Yes, and it's one of the most popular ways to see the region. Rila Monastery sits a short drive from Blagoevgrad in the Rila Mountains, making it easy to pair the two in a single day. With a private transfer, you can add the monastery as a sightseeing stop on your route and set your own pace at each place, rather than juggling separate tours or transport connections.
Blagoevgrad sits about 101 km (63 miles) south of Sofia, generally 1.5-2 hours by road depending on traffic. A private transfer takes you door to door on your own schedule, so you skip bus station transfers and fixed timetables and arrive ready to explore rather than waiting around.
A half day, roughly 2-3 hours, is enough to wander Varosha and visit the church at a relaxed pace. If you want to extend the day, Blagoevgrad pairs naturally with a stop in the Rila Mountains, giving you a full day of sightseeing without needing an overnight stay.
Blagoevgrad packs a lot into a compact center. Start in Varosha, the old quarter of cobblestone lanes and 19th-century Bulgarian Revival houses, then step inside the Church of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary to see its carved wooden iconostasis and vivid frescoes. Add a walk along the riverside promenade and through the university district, where a young, lively atmosphere sets Blagoevgrad apart from Bulgaria's more museum-like old towns.
Varosha is Blagoevgrad's best-preserved corner, a maze of narrow stone streets lined with wooden-balconied houses from the Bulgarian National Revival period. Small workshops, galleries, and cafes fill the ground floors, so it rewards slow wandering rather than a checklist visit. It's easy to miss if you're only passing through, but ideal for a few unhurried hours on a day trip.
Blagoevgrad offers a different kind of day: a genuine university city with youthful energy alongside a well-preserved historic quarter, minus the crowds of Bulgaria's headline destinations. Its location near the Rila Mountains also makes it a smart waypoint for exploring the wider region, giving you both an authentic town center and easy access to nature in one trip.