyana Church.
[SG] Smart Audio Guide
Smart Audio Guide: Travel in comfort to Rila Monastery and Boyana Church and discover both sites with an online audio guide (NO LIVE GUIDE).
Before you book
- Cancellation
- For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
- Languages
- de, ru, pt, uk, en, zh-CN, it, pl, fr, ro, es
- Ticket
- Mobile Only
- Runs on
- Every day
- Group size
- Up to 30 travelers per booking
- Operated by
- City Tour Ltd.
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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
Photos
What travelers are saying
Outty’s summary of the themes that recur across 1,181 traveler reviews. Written by us, not quoted from reviewers.
The guide
8 mentionsTravelers single out the guide as the reason the experience works.
Knowledge and storytelling
6 mentionsReviewers describe the commentary as informative rather than scripted.
Organization
4 mentionsPickup, timing, and logistics are described as running smoothly.
Photo opportunities
3 mentionsThe views and photo stops come up again and again.
Value for money
2 mentionsTravelers feel they got more than they paid for.
Food and drink
2 mentionsThe tastings and food stops are a highlight for most reviewers.
Traveler reviews
1,181 verified traveler reviews for Rila Monastery and Boyana Church Full-Day Tour. Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.
Superb Guide for the Rila Monastery
Lovely day trip to the two ancient sites. Despite unavoidable mishaps — our bus broke down on the return trip — our English guide Ornella was gracious and accommodating. Her complete knowledge of the frescoes at Rila was enlightening and she made valuable suggestions for transportation when we needed to leave Boyana early due to the bus delay.
via Tripadvisor
Fabulous tour and exceptional tour guide Ornella.
My high rating for the tour is predominantly because of my tour guide Ornella. She was extremely knowledgeable in her presentation while touring the Rila Monastery. She projected and all could hear her yet it was not disturbing to others. She was exceptional at managing a person in our group who kept interrupting all with a smile and extreme patience. Ornella's passion for the Rila Monastery and Boyana Church shines through. One of the best tours I have ever been on all due to Ornella!
via Tripadvisor
Ina was a great guide and...
Ina was a great guide and explained things very well. Very organized and made sure things stayed on schedule. A great day!!
via Viator
A must-see
We took the English tour on a Thursday in early October and had perfect weather. The coach bus was filled with three main groups -- English, Italian, and Spanish. A few others were issued electronic translators. Our tour guide, Ina, was superb and responsible for also leading the Italian group. The tour guides gave helpful context just before entering the sites and also provided good advice on food and restrooms. Our timeslot for Boyana Church (limit of 8-9 visitors at a time) was 16:15, so it was on return to Sofia. A short stop was made before 10:00 at a MacDonald's for WCs and possibly a quick bite. There is also a cafe just outside the Monastery. Our total time at RIla was just under 3 hours, and just over an hour at Boyana (to cycle our group through in 10-minute intervals). Boyana is a separate 10-Euro ticket -- well worth it. At Rila, we especially enjoyed going up in the tower keep -- very few did as it's a separate standalone ticket (purchase at the Museum). Alternatives: we looked at Saturday but some groups and times were sold out several days in advance, so obviously busier of weekends. We also looked into a private driver/guide for the day and it was 250 Euros, with vagueness about entering Boyana.
via Tripadvisor
Overall good.
Overall very pleasant trip. There were mixed tourist groups (English and Spanish). I felt English guide was not the same level as the Spanish guide. Spanish guide was excellent and very explanatory. The English version was somewhat shortened and vague. The ride was very smooth and efficient. Boyana church experience was probably the worse as it was not clear at all what me and my friends were looking at. Spanish guide has laid photos of the icons with explanations. We felt the visit to Boyana church for the English group was not well organised and rather incomplete and the value for money was not justified. I recommend the Spanish version of it!
via Tripadvisor
Good to know
- Duration
- 8 hours
- Free cancellation
- Up to 24h before
- Minimum age to book
- All ages
- Availability
- Bookable today
- Runs on
- Every day
- Price range
- $23 to $35
- Hotel pickup
- No pickup, meet at start point
- Booked in 30 days
- 418
- Verdict
- Exceptional
Who runs this experience
Operated by City Tour Ltd., who run 26 experiences we rank across 1 city, with an average Outty Ranking of 57.1.
See everything City Tour Ltd. runsWhy this scores 85
The Outty Ranking is a weighted composite. Here is how this experience performed on each component.
Rila Monastery and Boyana Church Full-Day Tour: questions travelers ask
Practical detail on this experience, plus the wider planning questions for Sofia.
How much does Rila Monastery and Boyana Church Full-Day Tour cost?
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Prices start at $23 per person. The final price depends on the date, the time slot and the number of travelers, and peak weekends in Sofia usually price higher than midweek mornings. Live pricing and remaining availability are confirmed on the booking screen before you pay.
How long does Rila Monastery and Boyana Church Full-Day Tour take?
