Rila Monastery

Bulgaria's most famous monastery and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, founded in the 10th century by the hermit St Ivan of Rila and rebuilt after a fire in the 19th century. Its striped arcaded courtyard, wooden balconies and the church covered inside and out with brightly coloured frescoes, set against the forested Rila Mountains, make it one of the most striking sights in the Balkans. The 14th-century Hrelyo's Tower is the oldest part.

The monastery is free to enter; there's a small fee for the museum, which holds a wooden cross carved with 1,500 tiny figures. Dress modestly in the church. You can stay overnight in simple rooms in the monastery itself, which lets you see it after the day-trippers leave. Try the fried doughnuts (mekitsi) sold outside the gate.

From the monastery, a 15-minute walk leads to St Ivan's cave and tomb, and longer hikes go up into Rila National Park. It's about 120 km (2 hours) from Sofia, with daily buses and many day tours.