Bansko, Bulgaria

Bansko

Located in south west of Bulgaria, Bansko is said to be one of the most developed ski and winter resorts in eastern Europe and one of the best in Europe. Bansko tends to be just as popular in the summer as in the winter with it's range of sites for recreation and beautiful lakes.

Beaches

Bansko is an inland mountain town with no beaches in the near vicinity. However, the Greek waterfront city of Kavala, which is surrounded by wide bays and sandy beaches, is only 2.5 hours drive away.

Things to Do

During the winter, the highlight of Bansko is undoubtedly the well equipped skiing and snowboarding zone.

During the summer the same ski tracks and the Pirin National Park become a playground for cycling, horse-riding and mountain climbing.

Walking trails and tourist routes can be obtained from the town's visitor information centre, where you can also learn much about the trees and wildlife that fill the Park's mountains, lakes and forests.

The International Jazz Festival takes place annually in August and concerts take place throughout the day and evening, indoors and out, for the best part of a week. During the winter there is an open-air ice skating rink.

Out and About

There are a number of historical landmarks in the town of Bansko itself, perhaps the most notable being the sizeable Holy Trinity Temple and its symbolic belltower. The museum complex provides excellent examples of Revival architecture and also worth a visit is the Bansko Art School Icon Exhibition

Nearby Attractions

Outside of the city you can see the natural rock formation named 'The Wedding' which, according to legend, is actually the guests of a wedding who were turned to stone (29km) or, you could visit the artistic and historic Rila Monastery and Hyrelo's Tower, parts of which date back to the 10th century, in the Rila Mountain (94km)