There are 6 ways to get from Istanbul to Rila Monastery by bus, car, plane, or taxi
Select an option below to see step-by-step directions and to compare ticket prices and travel times in Rome2Rio's travel planner.
Bus
best- Take the bus from Istanbul to Blagoevgradbus
10h 17m$58–77Drive 613.9 km
- Drive from Istanbul to Rila Monasterycar 613.9 km
6h 57m$98–141Fly Istanbul Airport to Sofia Airport, taxi
- Fly from Istanbul Airport (IST) to Sofia Airport (SOF)plane IST - SOF
- Take the taxi from Sofia Airport (SOF) to Rila Monasterytaxi
6h 14m$187–412Fly Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen International Airport to Sofia Airport, taxi
- Fly from Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen International Airport (SAW) to Sofia Airport (SOF)plane SAW - SOF
- Take the taxi from Sofia Airport (SOF) to Rila Monasterytaxi
6h 29m$222–482Fly 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 47m$82–337Fly Istanbul Airport to Skopje International Airport, drive
- Fly from Istanbul Airport (IST) to Skopje International Airport (SKP)plane IST - SKP
- Drive from Skopje-Airport-SKP to Rila Monasterycar
7h 37m$152–277
Istanbul Airport (IST) to Sofia Airport (SOF) flights
Comparing Your Travel Options
The cheapest way to get from Istanbul to Rila Monastery is to bus which costs $55 - $80 and takes 10h 17m.
The fastest way to get from Istanbul to Rila Monastery is to fly and taxi which takes 6h 14m and costs $180 - $420.
No, there is no direct bus from Istanbul to Rila Monastery. However, there are services departing from Istanbul and arriving at Blagoevgrad via . The journey, including transfers, takes approximately 10h 17m.
The distance between Istanbul and Rila Monastery is 698 km. The road distance is 613.9 km.
The best way to get from Istanbul to Rila Monastery without a car is to bus which takes 10h 17m and costs $55 - $80.
It takes approximately 10h 17m 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 1h behind Istanbul. It is currently 12:09 AM in Istanbul and 11:09 PM in Rila Monastery.
Yes, the driving distance between Istanbul to Rila Monastery is 614 km. It takes approximately 6h 57m to drive from Istanbul to Rila Monastery.
What companies run services between Istanbul, Turkey and Rila Monastery, Bulgaria?
Alpar Turizm operates a bus from Istanbul to Blagoevgrad once daily. Tickets cost $30–45 and the journey takes 9h 30m.
- Website
- turkishairlines.com
Flights from Istanbul Airport to Sofia Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 18m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $75–260
Flights from Istanbul Airport to Skopje International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 27m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $120–390
- Website
- flypgs.com
Flights from Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen International Airport to Sofia Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 20m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $35–260
Flights from Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen International Airport to Skopje International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 25m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $45–280
Flights from Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen International Airport to Skopje International Airport via Izmir
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 35m
- When
- Tuesday
- Estimated price
- $50–310
- Website
- ajet.com
Flights from Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen International Airport to Skopje International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 35m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $50–160
- Phone
- +90 212 658 18 51
- [email protected]
- Website
- Alpar Turizm
Bus from Istanbul to Blagoevgrad
- Ave. Duration
- 9h 30m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $30–45
- Website
- Alpar Turizm
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 57m
- Estimated price
- $110–130
OK Supertrans
- Phone
- +359 2 973 2121
- Website
- oktaxi.net
Panda Taxi
- Phone
- +359 2 998 2121
- Website
- panda-taxi.com
Taxi Stars
- Phone
- +359 877 144 144
- Website
- taxistars.net
Yellow Taxi
- Phone
- +359 2 962 1333
- Website
- yellow333.com
OK Supertrans
- Phone
- +359 2 973 2121
- Website
- oktaxi.net
Panda Taxi
- Phone
- +359 2 998 2121
- Website
- panda-taxi.com
Taxi Stars
- Phone
- +359 877 144 144
- Website
- taxistars.net
Yellow Taxi
- Phone
- +359 2 962 1333
- Website
- yellow333.com
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Booking & Getting There
There are 111+ hotels available in Rila Monastery.