Cultural & Leisure Activities

The Rila Monastery is Bulgaria’s largest and most famous monastery. It was founded in 927 AD and is hidden high in the Rila Mountains. It is regarded as one of Bulgaria's most important cultural and historic monuments. It is located just 90 minutes from Borovets and is a very enjoyable day trip.

If you fancy a day of luxury, Borovets has many hotels which offer spa and wellness centres with a range of massage and beauty treatment. Alternatively you could visit the town of Sapareva Banya which is a natural spa resort and host to Europe’s hottest mineral water and the only active geyser in the Balkans.

You can visit the Bistritsa Palace (Tsarska Bistritsa) which is the former kings’ residence in Borovets. The hunting lodge was nationalised after 1945, when Bulgaria became a Communist state. Following the democratic changes of 1989 the palace was somewhat controversially returned to Simeon II (the last monarch of Bulgaria). The palace now hosts the royal families’ collection of hunting trophies and remains open for public viewings. The architecture of the building is also interesting and combines Bulgarian National Revival architecture with other European styles.

The city of Plovdiv is definitely worth to visit. The old town area is a maze of cobbled streets and Roman ruins. If you are lucky, you can even take in a classical concert in the ancient amphitheatre. Plovdiv is also famous as a centre for artists and today the city has many museums and art galleries.

The Seven Rila Lakes are the most spectacular lakes in Bulgaria. Set high in the Rila Mountains, they can be reached either on foot or by jeep-safari. The lakes are situated at between 2100 and 2500 metres above sea level. Basic accommodation is available near the lakes, if you wish to spend a night on the mountain.