Rila Monastery, Sofia Region, Bulgaria
5.0 (1.932 reviews) Spent 1-2 hours Ranking #2 in Rila Historic Sites • Religious Sites
Get the Mekitsas!!
Founded in the 10th century, this monastery was restored in the 15th and again in the 19th century.
Address
, Rila, Bulgaria, Postal Code: 2643.
Mobile
Website
https://rilskimanastir.org/
Current local date and time now
Tuesday, May 07, 2024, 22:01
User Ratings
5.0 based on (1.932 reviews)
Excellent
80%
Good
17%
Satisfactory
3%
Poor
0%
Terrible
0%
Reviews
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4Dream26270206130 5:00 PM Sep 1, 2022
Get the Mekitsas!!
Very interesting architecture and art. We went in the morning before the tour buses arrive (~13:00) and it was a good time to see everything without the crowd. You will probably spend an hour there so it’s worth renting a car so you can leave earlier to see other places like the Rila Lakes. Monastery was very cool but make sure you wear appropriate clothing or else they will not let you in. I’d park a little down the road instead of on site. You must get the mekitsa from their bakery on the other end of the monastery with the jam and powdered sugar!! They were only 1lei for one and we should’ve bought a dozen.
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4Joost G 5:00 PM Jul 12, 2020
Beautiful, but horrible parking when busy
The monastery is simply beautiful (free entry) and nicely positioned in its green surroundings. You can enter the main building (definitely worth it) and climb the tower next to it (5BGN, not worth the effort). Even when busy, it’s not crowded inside due to the complex being rather big. Regardless of how nice the monastery is, parking is horrible. Parkings near the building are tiny and packed, and finding the next parking involves over a kilometer of bobbing and weaving on a narrow road between people walking on the road, cars parked on the side of the road and other traffic. Then if you find a spot (if) it’s a return trip back to your parking spot on foot. Surely it’s better when not that busy, but on a busy day parking is inadequate at best.
