The mountains – even more beautiful in summer
Bansko is beautiful in summer with hot weather ideal for mountain walking and other outdoor activities.
The historic old town of Bansko sits at the foot of the Pirin mountain range bordering the Pirin National Park – a UNESCO world heritage site and a protected area of stunning natural beauty covering 40,000 hectares with over 180 lakes.
The Mesta valley divides the three main mountain ranges in the area – the Pirin, Rila and Rhodopi - and offers miles of superb mountain biking, hiking and trekking terrain along its forest and valley trails.
The area is steeped in history spanning the Hellenic civilization, the Roman Empire, the Old Bulgarian Kingdom and the Ottoman Empire. Its well-preserved culture, centuries-old villages, mineral spas, monasteries and archaeological sites are ideal for sightseeing trips.
Bulgaria’s capital city of Sofia, with it historic city centre sights, is also only a two-hour drive away and there are many taxi and transfer services offering guided tours.
Outdoor fun
For fans of the big outdoors, Bansko offers several rafting packages on the Struma and Mesta Rivers and both the rivers and mountain lakes offer lots of opportunities for fishing. The forest and valley trails are ideal for exploring on horseback and cross-country carting in specially-designed mountain carts and off-road jeeping are also available.
The surrounding Pirin peaks, ridges and valleys provide an unforgettable mountaineering experience for all levels of ability, from complete beginner to hardened mountaineer, and there are more than 100kms of marked alpine routes, while the caves around Bansko should not be missed with their underground rivers, stalactites and stalagmites.
A number of the better quality hotels in Bansko, including the Emerald Spa Hotel, have swimming pools combined with spa centres which offer body, beauty and health care facilities, while the Valley of the Mesta river is well-known for its natural mineral spring waters with relaxing mineral baths at Banya and Dobrinishte.
It is also possible to visit the Dancing Bears Park at Belitsa where former dancing bears are rehabilitated to the wild.
Festivals
August is festival month in Bansko with two major music festivals. The Pirin Folk Festival with local singers, dancers and musicians is followed by one of Europe’s largest international open air jazz festivals. There is also a Bansko Easter Concert and a traditional festival In May.
Finally, several golf courses are under construction in the area, including an Ian Woosnam designed course just outside the town. If you are interested in golfing, please contact us and we will endeavour to provide you with the most up-to-date information on available facilities.
Bansko Ski Apartment for Bansko skiing holidays - Rented direct from the owner
Bulgaria’s newest ski resort
Bansko Skiing