There are 8 ways to get from Istanbul to Rila Monastery by bus, train, taxi, 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 via Sofia
best- Take the bus from Istanbul Esenler Otogari to Sofia Airport Terminal 2 Bus Stationbus Arda-Tur
- Take the bus from Sofia Vasil Levski Monument to Rila Monasterybus Traventuria 44
13h 28m$50–69Bus
cheapest- Take the bus from Istanbul to Blagoevgradbus
13h 33m$45–63Train, taxi
- Take the train from Halkalı to Svilengradtrain
- Take the train from Svilengrad to Kostenetstrain
- Take the taxi from Kostenets to Rila Monasterytaxi
14h 45m$65–90Drive 613.9 km
- Drive from Istanbul to Rila Monasterycar 613.9 km
6h 59m$97–140Fly Istanbul to Sofia Airport, bus
- Fly from Istanbul (IST) to Sofia Airport (SOF)plane IST - SOF
- Take the bus from Sofia Vasil Levski Monument to Rila Monasterybus
9h 28m$108–233Fly Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen International Airport to Skopje International Airport, drive
- Fly from Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen International Airport (SAW) to Skopje International Airport (SKP)plane SAW - SKP
- Drive from Skopje-Airport-SKP to Rila Monasterycar
7h 52m$70–165Fly Istanbul to Skopje International Airport, drive
- Fly from Istanbul (IST) to Skopje International Airport (SKP)plane IST - SKP
- Drive from Skopje-Airport-SKP to Rila Monasterycar
7h 37m$126–249Fly Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen International Airport to Sofia Airport, bus
- Fly from Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen International Airport (SAW) to Sofia Airport (SOF)plane SAW - SOF
- Take the bus from Sofia Vasil Levski Monument to Rila Monasterybus
9h 47m$110–319
Istanbul to Rila Monastery by bus, subway, and foot
Questions & Answers
The cheapest way to get from Istanbul to Rila Monastery is to bus which costs $45 - $65 and takes 13h 33m.
The fastest way to get from Istanbul to Rila Monastery is to drive which takes 6h 59m and costs $95 - $140.
No, there is no direct bus from Istanbul to Rila Monastery. However, there are services departing from Istanbul and arriving at Rila Monastery via Blagoevgrad and Kocherinovo City Center. The journey, including transfers, takes approximately 13h 33m.
The distance between Istanbul and Rila Monastery is 688 km. The road distance is 613.9 km.
The best way to get from Istanbul to Rila Monastery without a car is to bus via Sofia which takes 13h 28m and costs $50 - $70.
It takes approximately 13h 28m to get from Istanbul to Rila Monastery, including transfers.
Istanbul to Rila Monastery bus services, operated by Alpar Turizm, depart from Istanbul station.
Istanbul to Rila Monastery bus services, operated by Alpar Turizm, arrive at Blagoevgrad station.
Rila Monastery is 2h behind Istanbul. It is currently 10:28 PM in Istanbul and 8:28 PM in Rila Monastery.
Yes, the driving distance between Istanbul to Rila Monastery is 614 km. It takes approximately 6h 59m to drive from Istanbul to Rila Monastery.
What companies run services between Istanbul, Turkey and Rila Monastery, Bulgaria?
You can take a bus from Istanbul Esenler Otogari to Rila Monastery via Sofia Airport Terminal 2 Bus Station, Sofia Airport, Sofia University, and Sofia Vasil Levski Monument in around 13h 28m.
- Website
- turkishairlines.com
Flights from Istanbul to Sofia Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 18m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $75–190
Flights from Istanbul to Skopje International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 30m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $90–250
- Website
- flypgs.com
Flights from Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen International Airport to Skopje International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 30m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $40–270
Flights from Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen International Airport to Sofia Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 20m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $35–230
- Website
- ajet.com
Flights from Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen International Airport to Skopje International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 30m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $40–110
- Phone
- +90 444 8 233
- cozum@tcddtasimacilik.gov.tr
- Website
- tcdd.gov.tr
Train from Halkalı to Svilengrad
- Ave. Duration
- 6h 41m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $7–12
- Website
- https://www.tcdd.gov.tr/lang/en
- Phone
- +35929311111
- onlineticket@bdz.bg
- Website
- bdz.bg
Train from Svilengrad to Kostenets
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 9m
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- $7–12
- Website
- https://www.bdz.bg/en
- 2nd Class
- $7–11
- 1st Class
- $10–12
- Phone
- +359 700 20 544
- Website
- ardatur.bg
Bus from Istanbul Esenler Otogari to Sofia Airport Terminal 2 Bus Station
- Ave. Duration
- 8h 50m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $35–55
- Website
- https://ardatur.bg/en/
- Phone
- +359 2 493 0191
- info@traventuria.com
- Website
- traventuria.com
Bus from Sofia Vasil Levski Monument to Rila Monastery
- Ave. Duration
- 3h
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $12–18
- Website
- https://traventuria.com/
- Phone
- +90 212 658 18 51
- info@alparturizm.com.tr
- Website
- alparturizm.com.tr
Bus from Istanbul to Blagoevgrad
- Ave. Duration
- 10h 30m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $35–50
- Website
- https://www.alparturizm.com.tr/en/
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 16m
- Estimated price
- $50–65
Taxi Samokov Borovets
- Phone
- +359 88 770 8623
- Website
- facebook.com
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