Bulgaria - Bansko Resort Guide

Bankso ski resort is situated in the South-Western part of Bulgaria at the foot of the Pirin Mountains and is surrounded by the Rila and Rhodopi mountain ranges. Bansko is a climatic mountain resort and the town is listed as one of UNESCO's World Heritage sites. The Bansko mountains represent the highest peak in the Pirin range (2914m) and the second highest in Bulgaria. The resort has undergone huge investment that is rapidly turning the town into a modern international winter sports venue. With a total ski run length of 65 kilometres covering 14 pistes and a ski season that lasts for five months Bansko is the new place to holiday.
Transfer time from Sofia airport to Bansko is very straightforward. Since joining the EU, a vast amount of investment has gone into the infrastructure. The capital is now linked directly with a new motorway, which has reduced the transfer time from Sofia airport to approx 2.5 hours. Bansko town is located at 925 m. above the sea level, whilst its skiing area is situated between 1000-2500 m above sea level.
Bansko has seen a vast amount of property development in the past 5 years, with lots of hotels and ski apartments springing up and expanding the boundaries of the town. At the heart of Bansko is the old town, featuring a network of cobbled streets with traditional houses that date back hundreds of years. This traditional part of the town has not been touched by the development and has a charm which needs to be seen. On Sunday mornings in the centre of Bansko there is an open-air market where a range of locally crafted goods can be purchased at reasonable prices. The town centre has been modernised, with a range shops, a museum commemorating one of Bulgarian’s famouse poets and a large monument in the square to commemorate a famous local historian called Otets Paisiit.
Bansko is famous for its Mehanas (spelt "Mexana" in Bulgarian). These are traditional Bulgarian restaurants and Bansko has some of the finest food on offer in the whole of Bulgaria. There are over 50 different restaurants to choose from which offer visitors to the town a taste of local culture.
Bansko is more than just a ski and snowboard playground. The town and surrounding forests are also a centre for trekking, tourism, nature with over 100 cultural and historic monuments. The resort heartily welcomes the winter and summer tourist in equal measure
The skiing conditions in Bansko are excellent and ski runs are suitable for all types of skiers: beginners, intermediate and experts. There are magnificent views to be seen when travelling as you go up on the gondola. A vast amount of investment has gone into the development of the ski lifts; they are new and of comparable quality to the type of lifts you would expect to find in the top resorts in Europe and America. On the top of the mountain you can buy meals of all prices.
To experience an excellent ski holiday in a up-and-coming resort with lots of character, try Bansko!