How to get fromIstanbul to Rila Monasteryby bus, train, taxi, night train, car or plane

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There are 8 ways to get from Istanbul to Rila Monastery by bus, train, taxi, night train, car, or plane

Select an option below to see step-by-step directions and to compare ticket prices and travel times in Rome2Rio's travel planner.

Bus, train, taxi
best
1. Take the bus from Istanbul Esenler to Plovdiv
2. Take the train from Plovdiv to KostenetsRe
3. Take the taxi from Kostenets to Rila Monastery
9h 50m
$77–95
Train, bus
cheapest
1. Take the train from Halkalı to Sofia
2. Take the bus from Sofia Vasil Levski Monument to Rila MonasteryTraventuria 44
19h 42m
$28–42
Night train, train, taxi
1. Take the night train from Halkali to Dimitrovgrad
2. Take the train from Dimitrovgrad to KostenetsRe
3. Take the taxi from Kostenets to Rila Monastery
12h 24m
$66–91
Drive 613.9 km
1. Drive from Istanbul to Rila Monastery613.9 km
6h 56m
$97–140
Bus
1. Take the bus from Istanbul to Blagoevgrad
13h 33m
$46–64
Bus via Sofia
1. Take the bus from Istanbul Esenler Otogari to Sofia Airport Arrivals Terminal 2Arda - Tur
2. Take the bus from Sofia Vasil Levski Monument to Rila MonasteryTraventuria 44
13h 48m
$51–69
Fly to Sofia Airport, bus
1. Fly from Istanbul (IST) to Sofia Airport (SOF)IST - SOF
2. Take the bus from Sofia Vasil Levski Monument to Rila Monastery
6h 32m
$122–302
Fly to Skopje International Airport, drive
1. Fly from Istanbul (IST) to Skopje International Airport (SKP)IST - SKP
2. Drive from Skopje International Airport (SKP) to Rila Monastery
5h 10m
$144–339

Istanbul to Rila Monastery by bus, subway, and foot

7Weekly Services

13h 48mAverage Duration

$51Cheapest Price

Questions & Answers

Launch map view

Distance: 620.5 km
Duration: 9h 50m

What companies run services between Istanbul, Turkey and Rila Monastery, Bulgaria?

Alpar Turizm operates a bus from Istanbul to Blagoevgrad once daily. Tickets cost $35–55 and the journey takes 10h 30m.

Transport is disrupted due to the Russia-Ukraine war. Read more

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More Questions & Answers

Blagoevgrad(opens in a new window), Bulgaria(opens in a new window)

Blagoevgrad is а town in Southwestern Bulgaria, the administrative centre of Blagoevgrad Municipality and of Blagoevgrad Province. With a population of almost inhabitants, it is the economic and cultural centre of Southwestern Bulgaria. It is located in the valley of the Struma River at the foot of the Rila Mountains, 101 km south of Sofia, close to the border with North Macedonia.

Things to do in Blagoevgrad

Rila Monastery(Opens in a new window)

The Monastery of Saint Ivan of Rila, better known as the Rila Monastery (Bulgarian: Рилски манастир, Rilski manastir) is the largest and most famous Eastern Orthodox monastery in Bulgaria. It is situated in the southwestern Rila Mountains, 117 km south of the capital Sofia in the deep valley of the Rilska River at an elevation of 1147 m above sea level, inside of Rila Monastery Nature Park. The monastery is named after its founder, the hermit Ivan of Rila (876 - 946 AD), and today houses around 60 monks.

Bodrost(Opens in a new window)

Bodrost (Bulgarian: Бодрост) is a tourism and ski resort near Blagoevgrad, Bulgaria. Bodrost is located in the valley of the Blagoevgradska Bistritsa, 30 km east from Blagoevgrad at around 1250m above sea level. It is an entry point to the Rila National Park. The Bodrost hut is located in the resort.

Places to stay in Blagoevgrad

Boutique Apartments Blagoevgrad(Opens in a new window)

9.4Superb

Sky Apartments(Opens in a new window)

9.3Superb

Spa Hotel Ezeretz Blagoevgrad(Opens in a new window)

8.4Very Good

City Blagoevgrad Family Hotel(Opens in a new window)

8.5Very Good

Rome2Rio makes travelling from Istanbul to Rila Monastery easy.

Rome2Rio is a door-to-door travel information and booking engine, helping you get to and from any location in the world. Find all the transport options for your trip from Istanbul to Rila Monastery right here. Rome2Rio displays up to date schedules, route maps, journey times and estimated fares from relevant transport operators, ensuring you can make an informed decision about which option will suit you best. Rome2Rio also offers online bookings for selected operators, making reservations easy and straightforward.