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Rila Monastery and Boyana Church Shuttle Day Tour

Sofia, Bulgaria
8 hours
(725)
Art & Culture
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Walking Tours
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Bus & Driving Tours
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Day Trips
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History
Date
Wednesday
April 23, 2025
Change date
Time
8:50 am
8:55 am
8:57 am
8:58 am
9:00 am
Options
Tour with Audio Guide
Tour with Audio Guide: Enjoy comfortable transportation to Rila Monastery and Boyana Church and explore the 2 sights on your own with an audio-guide
Self-guided Tour
Self-guided Tour : With this option you can explore the 2 UNESCO sites on your own. It is only with a driver.
Smart Audio Guide
Smart Audio Guide: You will need to have an active internet connection during the tour, in order to use it. It is English, Spanish, Italian etc.
Guided Tour in Spanish
Guided Tour in Spanish: With this option you have a guided tour in Spanish in Rila Monastery and Boyana Church.
Guided Tour in English
Guided Tour in English: With this option you have a guided tour in English in Rila Monastery and Boyana Church.
Guided Tour in Italian
Guided Tour in Italian: With this option you have a live guide in Italian.
Rila Monastery Only - ENGLISH
Rila Monastery Only : This options includes a visit to the Rila monastery ONLY and WITHOUT Boyana church.
RILA MONASTERY-No Boyana-trans
Monastery Express Transport: With this this option you get The All Day visit to Rila monastery ONLY, without the Boyana church - opt for local museums
RILA MONASTERY ONLY - SPANISH
Tour to Rila Monastery SPANISH: Full day tour to Rila monastery, NO VISIT of the Boyana Church. Optional visit of monastery museums, cave of St. Ivan Rilski
RILA MONASTERY ONLY - ITALIAN
Tour to Rila Monastery ITALIAN: Guided tour in Italian, Full day tour to Rila monastery, NO VISIT of the Boyana Church.
Infant
Ages: 0-3 years old
0
Adult
Ages: 13-64 years old
2
Checking availability

What You Will Do

Enjoy a day in the mountains by exploring 2 UNESCO sites - the Rila Monastery and the Boyana church. The 8-hour day tour will be with a group and a professional guide in English. In the monastery, you will have a 40-minute guided tour and 2,5 hours free time to make photos, check the museums and the shops, and have lunch. The visit of the Boyana church, although short, is definitely worth since you will see its amazing 800-years old frescoes and learn their history from your guide! *Women should have their knees and shoulders covered in the monastery! *If your tour is on a weekend day during the summer, the restaurants could be crowded so you can bring your own food from Sofia in order to have more free time and the monastery. *The Boyana church is closed on the 1st of January, on the Sunday of the Orthodox Easter, on the 24th of December, 25th of December - and on such days the tour is done only to the Rila Monastery.

What's Included?

  • A trip to to Boyana Chuch and Rila Monastery
  • Transportation by a comfortable bus/ minibus
  • Parking fees
  • English speaking guide OR driver, depending on the booked option

What's Not Included?

  • Boyana church entrance ticket - approx. 6 euro per person (12 lev)
  • Rila Monastery museum + monk room entrance ticket - approx. 4 euro per person (8 lev)
  • Food and drinks
  • Gratuities
  • Hotel pick up and drop off

Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Itinerary

Meeting Point

The meeting point for the tour is BEHIND Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, near to cafe La Cathedrale. Ask for travel agency City Tour. Please be there at 8:45am. The van/bus departs at 9am and will not wait for you if you are late.

1

St. Alexander Nevski Cathedral

30 minutes

The meeting point for the tour is Behild Alexander Nevsky Cathedral at 8:45. The departure is at 9am. Please be on time!

Show 3 more stops

Additional Information

This activity is operated by City Tour Ltd.
  • Public transportation options are available nearby
  • Suitable for all physical fitness levels
  • Women should have their knees and shoulders covered in the Monastery.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • Boyana Church offers entrance FREE of charge every last Monday of each month. On such days, you will be taken to the Boyana Church, however please keep in mind that your entrance WON'T be guaranteed, especially if the Church is in high demand by other people on spot.
  • 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.

Guide Options

  • Audio Guide - German
  • Audio Guide - Russian
  • Guide - English
  • Audio Guide - Italian
  • Guide - Italian
  • Audio Guide - French
  • Audio Guide - Spanish
  • Guide - Spanish

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