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Rila Monastery and St. Ivan Cave Full Day Tour from Sofia

булевард „Христофор Колумб“ 1, 1540 Sofia, Bulgaria

Rila Monastery is definitely a must-see sight if you are a tourist with a free day in Sofia.

Cancellation policy

Review the supplier policy below before booking.

Duration 8 hours

Duration supplied by the experience provider.

Languages

English, German, Italian, Russian, French, Spanish

Group size

1–50 travelers

Full description

Discover one of Bulgaria’s UNESCO World Heritage gems on this day trip from Sofia. Traveling by minibus, admire rural Bulgaria on route to the Rila Monastery in the pine-carpeted Rila Mountains. Take a guided tour of the medieval treasure with its fresco-coated church, and visit its fascinating museum. Then, after time to explore independently, visit the cave of Saint Ivan Rilski, 3-4 km from the Monastery - one of the most sacred places in Bulgaria. Please kindly note that on some dates the free time for exploration of the Rila Monastery may be shorter or vary from the described schedule below. 


Group Size & Transport:  This is a popular, budget-friendly day tour operating with large 45 to 65-seater coaches. This is not a small-group or minibus tour. You will share the transport with other international travelers.

Itinerary

Departure from Sofia, Vasil Levski Monument (Embassy of Slovakia). 09:00 departure from the starting point - Vasil Levski Monument (Embassy of Slovakia). Sofia. Be sure to arrive at least 15 minutes before departure.

Rila Monastery Tour. 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.

St. Ivan Rilski Cave Visit. Arrival at Cave of St. Ivan Rislki - 14:00

Arrival at Sofia, Vasil Levski Monument (Embassy of Slovakia). Return to the starting point (Vasil Levski Monument (Embassy of Slovakia)) at approximately 17:00pm

What’s included

Included

  • Guide
  • Driver/Tour guide 
  • Transport by air-conditioned minibus 
  • Parking Fees
  • ONLINE, cloud-based audioguide in different languages. INTERNET required to download and use
  • A planned visit to the Cave of St. Ivan Rilski

Not included

  • Gratuities
  • Admission fees
  • Food and drinks

Important information

Meeting point

булевард „Христофор Колумб“ 1, 1540 Sofia, Bulgaria

Don’t forget

Due to uneven surfaces, this tour is not recommended for those with walking disabilities Not wheelchair accessible or stroller friendly Comfortable walking shoes recommended Not suitable for pets No public transportation nearby Infants must not sit on laps Infant seats unavailable Tour is offered as well with ONLINE (cloud-based) Audio-guide in different languages. INTERNET required to download and use. Comfortable shoes. And please, be aware of the monastery's strict dress code: no short pants, no short skirts, no flip-flops/sandals, and no sleeveless shoulders.

Cancellation policy

Cancellation terms are set by the operator — please check with them before booking.

Your host

VE

Verified Local Host

With GetExperience since 2026

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