Rila Monastery and Boyana Church
Two UNESCO sites in one day! This is the most affordable way of visiting two of the most famous Bulgarian attractions. Rila Monastery is definitely a must-see sight if you are a tourist with a free day in Sofia!
Rila Monastery is a must-visit if you're a tourist with a free day in Sofia. It has lovely arcaded balconies, special frescoes painted by a famous Bulgarian artist from the Revival Period, a beautiful gilded iconostasis, and fantastic mountain views. When you visit the monastery, you'll have around two hours to explore on your own. You can go inside the main church, take pictures in the narthex's gallery, see the displays in the History Museum of the Monastery, taste yummy Bulgarian donuts called "mekitsi" with delicious local buffalo's milk, or even go for a short walk in the area. If you want to learn more, you can hire a local guide right there and share the cost with others.
The frescoes in Boyana Church are important because they changed mural painting and are seen as forerunners of the European Renaissance. There are over 240 individual and lifelike figures painted there, and they have a deep psychological aspect.
What’s included: English-speaking driver and guide throughout the tour. Transport in modern vehicle (car/minibus) with air condition, VAT and parking fees;
What’s not included: Food and beverages, personal expenses, admission fees (4 Euro for Rila Monastery Museum, 5 Euro for Boyana Church), gratuities.
Extras: Hotel pick-up costs additional 5/10 Euro per reservation (not per person, depends on the hotel location). Tour is offered as well with ONLINE, cloud-based audioguide in different languages (EN, ES, IT, FR, DE, RU). INTERNET required to download and use.
Remarks & Logistics: Advance booking required; The meeting point is behind Alexandar Nevski Cathedral at 9:00 am sharp; Expected return to Sofia around 16:30-17:00 pm.
Meeting point: the parking lot behind the majestic Alexander Nevski Cathedral in central Sofia. (ploshtad "Sveti Aleksandar Nevski" GPS coordinates (42.69565435890446, 23.333857429821162) - BEHIND St. Alexander Nevsky Cathedral and IN FRONT OF La Cattedrale restaurant , Sofia 1000, Sofia City Province, BG)
Drop off: Alexander Nevsky Cathedral
Duration 8 h / Physical difficulty level Easy
1. 09:00 departure from the starting point - Alexander Nevski Cathedrale square. Sofia. Be sure to arrive at least 15 minutes before departure.2. Arrival at Boyana Church - 09:30am. Boyana Church is a small temple at the outskirts of Sofia with frescoes dating back to three separate periods: 11th, 13th and 19th century. The most important and fascinating are the frescoes dating from 1259. They are Renaissance frescoes that predate the Italian Renaissance (triggered by the works of Giotto) and brake the strict Christian canon law to present pure human emotions, royal figures and folklore elements.
3. Arround 12pm arrival at the Rila Monastery. Rila Monastery is one of Bulgaria’s symbols and a popular tourist destination. The monastery is set deep in the heart of Rila Mountain, between the Rilska and Drushliavitza Rivers, at 1147 metres (3760 feet) above sea level. It is situated 120 kilometres south of Sofia.
4. Return to the starting point (Al. Nevski square, Sofia) at approximately 17:00pm
Rila Monastery Dress Code!
There is a dress code for entering the monastery. People wearing short skirts and trousers (above the knee) are not allowed to enter. Women should have their shoulders covered. Rila Monastery is in the mountains and usually it is colder/cooler than in Sofia.
