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!

Tour Details

We'll meet at Vasil Levski Square, in front of the embassy of Slovakia, where we'll catch a bus and head to Boyana, a neighbourhood located to the city's south.

After a 25-minute journey, we'll arrive in Boyana. Our first stop will be the Boyana Church, featuring frescoes from the 11th, 13th, and 19th centuries. It showcases remarkable Italian Renaissance paintings reflecting medieval Eastern European art.

Next, we continue to the monastery of Rila, an iconic monument representing Slavic cultural identity following the Ottoman occupation. During the tour, you will see the monastery's colorful arches and domes, and inside, the golden iconostasis carved into wood, one of the largest in the Balkans, and the tomb of Bulgaria's last monarch, Boris III. You'll have around two hours of free time to explore the area independently.

We will 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. This option is not guided and does not include a stop at the Boyana Church.

Important Info

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