The premier ski resort in south-western Bulgaria, located in the heart of the Pirin Mountains, Bansko is not only one of the best ski resorts in the country but also one of the best places to enjoy a holiday during the winter or summer months and experience a culture that is both heart-warming and adventurous. While the city itself was mostly a farming and travelling merchant community before the advent of ski tourism, it has transformed over the last few decades into one of the ski capitals of the country, and a major tourist point for both winter and summer recreational activities. The combination of mountains, lakes and forests make this the ultimate stopping point for the mountain lover.
After a day on the slopes above Bansko, there’s nothing more relaxing than a massage and a soak in hot mineral springs. The village of Banya is just five kilometres out from Bansko, offering visitors the perfect finishing touch to their ski holiday. Above and beyond the ski slopes and the hot springs, however, Bansko is also known for its variety of restaurants featuring a range of national cuisine as well as several Irish and British pubs and restaurants catering to the U.K. traveller. In addition to the winter and summer festivities, the town also features an annual women’s race in the Alpine Skiing World Cup and the annual Bansko Jazz Festival. And to finish off the perfect winter or summer holiday in Bansko there is also a scenic train ride on the route from Septemvri to Dobrinishte, two villages in the surrounding mountains.