Arrive early, dress respectfully and allow time for the trail to St Ivan of Rila's cave.
Stays 
Jan Vykopal - User: (WT-shared) Snapshot at wts wikivoyage · CC BY-SA 1.0Places · Rila Monastery
Rila Monastery
Рилски манастир
A UNESCO monastery wrapped in forest, with monumental frescoes, a museum and mountain trails.
01
Visiting advice
Photos & short video
Bulgarian food
Local food →Local food
kapama · banski starets · Melnik wine · mekitsi
Regional slow-cook · winter
Kapama
A celebratory Bansko casserole layering sauerkraut, rice, sausage and several meats in a sealed pot.
What's in it Sauerkraut, rice, pork, chicken, veal, sausage, red wine and spices; recipes vary by family.
Wikimedia Commons contributorsFried dough · breakfast
Mekitsa
Warm, airy fried dough with a crisp rim, served sweet or salty at breakfast.
What's in it Flour, yogurt or water, yeast or bicarbonate, salt and frying oil.
Wikimedia Commons contributorsBean soup · traditional
Bob chorba
A comforting bean soup scented with savory and mint, made either meatless or with smoked meat.
What's in it White beans, onion, carrot, pepper, tomato, savory and mint; sometimes sausage or ribs.
Viktorija N. Ivanov / Wikimedia CommonsSalad · vegetarian
Shopska salad
The classic first order: tomatoes, cucumber and peppers under a generous snowy layer of white brined cheese.
What's in it Tomatoes, cucumber, roasted or fresh pepper, onion, parsley and sirene cheese.
Biso / Wikimedia CommonsBreakfast · pastry
Banitsa
Crisp filo layers wrapped around eggs, yogurt and white cheese—a warm Bulgarian breakfast staple.
What's in it Filo pastry, eggs, yogurt, sirene cheese and butter or oil.
Sumit Surai / Wikimedia CommonsCold soup · vegetarian
Tarator
A cooling yogurt and cucumber soup served cold—simple, fresh and especially popular in summer.
What's in it Yogurt, cucumber, garlic, dill, walnuts, water and a little oil.NEARBY
Public transport
Рилски манастир
© OpenStreetMap contributors · Open Database License · availability depends on local mapping
Map
Directions
02
Directions
Buses and trains
The monastery currently advises that public transport has not resumed. Use private or organised transport, or travel by bus to Blagoevgrad and pre-arrange a taxi; verify the official monastery page before departure.
03
Nearby places
Colin W · CC BY-SA 3.0BanskoBansko Old Town
Старият Банско
Stone houses, the Holy Trinity Church and Pirin culture beyond the ski slopes.
Read the guide
Κλέαρχος Π. Καπούτσης
Original uploader was Klearchoskapoutsis at el.wikipedia · CC BY-SA 2.5MelnikMelnik & the sandstone pyramids
Мелник и пясъчните пирамиди
Bulgaria's smallest town pairs Revival architecture, sandstone formations and centuries of wine making.
Read the guide
Petko Yotov (User:5ko) · CC BY-SA 3.0Kovachevitsa villageKovachevitsa
Ковачевица
A stone-roofed architectural reserve climbing a Rhodope hillside above the Kanina River.
Read the guide