landmark
Rila Monastery
Bulgaria's most important UNESCO-listed monastery, a stunning 10th-century complex adorned with vivid frescoes nestled in the Rila Mountains.
17 km · about 20 min drive
Kyustendil, Bulgaria · Europe
Rila is worth a stop: 15 minutes from Kocherinovo, 18km from Seven Rila Lakes.
Rila is a town located in Kyustendil, Bulgaria. With a population of 3,002, it is an important destination in Europe.
On a road trip, Rila sits in Bulgaria, where you drive on the right. It's in the Europe/Sofia time zone. Below you'll find where to stay, things to do nearby, and everything you need to add Rila to your route.
Rila (Bulgarian: Рила, pronounced [ˈriɫɐ]) is a town in southwestern Bulgaria, the administrative centre of Rila Municipality, in the southeastern part of Kyustendil Province.
The town lies in a mountainous region at the foot of the southwestern Rila Mountains, 20 km (12 mi) from the Rila Monastery, 34 km (21 mi) fromRead more
Dupnitsa, and 65 km (40 mi) from Kyustendil. It is situated on the banks of the Rilska River at the entrance of the Rila Monastery Nature Park. In antiquity, the area was inhabited by the Thracians and Romans; it was known as Sportela and then as Roligera. In the Middle Ages it was part of the Bulgarian Empire. In the 14th century, the village was a feudal possession of the Rila Monastery and may have been mentioned in Tsar Ivan Shishman of Bulgaria's Rila Charter as Driska. Later on, it was mentioned as İrlie in Ottoman tax registers of 1576.
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Rila offers many attractions including tourist sites, museums, parks, and local restaurants. Explore famous landmarks, scenic roads, and natural wonders on our interactive map and plan your visit.
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Rila is located in Kyustendil, Bulgaria, Europe. The coordinates are 42.1262 latitude, 23.1328 longitude.
Rila has a population of approximately 3,002 people, making it a town in Bulgaria.
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Essential numbers in Bulgaria
Vignette required for all roads outside towns.
Full driving guide for Bulgaria4 notable places within an hour's drive.
landmark
Bulgaria's most important UNESCO-listed monastery, a stunning 10th-century complex adorned with vivid frescoes nestled in the Rila Mountains.
17 km · about 20 min drive
natural wonder
A chain of seven stunning glacial lakes stacked at different elevations in the Rila Mountains, each named for its distinctive shape.
18 km · about 20 min drive
national park
Bulgaria's largest national park encompassing the highest peak in the Balkans (Musala, 2,925m) with alpine lakes, glacial valleys, and dense pine forests.
35 km · about 40 min drive
national park
Rugged Balkan mountain scenery with marble peaks, glacial lakes, and ancient Bosnian pines in Bulgaria.
49 km · about 55 min drive
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