GETTING THERE
1. SHARED SHUTTLE BUS
- The shared shuttle bus (by Traventuria) leave every day from Sofia city center and is the fastest and easiest way to get from Sofia
- Departure at 09:00 h from St. Alexander Nevski cathedral (advance booking required)
- from €15.00 per person (one-way)
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Easy booking with live availability and instant confirmation:
Book at : Shared shuttle from Sofia city to Rila monastery
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Reserve here: Shared shuttle from Sofia city to
Rila monastery
How to book:
1. In the Departure field: choose Sofia Alexander Nevski Cathedral
2. In the Arrival field: choose Rila Monstery
3. Choose from the available departures for the day and finish your reservation
Alternatively you can ask for a private transfer with Rila Shuttle
2. RENT-A-CAR
Prices and insurances policy depend on the car rental company.
Usually, local Bulgarian car hire companies may offer you better rental terms & conditions (lower or no excess at all, unlimited mileage, 2 drivers free of charge etc.), but their capacity might be limited when booking last-minute.
Local car hire companies are usually flexible regarding pick-up and drop off of the car and may also offer delivery and collection from an address in Sofia city.
Credit and debit cards are usually accepted, as well as cash payments.
Some of the local rent-a-car companies:
International companies usually have a wide variety of car available at any time.
Read carefully the terms & conditions regaring fuel policy, insurance coverage (amount of excess included), drivers's minimum age, mileage included per day. International rent-a-car companies acceps only credit cars (not debit cards and cheques).
Some of the international rent-a-car companies:
3. PUBLIC TRANSPORT
There is only one public bus that goes from Sofia directly to Rila monastery
Currently the public bus service from Sofia is not operating ! You can check alternatively for bus service with inter-change at Dupnitsa or Blagoevgrad.
Departure from Sofia at: 10:20 h and 18:20 h.
Arrival at Rila monastery at 13:00 h and 20:15 h.
Departure from Rila monastery at:
15:00 h (from 1st November until 31st March)
15:30 h (from 1st April until 31st October)
Ticket price: 11.00 BGN leva (approx. €5.50) per person, one-way.
Seat reservation in not possible and availability is not guaranteed.
The bus departs from bus station Ovcha Kupel, located in the west part of Sofia city. You can get to the bus station:
- by taxi - about 20 min ride from the city centre (depending on traffic conditions the time can increase)
- by tram №5 - there is a stop behind the Palace of Justice in the city centre.
The ticket for the tram is 1.60 BGN leva (approx. €0.80) and can be purchased from the ticket kiosks at some tram stations or from the driver (availability of tickets from the driver is not guaranteed) - by foot - about 1h 15min from Sofia city centre