Bansko is a 15^th century settlement which elegantly blends the history with modern ski, golf and spa facilities.

During 18^th – 19^th century Bansko became centre of the surrounding local villages and was flourished as a trade and crafts centre during the National Revival Period and most of the merchants traded between the Aegean Sea and Central Europe.

Bansko was also known as a cultural and spiritual centre. This status led residents to build a church in 1835 as a long standing symbol of Bansko's importance. The clock was mounted in 1866 and is still recognised today as an unprecedented achievement of its days.

Nowadays Bansko is the most famous Bulgarian ski resort, discovered by the foreign skiers and tourists a few years ago, but well known to the Bulgarians for over two decades. 

• A rare combination of a pretty 15^th Century town and fashionable ski-resort
• Finest 4* and 5* newly-built hotels and over 100 traditional restaurants
• More than € 200 million invested over the past 5 years in upgrading the ski facilities and the local infrastructure
• Increased tourist numbers (20% compared to 2004): estimated 2.7 million tourists visited Bansko in the 1^st half of 2005 and spent estimated € 705 million
• 70-80% occupancy rates in 4* and 4* developments
• Local property price appreciation of 40% over the past two years
• More Investment Facts about Bansko

Location
The town is located on 936 metres above sea level with skiing activities at 1,100 – 2,500 metres altitude.
The resort is 150 km south of Sofia, at the foothills of Pirin, one of the most beautiful Bulgarian mountains and a UNESCO designated National Park. The transfer time from Sofia airport  to Bansko is approximately 2.5 hours drive. For map location you can browse our Interactive Map - switch between road and satellite view for better experience.

SKI
The skiing conditions in Bansko are excellent. The Pirin Mountain has a predominantly Alpine character with 2 peaks towering above 2,900 m. The highest ski runs starts at 2560 m. The slopes offer runs and tracks for all types of skiers, and will suit both beginners and experts.
The area has a good snow record. The major ski areas are situated on the Northern slopes of the Pirin Mountain, approx. 10 km from the town. Slalom and Giant slalom runs are available. Bansko also offers a cross-country track with a total length of 5 km. There are 14 marked ski runs, with total length 70 km, they are serviced by 14 lifts, 6 chair lifts, 6 rope-lines and several drags. Out of the 70 km ski runs the difficulty scales as follows: 30% Beginners, 45% Advanced, 35% Expert. The longest possible run is 16 km (about 10 miles). A new ski slope named after the famous former ski champion Alberto Tomba was opened in the season 2003/2004.

GOLF & SPA
Two Signature Golf Courses are currently under construction between Bansko and Razlog.
The village of Banya, located some 4 km from Bansko is rich in mineral waters of temperature ranging between 37 and 57 degrees Celsius which are used for spa and recreation. It has more than 70 mineral springs. Banya is extremely attractive with its well-preserved remains of Roman baths and the old Turkish bath, built in 1735.

Summer Fun & Activities
Bansko is not only a great ski resort, but it is the host of traditional Summer Jazz Festival, Bulgarian folk Festival and many other cultural events.
In the summer tourists can enjoy an array of activities: climbing, hiking, biking, cycling, and paragliding.
Bansko is an important cultural centre for the region. According to historic records, the settlement was first established about 9^th -10^th century A.D. on the site where ancient Thracian settlements had existed. In the 18^th century it was mentioned as a large and prosperous village of thriving crafts and trade reaching as far as the Aegean and Europe.