From Sofia to Rila Monastery: from €121 per car, 130 km, about 2 h; from Plovdiv from €198. Book with the “Request a quote” button or call us.
"From" prices from Sofia Airport to Rila Monastery
| Destination | Distance | Time | Car | Minivan (up to 6) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rila Monastery | 130 km | 2:00 h | from 121 € | from 154 € |
"From" prices from an address in Sofia to Rila Monastery
| Destination | Distance | Time | Car | Minivan (up to 6) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rila Monastery | 130 km | 2:00 h | from 121 € | from 154 € |
"From" prices from Plovdiv and Plovdiv Airport to Rila Monastery
| Destination | Distance | Time | Car | Minivan (up to 6) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rila Monastery | 285 km | 3:30 h | from 198 € | from 253 € |
A VIP transfer to Rila Monastery with a private chauffeur costs from €121 per car and from €154 per minivan from Sofia and Sofia Airport, and from €198 per car and from €253 per minivan from Plovdiv and Plovdiv Airport (one-way prices). The Mercedes S-Class, E-Class and V-Class are on request at +359 897 227 771. From Sofia the drive is about 130 km and 2 hours, from Plovdiv about 285 km and 3 h 30 min.
Updated: 18 October 2026
Rila Monastery: the one day trip every visitor to Sofia asks about
Rila Monastery is the largest and best-known monastery in Bulgaria and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It was founded in the 10th century by Saint John of Rila, and its striped arcades, the Church of the Nativity of the Virgin with frescoes by Zahari Zograf and the medieval Hrelyo Tower make it the single place where you can see a thousand years of Bulgarian history in one afternoon. If you have one free day in Sofia between meetings, this is usually where it goes.
Getting there is the tricky part. The monastery sits high in the Rila mountains and there is no quick public transport from Sofia. Group coach tours leave at a fixed time, stop where the programme says and fill up with strangers. With a VIP transfer you leave when you are ready, travel only with your own party in a clean, comfortable car, and stay at the monastery as long as you like.
The route from Sofia and Sofia Airport
From your hotel in Sofia, or from Terminal 1 or Terminal 2 at the airport, we take the Struma motorway south past Dupnitsa. At Kocherinovo we turn east, drive through the small town of Rila and follow the Rilska river valley up to the monastery. The last stretch is a mountain road through forest, so the chauffeur drives calmly, especially in winter. In total it is about 130 km and 2 hours each way.
The price is the same from the airport and from a Sofia address, from €121 per car for up to 4 passengers. That makes a direct trip after landing easy: on a morning flight you can be at the monastery before lunch and back at your Sofia hotel in the evening.
From Plovdiv and Plovdiv Airport
From Plovdiv to Rila Monastery it is about 285 km and 3 h 30 min, from €198 per car and from €253 per minivan. From Plovdiv Airport we charge the same as from the city. Because of the distance this is normally planned as a full day with an early start, or combined with a night in the area or an onward trip to Bansko.
A day trip with a chauffeur who waits for you
Most of our guests do not just want a drop-off; they want time to explore without watching the clock and a ride home the same day. So in most cases the chauffeur waits in the monastery car park while you visit, then drives you back to Sofia or on to the next stop of your day. The prices in the tables are one way; we confirm the waiting time and return when you book, based on how long you want to stay.
If you would rather keep the whole day flexible, for example adding the Boyana Church on the way back or lunch in the mountains, a VIP car with chauffeur by the day or hour is the better fit. Tell us about any extra stop when you book and we will confirm the price in advance.
Delegations, executives and company guests
For companies and institutions hosting international guests, Rila Monastery is a classic part of the programme: meetings in Sofia in the morning, the monastery in the afternoon, back at the hotel for dinner. We handle all of the transport, from meeting guests at Sofia Airport according to their flights to a car for senior management and a minivan or van for the rest of the group travelling together. Our chauffeurs speak English, which helps when your guests travel without their host.
For larger groups and protocol visits see Premium VIP Delegation Visits and Premium Tours; for arrivals, see the VIP Transfer from Sofia Airport with Mercedes S-Class.
Cars and groups
- Car for up to 4 passengers – from €121 from Sofia and Sofia Airport and from €198 from Plovdiv, one way.
- Minivan for up to 6 passengers – from €154 from Sofia and Sofia Airport and from €253 from Plovdiv. Good for a family or a small group with luggage.
- Van for up to 8 passengers – from Sofia and Sofia Airport from €176, from Plovdiv from €308. For larger groups we send several vehicles travelling together.
- Mercedes S-Class, E-Class and V-Class – on request at +359 897 227 771, when first impressions matter.
The price is for the whole vehicle, not per person, and does not change if traffic or weather makes the drive longer.
Good to know before you go
Rila is a working monastery, so we recommend clothes that cover your shoulders and knees, especially if you plan to go inside the church. It is noticeably cooler in the mountains than in Sofia and snow is possible in winter, so bring a warm layer even in summer, and comfortable shoes if you want to walk around the grounds.
How your VIP transfer works
- Booking. Send us your pick-up address or flight number, the date, the number of passengers and how long you would like to stay at the monastery. We confirm the price and the car.
- Before the trip. You receive the chauffeur’s name and phone number.
- Meet and greet. At the airport the chauffeur waits in the arrivals hall with a name sign; at an address, at the agreed time.
- On the road. About 2 hours to the monastery via the Struma motorway and the Rilska valley.
- Return. The chauffeur waits and drives you back to Sofia or on to your next stop.
Baby carriers, child seats and boosters are free of charge – just tell us when you book. All VIP transfers and prices are on one page.
Other VIP routes
Sofia Airport – Borovets · Sofia Airport – Bansko · Sofia and Plovdiv – Velingrad · Sofia Airport – Plovdiv · VIP Transfer Sofia – Sandanski and Melnik
Frequently asked questions
Who answers when I call?
We work 24/7 and answer right away.
How much is a VIP transfer to Rila Monastery?
From an address in Sofia or Sofia Airport it is from €121 per car for up to 4 passengers and from €154 per minivan for up to 6, one way. From Plovdiv and Plovdiv Airport it is from €198 per car and from €253 per minivan. A van for up to 8 and the Mercedes S-Class, E-Class and V-Class are on request.
How long is the drive from Sofia to Rila Monastery?
About 2 hours for 130 km from Sofia or Sofia Airport. From Plovdiv it is about 285 km and 3 h 30 min. In winter, with snow in the mountains, we allow extra time.
Can the chauffeur wait and bring us back the same day?
Yes, this is what most guests book. The chauffeur waits in the car park while you visit the monastery and then drives you back to Sofia or on to your next stop. We confirm the price for waiting and the return when you book.
Can you pick us up at Sofia Airport straight after landing?
Yes. The chauffeur waits in the arrivals hall with a name sign, and we follow your flight, so if it is late we wait at the airport at no extra cost. For pick-ups from an address the waiting time is 15 minutes.
Do we have to prepay, and do you have child seats?
No prepayment is needed: you pay at the end of the trip, and for companies the terms are agreed in the quote. Baby carriers, child seats and boosters are provided free of charge.
Request a VIP transfer to Rila Monastery
We work 24/7 and answer right away. For an urgent transfer call +359 897 227 771 (also WhatsApp).
На български: ВИП трансфер до Рилския манастир от София