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Plan for about 8 hours from start to finish, not counting travel to the meeting point. Most travelers leave another 30 minutes on either side so the rest of the day in Sofia is not rushed.
Is Rila Monastery and Boyana Church Full-Day Tour worth it?
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It holds an Outty Ranking of 85 out of 100, which we label "Exceptional". That score blends traveler sentiment (4.6/5 across 1,194 reviews), the depth of that review evidence, recent booking momentum, value for money against comparable most popular in Sofia, and how flexible the cancellation terms are.
Can I cancel or reschedule Rila Monastery and Boyana Church Full-Day Tour?
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Yes. Cancel free up to 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Inside that window the booking is non-refundable, and no-shows are not refunded.
Is Rila Monastery and Boyana Church Full-Day Tour suitable for kids and families?
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Yes, all ages are welcome. Families should still weigh the 8-hour running time, and strollers are easier on the earlier, quieter departures.
How far in advance should I book Rila Monastery and Boyana Church Full-Day Tour?
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Around 418 people booked this in the last 30 days, so popular slots go early. Two to three weeks ahead is comfortable in shoulder season, while summer weekends and holidays in Sofia can sell out a month out. Same-day spots do open up when other travelers cancel, so it is worth checking if you are already in town.
What should I bring or wear?
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Bring photo ID, your booking confirmation on your phone, a refillable water bottle and comfortable shoes. Dress for the weather in Sofia and add a light layer if any part of the 8-hour experience runs outdoors or after sunset.
Where does Rila Monastery and Boyana Church Full-Day Tour start and how do I get there?
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The exact meeting point and directions are on your voucher once you book, and they sit in central Sofia within reach of public transport. Arrive 15 minutes early: late arrivals are treated as no-shows by most operators.
What are the best things to do in Sofia?
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On Outty we rank every Sofia experience on the same 0 to 100 scale, and alongside this one the highest scorers right now include Sofia Highlights 2 Hour Sightseeing Walking Tour, Communist Walking Tour of Sofia, Museum of illusions Sofia Official Entry ticket. The city page groups everything into most popular, highest reviewed, last minute and family-friendly so you can build a day around what actually delivers.
When is the best time to visit Sofia?
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Booking patterns follow the same curve: prices and queues climb in peak weeks, while shoulder season gives you better availability on the top-ranked experiences and more room to change plans.
How many days do you need in Sofia?
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Three full days covers the headline sights without sprinting. A workable rhythm is one anchor experience each morning, such as this one, an unhurried afternoon in a single neighborhood, then a food or nightlife booking in the evening. Five days lets you add a day trip outside the city.
Do I book through Outty or through the operator?
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Outty ranks and explains the experiences, then hands you to Viator to complete the booking with the operator directly. The price is the same as booking on Viator yourself, and Outty earns an affiliate commission on the referral, which is how the rankings stay free to read.
What is included in Rila Monastery and Boyana Church Full-Day Tour?
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Included: 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; Expert guide in English, Spanish or Italian – (depending on the chosen option); and Parking fees. Not included: Boyana Church entry: 10 € adults, 3 € ages 7+/students, cash only - if the option is chose; Rila Monastery museum & monk room entrance ticket- 4 EUR; Food and drinks; and Gratuities. Always check the voucher for the final list before you travel.
Where is the meeting point for Rila Monastery and Boyana Church Full-Day Tour?
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The meeting point for the tour is Vasil Levski Monument, Yanko Sakuzov Blvd 7 . Ask for travel agency City Tour. Please be there at 8:40 am. The van/bus departs at 9am and will not wait for you if you are late. Hotel pickup is not included, so plan your own transport and arrive 15 minutes early.
What languages is Rila Monastery and Boyana Church Full-Day Tour offered in?
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It is offered in German, Russian, Portuguese, Ukrainian, English, Chinese, Italian, Polish, French, Romanian and Spanish. Pick your language when choosing a date and time, as not every departure runs in every language.
Will I get instant confirmation and a mobile ticket for Rila Monastery and Boyana Church Full-Day Tour?
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Confirmation is sent by the operator after booking, usually within 48 hours; if it is not confirmed you are not charged. Mobile tickets are accepted, so you can show the voucher on your phone.
What happens to Rila Monastery and Boyana Church Full-Day Tour if the weather is bad?
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It generally runs rain or shine, so dress for the forecast in Sofia. Standard cancellation terms apply: free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start.
What do travelers say about Rila Monastery and Boyana Church Full-Day Tour?
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Across 1,194 reviews averaging 4.6 out of 5, recurring themes include the guide, knowledge and storytelling, organization. Travelers single out the guide as the reason the experience works.
What booking options are available for Rila Monastery and Boyana Church Full-Day Tour?
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There are 11 options to choose from, including [AG] Tour with Audio Guide, [TR] Self-guided Tour, RILA ONLY/SMART GUIDE- NO GUIDE, [ES] Guided Tour in Spanish. Prices and start times differ by option, so compare them on the booking screen.
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