Rila Voyage Tips and guide

Rila (Bulgarian: Рила) is a town in Shopluk of Bulgaria, in the foothills of the southwestern Rila Mountains, on the banks of the Rilska River. It is the closest settlement to Rila Monastery (Рилски манастир), the center of both the religious and cultural spirit of the Bulgarian nation. The monastery has spectacular architecture and decoration, in harmony with the picturesque nature of the Rila Mountain.

Rila Monastery, founded in the 10th century, is the largest and most famous Eastern Orthodox monastery in Bulgaria, receiving over one million visitors per year. The monastery complex was declared a national historical monument in 1976 and became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1983.

Buses to Rila town run from Sofia, Dupnitsa and Blagoevgrad.

As of 2025, there is no public bus that runs all the way to Rila Monastery.

• Rila Monastery Bus. Daily round-trip tour buses from Sofia to Rila Monastery. Some buses also stop to see Boyana Church. Can arrange drop-offs in Blagoevgrad and Dupnitsa. From €15 each way. (updated Dec 2025)

Map of Rila

St. John of Rila (Ivan Rilski) founded the area's first monastery during the rule of Tsar Peter I (927-968). The hermit actually lived in a cave without any material possessions not far from the monastery's location, while the complex was built by his students, who came to the mountains to receive their education. It was re-erected at its present place during the first half of the 14th century. The oldest buildings in the complex date from this period — the Tower of Hrelja (1334–1335) and a small church just next to it (1343).

The complex acted as a depository of Bulgarian language and culture in the ages of foreign rule. It was destroyed by fire in 1833 and then reconstructed between 1834 and 1862 with the help of wealthy Bulgarians from the whole country. The erection of the residential buildings began in 1816, while a belfry was added to the Tower of Hrelyu in 1844. The monastery is known as being one of the hideouts of Bulgarian revolutionaries such as Vassil Levski, Gotse Delchev, and Peyo Yavorov.

Inside the complex, the main church and tower stand in the center of the ring made by four stories of primarily-residential chambers.

• 42.13333323.3402781 Rila Monastery (Monastery of Saint John of Rila), ☏ + 359 7054 3383, [email protected]. M-Th 6:30-18:00, F-Su 6:30-18:30. Free.  (updated Dec 2025)
  • Main Church. Erected in the middle of the 19th century, with five domes, three altars and two side chapels. One of the most precious items inside is the gold-plated iconostasis, noted for its wood-carving, the creation of which took five years. The frescoes, finished in 1846, are the work of many masters from Bansko, Samokov and Razlog. The church is also home to many valuable icons, dating from the 14th to the 19th century. Porticos in the courtyard have Mamluk influence with the striped painting and the domes, which became more popular in the Ottoman Empire after the conquest of Egypt. (updated Dec 2025)
  • Church History Museum. The museum is famous for housing Rafail's Cross, a wooden cross made from a whole piece of wood whittled down by a monk using fine burins and magnifying lenses to recreate 104 religious scenes and 650 miniature figures. Work on this piece of art lasted not less than 12 years before it was completed in 1802. (updated Dec 2025)
  • Icon Gallery.  (updated Dec 2025)
  • Hrelov Tower.  (updated Dec 2025)

• 42.1500623.369922 Cave of St. John of Rila. The cave where St. John lived before the monastery was built. Requires a 20 minute hike.  (updated Dec 2025)

• 42.09230123.1211231 Stob Earth Pyramids (Стобски пирамиди). Rock formations, known as hoodoos, up to 12 m high and up to 40 m thick at the base. Their shape is mostly conical to mushroomlike.  (updated Dec 2025)

Rila Monastery Nature Park (Природен парк „Рилски манастир“) is one of the largest nature parks in Bulgaria, spanning 252 km² (97 sq mi), and includes forests, mountain meadows, alpine areas, and 28 glacial lakes.

The monastery is a trailhead for a variety of hikes. The most popular routes through the park are:

• Rila Monastery–Kirilova polyana–Dry Lake–Kobilino branishte
• Rila Monastery–Ribni Lakes–Smradlivo Lake
• Rila Monastery–Malyovitsa
• Rila Monastery–Seven Rila Lakes
• E4 European long distance path

There are a couple of small shops inside Rila Monastery selling religious items. There are several souvenir shops outside the east entrance.

• 42.1340623.340651 Monastery Bakery. A small but popular bakery stand specializing in "Monastery Bread", mekitsa (a sweet frybread) and locally-produced yogurt.  (updated Dec 2025)

There are only a few full restaurants close to the monastery, and they aren't highly-regarded.

• Rila Monastery allows guests to stay overnight, in humble monk's quarters.

• Sofia

Other important Orthodox monasteries:

• Meteora
• Mount Athos

Other Bulgarian mountain towns:

• Bansko