Rila Monastery + Cave of Saint John Day Trip

Discover one of the significant locations in Bulgaria on this tour of the Rila Monastery from Sofia. You will also visit the cave of Saint John of Rila.

Discover the History

Traveling to Bulgaria and not visiting the Rila Monastery would be a mistake. Meet behind the Alexander Nevsky Cathedral in Sofia to start your journey. You will leave the capital and travel to the Rila mountain range, the highest in the Balkans. During the tour, the geographical and natural features important to Bulgaria’s history will be revealed.

Upon arrival at the Rila Monastery, you will have two hours to explore this World Heritage Site, notable for its beautiful frescoes. It is advisable to visit the cloister and museum, which promote awareness of Slavic cultural identity following years of occupation.

After exploring the monastery, you will be taken to the cave of Saint John of Rila, located 4 kilometers (2.48 miles) away. The walk will take you through the forest, leading to a small church before arriving at the grotto, where Saint John of Rila lived for over seven years. You will learn about his story.

The tour will conclude with your return to Sofia after 8 hours of tours and traveling.

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.

Languages

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