Rila Monastery & Sapareva Banya Hot Springs Day Trip From Sofia

We combined a visit to the monastery with a trip to the thermal baths. The journey was very comfortable since we travele...

Albert Pardiñas

On this day trip to the Rila Monastery, you'll visit the spiritual icon of Bulgaria and relax in the hot springs in Sapareva Banya. Did you know they are the hottest waters in continental Europe?

Details

Duration

9 hours.

Language

The activity takes place with a guide that speaks in English.

Included

Transport by minibus or bus
English–speaking guide
Admission to the Rila Monastery

Not included

Admission to the hot springs of Sapareva Banya: between 10EUR and 15EUR per person
Bracelet in the hot springs of Sapareva Banya: 5EUR per person
Admission to the museum of the Rila Monastery (optional): 4EUR per person
Food and drink

When to book

You can book up to 2 hours in advance if there are any seats left. Book now and guarantee your spot.

Supporting documents

Electronic voucher. Have it on your phone.

Minimum age

Not permitted for anyone under 5 years

Sustainability

All services meet our

Pets

Not allowed.

Frequently asked questions

If you have other questions, contact us

Free cancellation

Free cancellation up to 48 hours before the activity starts. Any cancellations after this or no-shows on the day will not be refunded.

Belogradchik Rocks Trip

Free cancellation

Boyana Church and Rila Monastery Day Tour

Free cancellation

Free Tour of Sofia

9.5

(7,567)

Gratis

Meeting point

Yanko Sakuzov Blvd, 7

Reviews of our customers

8.3

Excellent 494 Travelers·45 reviews

October 9, 2026
Albert Pardiñas Llorens
Tarragona, Spain
We combined a visit to the monastery with a trip to the thermal baths. The journey was very comfortable since we traveled in an 8-passenger van, which...
As a couple
Is this useful?
September 21, 2026
Carla
Madrid, Spain
The monastery is definitely worth seeing, and we also enjoyed the thermal baths. However, the journey to both places is quite long compared to the amo...
Is this useful?
August 24, 2026
Anónimo
Barcelona, Spain
Very good. The Monastery is spectacular. The guide's explanation provided excellent context and orientation. In our case, we combined our visit with t...
Is this useful?
August 17, 2026
Gisèle
Spain
Great! Wear appropriate attire to enter the Monastery or they won't let you in; it's a bit old-fashioned, but that's how it is… The driver was very pl...
Is this useful?
August 3, 2026
Roberta
Napoli, Italy
My only small complaint: many buses leave at the same time for different excursions, and it wasn't easy to find ours. Otherwise, the monastery is beau...
As a couple
Is this useful?
April 22, 2026
Daniele
Italy
A fantastic and varied experience! The Rila Monastery is a jewel of art and history, made even more evocative by the surrounding snow-capped peaks. Th...
With friends
Is this useful?
October 4, 2026
Sonia
Bilbao, Spain
The guide did not speak all the way on the bus, and although that possibility was described by civitatis, it would have been appreciated to have some ...
Is this useful?
September 23, 2026
Ana Ruth
Spain
We went in a van because we were the only ones doing both things, and Simon, our guide, was very friendly and professional. We had a fantastic time an...
With friends
Is this useful?
September 21, 2026
Cindy Voegeli
Mittelwihr, France
A wonderful visit, the monastery is sublime, the baths very relaxing and the guide was lovely, a huge thumbs up for him!
As a couple
Is this useful?
September 7, 2026
Giuseppe
Italy
Pleasant excursion. We would have appreciated a little more time to visit the Rila Monastery. Our guide, Ornella, was exceptional. Knowledgeable and e...
Is this useful?

Show all reviews

Day Trip Details

At the designated time, we'll meet at Yanko Sakuzov Boulevard, number 7. From there, we'll start a 2-hour journey toward the southeast to enter the mountains of Rila. Let's go!

