All about Bansko

Bansko is located close to Sofia -- this historic town is set at the foot of the Pirin mountain range. Popular in winter as a ski and snowboarding resort, the town is also worth a visit in summer when the local national park really comes into its own.

Bansko as a ski resort

The town offers state-of-the-art ski/winter sports facilities -- there are over 35 miles of designated ski runs and night skiing is an option here as there is a floodlighting system. The runs in the resort suit all abilities -- they are particularly popular with beginners and intermediate skiers. Experts are also well served as they can use the runs used by the Bulgarian Olympic squad for training. The town offers a revolutionary Ski Data ski pass card -- this uses a chip to register so it never needs to come out of the pocket. The chair and drag lifts are also up to date and modern and include gondolas and quad chairs. Winter sports enthusiasts can try out cross country skiing and shooting at the biathlon range. The Junior Ski Club is very popular with children -- it takes them from the age of 4+.

Bansko in summer

The town also offers a lot for summer visitors. Most activities are based in and around the Pirin National Park. Activities here include: walking, climbing, horseback riding, mountain biking, paragliding, fishing, swimming and nature watching.

Places of interest

Bansko is an historic town and, as such, offers a variety of places of interest for visitors. These include the Velyanova House, the St Trinity Church, the Neofit Rilski Museum and the Nikola Vaptsarov Museum. Any visitor ought to take the time to visit the Pirin National Park -- home to glacial lakes, alpine peaks, waterfalls and pine forests.

Entertainment

The town runs concerts at Easter and Christmas, a Festival in May and a Jazz Festival in the summer. On a general basis there is plenty to do in the evening and during the day with a variety of cafes, bars, taverns, restaurants and discos on offer. Local taverns often have local musicians playing.

Accommodation in Bansko

Recent investment in the ski infrastructure means that there are all kinds of accommodation options on offer in the town. Hotels include luxury modern complexes, family run medium sized guest houses and smaller boutique hotels. Self catering is also increasingly popular in the town with properties of all sizes and styles to rent so it’s always easy to find something to suit any budget. Rented accommodation here typically includes: apartments, flats, studios, houses, villas and chalets. The resort does get busy - especially in the winter season -- so it’s important to book ahead.

Conclusion

Bansko has something to offer both the winter and summer visitor. The skiing here is top notch and the summer activities offered in the Pirin National Park are a nature lover’s delight.