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, where we'll catch a bus and head to Boyana, a neighbourhood located to the city's south. After a 25-minute journey in which you see the city's surroundings, we'll arrive in Boyana. Our first stop will be the Boyana Church, a small orthodox sanctuary with frescos from the 11th, 13th, and 19th centuries, featuring notable Italian Renaissance paintings.

We continue our journey to the monastery of Rila, an essential monument representing Slavic cultural identity after the Ottoman occupation. We will tour the grounds, noted for its colourful arches and domes. Inside, we'll see the golden iconostasis, one of 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.

We plan to return to Sofia at approximately 5:30 pm.

Transfer to Rila Monastery

If you prefer to explore on your own, you can book the option that includes only the transfer directly to Rila Monastery. Please note that this option is not guided and does not stop at the Boyana Church.

Important

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