Rila Monastery and St. Ivan Cave Day Trip from Sofia, Bulgaria

Discover one of Bulgaria’s UNESCO World Heritage gems on this day trip from Sofia. Admire rural Bulgaria en route to the Rila Monastery in the pine-carpeted Rila Mountains. Take a guided tour of this medieval treasure with its fresco-coated church. After time to explore independently, visit the Cave of St. Ivan - one of the most sacred places in Bulgaria. Please kindly note that on some dates the free time at the Rila Monastery may be shorter.

Below you can find detailed itinerary of the tour:
09:00 - Alexander Nevsky Cathedral
12:00 - Estimated time of arrival at Rila Monastery
12:00-13:00 - Guided visit to the Monastery
13:00-14:00 - Free time for lunch or further explorations of the area on your own
14:00-15:00 - Visit the St. Ivan Cave
15:00 - Depart from Rila Monastery back to Sofia
17:00 - Estimated time of arrival at Alexander Nevsky Cathedral

The tour is offered with ONLINE, cloud-based audioguide in different languages as well. INTERNET required to download and use.

Itinerary
This is a typical itinerary for this product

Stop At: St. Alexander Nevski Cathedral, Aleksander Nevski Square, Sofia Bulgaria

09:00 departure from the starting point. Be sure to arrive at least 15 minutes before departure.

Duration: 30 minutes

Stop At: Rila Monastery, Rila 2643 Bulgaria

Transportation from the Meeting point to the Rila Monastery. Estimated time of arrival - 12:00.

Duration: 2 hours

Stop At: Rila Monastery, Rila 2643 Bulgaria

Rila Monastery is one of Bulgaria’s symbols and a popular tourist destination. The monastery is set deep in the heart of Rila Mountain, between the Rilska and Drushliavitza Rivers, at 1147 metres (3760 feet) above sea level. It is situated 120 kilometres south of Sofia.

Duration: 2 hours

Stop At: The Cave of St. Ivan Rilski, 107 8, 2643 Rilski manastir, Bulgaria

Visit the Cave of Saint Ivan Rilski - one of the most sacred places in Bulgaria. Pass through the tunnel of St. Ivan Rilski. The belief is that only people with clean souls can pass through and that magical powers keep the sinners away. While you’re there, do not forget to drink some water from the holy spring. It is believed that this water never stops, nor freezes even when it is extremely cold.

Duration: 1 hour

Stop At: St. Alexander Nevski Cathedral, Aleksander Nevski Square, Sofia Bulgaria

Return to the starting point at approximately 17:00

Duration: 2 hours



Informacion Adicional
"Not wheelchair accessible"
"Most travelers can participate"
"Due to uneven surfaces, this tour is not recommended for those with walking disabilities"
"Comfortable walking shoes recommended"
"Minimum traveler age is 6 years old"
"Tour with ONLINE (cloud-based) Audio-guide in different languages. INTERNET required to download and use."
"This tour/activity will have a maximum of 30 travelers"
"Confirmation will be received at time of booking"



Start Time: 09:02 AM
Duration: 8 Hours
Start location: St Alexander Nevski Square, Old City Center, 1000 Sofia, Bulgaria

Cancellations and refunds: For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours in advance of the start time of the experience.

Included

• Driver/Tour guide in English
• Transport by air-conditioned bus
• Parking Fees
• ONLINE, cloud-based audioguide in different languages. INTERNET required to download and use.
• A planned visit to the Cave of St. Ivan Rilski

Not Included

• Gratuities
• Hotel pick-up and drop-off
• Admission fees (4 euro/8 BGN for the Rila Monastery Museum)
• Food and Drinks

Facilities