Seven Rila Lakes Hike: A Journey Through Bulgaria’s Alpine Wonderland

Why the Seven Rila Lakes Hike Is One of Bulgaria’s Top Experiences

In the next lines, we will introduce you to one of the most popular attractions in Bulgaria – the Seven Rila Lakes! The hike is long, so prepare at least 5–6 hours, with a lot of walking, but it is totally worth it, because the views are incredible! The view from the top is amazing and it is a great experience.

How to Get to the Seven Rila Lakes from Sofia

If you arrive at Sofia Airport, the fastest way is by car, around 1 hour 30 minutes, but if rent-a-car is not an option, I will give you a route to get there by bus. From Sofia Airport, if you land at Terminal 2 you can take the metro to reach Central Bus Station - Sofia, Tsentralna, Knyagina Maria Luisa Blvd 100, 1202 Sofia.
If you arrive at Terminal 1 (usually low-cost companies land at Terminal 1), you will need to take a shuttle to Terminal 2 to use the metro. From Terminal 2, take the metro line M4 (the ticket is €0.82 and you can pay with card/phone when you enter), and you need to change at Serdika station to line M2. The stop where you need to get off is Central Railway Station. From there, you need to walk to Central Bus Station - Sofia, around 4 minutes.

Sofia to Dupnitsa

At Central Bus Station, you need to buy a ticket Sofia to Dupnitsa, the trip is around 2 hours and costs €3.49. I recommend buying tickets online from www.busexpress.bg

Dupnitsa - Sapareva Banya

After you arrive at Dupnitsa - Bus station Dupnitsa, ask at Dupnitsa bus station for the next bus to Sapareva Banya (the line is listed as Dupnitsa – village Saparevo, but it passes through Sapareva Banya, so you get off there). According to the current timetable, buses from Dupnitsa to the village of Saparevo run approximately every 1–1.5 hours on weekdays and about every 2 hours on weekends. The trip to Sapareva Banya is around 25 minutes. The ticket costs approximately €1.50.

Sapareva Banya to Panichishte

Because you will lose a lot of time reaching Sapareva Banya, my advice is to book a night there and in the morning start towards the Seven Rila Lakes. Sapareva Banya is famous for its hot mineral water (103°C). Early in the morning, you need to go from Sapareva Banya to Panichishte. This is the “tricky” part.

In high season, shuttle vans sometimes wait near the town center (around the municipality area) and leave when they have enough passengers. There isn’t a guaranteed year-round public shuttle, so don’t rely on it outside peak months.

Taxi option: A taxi from Sapareva Banya to Panichishte takes about 20 minutes and is often the most reliable backup.

I recommend planning the hike between June and August; personally, I prefer the end of June. Dress well – up there it is often cold even in summer. After you reach Panichishte, you have 2 options: to take the two-seat chairlift to Rila Lakes Hut, or to go on foot for around 1 hour 30 minutes. The chairlift is around 20 minutes. It will save you a lot of energy and time and costs around €11, and €16 for both directions (Payment tip: card may work, but coverage can be weak—bring cash just in case). After you get off at the top chairlift station, you will see Rila Lakes Hut. There you will find an information board with the routes for the Seven Rila Lakes. Personally, I recommend the standard circular route “Seven Rila Lakes”.

Start: top chairlift station / Rila Lakes Hut
Finish: back at the chairlift / hut
Time: 4–6 hours (depending on your pace and breaks)
Difficulty: moderate

The Seven Rila Lakes are a group of glacial lakes. They are located in Northwestern Rila Mountain and are arranged step by step between 2095 m and 2535 m above sea level. Here are their names from the lowest to the highest:

• Lower Lake – elevation 2095 m
• Fish Lake – elevation 2184 m
• Trefoil Lake – elevation 2216 m
• Twin Lake – elevation 2243 m
• Kidney Lake – elevation 2282 m
• Eye Lake – elevation 2440 m
• Tear Lake – elevation 2535 m

Rila Lakes Hut – Kidney Lake - about 1 hour and 30 minutes

We will follow the most popular route. It starts from Rila Lakes Hut with a steeper climb for around 30 minutes. After that, it takes about 1 more hour to reach Kidney Lake, which has this name because of its specific kidney-like shape. This lake is the second largest after Twin Lake. It’s a good place to take a short break, because to the next lake you will have another climb again.

Kidney Lake – Eye Lake - about 30 minutes

From Kidney Lake we start another climb, around 30 minutes in the direction of Eye Lake.

Eye Lake – Tear Lake - about 40 minutes

From Eye Lake to Tear Lake, you have around 40 minutes of climbing. The view from the top is incredible – you can enjoy the view of Eye Lake, Kidney Lake, Twin Lake, Trefoil Lake, Fish Lake and the Lower Lake. But don’t forget to enjoy Tear Lake itself as well – the lake has this name because the water is crystal clear and transparent.

Tear Lake – Twin Lake - about 45 minutes

To reach Twin Lake, we go back on the same trail through Eye Lake to Kidney Lake, and from there we take another path downhill. This path takes you to the biggest lake by surface area – Twin Lake. The whole descent is around 45 minutes and it can be steep. Keep in mind that in June the snow melts and the rivers are very full, and in some places, to cross, you may need to take off your shoes and cross barefoot through the water. During a long drought (usually August), the lake can split into two smaller lakes – that is where the name Twin Lake comes from.

Twin Lake – Trefoil Lake - about 15 minutes

After Twin Lake, the trail takes you to Trefoil Lake in about 15 minutes.

Trefoil Lake – Fish Lake - about 15 minutes

From Trefoil Lake, in about 15 minutes you reach Fish Lake. This is the shallowest of the Seven Rila Lakes. On the shore of the lake you can see the old Seven Lakes Hut. There are many fish in the lake, which is how it got its name, but fishing is forbidden.

Fish Lake – Lower Lake – Rila Lakes Hut - about 40 minutes

From Fish Lake, the trail passes close to the Lower Lake. It is the lowest of the Seven Rila Lakes and it collects the water that flows from the other lakes. It is also the start of the Dzherman River. From Fish Lake to Lower Lake it is about 10 minutes, and after that you have around 30 more minutes back to Rila Lakes Hut. I recommend eating at the hut – the food is very tasty. From the hut you can take the Rila Lakes chairlift back down, which will take you to the starting point in Panichishte.

If you have planned a longer stay, I recommend that the next day you do the Malyovitsa hike, and the day after that Musala, the highest peak in the Balkans. These destinations are very close to the Seven Rila Lakes.