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

Visiting the Rila Monastery is essential when in Bulgaria. Meet us behind the Alexander Nevsky Cathedral in Sofia to begin your journey. You will leave the capital and travel towards the Rila mountain range, the highest mountains in the Balkans. During this tour, key geographical and natural features of Bulgaria will be discussed, essential for understanding the country's history.

Upon arriving at the Rila Monastery, you will have two hours to explore this World Heritage Site. The temple, a significant achievement of the Bulgarian Renaissance, features remarkable frescos. It is also recommended to visit its cloister and museum, as it promotes awareness of Slavic cultural identity after years of occupation.

After exploring the monastery, you will visit the cave of Saint John of Rila, located just 4 kilometers (2.48 miles) away. The walk through the forest includes 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.

Finally, you will return to Sofia, completing the tour after 8 hours of exploration and travel.

Itinerary Changes

In the event of 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.

Languages

When booking, you can choose to conduct the tour in English or with an audioguide in another language (German, Italian, Russian, French, or Spanish).