Bansko

Bansko (Bulgaria: Банско) is a mountain and ski resort in Southwest Bulgaria, under the slopes of the Pirin Mountains. It's one of the busiest international ski resorts in Bulgaria.

Understand
Bansko lies under the north-eastern slopes of the Pirin Mountains, on the southern edge of the Razlog Valley created by the meeting point of three mountain ranges - Rila and Pirin to the west and the Rhodope Mountains to the east. The town's official altitude is above sea level, and its permanent population is about 9 thousand.

While Bansko has been a ski resort since the Communist era, a boom in international visitors developed in the 2000s. As a result, the place is heavily covered in hotels and other establishments catering to tourists; real estate speculation is another thriving business. Since the 2010s, the town has also attracted a lot of foreign "digital nomads", a group with less seasonal variation.

Peak season in Bansko is in winter starting approximately mid-December. In summer the altitude combined with its southern location give it a mild continental climate.

By plane
Bansko has no airport of its own. The closest international airports are:
 * Sofia - about  by car, though there are shuttle services that run between the airport and Bansko, e.g. BanskoShuttle (buses run Dec-Apr; private transfers are all-year round, but much pricier)
 * Plovdiv - about  by car, but see also the railroad note below.

By train
Perhaps the most interesting way to get to Basnko is via the only surviving narrow-gauge railway in Bulgaria - the Septemvri–Dobrinishte line, where Bansko is the penultimate stop. Traversing beautiful mountains and valleys and passing by countless rural Bulgarian villages, the train is considered by some as one of the most scenic rides in the Balkans. The line starts at Septemvri, a small town close to Pazardzhik - both are on the main rail line between Sofia and Plovdiv, so switching trains is quite easy. However, this is not the most practical route to Bansko by any means, as the train takes just under 5 hours with an operating speed of just to complete a journey doable in hour and a half by car. For those with the extra flexibility required for the ride, however, this is the way to get to Bansko. The website of the national rail carrier has a dedicated page about the narrow gauge line in English, where you can check timetables.

On the other side of the Pirin Mountains, the provincial capital Blagoevgrad is served by standard-gauge trains. It lies on the main line that leads south from Sofia to the border. The station is easily accessible from the city, from which buses to Bansko are plentiful.

By bus
There are many buses departing Sofia each day from different stations so be sure to check which station your bus is departing from. Room for luggage can be an issue as they are mainly vans so you may have to wait for the next one on occasion if you have bulky items e.g. a snowboard. The cost is around 16 лв each way. The timetable can be found here.

From Blagoevgrad there is frequent bus service (every 30–60 min) to Bansko, the ticket costs 3-4 лв. The bus station is very close to the train station, around 5 min on foot. From Bansko bus station you can call a taxi to your hotel, ask at the ticket office. You should agree on the price when you get in to avoid surprises (10-15 лв should be enough). Note some hotels may suggest a bus ride from Blagoevgrad to Bansko, but at a much higher price.

Get around
Getting around in Bansko is relatively easy. The town is not large, and walking around is nice. The city government never permit high rises hotels to settle within the old city area.

Taxis are relatively cheap (5-10 лв), though you should arrange the price beforehand. Have your hotel reception call you a taxi if you can.

If you get to Bansko with your car, bear in mind that few roads get cleaned from the snow and ice, so snow chains may be required even in the city. Don't be fooled by local cars not using chains, as they use winter tyres which make a lot of difference!

Renting a car from Sofia for most tourists is considerably beneficial because of the flexibility. Taxi rides can cost €1-5 per kilometer and are not recommended when traveling outside the city of Bankso.

See
In a nice day, with good visibility the view of the mountains is beautiful, especially if you take the lift to the ski tracks. (You should get to the ski tracks at least once even if you do not ski yourself



Skiing
Bansko is a good place for skiing in winter. The resort is mainly suited to beginners and those more advanced will get bored quite quickly. Also don't expect the runs to be groomed to often. Skiers and Snowboarders could find BanskoSki useful. It is also a good idea to avoid any English school holidays as there will be insane amounts of people everywhere (and a 3-hr wait to get up the mountain via gondola) as well as the skiing world cup as half of the runs will be closed for the weeks leading up to it.

