Church, mosque or temple · UNESCO
Rila Monastery
Bansko, Bulgaria
Bulgaria's most famous monastery, with striped arches and painted domes deep in the mountains.
Town · Bulgaria · Blagoevgrad
Bansko
Bulgaria's top ski resort and a charming old mountain town below the Pirin range.
about 2.5 h
For storytellers
Why Bansko matters
Bansko lies at the foot of the Pirin mountains. In winter it's the country's main ski town, with a gondola from the edge of town. In summer the same peaks offer hiking and mountain biking, and the stone-built old quarter has taverns serving hearty local food. It's good value compared with the Alps.
Talking points
- It has a gondola right from town.
- The old town has traditional taverns.
- Pirin National Park is just above.
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What to see in Bansko
Lake
Seven Rila Lakes
Bansko, Bulgaria
A chain of seven glacial lakes reached by a chairlift and a hike.
National park · UNESCO
Pirin National Park
Bansko, Bulgaria
A UNESCO-listed mountain park of alpine lakes, pine forests and jagged peaks.