Rila Monastery, Bulgaria

Rila Monastery

Bulgaria's largest monastery, with striped arches and painted walls deep in the mountains.

  • All year
  • Best by car
  • 1 night
Explore on the map
Nearby hidden places
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Things to do

2 days in Rila Monastery

Day 1

  1. MorningArrive early to see the monastery's painted arches and the church interior.
  2. AfternoonWalk the trail to the cave of St. Ivan of Rila.
  3. EveningStay in a guesthouse in the valley.

Day 2

Hike to the Seven Rila Lakes from Panichishte.

What to eat

Fried trout and the famous monastery doughnuts at the stall outside.

Local tips

Make the most of Rila Monastery

Beat the crowds

Tour buses arrive late morning. Come early, or stay nearby for a quiet evening.

Best photo spot

The striped arches and painted church in the inner courtyard.

Getting there

About 2 hours by car from Sofia. A daily bus also runs from Sofia.

Don't miss nearby

The Seven Rila Lakes and the Stob pyramids.

Good to know

Dress modestly: cover shoulders and knees. The monastery itself is free to enter.

Secret spots

3 secret spots near Rila Monastery

Our most hidden places around Rila Monastery: fewer people, same wow. Unlock them with a route in Google Maps and a PDF guide of Rila Monastery to take with you.

8.0 km away
35 km away
48 km away
Unlock the secret spots · €2.99+ VAT · one payment, valid for a year

Plan your visit

Getting to Rila Monastery

Getting there

  • Sofia Airport (SOF)65 km away
  • Skopje Airport (SKP)145 km away
  • Sofia65 km away
  • Plovdiv115 km away

A car is the easiest way to get here and to see the area around it. Distances are in a straight line.

At a glance

Best timeAll year
TypeHidden town
Good forOld towns & architecture, Nature
Getting thereBest by car
Stay1 night
CountryBulgaria

Questions

Rila Monastery: good to know

Is Rila Monastery worth visiting?

Yes, especially if you like historic old towns and nature. Bulgaria's largest monastery, with striped arches and painted walls deep in the mountains.

How many days do you need in Rila Monastery?

Plan 1 night. Our free 2-day plan above shows how to spend your time.

When is the best time to visit Rila Monastery?

You can visit all year. Tour buses arrive late morning. Come early, or stay nearby for a quiet evening.

How do you get to Rila Monastery?

The nearest airport is Sofia Airport (SOF), about 65 km away. About 2 hours by car from Sofia. A daily bus also runs from Sofia.

What is there to see near Rila Monastery?

Nearby hidden places include Sofia (63 km), Lake Kerkini (105 km) and Plovdiv (116 km).

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