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, a small Orthodox sanctuary with frescoes from the 11th, 13th, and 19th centuries, showcasing Italian Renaissance paintings that exemplify medieval Eastern European art.

We continue our journey to the monastery of Rila, an iconic monument representing Slavic cultural identity following the Ottoman occupation. We'll tour the grounds of this impressive medieval site with colourful arches and domes.

Inside, we'll 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. You'll have around two hours of free time to explore the area on your own.

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 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 Orthodox Easter and on January 1.