Location: Bansko
Top Things to do in Bansko
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What to do and see in Bansko, Blagoevgrad Province: The Best Budget-friendly Things to do
Bansko (Bulgarian: Банско) is a town in southwestern Bulgaria, located at the foot of the Pirin Mountains at an elevation of 927 m above sea level. It is a popular ski resort.
Restaurants in Bansko
1. Bansko Safari
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 94 reviews
INFO - Winter Safari - Costs & what the tour consists of Bansko 4x4 Safari A Tour for 1-4 Persons is 300 leva per tour not per person for 5 to 6 total it is 350 leva I only have 1 Jeep so 6 is the Maximum per TOUR Due to weight that the Jeep can manage when we are 4x4ing the max is 4 large adults and 2 children or 6 slim adults You need to BOOK and make an APPOINTMENT for a Safari The Jeep is OPEN topped so we do not run Safari's in the RAIN or SNOW
2. Bulgaria Walking Tours
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 52 reviews
Bulgaria Tours specialises in tailor-made trips. We offer customized hiking, mountain biking, skiing, wine-tasting and sightseeing tours. Either day trips or week long tours. Our aim is to help you discover Bulgaria, an idyllic country with amazing scenery, spectacular mountains and fabulous hospitality.
3. Ski & Board Traventuria
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 755 reviews
SkiBansko.bg was founded in 2009 by a team of passionate people. Ever since, Ski&Board Traventuria has affirmed itself as a leading provider of ski and board equipment, lift passes, tuition and transfers. Our ambitious team is servicing guests with positive energy, attention, professionalism. We’ve moved to our current location in 2013 and it’s one of the most modern shops in Southeast Europe. Spread over 400 m2 it includes storage and retail sections. Every year, before the season's start, we purchase for rent over 1000 brand new pairs of boots, skis and boards from leading brands. We offer personal lockers with a built-in drying and disinfection system. We have a service center (over 200m2) where we take care of the 3000+ pieces of equipment we offer for rent. We are ready to respond to the needs of skiers with all kinds of experience. For the free time of our guests, we have a list of apres-ski activities.We organize hassle-free transfers from/to the airport with our modern fleet.
Reviewed By 80allyr - London, United Kingdom
My brother and I recently had a short ski break to Bansko - since I had used Traventuria before (and was pleased!) I made sure we booked all our equipment, ski hire, etc., through Traventuria, and I also booked our return shared transfers between Sofia Airport and Bansko from Traventuria. Everything went fine, staff were friendly and welcoming and I was very pleased with every aspect of my booking and the service and the price. Great location near the Gondola, great locker service and transfers were quick and safe! :)
4. SankiySki School
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 259 reviews
Ski and Snowboard School SankiySki is a privately owned school created in Bansko by Bobi & Lubomir. After successfully managing the largest Ski School in Pamporovo for over 10 years, we always had a dream of one day operating our own Ski School and Hire business. Finally in 2009, we started to make our dream a reality and opened SankiySki School and Ski Hire in Bansko/Shop 1 - Pirin street 115, opposite main entrance of Kempinski Hotel/ . We are a family run business and have been offering a professional and personal service. While you are in Bansko we can provide you with all the equipment you could need and professional Ski lessons service. For 2018/19 SEASON we open our BRAND NEW SKI SHOP/shop 2 - Pirin street 121/! For our regular customers, it is 1 minute further up Pirin Street next to Victoria Restaurant. Our shops are in a perfect location, opposite the Kempinski hotel and just a short walk from the Gondola station and 2mins from the snow.
Reviewed By rachelhH6422RV - Lincolnshire, United Kingdom
I can't recommend Sankiyski School highly enough! My husband and I visited with another couple from the 18th to the 25th Jan (a quieter week for Bansko). We were all mixed abilities but I had never been skiing before and decided to book 3 mornings of 2 hour private tuition. All email communication prior to the trip was very quick and efficient with clear instructions re pricing, where the shop was and when to come to be fitted for kit in advance. All the staff were very friendly and helpful and nothing was too much trouble whether it be helping me take my boots off after a fun but tiring day or offering a coffee whilst I waited for friends to finish. I had Janet as my instructor and she was fantastic - so much so I ended up booking lessons for the Thursday and Friday too after my first session with her! Really supportive with her guidance and let me pick things up at my own pace with no pressure and in a fun environment. By the end of the week I could tackle the Ski road and another blue run with confidence which was amazing considering on Monday I had never stepped foot in a ski before! My friends also ended up booking last minute snowboard lessons with the school after a bad experience with another provider which was no trouble at all thanks to Bobi. Highly, highly recommend for their professionalism and friendly staff. They genuinely want to help you and ensure you have a fun holiday rather than just churn people in and out to make a profit. Thank you so much Sankiyski School - I've fallen in love with skiing and we will definitely be back!
