Private Self-guided tour in Rila Monastery

3.0 | 16 reviews

2 to 6 hours Mobile ticket Free Cancellation

Tickets from € 5.99

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November 2024

You can select up to 15 travellers in total

Adult (3 - 99)

Minimum: 1, Maximun: 15

Enjoy a day out at the Monastery of Saint Ivan of Rila, better known as the Rila Monastery is the largest and most famous Eastern Orthodox monastery in Bulgaria. The Rila Monastery is located in 1147 meters altitude in the middle of the fragrant coniferous forests of Rila Mountain. The monastery is a complex of cultural, dwelling and farming buildings which take about 8800 square meters. The Rila Monastery has an unique architecture. Outside, the monastery looks like a fortress. It has 24-meter stone walls which forms irregular pentagon. That’s why when some tourist enters the monastery’s yard from some of the two iron gates he is surprised by its architecture: arches and colonnades, covered wooden stairs and carved verandas and the 300-400 monastic cells.

General entry
E-guide for the Monastery
Souvenir photos (available to purchase)
Transportation to/from attractions
Additional entrance fees for other sights inside approx. 8 EUR

Departure Point

Rila Monastery, Rila, Bulgaria

Rila Monastery, Rila, Bulgaria
The Rila Monastery was founded in the 30-th years of X century on the place of the Old Anchoress in Rila Mountain. While the monastery has been existing, it was many times rebuilt, destroyed and reconstructed. Today the Rila Monastery has had this appearance since the middle of the previous century. It is the biggest and the most respected Bulgarian monastery. It is considered that the creator of the Rila Monastery is the first Bulgarian hermit Ivan Rilsky (876-946), he chose to live in this way as a method of spiritual perfection and a way to express his protest against the suppression of the high moral rules of the real Christianity. The Bulgarian saint was born in the 70-th years of IX century. He was a witness of the decline of the First Bulgarian Kingdom at the time of king Peter I and Saint Ivan Rilsky became the most respected saint in the Orthodox Christianity in that time. At the time of the Byzantine slavery the established brotherhood was turned into a monastery. At the beginning of the Second Bulgarian Kingdom the relics of Saint Ivan Rilsky was displaced to the capital of the country Veliko Tarnovo as the most important relic for the Bulgarians. Entrance ticket will include the history museum and Tower of Hrelio, Ethnografic museum, Bulgarian renaissance guestrooms and Monastery farm.

Service animals allowed
Public transportation options are available nearby
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
A dress code is required to enter places of worship and selected museums. No shorts or sleeveless tops allowed. Knees and shoulders MUST be covered for both men and women. You may risk refused entry if you fail to comply with these dress requirements

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
If you cancel less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
Any changes made less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time will not be accepted.
Cut-off times are based on the experience’s local time.

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Private Self-guided tour in Rila Monastery

Select your date

You can select up to 15 travellers in total

Adult (3 - 99)

What's Included

Departure & Return

What To Expect

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