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Rila Monastery and St. Ivan Cave Tour from Sofia: Enjoy Bulgaria's UNESCO Heritage

3.3

3 Ratings

Sofia

Embark on a captivating journey through Bulgaria's UNESCO World Heritage sites with a tour of Rila Monastery and St. Ivan Cave from Sofia. Immerse yourself in the rich history and stunning architecture of the monastery, and discover the spiritual significance of the Cave of Saint Ivan Rilski. Don't miss this opportunity to explore Bulgaria's cultural treasures.

Duration: 8 hours

Cancellation: 1 day learn more

Highlights

St. Alexander Nevski Cathedral - 09:00 departure from the starting point. Be sure to arrive at least 15 minutes before departure.

What's Included

Tour guide services in English
Access to online, multilingual audioguide (Internet required)
Travel comfortably in an air-conditioned bus
Inclusive of all parking fees
Organized visit to the Cave of St. Ivan Rilski

What's Not Included

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

Additional Information

Embark on a day-long excursion from Sofia to one of Bulgaria’s UNESCO World Heritage treasures. Travel by minibus, taking in the rustic scenes of Bulgaria on your way to the Rila Monastery nestled in the pine-laden Rila Mountains. Revel in a guided tour of the ancient marvel, complete with its fresco-adorned church, and pay a visit to its intriguing museum. Afterward, take advantage of some free time for individual exploration before heading to the Cave of Saint Ivan Rilski, one of Bulgaria’s holiest sites.

Find the in-depth tour schedule below:
09:00 - Tour kick-off from Alexander Nevski Cathedral
12:00 - Expected arrival at Rila Monastery
12:00 - 13:00 - Guided tour of the Monastery
13:00 - 14:00 - Spare time for lunch or self-led exploration of the local area
14:00 - 15:00 - Exploration of the St. Ivan Cave
15:00 - Departure from Rila Monastery back to Sofia
17:00 - Projected arrival time at Alexander Nevsky Cathedral

The tour also includes an ONLINE, cloud-based audioguide available in multiple languages. An INTERNET connection is necessary for the download and usage.

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.

Location

St Alexander Nevski Square

IMPORTANT: The meeting point is BEHIND Alexander Nevski Cathedral (opposite La Cattedrale restaurant). Please, be there 15 min. in advance! | This tour is not suitable for children under the age of 5.

Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Customer Ratings

3.3

(3 Ratings)

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1 star

Simon_e

May 16, 2024

Great value for money I must - We had a great day, comfy transport extremely knowledgeable guide highly recommended The guide even provided a quiz on the bus on the way back to pass the time.

Review provided by Viator

Ghassan_c

Jul 29, 2023

Beautiful place - Nice place to visit, the tour guide was good but the speakers wasn’t working well couldn’t hear anything! The van need to be cleaned have bad smell, and tourists must consider they will be in closed van , and it’s hot weather they need to shower and use good hygiene. The air conditioner was on but not cooling the van at all. But the Rila very much worth to see. Make sure to wear good walking shoes if you ll do the hike.

Review provided by Viator

Robertopx4261lt

Mar 31, 2024

I strongly advise against it - I booked the excursion tour of the Rila monastery and the Ivan Rilski caves tour which was to be done in the same day in Italian. Starts at 09:00 and ends at 17:00 With a visit to the monastery, a two-hour stop with the possibility of a lunch break and then a visit to the cave, all in Italian. I was diverted along with another tour, where there were other things that didn't interest me. What I was interested in and what I booked I had to experience in a very fast and badly disorganized way. Also returning early and therefore not respecting the times communicated. I strongly advise against this agency!!!!!

Review provided by Tripadvisor

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up to 15 guests

1 Adult