5. TSAKIRIS Ski & Snowboard
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 650 reviews
TSAKIRIS Ski & Snowboard Rentals were created in 1990 by a family of champion skiers who have had 8 Olympic participations, gold Balkan victories and more than 500 participations in International and National races. Since 2008 we welcome you in Bansko "Our aim has been to utilize knowledge, desire and love for skiing by always being reliable and showing interest in every single customer of ours separately. The highest reward for us would be our customers' smile. We thank you!" The Tsakiris family
Reviewed By zoeys210 - Manchester, United Kingdom
The service we received at Tsikiris was by far the best of our whole trip. The staff are brilliant and attentive from the first fitting to your departure. The equipment is great quality and the location is handy for the gondola. I would definitely use them again. The escalator in the shop is a dream after a long day and every single member of the team is friendly and helpful. A special thanks to the guys downstairs for helping my son find the perfect boots when he had sore feet and chatted to him every day, he thought they were so cool ????, and Ivo who would walk out of the shop at the end of the day to help me carry the skis back when my son was too tired , what a star! And the ladies at the reception desk you made my sons holiday when he got his medal, thank you x
6. Bansko Shuttle
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 276 reviews
Daily shuttle service between Sofia Airport to Bansko. Reliable private and shared transfers since 2008.
Reviewed By LightPacker625961
Bobby was the best. Such a lovely, helpful and friendly driver. He was there to greet us at the airport and the car seats were already in the mini bus for when we got in with the kids
7. Method Snow School
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 117 reviews
The only British run ski and snowboard school in Bansko, Ski and snowboard hire opposite the gondola. Highest qualified international instructors. Ski and snowboard lesson for all levels. Instructor courses, freestyle coaching. Owner former GB olympic team coach and instructor trainer.
Reviewed By liam169 - Nottingham, United Kingdom
Been going to bansko for 9 years and used method for the 1st time this year. The booking went smoothly and when we got there everything was ready for us. Excellent service every day and very helpful My girlfriend had a private lesson and this was the best she every had. She developed massively both in skill and confidence. Only minor downside was the opening time was 8am. Luckily the gondola queue was never too big but open 15min early would mean getting to the gondola for opening Highly recommended snow school will be booking with method again next season Thanks method see you next year
8. Wine Bar 25
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 43 reviews
Reviewed By danieldO5357FK
Visited the place a few times.. (special wine-tasting evenings and regular ones) Gotta say that it was great! The house wine (Melnik), was very tasty :)
9. Vihren
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 148 reviews
Reviewed By ceebeebee2017 - Derbyshire, United Kingdom
It is really difficult as a Brit to find out how to safely climb the mountain, the 2nd highest peak in Bulgaria, but where there's a will, you must find a way! You can drive up Pirin Rd out of Bansko, past the National Park centre where I saw a wild tortoise- yes, wild! Drive up and up and up the windy road, following the Vihren hut signs. When you drive through an enormous bus parking, go through it, sweeping round to the far left and continue up again, eventually past Banderista hut on your left. It is worth stopping here for 15mins- walk up the steps on the uphill side of the hut and visit the second oldest tree in Bulgaria- amazing! Then continue, after 10 mins reaching uneven track and Vihren hut, your starting point. There is not much parking there, maybe 20-25 vehicles, but you can turn round to park wherever you can find just below it. The hut here is lovely, with opportunity for refreshments throughout the day. The journey took 35 mins from Bansko. Then, follow the yellow signs to Vihren, following the blue and yellow symbols painted on rocks every few minutes. The way they are painted gives the direction of travel, and little cairns often mark changes in direction- clues I figured en route. Vihren means 'windy mountain' and even though it was 30 degrees in June, we needed an extra layer at the top. Also, at this time of year, the weather can be unpredictable so go prepared for rain and never attempt if thunderstorms are predicted incase you are hit by lightening. Check Accuweather Virhen website the day before. The route up took us just over 4 hrs from the hut; we are 60 yrs of age and I walk VERY slowly uphill, and yes, I drank my litre bladder dry on the way. The terrain is stepped most of the way over natural stones alongside a stream, crossing Boulder falls at times, and through scrub on narrow paths. If in doubt of the correct route, walk no further than 15 mins without seeing the coloured symbols ( some of them are a bit faded). We found there are a few well walked pathways leading up but if they are in the general direction, they are all painted with this symbol to help guide you. The main pathway is slightly wider. There are some larger, steeper slabs of rocks to haul yourself up, but nothing requiring wire ropes and nothing technical or higher than a very large Boulder. I read online accounts beforehand which say this peak is easy and suitable for children. I have lots of mountain walking experience, and I think children need to be 8 or above and confident on rocky, steeper terrain. The views are wonderful as you walk uphill. About 30 mins from the top, the convex slope becomes exposed and extremely rocky, so pick your path wisely and preferably follow a painted symbol path. This is a hard final slog. At the top, there is a tall cairn encased in metal. An amazing view of the Pirin and Rila mountains. By the way, a 1:50,000 Pirin mountains map can be bought from the tiny fronted bookshop about 5 doors up from the central Tourist Information. We followed the red route on the map clockwise from the hut, by far the easiest route. So retrace your steps back down to the hut unless you are a very experienced walker/ scrambler/ mountaineer, mad following it clockwise off the summit towards the Premkata col, requires climbing downhill using wired ropes and down large rocks with vertical drops if you slip! We were warned at the top against doing this by a very experienced Bulgarian, who said he viewed it as more dangerous than Koncheto ridge, which is at least horizontal. He advised only doing this stretch in an upwards direction, so you are pulling yourself up the wires. In the past I have found wearing half fingered mountain biking gloves gives good grip for this and protects hands against any protruding wires. Hope this helps you to confidently give this beautiful mountain a go! It's well worth the effort.
10. Inter Bansko
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 148 reviews
INTER BANSKO all seasons activities. Ski and snowboard rent and school. Hiking, biking, excursions, climbing and extreme activities. We organize transfers to all destinations. You can hire a car and bikes.
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