Things to do in Rila

If you opt for Rila Monastery only without Boyana Church, you will still get the chance to catch a glimpse of the exterior of Boyana Church as well as the garden around it. Rila Monastery is awesome with the paintings and it felt peaceful over there. Remember to prepare 50 cents to use the toilets or you can change it using the coffee machine outside the monastery. The tour agency added in another attraction after Boyana Church at no additional cost. Overall, it’s a great tour but we would prefer if there was time allocated for lunch.

I was hesitating between taking public transport and booking this tour, but it was totally worth it! The main reason I wasn’t sure about booking the tour was that I thought I’d have to rush through the hike. But it turned out I had plenty of time to enjoy both the hike and the incredible views. Visiting the Seven Rila Lakes ended up being one of the best days I had in Sofia. Absolutely worth it!

Booking tickets, checking in on the day, and the tour itself were all smooth. We didn't sign up for a guided tour, so if you don't manage your time well for lunch at restaurants or similar places, you'll end up with a lot of free time. However, it was a worthwhile tour. As for areas for improvement, the bus was quite old, and we noticed some deterioration (malfunctions) inside the vehicle.