The most famous sight in Bulgaria, and another UNESCO world heritage site. The Rila monastery is about 120km from Sophia, so it’s easily doable as a day trip
I walked into the building, not expecting much, but it realy blew me away. The monastery is lost in the midst of a mountain range so the backdrop is something really stunning.
The monastery itself is beautiful too, and over 1000 years old (built in 1927), it’s been protecting Bulgarian culture and tradition since then, which was particularly important during the Ottoman rule.
It’s free to walk around the monastery but if you want to enter the museum or tower you have to buy tickets ($4 each).
Also, 4km behind the monastery is a cave tomb, the Tomb of St Ivan. You have to hike up into the mountains, and once there you’ll find a little building which acts as the tomb. Another small hike later and you’ll be squeezing through rocks, bouldering your way out to the other side. It’s a quanit little side show to the main event of the monastery but if you took public transport it’s a bit of a mission.
I set off in a taxi around 9.30am and was back by 3pm – all in all a great day trip from Sophia. Next up – night bus to Macedonia. Happy travels!
HOW TO GET TO THE RILA MONASTERY:
It’s only 120km so a day trip is your best bet, there are a few options to get there:
a) Hostel tour – every hostel runs day trips here for around 40 Lev ($25)
b) Taxi – take a taxi, have him wait, and take the taxi back. Should cost around $50, but remember you can squeeze 3 or 4 people in one taxi.
c) Public bus: 3 hour buses run in the morning and return at 3pm, it’s $7 each way.
Remember, never travel without travel insurance! And never overpay for travel insurance!
I use HeyMondo. You get INSTANT quotes. Super cheap, they actually pay out, AND they cover almost everywhere, where most insurance companies don't (even places like Central African Republic etc!). You can sign-up here. PS You even get 5% off if you use MY LINK! You can even sign up if you're already overseas and traveling, pretty cool.
Also, if you want to start a blog...I CAN HELP YOU!
Also, if you want to start a blog, and start to change your life, I'd love to help you! Email me on johnny@onestep4ward.com. In the meantime, check out my super easy blog post on how to start a travel blog in under 30 minutes, here! And if you just want to get cracking, use BlueHost at a discount, through me.
Also, (if you're like me, and awful with tech-stuff) email me and my team can get a blog up and running for you, designed and everything, for $300 - email johnny@onestep4ward.com to get started.
Do you work remotely? Are you a digital nomad/blogger etc? You need to be insured too.
I use SafetyWing for my digital nomad insurance. It covers me while I live overseas. It's just $10 a week, and it's amazing! No upfront fees, you just pay week by week, and you can sign up just for a week if you want, then switch it off and on whenever. You can read my review here, and you can sign-up here!
As you know, blogging changed my life. I left Ireland broke, with no plan, with just a one-way ticket to Thailand and no money. Since then, I started a blog, then a digital media company, I’ve made more than $1,500,000 USD, bought 4 properties and visited (almost) every country in the world. And I did it all from my laptop as I travel the world and live my dream.
The monastery is amazing, probably the best option for a day trip from Sofia
Johnny you are doing great.i visit your page everyday. someone like me learns so much from your website
i am writing blog about my hometown.it is in Turkish. When i saw your blog,i start to write in English. i hope people like my first page
http://kapadokyarehberi.info/ihlara-vadisine-nasil-gidilir/cappadocia-turkey/ my home town fairy land with fairy chimneys and rock formations used as a house,storeroom or hotel.I call it the flintstones, STILL PEOPLE LIVES IN A CAVE. Do you believe it?
actually is established in 927