Churches and Monasteries to Visit in Bulgaria

Bulgaria’s Orthodox monasteries kept the country’s faith, language and art alive through nearly five centuries of Ottoman rule. This chapter begins with the greatest of them, Rila Monastery, painted inside and out and set deep in the mountains.

The domed church of Rila Monastery with striped arcades below forested mountains — Rila Monastery, in the mountains south of Sofia — where this guide to Bulgaria begins. Photograph by Vaan Photography on Pexels.

Rila is about two hours’ drive south of Sofia. Since 2026 Bulgaria has used the euro.

Where to start

Rila Monastery

The national shrine of Bulgaria: a striped, frescoed church inside a ring of arcades, founded by St Ivan of Rila. Free to enter.

Rila mountains, south of Sofia

Practical notes

At a glance
Admission	Monastery courtyards and churches are usually free; museums charge
Dress	Cover shoulders and knees; men remove hats in church
Photography	Often banned inside churches and museums; outside is fine
Currency	Bulgaria has used the euro since 1 January 2026

Coming next

Boyana Church in Sofia, a UNESCO site with frescoes of 1259, and the Alexander Nevsky Cathedral are the obvious next additions.