Hotels near Rila Monastery Nature Park

Rila Monastery Nature Park is the second nature park here, and its status is a legal curiosity worth understanding. The territory belonged to Rila National Park when both were created in 1992, but in 2000 it was returned to the monastery and recategorised, because Bulgarian law requires national park land to be state-owned. Rila Monastery Nature Park covers 252.5 km² between 750 m and 2,713 m, topping out at Rilets peak, and is administered from the town of Rila by the Executive Forest Agency.

Rila Monastery itself, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1983, is free to enter, courtyard and church included. The monastery museum charges about 8 BGN (4.09 EUR) and Hrelyo Tower about 5 BGN (2.56 EUR). The grounds open 07:00 to 20:00 and the museums roughly 08:30 to 16:30. Car parking runs 5 to 10 BGN (2.56 EUR to 5.11 EUR).

The walk most visitors make is the 4 km route from Rila Monastery up road 107 and the marked path to the cave and tomb of Saint Ivan of Rila, roughly an hour on foot in each direction.

Pro Tip: The direct Rila Express bus from Sofia's Ovcha Kupel station, 10:20 out and 15:00 back at about 17 BGN (8.69 EUR) one way, has been suspended in recent seasons. Confirm it is running the day before, or route via Blagoevgrad and Rila town instead.