The Rila Monastery is one of the most popular sites in Bulgaria. It’s an easy day trip from Sofia and the monastery itself is gorgeous and incredibly photogenic. After visiting, it’s no wonder why so many people add it to their Bulgarian itinerary.
Whether you’re planning to visit the Rila Monastery on your own or with a guided tour, here’s everything you need to know before your visit.
About the Rila Monastery
As mentioned, the Rila Monastery is the most popular monastery to visit in Bulgaria. It’s also the largest Orthodox monastery in Bulgaria and is currently home to around sixty monks.
The monastery was founded in the tenth century by St. Ivan of Rila, though St. Ivan did not build the monastery and instead lived in a nearby cave. His students were the ones who built the actual monastery complex. That said, the oldest buildings in the complex today now date from the 14th century. Much of the monastery was destroyed in a fire in the 1800s and most of what you see now (aside from the handful of old buildings) is from that time.
In 1983, the Rila Monastery was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage site.
Tips for Your Visit to the Rila Monastery
On the surface, visiting the Rila Monastery is pretty straightforward, but there are a few things that I think that you should know before you visit.
Wear Appropriate Clothing
Like many monasteries and churches, there is a dress code that has to be followed when you visit Rila Monastery. While I’ve experienced some leniency with monastery and orthodox church dress as I’ve traveled across Eastern Europe (especially during the heat waves of summer), the Rila Monastery doesn’t have as much leniency.
So what is the dress code? Your shoulders and knees must be covered. This doesn’t just apply to the church within the monastery, but for the entrance to the courtyard as well. So while all of the woman I saw visiting were covered, there were some men who were wearing shorts and did not get stopped.
I bring this up specifically because it’s popular to combine a visit to the Rila Monastery with the Rila Lakes hike. This is what I did and like so many others, I wanted to wear shorts while hiking. Our tour company sent information the night before reminding us of the dress code. This meant that if I wanted to wear shorts for the hike, I needed to bring a change of clothes for after the hike. Was it annoying? Absolutely, but the alternative is missing out on the Rila Monastery.
Be Respectful When Entering the Church
It should go without saying that you should always be respectful when entering a place of worship, but the Rila Monastery takes it to another level. Yes, you need to dress appropriately, which includes the dress code I just mentioned, but also take off your sunglasses and hats.
What I found interesting is that they are also strict with your pockets. Do not put your hands in your pockets as that’s seen as a sign of disrespect. Hands in your pockets are also included on the list of things that are not allowed in the church.
Lastly, there are no photos allowed within the church itself. You can take photos in the courtyard and of the murals on the exterior of the church, but inside, it is strictly no photos.
Bring Some Coins for the Toilet
If you have to use the toilet on your visit to the Rila Monastery, make sure that you have some change available. The toilet costs 50 cents. I purposely went earlier so I didn’t have to use it, but it’s good to know that there’s no free toilet here.
If Traveling Without a Guide, Go Later in the Day
I visited with a tour, so I could not control when we visited the Rila Monastery. However, we visited in the day and arrived at 4:30 in the afternoon. This was actually an hour later than we were supposed to arrive, but I think it worked out for the best.
The Rila Monastery is one of the most popular sites in Bulgaria and yet, when we visited, there were very few people there. In fact, it seemed like some of the souvenir places were starting to pack up for the day as tourism winded down. For me, this was great because it wasn’t crowded and you could actually enjoy the space.
Of course, I can’t say with certainty what it’s like on a midday visit, but I have to imagine that it’s busier. I was prepared to see a lot of people and it just didn’t happen. So, I pass that information onto anyone who is traveling with a car and without a tour group. Either arrive early in the morning or late in the afternoon to minimize the tourist crowds.
Don’t Skip a Bulgarian Donut
Inside Rila Monastery, you’ll find some souvenir stands. Just outside the monastery, you’ll find even more souvenir stands but also some places to buy food. My recommendation is to buy a mekitsa, which is a Bulgarian donut. They are made fresh and delicious to eat while warm.
If you also did a hike to the Rila Lakes prior to your visit to the Rila Monastery, think of it as a reward for your hard work. And if you didn’t hike, spend one euro to enjoy a delicious Bulgarian treat. I also recommend added some powdered sugar to it before eating.
Should You Book a Guided Tour?
It really depends how you’re traveling across Bulgaria. If you plan to take buses and trains across Bulgaria, just sign up for one of the day trips to the Rila Monastery. It’s easy, convenient, and not very expensive. If you’re already planning a road trip through Bulgaria, just time your trip with when you have a rental car.
There are numerous options when you book your tour. You can choose between the monastery, the Boyana Church, and the St. Ivan Cave. Plus you have the option to do a guided tour versus a self guided tour (where the company just provides transportation). It comes down to personal preference, in my opinion. At the time, I booked a guided tour of all three sites. This ended up getting cancelled, but I still visited the Rila Monastery and the Boyana Church. I can’t speak to the cave visit.
For the Boyana Church, I think the entrance fee is worth it if you have an interest in historic frescoes. It’s a UNESCO World Heritage site, but it’s a quick visit and I think most travelers would not miss out too much if they skipped it.
Should You Visit the Rila Lakes and Rila Monastery Together?
The two most popular day trips from Sofia are the Rila Lakes and the Rila Monastery and you’ll find tours that cover both in one day. If you have limited time in Sofia, take a day trip that includes both stops. It’s a long day trip (nearly 13 hours), but you’ll be able to hike the 7 Rila Lakes and visit the stunning Rila Monastery.
Note that on a combined tour, you’ll want to pack your own lunch. You’ll leave Sofia at 7:00 am. After hiking the 7 Rila Lakes, it’s an hour and a half drive to the Rila Monastery where you’ll have a little time to explore before getting back on the bus to Sofia. There’s no restaurant stops (though there are some stands to buy stacks along the way), so bring your own food.
If you have the time, I think it’s worth doing the two trips separately. Hike the 7 Rila Lakes without being as rushed. Then on a separate day, you can visit the Rila Monastery. On a monastery only tour, you’ll have the option to include other stops like the Boyana Church and the St. Ivan Cave. The Boyana Church and St. Ivan Cave are not an option if you do the Rila Lakes with the Rila Monastery.
So what did I do? I signed up for two separate tours because I had extra time in Sofia and I didn’t want to feel rushed. Fortunately or unfortunately, the night before the Rila Lakes hike, I received a message and was told that they didn’t have availability for me to do a hiking only tour. I’m not sure how that works since I signed up nearly a week in advance, but they offered to upgrade me to the Rila Lakes and Rila Monastery combined tour for free.
So I took the company up on their offer and combined my trips to the Rila Lakes and Rila Monastery into one day. It wasn’t my initial plan and I was exhausted at the end of the day, but it worked out in the end. Despite that, I’d still recommend separating the two trips if you have the time in your itinerary.
Final Thoughts
I had known that the Rila Monastery was a top sight in Bulgaria but I didn’t realize just how beautiful it would be until I was standing in the courtyard. I now agree with everyone else. If you’re planning a trip to Bulgaria, you have to add a stop at the Rila Monastery.
Continue Your Adventure
More Monasteries in the Balkans: In Serbia, take a day trip from Belgrade to visit the Manasija Monastery.
