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Rila Monastery and Boyana Church Shuttle Day Tour

4.8 (500)
Sofia, BG
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Rila Monastery and Boyana Church Shuttle Day Tour

4.8 (500)
Sofia, BG
Share
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Embark on a thrilling journey through the picturesque mountains of Bulgaria with the Rila Monastery and Boyana Church Shuttle Day Tour. This 8-hour adventure takes you to two UNESCO World Heritage sites, where you'll be captivated by their rich history and breathtaking beauty. With a professional guide by your side, you'll explore the stunning Rila Monastery, with its impressive architecture and fascinating museums. After a guided tour, you'll have ample free time to snap photos, browse the shops, and enjoy a delicious lunch. Next, you'll visit the Boyana Church, famous for its ancient frescoes that date back 800 years. Your guide will share the stories behind these incredible artworks, leaving you in awe. Don't miss this incredible opportunity to experience the wonders of Bulgaria's cultural treasures.

About this experience

  • Free Cancellation For a full refund cancel at least before the start of your booking
  • Admission Not Included
  • 8 hours
  • Suitable for 1-15 Participants
  • Private Tour, Small Group Tour
  • & Audio GuidedGuided Experience
  • Explore 2 UNESCO sites
  • Guided tour of Rila Monastery
  • See 800-year old frescoes at Boyana Church
  • Enjoy 2.5 hours of free time at Rila Monastery
  • Learn the history of Boyana Church
  • A trip to to Boyana Chuch and Rila Monastery
  • Transportation by a comfortable minibus
  • Parking fees
  • English speaking guide OR driver, depending on the booked option
  • Gratuities
  • Boyana church entrance ticket - approx. 5 euro per person (10 lev)
  • Rila Monastery museum + monk room entrance ticket - approx. 4 euro per person (8 lev)
  • Food and drinks
  • Hotel pick up and drop off

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More about this experience

Introduction

Explore the beautiful landscapes and history of Bulgaria with the Rila Monastery and Boyana Church Shuttle Day Tour. This 8-hour group tour takes you to two UNESCO World Heritage sites, offering a unique blend of cultural and natural wonders.

What to expect?

During this tour, you can expect to immerse yourself in the rich history and breathtaking beauty of Bulgaria. The Rila Monastery, the largest monastery in Bulgaria, dates back to the 10th century and showcases impressive architecture and stunning frescoes. A 40-minute guided tour will give you insights into the monastery's history, and then you'll have 2.5 hours of free time to explore the museum, shop for souvenirs, and enjoy a delicious lunch. The next stop is the Boyana Church, a historical gem with unique and well-preserved frescoes from the 11th to 14th centuries. Although the inside visit is limited to 10 minutes per group due to its small size, you'll have ample time to stroll through the churchyard, capture stunning photos, and learn fascinating historical facts from your knowledgeable guide.

Who is this for?

This tour is perfect for history enthusiasts, culture lovers, and nature admirers alike. Whether you're a solo traveler, a group of friends, or a family, this experience offers something for everyone. The tour provides a comprehensive exploration of Bulgaria's heritage and scenic landscapes, making it suitable for both first-time visitors and those looking to delve deeper into the country's cultural roots.

Why book this?

Embark on this enchanting journey to witness the wonders of the Rila Monastery and Boyana Church. Immerse yourself in centuries-old history, marvel at awe-inspiring frescoes, and experience Bulgaria's spiritual and architectural richness. The professional English-speaking guide will ensure you gain a deep understanding of the sites, bringing their stories to life. With convenient transportation and a well-structured itinerary, this tour takes the hassle out of organizing your own visit, allowing you to fully immerse yourself in the atmosphere of these two magnificent UNESCO sites.

Good to know

Please note that women should have their knees and shoulders covered when visiting the Rila Monastery. If you visit on a weekend during the summer, the restaurants can be crowded, so bringing your own food from Sofia allows for more free time at the monastery. Additionally, keep in mind that the Boyana Church is closed on specific dates, such as the 1st of January and the Sunday of Orthodox Easter, so plan accordingly.

