Southern Bulgaria is a hidden gem for nature and culture lovers. Just two hours from Sofia, visit the Rila Monastery, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and the stunning Seven Rila Lakes.
Rila National Park spans over 80,000 hectares, featuring these highlights and Mount Musala, the highest peak in the Balkans at 2,925 meters.
explore the unesco heritage, seven lakes & majestic peaks
Rila feels like an unreal place in Bulgaria, where you can slow down almost automatically. The air is cooler, quite fresh and the landscape is wide and quiet. It’s the kind of place that makes you want to walk a little slower and stay a little longer.
What stayed with us most was the contrast! The calm atmosphere of the Rila Monastery and the open, almost untouched feeling around the Seven Rila Lakes. Both show a different side of Bulgaria, one that feels deeper and more grounded. If you’re looking for nature, silence, and a sense of space, Rila is absolutely worth exploring.
The Rila Monastery is one of the highlights and one of the most visited sights in Bulgaria. The UNESCO World Heritage Site was built in the 10th century. A truly unique place located at an altitude of around 1200 meters. The monastery is surrounded by picturesque nature and is located between two rivers.
The journey to the Rila Monastery alone is something unique. Especially when the fog hangs over the Rila Mountains and the clouds are low, there is something mystical about it. Once you arrive at the Rila Monastery, you can stay overnight in the monks’ cells for around 5BGN (2.50€).
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The best way to get to the monastery is with your own car, rental car or bus. From Sofia, it takes 2 hours to drive the 120 kilometers. There is also a bus from Sofia that goes here every day. You can also book one of the many guided tours from Sofia.
Entry to the Rila Monastery is free. If you want to see exhibitions or take a guided tour of the monastery, there is an entrance fee. You can book a tour from Sofia through Get your Guide. This will cost around 20€.
The monastery is open daily from 07:00 – 20:00
Today, a few monks still live on the grounds of the Rila Monastery. Did you know that the Rila Monastery is the largest monastery in Bulgaria and one of the largest Orthodox monasteries in the world?
One of the coolest things to do in Bulgaria is definitely a hike along the seven Rila Lakes. A fascinating place with a picturesque backdrop, which is one of the scenic highlights of Bulgaria. The Rila Lakes are located in the northwestern part of the Rila Mountains and are at an altitude of around 2000 to 2500 meters. Each lake here has its own name.
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The best way to get here is by car or bus. From Sofia it takes around 1.5 hours to get to the National Park chairlift. You can also book a tour through various providers such as Get your Guide and it costs around 50€ per person.
You can buy tickets for the chairlift on site at one of the ticket booths. A single ticket costs 20BGN (around 10€), and a round trip costs 30BGN (around 15€). Tip: Bring cash with you
The chairlift runs daily from 9:00 -16:30
There are many parking spaces here. Some are not far from the chairlift and some are a little further away along the road. Parking here costs around 10-20BGN (around 5-10€) and can only be paid in cash.
There are various hikes and viewpoints to the various lakes. The climb from the chairlift to the first rock plateau only takes 20 to 30 minutes but is a bit more demanding. Depending on which hike you choose, you will need around 3-5 hours for the circular route.
There are several cute little stands in the valley next to the entrance to the chairlift with good food and drinks. At the top there is a slightly larger hut that also sells food, drinks and snacks.
The Rila Mountains are more of a ski resort in winter. Temperatures are pleasantly mild from May to September, although there may still be snow here even in June. So definitely the Bulgarian Summer is the best time for lovely hikes around this area.
A place that everyone should visit when they come to Bulgaria. Unfortunately, it is nowadays very crowded, especially in the summer months.
Tip: We definitely recommend that you arrive very early in the morning, Ideally, be one of the first at the lift, as it can get incredibly crowded throughout the day in high season.
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