Town of Bansko: Not just ski resort

The town of Bansko has developed into a modern winter resort in just few years with its ski facilities and hotels offering accommodation at average to high prices. The place is particularly popular among foreign tourists, drawn by the blend of antique Revival-time architecture and up-to-date amenities. Construction works have seen an astonishing boom here since 2002 with real estate prices often outstripping those in Sofia and large Black Sea resorts. The emergences of new luxurious buildings and dense construction have gradually given the resort the looks of a modern European resort, depriving it of some of its authentic spirit of antiquity. Yet this has not reduced its appeal to tourists in any way - just the opposite, the town enjoys increasing numbers of visitors with each and every year and booking of accommodation during the top winter season beforehand is recommended.

The town of Bansko lies in the northeast skirts of the Pirin Mountain, at the foot of the most beautiful Karst part of Pirin and some 160 km to the south of the capital city of Sofia. Its name comes from the old Bulgarian word of ban, meaning master. The town saw its apogee in the 18th century, when it served as a regional crafts and trade centre, with the caravans of Bansko traders selling Bulgarian produce of tobacco, poppy seeds, cotton, gold, and textiles in the Aegean region and central Europe. However, the development of the alternative trade route down the Danube waterway deprived Bansko of its leading role in regional trade and gradually led to its decay after the second half of the 19th century.

At present, the town’s inhabitants make their living primarily out of tourism and accompanying services. Besides high-quality ski and winter sports facilities, the town is famous for its Bulgarian Renaissance architecture and ancient remains. To mention a few, visitors are taken by the St Trinity Church, the native houses of famous Bulgarians such as Neofit Rilski and Nikola Vaptsarov, marvellously designed houses built during the Bulgarian Renaissance period such as Velyanov’s house, the Sirleshtov’s house and Todev’s house.

Bansko Ski Resort

- 160 km away from Sofia

- 1,5 hours by car from Sofia International Airport

- the skiing season starts in the middle of December and ends by the middle of April.

- the area combines great skiing, beautiful nature and historical significance

Bansko is located on 925 m above sea level, and its skiing area is on 2000-2500 m above sea level.
Bansko is a relatively new Bulgarian Ski Resort, recently discovered by the skiers and tourists. Bansko provides a superb combination of virgin nature of the Pirin Mountain and the atmosphere of the ancient Bulgarian small towns. Bansko is not only a resort but a beautiful historic spot.

Bansko ski resort is situated in South-Western Bulgaria at the foot hills of the most beautiful Bulgarian mountain called Pirin. The Pirin mountain is a natural preserve included in the World Natural Heritage List.

Bansko was the first of the Bulgarian ski resorts to boom. Land prices have shot up from 10 Euros per sq m three years ago to 150 Euros today. Purchase prices range from 850 euros /sq m to 1400 euros / sq m. Studio apartments can be bought from as little as £22,000 which have great rental potential. A studio flat can be bought right next to the gondola or two studio flats 600 m further away for the same money. Whether you are a strict investor or looking for a holiday home with rental income there are many options open to you. The important thing is that everything in Bansko will appreciate hugely in value, the chances of your investment loosing money is very low. For those wanting to minimise the risk of investing overseas Bansko is ideal, just make sure that you buy through a respectable agency. Discounts are common but always depend on the stage of build and your payment plan; if the foundations are not down and you are looking to pay more than 30% initially, you should negotiate with the developer whilst on a viewing trip for the best possible deal.

Ski legend Alberto Tomba is an international ambassador for Bansko and his new ski school is testament to the resorts continuing success. Unlike the beach or other ski resorts there is immediate potential to rent your property for 12 months / year which would have previously only been possible with a considerably more expensive Sofia apartment. The Golf courses of Bansko have been key to its ‘all season resort’ status which is a catalyst for its ongoing appeal to investors; ski by winter, golf by summer. Furthermore, as Bansko sits in a valley it is ideally situated for continued expansion without geographical restriction, there are few doubts that the money making wave Bansko is currently riding will continue into the foreseeable future.  

Skiing

The best skiing in Bulgaria by far. Although still a young resort the skiing facilities are expanding all the time. New slopes are planned for the valleys left and right of the main Gondola lift as such the potential of tripling the total length of ski runs is certainly there. The black slopes are challenging and offer the more experienced skier more than Pamporovo or Borovets. Unlike other more traditional ski resorts the slopes are never crowded (even at February half term!) and queuing for lifts, drags and pulls is minimal. Skis hire and ski schools are in abundance and all very reasonably priced. Ski passes slightly more expensive than you might expect, but it is more than out weighed by money saved in the comparatively cheap bars and restaurants at the mid stations. For those with legs like steel there is night skiing available; illuminated slopes enable night skiing and on certain nights which is accompanied by DJ’s who broadcast their mixes to the slopes. Thirty TechnoAlpin snow cannons guarantee that the snow covers 80% of the runs even during the warmest winter days.

