Regions: Bansko Overview

Bansko

If you decide to rent a villa in Bansko, you'll soon find out that it's no ordinary Bulgarian town.

Set in the Southwest of the country and being blessed with an alpine climate, in winter it transforms itself into Bulgaria's biggest and most exciting ski resort.

The summer months see tourists flock from all over the world to visit its cultural delights and architectural wonders in addition to enjoying the celebrated Pirin National Park.

Location

Nestled at the foot of the Pirin mountain range is situated about 100km from the capital city Sofia which is home to Bulgaria's biggest airport.

The villas in Bansko are easily accessible from here by car, bus or train, all of which are relatively cheap in comparison with most European countries.

Over the last decade, enormous amounts of time and money have been spent on successfully turning Bansko into a world-class ski resort which is why this year it is playing host to the Alpine Skiing World Cup.

People prefer to rent villas here rather than in other European resorts because the ski centres can cater for every age and ability, even having their own ski school for the kids.

Bansko Ski Resort

They’ve really gone to great lengths to ensure a fantastic network of ski runs covering over 74 kilometres of snowy terrain.

In addition to this, they even cater for thrill-seekers looking for the more adrenaline pumping activities with a multitude of cross country tracks, slalom runs and even a half pipe for snowboarding, all of which are well served by a newly installed Gondola lift.

To ensure that you have the best possible experience, there are many bars, restaurants and shops conveniently located in the resort itself where you can eat, drink and buy or rent equipment.

Best of all, the ski season here runs for an impressive five months! Top quality snow is ensured at all times by the regular use of snow canons which keep the terrain perfect for skiing, so there is much more flexibility when it comes to booking villa rentals and flights.

History & Culture

With a history dating back to Roman times, Bansko itself is full of exciting things to do, with a delightful array of beautiful buildings, museums, art galleries and places of historical interest.

It is little wonder that UNESCO has declared it a World Heritage Site.

Furthermore, just a few miles away in the idyllic village of Banya there are a number of thermal hot springs to try, so don't forget to pack your swimming gear.

For art and architecture lovers there is also the famous Rila Monastery, which was founded over a thousand years ago as a refuge for hermits. The monastery displays some stunning examples of religious murals and artwork in the characteristic Bulgarian tradition.

So if you fancy a day off from the slopes and don't want to stay in the villa, there's plenty to see in the town and surrounding areas.

Bansko in Summer

For those without a penchant for skiing or those who prefer a warmer climate, unlike other resorts Bansko has just as much to offer holidaymakers looking to rent villas during the summer months when the snow has melted and the weather is warmer.

Bansko boasts an excellent number of traditional restaurants and taverns show-casing their best local dishes and of course their famous Bulgarian wines.

Recently, the town has become known for its music events with the annual Jazz Festival attracting great attention and various pop concerts taking place.

In addition to this there are also a variety of clubs and bars where the younger crowd can let their hair down.

World Heritage Site

However, clearly the principle attraction in Bansko during the summer months is the beautiful national park which since 1983 has been protected as a World Heritage Site.

It is a vast alpine landscape filled with pine forests, green meadows, lakes, caves and waterfalls.

This creates opportunities for countless activities for nature loving tourists such as walking, boating, and trekking, plus there are many rare and interesting species of birds, flowers and animals that can be observed in their natural habitats.

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