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, which includes a visit to the cave of Saint John of Rila.

Discover the History

Travelling to Bulgaria and not visiting the Rila Monastery would be a mistake. Meet behind the Alexander Nevsky Cathedral in Sofia, and you will be taken to your destination. You will leave the capital and make your way to the Rila mountain range, the highest mountains in the Balkans. The tour will reveal Bulgaria's important geographical and natural features, essential to understanding the country's history.

Upon arriving at the Rila Monastery, you will have two hours to explore this World Heritage Site. This temple, a significant achievement of the Bulgarian Renaissance, features stunning frescoes. It is recommended to visit the cloister and museum, which promote awareness of Slavic cultural identity.

After exploring the monastery, you will be taken to the cave of Saint John of Rila, located 4 kilometers (2.48 miles) away. The journey includes a walk through the forest to a small church before reaching the grotto, where Saint John of Rila spent more than seven years. You will learn about his story.

Finally, you will return to Sofia, concluding the tour after 8 hours.

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 the Rila Monastery.

Languages

When booking, you can choose to do the tour in English or with an audioguide in German, Italian, Russian, French, or Spanish.