Private Self-guided tour in Rila Monastery
4
What is Travellers’ Choice?
Tripadvisor gives a Travellers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travellers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.
About
Lowest price guaranteeReserve now & pay laterFree cancellation
Ages 3-99, max of 15 per group
Duration: 2–6 hours
Start time: Check availability
Mobile ticket
Written guide: German, Russian, English, Italian, French, Spanish
Print or digital reading material such as a guide, map, brochure, etc.
More
- E-guide for the Monastery
- General entry
- Entry/Admission - Rila Monastery
- Guaranteed to skip the lines
What's not included- Souvenir photos (available to purchase)
- Transportation to/from attractions
- Additional entrance fees for other sights inside approx. 8 EUR
- Not wheelchair accessible
- Service animals allowed
- Near public transportation
If you have questions about accessibility, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 8728P253- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- 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
- Most travellers can participate
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 15 travellers
- For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours in advance of the start date of the experience.
- If you have questions about this tour or need help making your booking, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 8728P253
From
£5.11
per adult
Select date and travellers
Revenue impacts the experiences featured on this page, learn more.
Similar experiences
Contribute
Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
We perform checks on reviews.
Tripadvisor’s approach to reviews
Before posting, each Tripadvisor review goes through an automated tracking system, which collects information, answering the following questions: how, what, where and when. If the system detects something that potentially contradicts our community guidelines, the review is not published.
When the system detects a problem, a review may be automatically rejected, sent to the reviewer for validation, or manually reviewed by our team of content specialists, who work 24/7 to maintain the quality of the reviews on our site.
Our team checks each review posted on the site disputed by our community as not meeting our community guidelines.
Learn more about our review moderation.
4.0
11 reviews
Excellent
8
Very good
0
Average
0
Poor
0
Terrible
3
These reviews have been automatically translated from their original language.
This service may contain translations provided by Google. Google disclaims all warranties, express or implied, with respect to translations, including any warranties of accuracy, reliability, and any implied warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, and freedom from forgery.
EKaterina1710
Rostov-on-Don, Russia92 contributions
Really good, with lots of information and the guide notes. Truly recommneded for everyone needing to explore this fascinating sight at the fraction of the cost.
Written 16 September 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
EKaterina1710
Rostov-on-Don, Russia92 contributions
We used the car rental to reach the sight. And this activity is a real gem we found out. All the guides notes and audio in our pockets. Extremely nice!
Written 30 September 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
EKaterina1710
Rostov-on-Don, Russia92 contributions
I loved this magnetic place! The incredible monastery is the largest in Bulgaria. The information provided in the guide was complete and interesting! My friends and I did not miss a single detail and watched this impressive object at our own pace, taking many amazing photos!
Written 8 June 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Dear Ekaterina,
Thanks for your great review of the self-guided option of this tour. Rila Monastery is a true gem in Bulgaria. We are glad that we managed to tailor the whole experience to your needs.
You are always welcome to come back.
Best regards,
Hristo
Written 9 June 2021
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Se Re
Livorno, Italy3 contributions
May 2021
This is a fraud.
I booked a day trip at Boyana Church and Rila Monastery with this operator through booking.com but the information provided in their advert is very incorrect and misleading.
I paid 23 euro for a self-guided tour and I do understand what is the difference between a self-guided trip and privately guided trip, BUT my ticket clearly stated a meeting time 9am and a meeting point pl. "Sveti Aleksandar Nevski" 4 so I was expecting a shuttle bus to be provided, and then I will have used a written self guide in the sites. Clearly this is not what they offer.They sent me a PDF the day before, and the PDF contained nothing more than public information that you can easily find for free on google. The day of the tour I arrived at the time written on my ticket and at the meeting point on my ticket and nobody showed up. I phoned them and they lied to me saying that this was the first time this thing has happened (there are other reviews like mine!!), they didn't apologise, they blamed booking.com or some other intermediary for the incorrect information.
So they ask you to pay 23 euro for a PDF and then you have to arrange your transportation even though on your ticket there is meeting information? This doesn't make any sense.
On the phone they told me they were going to refund me but then I received an email just saying that since this was somebody else's fault (??) I wasn't entitled to a refund. I've tried to contact them again but they stopped getting back to me.
There are many other good and reliable operators, beware of this one!
I booked a day trip at Boyana Church and Rila Monastery with this operator through booking.com but the information provided in their advert is very incorrect and misleading.
