By air
Sofia Airport (SOF), ~2 h by road
Europe · Bulgaria
Rila Monastery, Bulgaria
Bulgaria's great monastery in a forested valley
Getting there
Best time to visit
May to October — open mountain trails and mild days
Don't miss
Hrelyo's Tower
The Church of the Nativity
Cave of St Ivan of Rila
Seven Rila Lakes
Things to do
Visiting the monastery
Viewing frescoes
Hiking in the Rila Mountains
Where to eat
Sources: Photo: Raggatt2000 · CC BY-SA 3.0
What to pack
Modest clothing for the church, hiking shoes, warm layer
A quieter corner
The Cave of St Ivan of Rila, a short walk above the monastery
Questions travellers ask
When is the best time to visit Rila Monastery?
May to October — open mountain trails and mild days. What to pack: Modest clothing for the church, hiking shoes, warm layer.
How do I get to Rila Monastery?
Fly into Sofia Airport (SOF), ~2 h by road.
What is there to do in Rila Monastery?
Visiting the monastery, viewing frescoes, hiking in the Rila Mountains. A quieter find: The Cave of St Ivan of Rila, a short walk above the monastery.
What should I eat in Rila Monastery?
Mekitsi fried dough from stalls by the gate, trout, bean soup.
About Rila Monastery
- Mountains
- Forest
Where it is
Rila Monastery stands in a forested valley of the Rila Mountains in south-western Bulgaria, south of Sofia.
History
The monastery was founded in the 10th century by followers of the hermit St Ivan of Rila. It became one of the most important spiritual and cultural centres of Bulgaria. Most of the present buildings date from the 19th century, after a fire, while one medieval tower survives. It was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1983.
People
Rila Monastery is an Eastern Orthodox monastery where monks still live, and Bulgarian pilgrims come to pray and visit the relics of St Ivan of Rila.
Known for
- Striped arcades and colourful frescoes
- A medieval stone tower
- The Rila Mountains
- Pilgrimage
Did you know?
Hrelyo's Tower, built in the 14th century, is the oldest surviving building at Rila Monastery.
We haven't written a guide for this place yet — you can still plan a trip here.