TEMPLES & SHRINES · BULGARIA TEMPLE TOURS
This is the shortlist you would send a friend: 14 temple tours worth the money, each with its price, its start time and the one thing to know before the gate.
Travel from Sofia to Boyana Church and Rila Monastery in an air-conditioned coach with an English, Spanish, or Italian guide. Guides such as Lubo, Kamen, Hristo, and Martin add lively historical context. Allow extra cash for museum tickets, food, and the famous Bulgarian mekitsi.
“Everything is nice! Our guide and driver are professional and friendly, I have a good time :)”
Travel from Sofia to Rila Monastery and Boyana Church with guides such as Maria, Iva, Karina, and Tuni. Expect a scenic coach ride, three hours at Rila, a brief but memorable fresco visit at Boyana, and optional museum and church entry fees.
“Thanks for such a nice experience. Unforgettable moments at the Rila monastery- a perfect place to connect to the Divine!”
This 13-hour self-guided day trip pairs six hours at the Seven Rila Lakes with 75 minutes at Rila Monastery. Philip gives clear route advice and stays in touch by WhatsApp, while a comfortable shuttle handles the long mountain drives. Bring cash, warm layers, lunch, and sturdy shoes.
“Wonderful landscape with a sympathic guide and a careful driver. Recommend it for sure”
Travel from Sofia to Bulgaria’s grandest monastery and the tiny UNESCO-listed Boyana Church in one eight-hour day. Expect English guidance, mountain scenery, free time for lunch and museums, and a brief church visit limited to 10 minutes per group. Guides may include Maria, Ina, Vasil, or Tuni.
“Maria was the perfect guide. There wasn’t a question she couldn’t answer. The entire experience was terrific!”
Travel from central Sofia to Boyana Church and Rila Monastery with an English-speaking guide such as Lubo or Liubomir. Expect medieval frescoes, mountain scenery, free time to explore, and optional extras including the monastery museum and St. Ivan’s Cave.
“While the basic trip covers the monastery itself, you have the option to enhance your experience with a couple of side trips. For BGN 12, you can visit the nearby Boyana Church, a 30-minute drive from the starting point. This 13th-century gem is famous for its intricate medieval frescoes, considered a precursor to European Renaissance art. Also, you can explore St. Ivan’s Cave, a short hike away from the monastery. The hike takes about 20 minutes along an unpaved trail, offering a serene connection to nature. The guide charges BGN 15 for this add-on experience, and it’s well worth it for the tranquil beauty and spiritual significance of the cave.…”
Join Traventuria from Sofia for a full day in the Rila Mountains. You’ll ride an open-air chairlift, hike among seven glacial lakes, and visit Rila Monastery when that option operates. Choose a live guide with names such as Magi, Radi, or Ivaylo, or use the self-guided format.
“The hike was great, the Rila lakes & monastery are beautiful! Radi was a great guide and he planned the time out very well. The hike was done at a pace that was very easy to follow and given that is done at a comfortable pace, you are only able to see 5 lakes. That being said, it is also an option for you to go faster, separately from the group to see all 7 lakes, although the time for that is definitely tight. Would definitely recommend proper hiking shoes for this hike. It is fairly rocky in some places. Hiking poles would also make it much easier. It is…”
Travel from Sofia to Rila Monastery in an air-conditioned vehicle with a live English, Spanish, or Italian-speaking guide, or use the online audio guide. Add the 30-minute forest walk to St. Ivan Rilski’s Cave, then enjoy free time for frescoes, lunch, the museum, and mountain views.
“I enjoyed the tour a lot. Our guide Hristo was amazing. Many thanks him for all information he provided, for perfect atmosphere he created.”
Meet near Sofia’s Vasil Levski Monument for a full-day outing to Rila Monastery and Boyana Church. Expect two long drives, mountain scenery, frescoes, free time, and an optional trout lunch. English guidance is provided, with audio guides in five additional languages.