I paid 23 euro for a self-guided tour and I do understand what is the difference between a self-guided trip and privately guided trip, BUT my ticket clearly stated a meeting time 9am and a meeting point pl. "Sveti Aleksandar Nevski" 4 so I was expecting a shuttle bus to be provided, and then I will have used a written self guide in the sites. Clearly this is not what they offer.They sent me a PDF the day before, and the PDF contained nothing more than public information that you can easily find for free on google. The day of the tour I arrived at the time written on my ticket and at the meeting point on my ticket and nobody showed up. I phoned them and they lied to me saying that this was the first time this thing has happened (there are other reviews like mine!!), they didn't apologise, they blamed booking.com or some other intermediary for the incorrect information.
So they ask you to pay 23 euro for a PDF and then you have to arrange your transportation even though on your ticket there is meeting information? This doesn't make any sense.
On the phone they told me they were going to refund me but then I received an email just saying that since this was somebody else's fault (??) I wasn't entitled to a refund. I've tried to contact them again but they stopped getting back to me.
There are many other good and reliable operators, beware of this one!
Written 31 May 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hello Serena,
You booked the self-guided trip option which does not include any transportation which is extremely clear. The privately-guided option includes transportation. Your own organization is required for this type of a tour which we clearly advised on the phone as well.
This option gives you the guide to reach the spots either by public transport or by a vehicle of your own. On spot our staff takes care for you. You cannot expect transportation for this tour for this price with our staff on spot waiting for you. That's pretty clear. But of course, you go for the cheapest option available without checking the details and then writing in here to "inform" other customers.
Self-guided tours are the new way to travel. Obviously, you have very less experience with something like this.
We invite you anytime you visit Bulgaria again to take you on this type of trip again without paying for you to experience it yourself which will change your mind completely.
Best regards,
Hristo
Written 28 September 2021
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
WorldTravelerDora
London, UK49 contributions
Dec 2019
If you visit Bulgaria without seeing this piece of art, it's like you have never been to that country! Truly mesmerizing!!! I LOVED IT!
Written 4 January 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hi and thanks for your review! We always try to please all our customers and devise interesting and bespoke experiences in Bulgaria. The Self-guide Rila Monastery tours has got its flexibility and charm at the lowest possible prices.
We welcome you back anytime you are in Bulgaria again!
Best regards,
Hristo
Written 11 January 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Maggie
Sofia, Bulgaria28 contributions
Dec 2019
Some people do not really understand what a self-guided tour is. We perfectly know as we wanted to dispose with our own time and pace. That's why we took this fantastic tour which is featuring an absolute leader of an e-guide, so detailed and interesting. That was one of our trips we took in Bulgaria.
Written 18 December 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hello, thank you for your review of this wonderful tour to Rila Monastery. As part of your 4-month travel in Bulgaria with your foreign friends we were extremely happy to show the best off-the-beaten path experiences which matter. Also, you were fascinated by the availability of the experiences no matter that you are Bulgarian.
All the best,
Hristo
Written 22 December 2019
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
EKaterina1710
Rostov-on-Don, Russia92 contributions
Nov 2019 • Couples
This tour let's you explore the monastery on your own with the help of the e-guide. We were fascinated by the beauty of the place and the quality of this self-guided tour. We definitely recommend it!
Written 10 November 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thanks for your review of our e-guided tour to the Rila monastery. We appreciate your feedback and we are constantly trying to do more and more to make the customers happy and return!
Best regards,
Hristo
Written 16 November 2019
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Rlloret
Madrid, Spain16 contributions
Aug 2023 • Couples
Is a gotcha. Entry to the monastery is free and there are no lines. The only thing they give for 6 euros is a 5-page e-guide with a mystical-religious text, with hardly any artistic or historical descriptions.
Written 7 August 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Venture170971
Madrid, Spain
Buenos días no hemos recibido por email las entradas y tenemos reserva para hoy.
Written 29 February 2020
L'ingresso al monastero e gratis,penso che Le informazioni che
Del sito non siano trasparenti...
Written 18 May 2019
Do tickets need to be purchased in advance?
Written 11 August 2018
No. There are no queues and you can always purchase on spot.
Written 25 July 2019
Why is this option here? It is free to enter!
Written 31 July 2018
Is it possible to buy a ticket on the day. We are touring and do not know the exact day we will be in Rila so it is difficult to book in advance.
Written 13 July 2018
Showing results 1-7 of 7