Reviews

Visitors who have embarked on this tour have praised the knowledgeable guides who provide intriguing insights into the history and significance of the Rila Monastery and Boyana Church. They appreciated the ample free time to explore the sites at their own pace, capturing memorable photos and even enjoying a leisurely lunch. Travelers consistently report high levels of satisfaction with this tour, with many considering it a highlight of their Bulgaria visit. Join fellow travelers and discover the fascinating cultural heritage of Bulgaria on the Rila Monastery and Boyana Church Shuttle Day Tour.

How long before the event do I need to book?

  • You can book at any time before the event

Vouchers accepted in the following formats

  • Mobile

Is an adult required for the booking?

  • At least one adult or senior required per booking

Your Itinerary

St. Alexander Nevski Cathedral

The meeting point for the tour is Behild Alexander Nevsky Cathedral at 8:45. The departure is at 9am. Please be on time!

Rila Monastery

The Rila Monastery is the biggest monastery in Bulgaria. It was established back in the 10th century. The current buildings are from the mid 19th century, with a defensive tower that survived from the 14th century. In the monastery complex you will admire the impressive architecture and frescoes. You will have 40-mintue guided tour and 2.5 hours free time to check the museum, the shops, take photos and have lunch break.

Boyana Church

Your other stop is at the great UNESCO historical place – Boyana church, dating back to the 11th century, which has unique and very well preserved frescoes and pictures from the period of 11 to 14 century. You will have the chance to explore the church and learn its amazing history from your guide. Please have in mind that the inside visit of the church is limit to 10 minites per group because of its small size. Additionally, you will also spend some time in the yard of the church where you can take photos and also learn some of the interesting historical facts.

Admission Not Included

St. Alexander Nevski Cathedral

At the end of the tour, the van/bus returns to the same starting point, Behind Alexander Nevsky Cathedral.

Reviews

(500)

4.8 (500)

Bill_W

This was easy to book, and the host was excellent, very knowledgeable and spoke very good English. We had plenty of time after the informative details of what we were seeing to explore around on our own. The visit was exactly as described. Good value for money particularly as this is a difficult place to visit if you don't hire a car.

johannarU9659OY

The tour was really well organised and full of interesting information. Antonio knows so much about the history of both places and is capable of sharing his knowledge lively. I also enjoyed seeing Bulgaria's nature during the trip. Definitely recommendable!

Curious276026

Interesting tour with the guide Antonio, very good to speak english and explain everything. The monastery makes you feel in peace and in a magical place...anyway 3 hours is too much to stay there if the weather is not good, as 3 days ago, because it was too cold and when you finish the visit for all of us it was too freezing to walk around or eat there outside. In Boyana church we stayed 30 minutes, so it is ok. Thank you

K6159BGcarlag

Really great Tour! Perfect time to see all the attractions! The guides in spanish and english were super friendly and clear

bettinabU5045GG

Great shuttle company for Rila monastery. Would absolutely recommend to visit that place. Antonio was an excellent guide.

Hector_M

What a great tour and these locations are truly amazing! Vessy the guide was very knowledgeable and helpful in understanding the history of the sites visited.

hector m

It was amazing and you couldn’t ask for better weather . The guides Antonio and Vessy were both very knowledgeable and helpful. I will recommend this tour and these locations to all my friends.

Yan

Very friendly tour guide and nice trip. Everything is scheduled. My friends and a had a great time in Sofia and Rila.

U9557NXedwardt

Vessy was a very knowledgeable and friendly tour guide. Everything was very smooth sailing and the tour was well planned. Highly recommend

Z981IGmichellet

Very nice tour to the Rila monastery, which was amazing to see. We had a lot of free time to see the monastery, So we could see everything without having to hurry. Antonio, our tour guide, was very friendly and helpful. He knew a lot of interesting facts about Sofia, the monastery and Boyana church. Would absolutely recommend!
Collected by Evendo, Tripadvisor & Viator
2024-04-24 14:42