Rila Monastery & Boyana Church Day Trip

This relaxed half-day trip pairs two of the most important religious monuments in Bulgaria without eating up a whole day. We start at Boyana Church on the edge of Sofia, a small UNESCO World Heritage Site whose 13th-century frescoes are considered among the finest surviving examples of medieval European art — entry is timed and limited, so we arrange the ticket in advance.

From there it's a scenic drive into the Rila Mountains to Rila Monastery itself, founded in the 10th century and rebuilt after an 1833 fire into the striped, richly decorated complex that draws more visitors than any other site in the country. You'll have free time to explore the courtyard, the monastery church and its museum before a mountain-view lunch and the drive back to Sofia.