Our first destination of the day will be the Rila Monastery. Once there, we'll embark on a guided tour of 1.5 hours around this complex, declared a World Heritage Site. During the tour, we'll discover one of the prime examples of architecture of the Bulgarian National Revival.

We'll enter the porticoed courtyard, where the arch galleries, wooden roofs, and above all main church, stand out; its murals feature an iconographic program of great theological richness. Did you know that many of its frescoes depict scenes from The Last Judgement?

After the tour, we'll continue our journey and in 1.5 hours we'll arrive at Sapareva Banya.

On this spa town, famous for being the home of the hottest geyser in continental Europe, you'll enjoy 2 hours of free time to relax in its thermal pools. You'll dive into its mineral waters, rich in sulfides, valued for their therapeutic properties.

Finally, we'll start our journey back to Sofia in a 1.5 hour drive. We'll say our goodbyes at the meeting point after a total of 9 hours.

Additional Info

The guide will accompany you during the visit to the Rila Monastery. However, you'll visit the hot springs of Sapareva Banya on your own.

8.3

Excellent 494 Travelers·45 reviews

October 9, 2026
Albert Pardiñas Llorens
Tarragona, Spain
We combined a visit to the monastery with a trip to the thermal baths. The journey was very comfortable since we traveled in an 8-passenger van, which...
As a couple
Is this useful?
September 21, 2026
Carla
Madrid, Spain
The monastery is definitely worth seeing, and we also enjoyed the thermal baths. However, the journey to both places is quite long compared to the amo...
Is this useful?
August 24, 2026
Anónimo
Barcelona, Spain
Very good. The Monastery is spectacular. The guide's explanation provided excellent context and orientation. In our case, we combined our visit with t...
Is this useful?
August 17, 2026
Gisèle
Spain
Great! Wear appropriate attire to enter the Monastery or they won't let you in; it's a bit old-fashioned, but that's how it is… The driver was very pl...
Is this useful?
August 3, 2026
Roberta
Napoli, Italy
My only small complaint: many buses leave at the same time for different excursions, and it wasn't easy to find ours. Otherwise, the monastery is beau...
As a couple
Is this useful?
April 22, 2026
Daniele
Italy
A fantastic and varied experience! The Rila Monastery is a jewel of art and history, made even more evocative by the surrounding snow-capped peaks. Th...
With friends
Is this useful?
October 4, 2026
Sonia
Bilbao, Spain
The guide did not speak all the way on the bus, and although that possibility was described by civitatis, it would have been appreciated to have some ...
Is this useful?
September 23, 2026
Ana Ruth
Spain
We went in a van because we were the only ones doing both things, and Simon, our guide, was very friendly and professional. We had a fantastic time an...
With friends
Is this useful?
September 21, 2026
Cindy Voegeli
Mittelwihr, France
A wonderful visit, the monastery is sublime, the baths very relaxing and the guide was lovely, a huge thumbs up for him!
As a couple
Is this useful?
September 7, 2026
Giuseppe
Italy
Pleasant excursion. We would have appreciated a little more time to visit the Rila Monastery. Our guide, Ornella, was exceptional. Knowledgeable and e...
Is this useful?

Show all reviews

Points of interest in Sofia

Rila Monastery

Types of activities in Sofia

Guided tours and free tours Day trips

Other activities in Sofia

Free Tour of Sofia Sofia Pub Crawl

Day Trip Details

At the designated time, we'll meet at Yanko Sakuzov Boulevard, number 7. From there, we'll start a 2-hour journey toward the southeast to enter the mountains of Rila. Let's go!

After the tour, we'll continue our journey and in 1.5 hours we'll arrive at Sapareva Banya.

Finally, we'll start our journey back to Sofia in a 1.5 hour drive. We'll say our goodbyes at the meeting point after a total of 9 hours.

Additional Info

The guide will accompany you during the visit to the Rila Monastery. However, you'll visit the hot springs of Sapareva Banya on your own.

Rila Monastery & Sapareva Banya Hot Springs Day Trip