Sofia: Rila Monastery & Thermal Spa Full-Day Tour

Rila Monastery and Mountain Thermal Pools in One Day from Sofia

You drive from Sofia to the 10th-century Rila Monastery, walk through its UNESCO-listed courtyards and frescoed galleries with an English-speaking guide, explore Rila National Park's mountain landscape, then soak in the mineral pools at Kotvata Thermal Spa. Entrance to the thermal complex costs extra (15–25 euros) and is not included. Bring a cover-up for the monastery and plan to return to Sofia by early evening.

Step-by-step itinerary

Visit Rila Monastery and Thermal Spa

• Travel to Rila Monastery
• Explore Rila Monastery complex
• Pass by Rila National Park
• Relax at Kotvata Thermal Spa

The experience

You're driving out of Sofia early, heading south toward the Rila Mountains. The road climbs steadily, and after about ninety minutes the landscape shifts: forest thickens, the air cools, and suddenly the monastery appears below you, its red-brick walls and white stone arches framed by peaks. Rila Monastery isn't small or quiet. Founded in the 10th century and rebuilt in the 14th after Ottoman raids, it sprawls across a courtyard ringed with frescoed galleries, each one covered in biblical scenes painted during Bulgaria's National Revival. Your English-speaking guide walks you through the Tower of Hrelyu, the oldest structure still standing, and explains how monks kept this place alive through centuries when the empire tried to erase it. The monastery became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1983, and you'll understand why the moment you step inside the main church. The detail is overwhelming, almost claustrophobic in the best way.

After the monastery, the tour moves into Rila National Park itself, where the highest peak in the Balkans, Musala, rises to 2,925 meters. You don't climb it (the day doesn't have that kind of time), but you drive through the park, past rivers and meadows, and the scale of the place settles in. This is the landscape that protected the monastery for so long. Then you head to Kotvata Thermal Spa Complex, where the real shift happens. The pools are fed by Bulgaria's mineral springs, and the water is hot year-round. Outside pools sit at different temperatures. Inside pools are warmer and cheaper if you're visiting in winter. You can float, drink a beer poolside, and let the day's walking dissolve. The entrance fee to the thermal complex isn't included (it runs between 15 and 25 euros per person), but it's the part of the day where you stop moving and just exist.

The tour operates in all weather, so bring layers and something waterproof if rain is forecast. Knees and shoulders need to be covered at the monastery itself, which matters if you're planning to wear shorts. If you have your own smartphone and earphones, you can use the free audio-guides in English, French, Spanish, Italian, German, or Russian. They're useful if you want to linger on a particular fresco or detail without waiting for the group. The vehicle is air-conditioned, and the driver or guide speaks English. Depending on the day and availability, you might also get an Italian or Spanish guide instead. The whole day runs eight to nine hours, and you're back in Sofia by evening.

What’s included

• English-speaking driver or guide.
• air-conditioned vehicle.
• entry to Rila Monastery.
• access to Rila National Park.
• free audio-guides in six languages (English, French, Spanish, Italian, German, Russian) for use on your smartphone.
• thermal spa complex entrance fee is separate and costs 15–25 euros per person.

Options for this experience

4 options

Rila Monastery and Spa on a BudgetGuide in English, Spanish or Italian · 09:00Self-guided tour with an audio guide: a budget-friendly visit to Rila Monastery and the thermal pools (extra entrance fees are optional), with audio available in English, French, German, Russian, Italian and Spanish.

Rila Monastery and Thermal SpaGuide in English, Spanish or Italian · 09:00Guided tour in English: a live English-speaking guide, plus a free online audio guide in English, French, Spanish, Italian, German and Russian (requires a smartphone and internet access).

Rila and Thermae in Italian09:00Italian-language live guide: the tour is conducted in Italian.

Rila Monastery and Thermae, conducted in Spanish09:00Spanish-language live guide

You pick the guide language when booking.

You see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates & prices

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 09:00

Book up to14h before

AgesAdult (16 and older) · Child (3 to 15 years) · Infant (under 3)

GroupUp to 50

Live guideEnglish, Spanish and Italian

Audio guideEnglish, Spanish, French, German, Italian and Russian

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Paid on siteUS$ 23

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Easy physical levelWheelchair accessibleAccessible transportInfant seats availablePets welcomePublic transport nearby

Operated by V Travel Ltd.

Is this one for you?Book this if you want to see Bulgaria's most important monastery and soak in mountain mineral springs without arranging transport, entry, or timing yourself: the fixed schedule fits both the monastery visit and the spa into one full day from Sofia.

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Top questions

What languages is the guide in?

Live guide in English, Spanish and Italian.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (3 to 15 years); Infant (under 3).

How long is the drive from Sofia to Rila Monastery?

About ninety minutes each way, depending on traffic leaving the city.

What's included in the tour price?

English-speaking driver or guide, air-conditioned vehicle, and access to the monastery. Entrance to the thermal spa complex is separate (15–25 euros per person).

Can I use my own phone for the audio-guide?

Yes. Free audio-guides are available in English, French, Spanish, Italian, German, and Russian: download them and use your own smartphone and earphones.

What do I need to wear at the monastery?

Knees and shoulders must be covered. Bring a light scarf or cardigan if you're wearing shorts or sleeveless tops.

Is the tour suitable for winter?

Yes, it operates in all weather. Dress warmly and bring waterproof layers. The inside thermal pools are warmer and cheaper in winter than the outside ones.

How many hours is the full day?

Eight to nine hours total, including drive time, monastery visit, park time, and spa time.

Is the tour wheelchair accessible?

The vehicle and transportation are wheelchair accessible. The monastery itself has uneven stone floors and stairs, so accessibility within the complex is limited.

Can I bring a service animal?

Yes, service animals are allowed on the tour.