Boyana Church and Rila Monastery Day Tour

Visit two of the most important monuments in Sofia – Boyana Church and Rila Monastery. Essential for any trip to the Bulgarian capital!

Description

We'll meet at the car park in Alexander Nevski Square to catch a bus to Boyana, located to the south of the city.

After a 25-minute journey, we'll arrive in Boyana. Our first stop will be the Boyana Church, an orthodox sanctuary featuring frescos from the 11th, 13th, and 19th centuries, showcasing Italian Renaissance paintings and medieval art of Eastern Europe.

Next, we head to the Rila Monastery, a significant symbol of Slavic cultural identity following the Ottoman occupation. We'll tour the grounds of this medieval monument, noted for its colourful arches and domes. Inside, we'll see the golden iconostasis carved into wood, among the largest in the Balkans, and the tomb of the last Bulgarian monarch, Boris III. You will have around two hours of free time to explore the area on your own.

After our visit, we will return to Sofia at approximately 5:30 pm.

Transfer to Rila Monastery

If you prefer to explore independently, you can book the option that includes only the transfer directly to Rila Monastery, which is not guided and does not include a stop at Boyana Church.

Important

The Boyana Church is closed during Orthodox Easter and on January 1.