Rila Monastery and St. Ivan Cave History & Nature Trip from Sofia
Overview
This day tour perfectly combines history, culture, and nature experiences. Enjoy a comfortable ride through the beautiful green countryside as you head toward the majestic Rila Mountains. Discover Bulgaria’s most famous UNESCO site, the Rila Monastery, with a guided or audio-guided tour. Afterward, take a relaxing walk through the woods to reach the Cave of Saint Ivan. You will also have free time to explore the monastery on your own before we drive back to Sofia.
What's Included
- Visit to Rila Monastery
- Visit to St. Ivan Cave, OR The Bells Monument (depending entirely on the option you have booked)
- Parking Fees
- Round-trip transport by air-conditioned minibus or coach
- Professional Tour Guide OR Cloud Audio Guide App (depending entirely on the option you have booked)
- Gratuities
- Food and Drinks
- Rila Monastery Museum (Optional; entrance to the main courtyard/church is free)
- Hotel pickup and drop-off
Meeting Location
Sofia Center
bul. "Yanko Sakazov" 9, 1527 Sofia, Bulgaria
Detailed check-in instructions, including the exact address, are provided with your booking confirmation.
This activity ends back at the meeting point.
What To Expect
Book Online
Safe & secure Easy breezy Hassle‑free
bul. "Yanko Sakazov" 9
30 minutes Admission Ticket Free
Rila Monastery
2 hours Admission Ticket Free
Rila Monastery
2 hours Admission Ticket Free
The Cave of Saint John of Rila
1 hour Admission Ticket Free
bul. "Yanko Sakazov" 9
3 hours Admission Ticket Free
Additional Info
- Confirmation is instant and will be received at time of booking
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Due to uneven surfaces, this tour is not recommended for those with walking disabilities
- Comfortable walking shoes recommended
- Minimum traveler age is 6 years old
- Tour with ONLINE (cloud-based) Audio-guide in different languages. INTERNET required to download and use.
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 30 travelers
Frequently Asked Questions (7)
Q: What is the cancellation policy for the Rila Monastery and St. Ivan Cave History & Nature Trip from Sofia?
Cancellation Policy
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Activity code: C-6992P62
Traveler Photos
Reviews
Average 4.80 out of 5 stars based on 44 traveler reviews collected by Cool Shore Excursions and partner sites such as Cool Destinations and TripAdvisor
Additional Info
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Frequently Asked Questions (7)
The answers provided below were previously given in response to questions from Cool Shore Excursions customers.
Filter by:
- For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the tour start time.
- If you cancel less than 24 hours before the tour start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
- Any changes made less than 24 hours before the tour start time will not be accepted.
- Cut-off times are based on the tour local time (EET).
- Visit to Rila Monastery.
- Visit to St. Ivan Cave, OR The Bells Monument (depending entirely on the option you have booked).
- Parking Fees.
- Round-trip transport by air-conditioned minibus or coach.
- Professional Tour Guide OR Cloud Audio Guide App (depending entirely on the option you have booked).
- Gratuities.
- Food and Drinks.
- Rila Monastery Museum (Optional; entrance to the main courtyard/church is free).
- Hotel pickup and drop-off.
The minimum age to participate is 6. This tour requires at least one adult to accompany children..
Apr 2025If a date or time is not listed on the calendar, it’s sold out or unavailable for another reason. Support cannot assist further if a date or time is not on the calendar.
If you find a date and time that works for you, book it NOW because things always sell out at this time of year.
Apr 2025Accessibility information for the Rila Monastery and St. Ivan Cave History & Nature Trip from Sofia is as follows:
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Detailed check-in instructions – including meeting point address, Google map, and parking information – for Rila Monastery and St. Ivan Cave History & Nature Trip from Sofia will be included in your confirmation email from Cool Shore Excursions. Please be sure to double and triple check your email address is correct at checkout so this important email makes its way to you!
Mar 2024Once your refund is processed, it usually shows on your card statement within 5–10 business days. The exact timing depends on your bank or card issuer.
Want it sooner? When you cancel, choose Receive a refund to my wallet instead. The credit is in your Wallet straight away and is applied automatically at checkout on your next booking when you’re signed in with the same email. You can see your balance any time in My Wallet.
If you paid part of your booking with Wallet credit, that part always goes back to your Wallet. Trip protection isn’t refundable.
Oct 2026What's Included
- Visit to Rila Monastery
- Visit to St. Ivan Cave, OR The Bells Monument (depending entirely on the option you have booked)
- Parking Fees
- Round-trip transport by air-conditioned minibus or coach
- Professional Tour Guide OR Cloud Audio Guide App (depending entirely on the option you have booked)
- Gratuities
- Food and Drinks
- Rila Monastery Museum (Optional; entrance to the main courtyard/church is free)
- Hotel pickup and drop-off
Additional Info
- Confirmation is instant and will be received at time of booking
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Due to uneven surfaces, this tour is not recommended for those with walking disabilities
- Comfortable walking shoes recommended
- Minimum traveler age is 6 years old
- Tour with ONLINE (cloud-based) Audio-guide in different languages. INTERNET required to download and use.
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 30 travelers
