Bansko Fact Sheet

General information
Description: Bansko is a unique small town of authentic architecture from the Bulgarian Revival period. In Winter, Bansko is the winter sports center of Pirin Mountain; during the Summer, Bansko is the premier starting point for a number of tourist routes to the Pirin Mountain. Closest airport is Sofia Airport.
Distance from Sofia: 150 km, Southwest Bulgaria; transfer time: two-and-a-half hours from Sofia Airport
Population: 10’000; Climate: mild in-town climate, temperatures are slightly lower than those at major cities

Winter activities: December – early May
Altitude: 990 m, altitude of highest ski run: 2500 m, altitude of lowest ski run: 1100 m, longest run: 3,5 km
Total kilometers of marked ski runs: 55 km, total kilometers of marked cross country trails: 9 km
Difficulty of slopes – beginner: 35 %, intermediate: 40 %, advanced: 25 %
Transfer to the ski runs: one 8-person Gondolla cabin lift with a capacity of 2400 person/hour
Total number of lifts: 14; lift types: one Gondolla, 6 chair lifts, 6 drag lifts; lift hours: 9:00 – 16:15
Ski and snowboard school: some of Bulgaria’s best instructors
Other winter sports: snowboarder’s half-pipe, a biathlon track with a shooting range, a winter sports stadium, a Junior Ski Club

Summer activities: May - October
Summer activities include walking tours, horseback tours, hiking, mountain biking, alpine climbing, paragliding, swimming, soccer, and special craftsmen demonstrations or courses at request.

Lodging
Approximate total number of beds: 3000
Number of 4-star hotels: 6; approximate beds: 550
Number of 3-star hotels: 15; approximate beds: 800
Approximate beds in 2-star hotels: 400
Chalets and private villas: many and of different quality, offering an additional 1200 beds
For reservations: Balkan Holidays Services, 5B Triaditsa Street, Sofia 1000, telephone: +359-2-9896263, fax: +359-2-9813390

Food and drinks
Delicious Bulgarian meals and local red wine are easy to find. Over one hundred places to dine out, predominantly local-style “mehana” restaurants. Live performances of local artists are common in “mehana” dining places. The peculiar local cuisine includes traditional meals, such as Kapama, Chomlek, Banski Starets.

Sightseeing and culture
Popular sites include the St. Trinity Church, Velyanova House, Neofit Rilski Museum-house, Nikola Vaptsarov Museum-house, Poetry and arts house, numerous souvenir shops. Local men dress as Koukeri on Januray 1st and chase away evil spirits from the streets of Bansko. Other prominent events include Easter concert, Bansko Tradition Festival in May, Bansko Jazz Fest in Summer, and a Christmas concert.

Environmnet
Pirin Mountain National Park is on UNESCO’s List of World Heritage. The edelweiss flower and the wild goat are popular symbols of the region. Unique natural sights include Koncheto, Banski Suhodol, Bunderitsa and Kazana caves, Bunderitsa and Vasilyashka group of lakes, the famous Ulen forest reserve, the Baykushevata Mura tree, the Ulen and Demyanshki Skok waterfalls, Hanna cave, and the Dobrinishte village.

Safety and money
Bansko is safe for foreigners, but not everyone speaks English. Outside their hotels foreigners will be better off with a guide and will have to pay in cash; exchange offices are available at major hotels. Credit cards are accepted at First Investment Bank’s office at Hotel Pirin and at some of the major hotels.