Sofia Airport is Bulgaria’s main international airport. The airport is located only 10 km/6 miles away from the city center and has two terminals. Terminal 1 is what used to be Sofia Airport. It is a really а small terminal, which now serves only low-cost and charter carriers. Terminal was opened in 2006. It is а much bigger and modern terminal, which in 2019 handled more than 7 million passengers.
Location
Bansko is a great ski resort in an ideal location. It is 2 hours away from Bulgaria’s capital Sofia, 3 and a half hours away from Macedonia’s capital Skopje and 3 hours away from the second biggest city in Greece Thessaloniki. It’s unique location gives it access to more than 3 million tourist market.
The famous ski resort is located at the foothills of the Pirin Mountain at an average altitude of 925 meters, which makes it suitable for families and elderly people, which are deterred away by the cold of the classic ski resorts located at altitudes above 3000 meters.
- Distance to Sofia | 155 km/97 miles
- Distance to Plovdiv | 147 km/91 miles miles
- Distance to Skopjev | 240 km/149 miles
- Distance to Thessaloniki | 217 km/135 miles
Ski Zone
With its sharp peaks and steep slopes Pirin is the only mountain in Bulgaria, which truly inspires skiers and gives them the feeling of conquering. The resort boasts with more, longer and better pistes over the other popular resorts of Borovets and Pamporovo. It is by far the best ski resort in the Balkans and the only one part of the Global Ski Map. Since 2008 Bansko has hosted 6 FIS World Ski Cup events and 2 FIS World Snowboard Cup events, which adds to its reputation and credibility and helps it grow as a premium ski resort.
Tourists and Demographics
As of 2020 the population of Bansko is about 15 000 people, but during the ski season it is many times that number. Many of the English and Russians, who are no less than 40% of all tourists to annually visit Bansko, bought holiday apartments or houses, which later became their home. Bulgarians, Romanians, Greeks, Macedonians and Serbians visit it to celebrate Christmas, New Year, on weekends and as many times as there is fresh snow in the winter. During the summer the mountain is an excellent escape from the heath, which makes it a default choice for those who prefer it to the beach.
Food & Drink
Here is where Bansko truly excels. There are more than 150 restaurants, cafés and night clubs in the area. East European, European, Italian, Chinese, Indian, Cosher, Russian or Armenian cuisine, the choice is really great. The local style restaurants, called Mehanas, are family owned businesses and are an attraction on their own. Local stone and wood houses, many of which over a hundred years, are turned into restaurants. Tables next to burning fireplaces, live folklore music and local Razlog and Bansko meat and vegetable specialities create a unique atmosphere. Nightlife is not bad either. There are a few good quality night clubs and many bars and pubs, which are open late night.
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