Also known as Saint Moritz of Bulgaria, Bansko is synonymous with skiing, with its remarkable facilities being very close to Greece and offered at very economical prices. But Bansko is also the nature, the cobbled streets of the old town, the stone houses, the delicious food and the intense entertainment.
A few words about the city
Bansko is a town in southwestern Bulgaria, at the foot of Mount Pirin, at an altitude of 936 meters above sea level. The population of the city amounts to 9,212 inhabitants, who until a few years ago were engaged exclusively in trade and animal husbandry. But this changed in just a few years, with the development of the homonymous ski resort, turning Bansko into one of the fastest growing tourist resorts of the Balkan Peninsula! The town is also famous, as it is the birthplace of the notable Bulgarian poet of the 20th century, Nikola Vaptsarov, but also for the Jazz Festival, which takes place there every year. So I have chosen for you, what I consider to be worthy of attention for one who is visiting the city for the first time.
Ski Center
Bansko entered the winter tourist map in the last ten years, when over 100 million euros were invested in facilities, in order to become the most important winter ski resort in Bulgaria and the wider region. And I think that this investment was successful, since Bansko is now the largest ski resort in the Balkans, spreading its white slopes from 1.000 to 2.560 meters altitude. To get there you will use the "Bansko gondola", a modern high-capacity lift, which will quickly and easily take you from the city to the ski resort. Whether you are completely beginners or more advanced, you will find a track for your needs, and you will not have to worry about equipment, since there are over 3500 pairs of ice skates and 670 boards available. Also, the center is equipped with 100 snow cannons, so you never run out of "raw material". In the high season when Bansko is flooded with tourists, the queues can reach up to an hour of waiting, so it is better to wake up a little earlier so as not to lose half your day in the queues. Even if you are not a ski enthusiast, you can enjoy the view from the resort's scattered facilities, while sipping your coffee in the heat. Finally, the daily pass costs 55 Leva (IE about 28€), while there are many more interesting packages or discounts for young people.
Bansko Town
Crystal clear lakes, coniferous forests and the peaks of the Pirin Mountains have surrounded the small town of Bansko for 10 centuries, since the legend wanted Samuel's armies to establish the settlement. The historic city center, declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is rich in culture and features colorful folklore, with a mix of traditional and modern facilities. On the one hand the old town with its cobbled streets, squares and folk taverns (Mehana) and on the other the luxurious and modern resorts.
The most famous sights of the city are the House-Museum of the famous modern Bulgarian poet Nikola Vaptsarov and the Church of St.Trinity (Sveta Troitsa).
In the first, visitors can learn details about the poet and his life, through the specially selected exhibits, such as personal items, books, notes and videos. In recent years the museum has been reconstructed and renovated several times so that the exhibition can take its last form. Admission costs 3 Leva, that is, about 1.5e.
Regarding the Church of St. Trinity, this is an Orthodox temple at the end of Pirin Street, at the southern end of vazrazhdane (Renaissance) Square. The church with its bell tower is the emblem of the city, as it symbolizes for the locals, the struggle they made to keep their manners and Customs during the Ottoman rule. The construction began in 1810 and the area donated by Bansko residents. As the law at the time of the Ottoman rule prohibited the erection of a temple if the site they were to build was not previously a temple, the locals secretly buried a cross and icon in the selected area in order to circumvent the law. Another law of the time forbade a Christian Church to be larger than a mosque, in order to circumvent this law, the inhabitants also included Islamic symbols in the Temple, something you can see on the stone you find at the entrance, where in addition to the cross lie crescents. In 1850 they started building the bell tower in the courtyard of the church, which is 30 meters high and looks like a four-sided pyramid. Admission is free.
It is also worth visiting the market of the city, which although small has a different air from the usual ones. Small shops with local products, woodwork and ceramics, which are excellent souvenirs and you can get them at very good prices.
Pirin National Park
Just ten minutes from the city of Bansko is the Pirin National Park, an area of unique beauty full of lakes, waterfalls and caves. As I mentioned above, most of the investments in the town involve ski facilities, but the locals make efforts to encourage tourism throughout the year, with eco-tourism. This park is 106 sq.m., at an altitude of 1,008 to 2,914 meters, while it was originally created in 1962, much smaller than today, in order to preserve the mountain forest. Noteworthy is the fact that it has been designated a "World Heritage Site" by UNESCO. The walk in the park can be likened to a dip in the diversity of nature, since in Pirin more than 1300 species have found shelter, which corresponds to more than 30% of all Bulgarian species. Finally, during the summer months, various events are organized there that include hiking, climbing, cycling and other types of exercise, aiming to bring the visitor closer to nature.
