When you visit the Boyana Church in Sofia, you will feel the authentic atmosphere and see magnificent ancient murals. They have survived to this day thanks to the hard work of several generations of restorers.

To view the landmarks comfortably, take an audio guide tour. With it, you can not only see unique places and exhibits, but also learn little-known facts that we have collected for tourists who prefer to travel independently.

LISTEN TO A FRAGMENT - THIS BEAUTIFUL VOICE WILL TELL YOU ABOUT THE CHURCH:

LISTEN TO A FRAGMENT - THIS BEAUTIFUL VOICE WILL TELL YOU ABOUT THE CHURCH

PRICE

INCLUDES

3 BGN / €1.5

Audio guide

History of the Church + Inside the Church

1 h.

Tour languages

How to purchase an audio guide

You can listen to our audio guide on your phone using headphones. You just need to buy the audio guide, turn it on during your tour and enjoy the exciting story of how the temple was created and why the Boyana Church of St. Nicholas and St. Panteleimon is included in the UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Register.

How to purchase an audio guide:

Select a language
Select the date of your visit in the calendar
Make a payment
On your email address you will receive a link with access to the audio files and a map of the church grounds

The link will become active on the specified day and within 24 hours you will be able to listen to the recordings, with the option to choose between seven popular languages.

listen to a fragment of the recording

ENG Boyana Church:

ENG Boyana Church

ESP la Iglesia Boyana :

ESP la Iglesia Boyana

ITA Chiesa di Boyana :

ITA Chiesa di Boyana

FRA Eglise de Boyana :

FRA Eglise de Boyana

DE die Kirche von Bojana :

DE die Kirche von Bojana

RUS Боянская церковь:

RUS Боянская церковь

BG Боянска църква:

BG Боянска църква

How to get there and what the visiting hours are

The Boyana Church is located in the village of Boyana, 8 kilometers from Sofia. If you want to go there using public transport, take bus number 64 or 107. Get off at the “Boyansko Hanche” stop.

The Boyana Church is open every day:

during the summer period (01.04 - 31.10) from 09:30 until 18:00 (the box office is open until 17:30)
during the winter (01.11 - 31.03) from 09:00 until 17:30 (the box office is open until 17:00)

The entrance fee for adults is 10 BGN / 5 EURO, for students – 2 BGN / 1 EURO.

Free admission:

Disabled people and their assistants
Children under school age
Every Last Monday of the month after 15:00 o'clock

Ancient temple – Boyana Church

The temple on the territory of the Boyana Church is one of the few completely preserved buildings where you can see with your own eyes the masterpieces of Eastern European art from the Middle Ages. Special microclimate is maintained here so that future generations can admire the beauty of the unique murals.

To ensure the best preservation of the murals, regulations only allow you to stay in the closed room for 8 minutes. During this time, you will be able to breathe in the coolness of the centuries, learn interesting information from the audio guide and admire the magnificent work of the ancient masters. Photography is prohibited, but you can buy souvenirs for a keepsake.

History of the Boyana Church

In the 11th century it was a small cross-domed chapel in the local fortress. In the 13th century, during the reign of the Sofia governor Sebastokrator Kaloyan, it became part of his rural residence. He increased the area by making a two-story building. The lower floor was set aside for a family tomb, and the upper floor was converted into a chapel in honor of Saint Nicholas. The temple was repainted by artists. In the first half of the 19th century, the vestibule was also completed – the third largest room.

The condition of the building became a matter of concern for experts in the early 20th century. The murals are covered with a thick layer of moisture, salt and soot. Thanks to the diligent work of several generations of restorers, in 2006 the church was opened for visits.