Key points

• 110 Million spent on ski facilities in the last two years

• Luxury 18 holes golf course designed by Ian Woosnam complete in 2007

• UNESCO world heritage site

• Sofia to Bansko road will be upgraded to dual carriageway, due for completion in late 2006 this will reduce travel time by 40%

• Bansko had 235,000 tourists in 2004 this increased by 15% in 2005 and will only increase in 2006

• Capital growth forecast to be 16% in 2006.

• Bulgaria is bidding for the Winter Olympics 2014 for which Bansko will receive huge funds.

• 12 months rental from ski season 2007.

• Prices are still low and will only rise.

• Cost of living/holidaying is very low, which is vital for holiday makers who might rent out your investment.

• More low cost carriers will be offer cheap return flights from May 2006 which will keep ski holiday prices at unbeatable lows.

• The Skiing is the best in Bulgaria.

• The nightlife is the best and most varied of any Bulgarian ski resort.

• New boarder crossing with Greece only 45 minutes away from the heart of Bansko.

All season attraction

During the summer Pirin attracts thousands of Bulgarian and foreign tourists, fond of nature and adventures.

In winter Pirin offers excellent conditions for skiing in the ski sites - Shiligarnika, Bandershishka Meadow, Chlinollow above Bansko , as well as Bezbog - above Dobrinishte.

The Pirin mountain has a predominantly Alpine character with 2 peaks towering above 2900 m. However, the slopes offer runs and tracks for all types of skiers and will suit both beginners and experts.
Bansko has a good snow record, offers great skiing and Après ski. A good value for money, much different from the other Ski Resorts of of Borovets and Pamporovo.

The two major ski areas are situated above the town, on the northern slopes of the Pirin mountain, approx. 10 km from the town. There is a new modern gondola lift, starting from the town.

Slalom and Giant slalom runs are available. Bansko offers a cross-country track with a total length of 5 km. A 3 km ski run Rollbahn track is situated 2 km from the town. The ski runs are serviced by 2 main lifts and several drags.

A place to go

The town itself attracts visitors by its 120 cultural monuments, its museums and the permanent ethnographic exhibitions. Bansko is a unique tourist center with rich cultural-historic heritage , preserved folklore and crafts , original cuisine, plenty of cosy and snug small private hotels and taverns in traditional style, combined with marvellous and picturesque nature of Pirin and thermal mineral springs in the adjacent Dobrinishte.

We also recommend a visit to the famous Rila Monastery and the capital of Sofia.

Leisure and Nightlife

The nightlife in Bansko is in abundance no matter if you are looking for a traditional Bulgarian meal or a booming nightclub Bansko has something for you. More importantly, unlike other European ski resorts the price of holidaying is very reasonable and only slightly more than other developed parts of Bulgaria. You will be surprised at the price of a round of drinks change from £10 is absolutely possible! If skiing is not your thing there are multitude of ever expanding alternative activities: spa’s, health clubs, massage centres, golf course, climbing, mountain biking etc. Bansko has a very friendly atmosphere fuelled by great food and local drinks, it is the sort of place where Après Ski has become before, during and Après Ski!

Local cuisine

Banska kapamma, Chomlek, Katino mezze, Kreshchina (Banski leg pork) - dry appetyzer, Barkada Banski kachamak (Bansko hominy).

Medical service

The Emergency SKI PATROL service is available 24 hours a day.

Fully equipped and functioning hospital and highly qualified dentists are available in Bansko.

Semkovo ski resort

The ski resort of Semkovo lies 17 km to the north of the town of Belitsa. The complex is located to the south of the main ridge of the Rila Mountain and is built over spacious meadows surrounded by pine forests.

The complex has several hotels, holiday houses and villas, including the Rila hotel, the Bor hotel, the Semkovo hut, etc. Semkovo offers 6 ski runs of a total length of 4 km, serviced by 8 ski lifts. The runs of relatively small lengths and moderate slopes, which makes them suitable for starting or inexperienced skiers and children. The average annual temperatures in the resort are between 7.5^oC on the northern slopes and 9.5^oC on the southern slopes, while the average temperature in the coldest month of January is in the range of -10 and -2^oC. Once it falls in the late autumn, the snow cover stays for about 250 days over the higher parts of the mountain.

Several signed tourist paths start from Semkovo and climb up in the Rila Mountain with the most interesting of these being those leading to the Vapski Circus and the Vapski Lakes (2.5 hours), the Polezhanski Circus and the Dry Lake (1.5 hours) and the Skalishki Circus and Skalishki Lakes (2.5 hours). The nearby natural park of former dancing bears is another place to visit while in Semkovo.

<< back to the previous page

Contact us: info@ahomeinbulgaria.net