it is still a working monastery with monks in attendance. The inside of the monastery is very opulent I haven't seen one like it. I

Spend 2-3 hours here and admire the best series of outdoor frescoes on the walls, the museum, and do understand most old monasteries of this type did not well survive the Turkish occupation. Rila monastery is unique in having been difficult to find, extremely well guarded, and difficult for the Turks to close without igniting full rebellion many centuries early.... More

I visited this amazing monastery with his family. A little piece of heaven tucked away in the mountains. Amazing murals, nature, quiet and relaxing place. Tourist destination a weekday is less loaded with tourists. Around the monastery there are several restaurants, but we chose to go to the restaurant, which is located below the monastery in the women's convent.The waiters... More

The biggest and most famous of Bulgaria's monastery's. Its complex is huge and the church in the middle is covered in beautiful murals. Around the monastery are situated a lot of traditional Bulgarian restaurants which server hot and delicious food.

This is an Eastern Orthodox Monastery. There are about 40 or so monks in actual residence. You will encounter a few as you walk around the grounds. The monastery is located in the mountains and surrounded with pine trees. The church is basically a reconstruction with styles dating from the 11th C on. The church is dedicated to St. John... More

First, you are not allowed to go into the monastery itself since the monks are living there, and this is understandable. Second, they did not allow us to go up the tower on some flimsy excuse. Third, the church is nice, but nothing extraordinary. Fourth, eating choices around there are very limited for vegetarians, almost non existent. The trip up... More

We visited the monastery just for something to do and give us a chance to see the bulgarian countryside as we were travelling from borovets. We hired a taxi driver to take the four of us on the 3 hour round trip journey. (140 lev). The sites of the villages along the way was an education. Some bleak and desolate.... More

This is the most must see place in Bulgaria. Rila is a sacred place in Bulgaria for its history, culture and religion in a remote area about 1 hour from Sofia. We were still lucky that there were not so many people so we were able to take some photos although there was one American family stood in front of... More

This is one of the most beautiful places in the world, so peaceful and magnificent...Especially out of the tourist season.