Rila Monastery & Blagoevgrad tour from Skopje

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12 hours (approximately)
Pickup offered
Offered in: English

We will be able to visit one of the most beautiful Orthodox monasteries in the Balkans. Rila Monastery is a remarkable structure in the middle of nature. Situated in the center of the Rila mountain, the monastery is a hidden gem. We will also visit the city of Blagoevgrad, a student city that features a pedestrian downtown with preserved 19th-century architecture and numerous restaurants, cafés, coffee shops, and boutiques.

What's Included

Experienced English-speaking guide/driver for the tour
Pick-up and drop off from your hotel or any other preferred location in Skopje
All transfers with a comfortable A/C car or minivan
Food and drinks
Entrance fees
Personal expenses

Meeting and pickup

Pickup points
You can choose a pickup location at checkout (multiple pickup locations are available).
Pickup details:

We can pick you up from your hotel or any other preferred location in Skopje

OR
Meeting point
Boulevard Krste Petkov Misirkov

Skopje

End point
This activity ends back at the meeting point.

Itinerary

Duration: 12 hours (approximately)
  • 1
    Rila Monastery

    The monastery is named after its founder, the hermit Ivan of Rila (876 - 946 AD), and houses around 60 monks. Founded in the 10th century, the Rila Monastery is regarded as one of Bulgaria's most important cultural, historical and architectural monuments and is a key tourist attraction for both Bulgaria and Southern Europe.

    1 hour • Admission ticket not included
  • Rila Mountains (Pass by)

    We will be able to witness beautiful sceneries that offer the Rila mountain, and take some photos on the way.

    Admission ticket free
  • 2
    Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Church

    We will have some free time for lunch or a coffee break in the city center and have a chance to shop in the city malls and boutiques. We could visit the Church Presentation of the Blessed Virgin, Located in Varosha settlement in Blagoevgrad. This church reminds you of the Rila monastery building. And this is no accident because, at the place where the temple in Varosha (the old town) is today, there was a convent of the Rila Monastery.

    2 hours • Admission ticket not included
  • Югозападен университет „Неофит Рилски“ (Pass by)

    Somewhere in the city, we can make a lunch or a coffee break. Blagoevgrad is best known for being a student town with two big universities. One of them is the South-west university Neofit Rilski.

    Admission ticket free
  • American University in Bulgaria (Pass by)

    And the other one is the American University of Bulgaria, founded in 1991.

    Admission ticket free
  • Monument of Gotse Delchev (Pass by)

    After our city tour, we will get back in our comfortable vehicle, and drive back to Skopje.

    Admission ticket free

Additional info

  • Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
  • Suitable for all physical fitness levels
  • In this tour we are crossing the border with Bulgaria. You MUST confirm and obtain any visa requirements prior to border crossing. All visa requirements are the sole responsibility of the traveler
  • The tour operates in various weather conditions, please dress accordingly
Supplied by Experience Balkan

Tags

Day Trips
Full-day Tours
Bus Tours
Private Sightseeing Tours
Cultural Tours
Historical Tours
Car Tours
Short term availability

Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

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