Bansko, Bansko

Оne of the largest winter resorts of Bulgaria is situated on 925 meters above the sea level at the foot of the Pirin mountain – at a distance of 150 km from Sofia and 96 km from Blagoevgrad. Over the years, Bansko gradually established itself as one of the leading winter ski resorts in the country and the region, which attracts many Bulgarian and foreign tourists. Without a doubt, Bansko is famous among tourists basically as a skiing and a snowboarding destination. The total length of the ski tracks is 75 km, as the longest of them is 16 km long. About 90% of all 16 tracks are equipped with canons for artificial snow for high-quality and long-lasting snow cover. There is also a track equipped with lights for night skiing in the region. An open-air ice skating ring works in the town during the winter season. The highest point of the ski center is 2560. The greatest challenge for the skiers in Bansko is the track Tomba, named after the Italian skier Alberto Tomba. A cabin lift is available for the tourists. It takes them from the starting point of the ski lift station in the town of Bansko to Banderishka Polyana. The town is connected with the ski zone and with a 7 km long ski road. There are multiple museums and landmarks in the town. There are 130 registered architectural and historical monuments of culture, seven of which are of national significance. The basic tourist landmarks in Bansko are situated next to one another, which facilitates their visiting. The Bansko region is famous for its mineral waters, which turns the resort into an attractive SPA destination. Many of the large hotels in the town have swimming pools and contemporary SPA centers, which offer a large number of wellness procedures. During the summer season the roads and the ski tracks can also be used as routes for mountain cycling. The resort is also popular among tourists during the summer season, because of the various types of activities and sports that can be practiced there – mountain climbing, horse riding, mountain passages, rafting in the region of Kresnensko defile, etc. Very typical for Bansko are the traditional taverns, in which dishes from the region of Bansko are served. Among the town specialties are: Kapama, Chomlek, Bansko Kebap, Sache, Banski Starets, etc. The places for accommodation in Bansko are more than diverse and there are options for every preference and budget – from luxurious 5-star complexes to guest houses and apartment hotels. The towns of Razlog and Dobrinishte also are situated near Bansko. They are extremely popular among the tourist destinations. The town of Belitsa is situated at a distance of 20 km north from Bansko. There is a park for adaptation of dancing bears in close proximity to it.