Rila Monastery + Cave of Saint John Day Trip

Discover one of the important locations in Bulgaria on this tour of the Rila Monastery from Sofia. Additionally, you'll visit the cave of Saint John of Rila.

Discover the History

Travelling to Bulgaria and not visiting the Rila Monastery would be a mistake. Meet at Vasil Levski Square for your transport to the Rila mountain range, the highest mountains in the Balkans. The tour highlights Bulgaria's key geographical and natural features essential to understanding the country's history.

Upon arrival at the Rila Monastery, you'll have two hours to explore this World Heritage Site. This temple is a significant achievement of the Bulgarian Renaissance, known for its beautiful frescos. It is recommended to visit the cloister and museum, as it promotes awareness of Slavic cultural identity following years of occupation.

After visiting the monastery, you'll be taken to the Cave of Saint John of Rila, located 4 kilometers (2.48 miles) from the monastery. The route includes a walk through the forest and a visit to a small church before reaching the grotto, where Saint John of Rila spent over seven years. You'll learn about his story during this visit.

The tour concludes with the return to Sofia after 8 hours of tours and travel.

Itinerary Changes

In adverse weather conditions, the walk to the Cave of Ivan Rilksi will be replaced with a visit to Boyana Church or a longer tour of Rila Monastery.

Activity Languages

During booking, you can choose to do the tour in English or with an audio guide in another included language (German, Italian, Russian, French, or Spanish).

Transport Only

You can also book transport only, which includes pickup and round-trip transfer, allowing you to enjoy the Rila Monastery and the Cave of Saint John of Rila at your own pace.