From Sofia Rila Monastery with Boyana Church or St. Ivan’s Cave
Overview
Maximize your time in Bulgaria by combining two UNESCO World Heritage Sites into one efficiently coordinated day trip from Sofia. Journey into the peaceful Rila Mountains to explore the sprawling Rila Monastery complex at your own pace, paired with a stop at the historic medieval Boyana Church.
⚠️ BOYANA ENTRY NOTICE: Inside entry is heavily regulated by UNESCO to protect the 13th-century frescoes. Indoor access is ONLY guaranteed if you select an option including Boyana at checkout. Standard transport tiers include an exterior garden visit only.
- 2 UNESCO Icons in 1 Day: An efficiently paced route from central Sofia.
- Secure your Boyana entry slot by upgrading your tier.
- Uncover the secrets of 800-year-old art with your guide.
- Enjoy traditional restaurants nearby or bring your own lunch.
Note: Local entry fees apply based on your selected booking option
What's Included
- Visit to Boyana Church, St. Ivan Cave, OR The Bells Monument (depending on the option you booked)
- Parking Fees
- Round-trip transport by air-conditioned minibus or coach
- Professional Tour Guide OR Cloud Audio Guide App (depending on the selected option you have booked)
- Gratuities
- Hotel pickup and drop-off
- Rila Monastery Museum (Optional; entrance to the main courtyard/church is free)
- Boyana Church
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
Vasil Levski Monument
15 minutes Admission Ticket Free
Boyana Church
45 minutes Admission Ticket Free
Rila Monastery
2 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
- Exceptions to the standard program:
- Boyana church will NOT be visited on the following days: 1st of January (the tour starts at 11 AM on that day only); The day of Orthodox Easter; 24th and 25th December.
- Minimum traveler age is 6 years old
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 40 travelers
Frequently Asked Questions (7)
Q: What is the cancellation policy for the From Sofia Rila Monastery with Boyana Church or St. Ivan’s Cave?
Cancellation Policy
Still have questions?
We're here to help.
Activity code: C-6992RILA
Traveler Photos
Reviews
Average 4.69 out of 5 stars based on 777 traveler reviews collected by Cool Shore Excursions and partner sites such as Cool Destinations and TripAdvisor
Additional Info
Similar Tours & Activities
Still searching the best place to ride enduro? One of the best hidden gems on the Balkan peninsula – Bulgaria, is having it all. Undiscovered...
$1,860
Hassle-free transfer from the Sofia airport to your hotel. Book your transfer in advance and enjoy an impeccable service. No taxis, no stress, no unexpected...
$11
During the 3 hours trip, you will see really amazing places and landmarks, starting from our meeting point St. Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, then going by...
$146
Departure point: Your hotel in Sofia Departure time: 09:00 am Duration: 10hours (approx.) Return details: Return to the initial departure point or wherever you would want to go...
$57
Still searching the best place to ride enduro? One of the best hidden gems on the Balkan peninsula – Bulgaria, is having it all. Undiscovered...
$1,860
Hassle-free transfer from the Sofia airport to your hotel. Book your transfer in advance and enjoy an impeccable service. No taxis, no stress, no unexpected...
$11
During the 3 hours trip, you will see really amazing places and landmarks, starting from our meeting point St. Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, then going by...
$146
Departure point: Your hotel in Sofia Departure time: 09:00 am Duration: 10hours (approx.) Return details: Return to the initial departure point or wherever you would want to go...
$57
Travelers Who Bought This Tour Also Bought
Travel hassle-free from Sofia to Plovdiv and back in the comfort of a modern and air-conditioned minibus. Plovdiv is one of the oldest towns in...
$22
Plovdiv and Koprivshtitsa Full-Day Trip
Enjoy a guided combo tour to two of the most fascinating towns in Bulgaria. These are Plovdiv - the European Capital of Culture 2019 and...
$22
Guided Walking Tour of Sofia
Meet your group near the Ivan Vazov National Theatre and discover over 20 landmarks on a walk through central Sofia. See the Roman ruins of...
$15
Want to explore Sofia's main landmarks in just 2 hours? Then this walking tour is for you! You will get to see 20 of the...
$18
Travel hassle-free from Sofia to Plovdiv and back in the comfort of a modern and air-conditioned minibus. Plovdiv is one of the oldest towns in...
$22
Enjoy a guided combo tour to two of the most fascinating towns in Bulgaria. These are Plovdiv - the European Capital of Culture 2019 and...
$22
Meet your group near the Ivan Vazov National Theatre and discover over 20 landmarks on a walk through central Sofia. See the Roman ruins of...
$15
Want to explore Sofia's main landmarks in just 2 hours? Then this walking tour is for you! You will get to see 20 of the...
$18
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 Boyana Church, St. Ivan Cave, OR The Bells Monument (depending on the option you booked).
- Parking Fees.
- Round-trip transport by air-conditioned minibus or coach.
- Professional Tour Guide OR Cloud Audio Guide App (depending on the selected option you have booked).
- Gratuities.
- Hotel pickup and drop-off.
- Rila Monastery Museum (Optional; entrance to the main courtyard/church is free).
- Boyana Church.
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 From Sofia Rila Monastery with Boyana Church or St. Ivan’s Cave is as follows:
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Detailed check-in instructions – including meeting point address, Google map, and parking information – for From Sofia Rila Monastery with Boyana Church or St. Ivan’s Cave 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 Boyana Church, St. Ivan Cave, OR The Bells Monument (depending on the option you booked)
- Parking Fees
- Round-trip transport by air-conditioned minibus or coach
- Professional Tour Guide OR Cloud Audio Guide App (depending on the selected option you have booked)
- Gratuities
- Hotel pickup and drop-off
- Rila Monastery Museum (Optional; entrance to the main courtyard/church is free)
- Boyana Church
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
- Exceptions to the standard program:
- Boyana church will NOT be visited on the following days: 1st of January (the tour starts at 11 AM on that day only); The day of Orthodox Easter; 24th and 25th December.
- Minimum traveler age is 6 years old
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 40 travelers
