The newest Bulgarian winter resort, recently discovered by the foreign tourists. Bansko provides an interesting combination between the virgin nature of Pirin Mountain and the atmosphere of the ancient Bulgarian small town.
Bansko ski resort is situated in Southwestern Bulgaria, at the foothills of one of the most beautiful Bulgarian mountains - Pirin, which is a national preserve, included in the WORLD NATURAL HERITAGE list. The distance from Sofia to Bansko is 160 km.
Surrounded by Pirin, Rila and Rhodopa mountains, Bansko is a climatic mountain resort with a short summer and long winter. The average temperature during january, the coldest month, is -1.9C. Snow falls are abudant, providing a constant winter snow cover up to 2 m thick. The skiing season along the Pirin slopes starts in the middle of December and ends in mid-April.

Bansko Sports

The skiing conditions in Bansko are excellent. The Pirin mountain has a predonantly Alpine charachter with three peaks towering above 2900 m. However the slopes offer runs and tracks for all types of skiers, from novice to the experts, while the ski runs are maintained in excellent condition. The town itself attracts visitors by its 120 cultural monuments, its museums houses, and the permanent ethnographic and Bansko schlool of icon painting exhibitions.

The Bansko ski school offers skiing classes in 5 different difficulty levels, from A to E - in groups or individually of varying duration. The tuition in cross-country skiing is in 2 classes of difficulty. All graduates receive skiing certificates.

The two major ski regions of Bansko - the lower called CHALIN VALOG (1100-1600m) and the higher called SHILIGARNIKA (1700-2500m) - are situated above the town, on the nothern slopes of Pirin mountain. Slalom and grand slalom runs are available in the SHILIGARNIKA region. The third ski region is BANDERISHKA POLIANA.

The stunning site of the new Bansko Golf course is set at the foot of the snow covered slopes of the Pirin Mountains, in the heart of the Razlog valley.

This world class facility is designed by Ian Woosnam, winner of over 44 prestigious tournaments in his illustrious career.

The course is found on a primarily untouched 300 acre site. With a flowing 18 hold executive length course, undulating greens and ever challenging water hazards,this course truly has to be played to be believed.

Sightseeing

From Bansko you can go to many interesting places. To Melnik and Rojen Monastery, to Sofia, Plovdiv and Rilski Manastir, to Sandanski and Velingrad, to Rila mountain (40 minutes by car) Borovets for a day skiing in another resort.

A very interesting sight is the HOLY TRINITY church with its 30 m high bell tower and clock, splending murals and woodcarvings. The region is famous for its cuisine and colorful folklore and offers various entertainment opportunities.

Bansko offers a wide variety of choices like old-style pubs and taverns, restaurants, disco clubs and coffee shops in the old town. The taverns of Bansko offer the delicious Bansko cuisine.