Rila Monastery And Boyana Church Shuttle Tour - Sofia
- See more images
- See more images
- See more images
From
USD
Per Person
Book this tour with
Tour Information
Key Details
- Mobile Voucher Accepted
- Duration: 8 Hrs 30 Mins
-
Language:
English
-
Departure Time :
09:00 AM
-
Departure Details :
St. Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, pl. "Sveti Aleksandar Nevski", 1000 Sofia Center, Sofia, Bulgaria
-
Return Details :
Returns to original departure point
-
Cancellation Policy : This activity is non-refundable Tours booked using discount coupon codes will be non refundable.
Overview
Rila monastery shuttle will take you to Bulgaria's most important and visited historical site and even more - two UNESCO places, amongst with Boyana church. Enjoy the wonderful frescoes from 19th century, representing the achievement of the Bulgarian Revival painting school, feel the amazing spirit of the largest monastery in the country, surrounded by the indescribable beauty of Rila mountain. V travel team will represent to you all the secrets of this place. In the afternoon we will visit Boyana church, where murals from 13th century will show you the majesty of the Bulgarian medieval country.
Highlights
- Small-group tour by minibus
- Pickup from a centrally located meeting point
- Informative, friendly and professional guide
Know More about this tour
This is a typical itinerary for this product
Stop At: Rila Monastery
Rila Monastery was founded in the 10th century by St John of Rila, a hermit canonized by the Orthodox Church. His ascetic dwelling and tomb became a holy site and were transformed into a monastic complex which played an important role in the spiritual and social life of medieval Bulgaria. Destroyed by fire at the beginning of the 19th century, the complex was rebuilt between 1834 and 1862. A characteristic example of the Bulgarian Renaissance (18th19th centuries), the monument symbolizes the awareness of a Slavic cultural identity following centuries of occupation.
Duration: 2 hours
Stop At: Boyana church
Located on the outskirts of Sofia, Boyana church consists of three buildings. The eastern church was built in the 10th century, then enlarged at the beginning of the 13th century by Sebastocrator Kaloyan, who ordered a second two storey building to be erected next to it. The frescoes in this second church, painted in 1259, make it one of the most important collections of medieval paintings. The ensemble is completed by a third church, built at the beginning of the 19th century. This site is one of the most complete and perfectly preserved monuments of east European medieval art.
Duration: 1 day 6 hours
Inclusions
English-speaking driver/guide
Transport by air-conditioned minivan
Exclusions
Entrance fee for Boyana church
Food and drinks
Audio-guide (Eg, Es, It, Rus, Ger) payable onsite for 5 per person
Live Guide in Spanish, Italian, French - 60 per booking
Hotel pickup
Hotel drop-off
Entry/Admission - Boyana Church
Additional Info
Confirmation will be received at time of booking, unless booked within 1 day of travel. In this case confirmation will be received as soon as possible, subject to availability
Infant seats available
Not wheelchair accessible
Not recommended for travelers with back problems
Not recommended for pregnant travelers
No heart problems or other serious medical conditions
Most travelers can participate
A dress code is required to enter places of worship and selected museums. No shorts or sleeveless tops allowed. Knees and shoulders MUST be covered for both men and women. You may risk refused entry if you fail to comply with these dress requirements
This experience requires a minimum number of travelers. If its canceled because the minimum isnt met, youll be offered a different date/experience or a full refund
This tour/activity will have a maximum of 50 travelers
Face masks required for travelers in public areas
Transportation vehicles regularly sanitized
Traveler Reviews
See all reviews-
![]()
We really enjoyed the day. The monastery is really beautiful and we got to see some snow. Our guide, Todor, was really nice and made our experience totally worth it. Definitely the best Bulgarian guy that we've met.
-
![]()
Todo en general excelente, nuestro guía Gorgi no podría hacerlo mejor,buena explicación, buena educación,buena atención en todo momento,buena puntualidad ..
-
![]()
Very interesting visit but a little bit short at the monastery . We had almost no time to visit the museum.
-
![]()
ThanK You so much for a beautiful trip in RILA e BOYANA, thanks a lot to Gheorghie very helpful guide, see You next time we'll fly to Bulgaria!
-
![]()
It was a good tour. Very beatiful the monastery. excellent guide!! I recommend it as a tour to do!!!
-
![]()
When I found that tour operator V Travel offered a trip to the Rila Monastery and Boyana Church at only 30 euros a person, I was a bit sceptical. I still went ahead and booked, and I haven't regretted that decision for a minute. Our driver/guide, whose name I unfortunately have forgotten, had taken cultural studies in higher education. Both this English and his commentary were excellent. He knew what to say and what not to. I very much appreciated the links he established between the iconography in the two places. We stopped at a restaurant close to the monastery for coffee and returned there after our visit for lunch. Excellent service and good food. This was one of the best tours I've ever signed up for.
-
![]()
When I found that tour operator V Travel offered a trip to the Rila Monastery and Boyana Church at only 30 euros a person, I was a bit sceptical. I still went ahead and booked, and I haven't regretted that decision for a minute. Our driver/guide, whose name I unfortunately have forgotten, had taken cultural studies in higher education. Both this English and his commentary were excellent. He knew what to say and what not to. I very much appreciated the links he established between the iconography in the two places. We stopped at a restaurant close to the monastery for coffee and returned there after our visit for lunch. Excellent service and good food. This was one of the best tours I've ever signed up for.
-
![]()
Definitely recommend this trip with V Travel as their guides seem to really know the history behind the sites. Ivan was out guide and he had an answer for every question we had about sites we visited. It can be a long trip but our guide was friendly and made sure everyone was comfortable. Bonus points for taking us to a delicious lunch spot. Also, was the most affordable option when booking this tour.
-
![]()
Nous étions seuls mon conjoint et moi pour faire cette excursion avec notre guide Alex. Très sympathique, il nous a fourni une tonne de renseignements et d'anecdotes sur son pays, la ville de Sofia, le monastère et l'église de Boyana. Il nous a amenés diner dans un très bon restaurant. Le monastère vaut vraiment les 2 heures de routes. L'église de Boyana, compte tenu du temps limité de la visite (10 minutes) vaut moins la peine. Alex a vraiment été super tout au long de la journée avec nous. Je recommande cette excursion à tous ceux qui se rendent àSofia
-
![]()
Excellent communication right from the start (tour booking) until the very end. Very good tour guide/driver, a small group made the tour more familiar. Very interesting places included (both Rila Monastery and Boyana Church). Punctuality, good service, very reasonable price...what else can you ask for?