“Monastery is gorgeous. The Driver/Guide (Georgi or George) was very knowledgeable and happy to answer my numerous questions. Great guy. You don't need the audioguide! Thanks”
Travel from Sofia to Rila Monastery with an English-speaking guide and multilingual audio guide, then spend about two hours at Aqua Club Kotvata in Sapareva Banya. Expect mountain views, free time for mekitsi and lunch, outdoor thermal pools, saunas, and extra costs for spa entry, towels, and lockers.
“Good day trip from Sofia. We struggled a bit finding the location (didn’t realise a giant bus was the meeting point). This was one downside: while the description said 8-18 people, we were in a group of 50, which was not what we thought we’d signed up for. Anyhow, the tour guide was super! Very kind and informative. It was good to have the audio guide on our phones. Rila monastery is a must see. Cafes there are good for Bulgarian breaky. The baths were as described by others, nice addition but a bit rundown. Was an extra 20€ per person, plus cash for deposits. Make sure you bring cash…”
Travel by air-conditioned van from Sofia to Rila Monastery, then take the chairlift toward the Seven Rila Lakes for a self-guided mountain hike. English-speaking guides such as Apostolos, Alexander, and Vincent share local stories and practical trail advice, but you must manage the hike on your own.
“The day trip was really good and well organised. Both the monastery and lakes were beautiful and highlights of my time in Bulgaria. Our guide was Apostolos and he went out of his way to make sure everyone would have a great time, starting from taking people to a money exchange and pharmacy before leaving Sofia, to sharing the best pathway/direction to walk the lakes in. I would recommend this tour to anyone coming to Sofia.”
Travel from central Sofia to Plovdiv and Rila Monastery on a self-guided small-group day trip. Your English-speaking host, such as Philip or Bobby, handles timing, maps, and local advice while you explore independently.
“Its a long day, with manu hours by car but it deserves it because th Monastery and Plodiv are worthy”
Join Philip and the Rila Shuttle for a 13-hour shared trip from Sofia to the Seven Rila Lakes and Rila Monastery. You hike independently, use the chairlift, follow paper maps, and receive route and timing advice through WhatsApp. Bring water, food, sturdy shoes, and mountain clothing.
“Philip’s communication before the day and via the WhatsApp group was incredibly helpful. Phillip texted us throughout the day with reminders of timing and it made the entire experience feel extremely organized, well thought out and attentive. I also really like the fact that we were in a small bus van, and we purposely arrived an hour after the big bus companies at the monastery so this way, we could have a much more quiet and authentic experience. We were also given paper maps of the hiking trails and also of the monastery, which made for a very easy day to get around. I encountered other people on the mountain…”
Travel from Sofia into the Rila Mountains, tour Bulgaria’s grandest monastery, and choose a second stop: the National History Museum, monastery museum, Saint John’s Cave, or mineral hot springs. English speaking guides such as Antonio, Yani, Toni, and Ceco have led this small group tour.
“Excursion was fantastic. Very good transport. Excelent guider named CECO, who tells very interesting stories about every stage of trip. CECO knows many langauges and is very communicative. Good food and cafe in fine restaurant. Monastery is impressive, located in mountains. In return trip stop over in Bojana Crkva - XI century church. I am very glad of this trip.”
Travel from Sofia in a small group of up to eight with an English-speaking guide such as Mika, Lyuboslav, or Daniel. Explore Plovdiv’s Roman ruins and Revival-era Old Town, then visit cliff-top Asen’s Fortress and Bachkovo Monastery. Transport, pickup, and entry fees are included, but lunch is not.
“It was a well paced and thought through tour. The guide Ilyan was friendly and went with our pace. There were 4 people in the group plus the guide. We got picked up from and dropped off back to the hotel which was a huge plus. The guide paid all activities' entry fees. We had an hour for lunch. Overall fantastic day, thank you Ilyan! Yuliya and Alyssa”
Sunrise, sunset, on foot or by tuk-tuk.