You can rent ski gear at the first station and get a discount at the lift ticket, though if you want to leave your skis there overnight there is an extra charge. A lot of ski rental shops can be found around the first station, where you can probably rent gear in better condition and get a good price if you book for more than 1 day (recommended). (Full ski gear for 4 days cost 100 лв). You can probably arrange to leave the gear at the shop overnight for free.

The weather in Bansko is obviously colder than some Greek ski resorts, so warmer clothes and a full face hood is nice to have.

You can get a multiday ticket for the lifts, although the discount is negligible. There is also a half day ticket after 12:30 or 13:00 each day, but you can also buy tickets at a better price from people leaving the ski centre before the end of the day, around the ticket offices.

Most hotels offer a bus service to the ski lift station in the morning and afternoon. Try to get to the lift station not later than 09:00 to avoid long queues. It is also advisable to buy the tickets from the previous afternoon for the same reason. There are also minibuses to ferry people up the mountain in the morning which is included in the lift pass.

Hiking
Bansko is an excellent entry way to the Pirin Mountains, Bulgaria's wildest and least developed mountain range. Vihren hut, named after the nearby Mt. Vihren, is the best place to begin both short and long distance treks. During the peak season (mid-Jun to mid-Sep) a bus will take you several times a day to and from Bansko. Great one day hikes include Mt. Vihren, the 2nd highest mountain in Bulgaria and 3rd highest in the Balkans, and The Koncheto, a 200-m-long and 1-m-wide ridge between the second and 3rd highest mountains in Pirin with vast cliffs on either side. With a full day it is possible to hike them both.

The highest peak of Pirin Mountain (Vihren, 2,916 m) is at a day's walk from the city.

Other

 * Bansko Nomad Fest is held in the last week of June since 2020; it's claimed to be the world's largest festival for digital nomads by its organizers
 * In the beginning of August an annual jazz festival, the Bansko Jazz Festival, is held in the town.
 * The Sveta Troitsa church, a Christian temple from 19th century.

Buy
There are some fashionable clothing retailers, as well as ski shops in the town. The prices for ski and sports gear are quite good, but usually not exceptional. You should be able to lower the initial price if you negotiate.

On a smaller budget, there are also numerous souvenir shops selling a range of generic Bulgarian items, as well as Bansko specific ones.

There is a village market on Sundays. You can get greens, honey, cheap shoes and farmers tools, among others.

Eat
Bansko is rife with traditional Bulgarian taverns ('Mehana'; plural 'Mehani'), as well as cafes and modern bars along the main roads. Price should be around 20 лв per person in most places.

There are also a lot of places where you can get a slice of pizza or a sandwich. The "Friends Pub" near the first ski lift station is really nice, you can get a slice of pizza in the kiosk outside, or a full meal inside.The best tavern in Bansko is Matsurev han.The inn offers Bulgarian national cuisine, traditional dishes from Bansko, prepared on live coals, on a plate and in an oven. ”Matsurev’s Inn” is located at the foot of the Pirin mountain in the heart of the town of Bansko. It is located over the church “St. Trinity” at 100 m from the central square of the town and only at 15 minutes walking from the first station of the cabin lift.

By the end of the ski season (March–April) many restaurants offer large discounts to repeat customers too, sometimes up to 60% off, making eating out at this time incredibly cheap.

Drink
Cocktail bars and strip clubs can be found during winter season, when the city becomes 'sin city'

But also numerous fountains on the streets providing fresh water from the mountain. Safe to drink.

Sleep
You can find nice 3-4 star hotels for 80 лв per night for a double room. Most hotels have sauna (free) and spa (extra charge).

Go next

 * Pirin National Park – UNESCO World Heritage National Park with over 27,000 ha, altitude 1,008–2,914 m, mountain landscapes with glacial lakes, waterfalls, caves and predominantly coniferous forests.
 * Melnik – A traditional village in beautiful landscape
 * Rhodope Mountains