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, 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. The church features Italian Renaissance paintings representing the medieval art of Eastern Europe.

Next, we’ll proceed to the monastery of Rila, an iconic monument in Sofia that reflects Slavic cultural identity following the Ottoman occupation. We will tour the grounds of this medieval monument and enter the interior to see the golden iconostasis carved into wood, one of the largest in the Balkans, and the tomb of the last monarch of Bulgaria, Boris III. Afterward, you will have around two hours of free time to explore the area independently.

Once we've explored, we'll 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 transfer directly to Rila Monastery. Note that this option is not guided and does not stop at Boyana Church.

Important

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