Rila Monastery
Rila Monastery may not be located in Bansko (about 93 km away), but it is one of the attractions in the area that you should not miss. This particular attraction is the most popular Orthodox monastery in Bulgaria and is named after the famous Bulgarian saint and hermit, Ivan of Rila. The importance of the monastery for the country is shown by the fact that it appears on the back of a leva, while it is one of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites. It is believed that it was founded by Ivan himself, during the reign of Tsar Peter I (927-968) and was built by his students, who climbed the mountain to live with him. The monastery reached its peak during the 12th and 14th centuries, as the most important cultural and spiritual center of the Bulgarian national consciousness during the Ottoman Empire. Its current appearance dates from the 14th century, while there are several older pieces such as the tower of Hrelyu (1334–1335) and a small church next to it (1343).
Hot springs & Spa
If Bansko is famous for anything other than skiing, it certainly has to do with physical well-being. Most hotels offer these amenities such as massage, Turkish bath, jacuzzi, sauna, heated pools, etc., for free or at low prices, but believe me it is worth visiting some of the thermal baths in the area for natural baths. Many small villages around have natural spas with healing properties, where the water temperature reaches very pleasant for the body 40 degrees. The most famous areas are Banya, Sandanski and Ognianovo. In the first, choose the main facilities "Rimska Banya" and with 7 euros (about 15 leva) you can enjoy the thermal baths for the whole day, but also other alternative ways of relaxation.
How to go
In Bansko there is obviously no airport, so you can only reach it by a bus or your own vehicle. If you choose the bus from Thessaloniki, you will be in the city in about 2.5 hours, while with your car, in something less than 2 hours. You can also fly to Sofia and from there take some local bus, which you also do something less than 2 hours to get to Bansko.
Where to stay
In Bansko the hotels are so many, that if we list them by the population of the city, we are talking about one hotel per 15 inhabitants!! The value for money is extremely good, since there are many 4 & 5 star hotels, offering quality accommodation at reasonable prices. Certainly in the high season, prices are somewhat higher, but most offer breakfast, lunch and some commutes, so they are definitely worth their money. So my suggestion is the Premier Luxury Mountain Resort, a luxurious 5-star hotel, with a swimming pool, spa and gym, whose amenities are not reflected in its price.
How to move
Moving in Bansko is mostly done on foot. The distances are very short, while in winter the snow makes travel difficult by any other means. Buses in the city do not exist; you may find some stopping coming from other cities, so they are not very useful. If you want to explore the surrounding areas, renting a car is a good idea, since both the vehicle itself and gasoline are highly economical. On the other hand, if you stay only in the historic center of the settlement and want to avoid walking, you can stop a taxi. Ultimately, the ascent to the ski resort is done by cable car.
What to eat
The Bulgarian and especially the local cuisine is really special and enjoyable. The most typical dish of the region is "Kuche", a pork shank which is served along with other varieties of meats on wooden board. Accompany it with their highly quality red wine. It is also worth trying the local sausage (Siutzuk) and the appetizing salads "Kopone" and "lutenitsa", as well as the appetizing bread "Paleda".
You will see on almost all shop signs the word Mehana, which means something like the Bulgarian Tavern. The authentic Mehana used to include dance and live music and in this way the visitor had the opportunity to get to know the local cuisine and the popular culture of the place. Unfortunately, most of them on the altar of tourism have sacrificed tradition and quality, so it would be advisable to avoid them unless they have recommended them to you. Besides, most Bansko hotels have half board.
Useful information
In Bansko we travel with a new type Passport or Police ID, where the details are written in Latin characters.
In Bansko the language used is Bulgarian. But the majority, if not all, speak English, so ask for clarifications in English.
The country's currency is the Leva, but most stores also accept euros.
Bansko has the same time as Greece.
The Greek Embassy in Bulgaria is located in Sofia and more specifically at 33, San Stefano Str. and her phone number is +3592 8433085.
The best time to explore the city is, of course, winter, when the ski resort opens and one can combine city walks with skiing. Due to the altitude, the cold is bitter, so dress accordingly.
Recommended excursions → Sofia, Plovdiv, Banya, Sandanski
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Mouzakidis Pantelis
