BULGARIA
Bansko: The perfect destination for a relaxed, winter getaway
ave you ever had a trip where you just sat back and relaxed? If not, then me neither. The last trip of 2024 was always going to be something quieter and a bit simpler. Bulgaria is always among the cheapest destinations from Cyprus so, I realized it was time to visit. For years I’ve been meaning to fulfil my bucket list wish to learn ski and this was the perfect opportunity to do so. Bansko is, after all, a popular destination for a winter getaway and ski lovers.
Even though the rest of Bansko was cold but without snow, the mountains were all white
The first thing you need to do after booking tickets and your hotel is book a transfer from Sofia Airport to Bansko – 2 and a half hours drive. We booked our hotel (St. George Ski & Holiday) for three nights, for €60 each, plus some €8 for breakfast, with the option of airport transfer for €85 which was the cheapest option we could find besides buses (those need pre-booking).
The breakfast gave us a chance to taste a few local treats for breakfast, including mekitsa – which is deep fried dough. We arrived at our hotel at night, no sight of snow anywhere. It was always risky to visit Bansko in early December and we were prepared for everything. St. George Ski & Holiday is a nice and cozy hotel with everything you could possibly want – a bar, mini market, Ski Equipment store, restaurants – because there’s nothing else nearby apart from other hotels.
You can take a taxi (through TaxiMe or Yellow) to the Old Town, or you can walk for about 30 minutes. The Old Town of Bansko is the most obvious option if you want to do some exploring and casual strolling but not many do that. It’s charming place full of local stores, cafés, restaurants and souvenir shops, quiet, without many tourists.
The first thing you will see is the clock tower of the Trinity Church, one of the greatest examples of Bulgarian National Revival church architecture. Admittedly, there’s not much to do in the Old Town, but if you want a relaxed morning, its perfect. You can walk in narrow alleys between stone-built houses, or visit the monument of Paìsiy Hilendàrski, built in honor of his great work. Paìsiy Hilendàrski, or Saint Paisius, was a Bulgarian Orthodox clergyman and a key Bulgarian National Revival figure, most famous as the author of Istoriya Slavyanobolgarskaya (1762), the first significant modern Bulgarian history.
The rest of the day found us enjoying the hotel’s spa facilities, with stone massages and an indoor, heated pool with salted water.
Next day came, and it was time to start our ski experience. The modern city center of Bansko is, literally, filled with stores for equipment and lessons. We came across Sport4You, right across the gondolas that take you to the mountain. We paid €15 each, for a basic equipment (skis, boots, waterproof pants) as we already had our ski masks, and €90 for a 2-hours ski lessons. Everyone was extremely friendly and helpful with everything, chitchatting and making us feel at ease before our lessons.
The gondola pass is €22 per person, round trip to the second level. Even though the rest of Bansko was cold but without snow, the mountains were all white. Chilly weather, lots of people, a Batman statue and a nice restaurant for skiers to enjoy food and drinks, it felt like a whole different world up there. The ski boots made walking a bit tricky but once you’re used to them, you’re fine.
The transfer from our hotel in Bansko to our hotel in Sofia was €95 and was arranged by our hotel. The conclusion is, even if you visit Bansko without anything prearranged, you will be fine. It was a nice getaway for relaxation and new experiences, perfect for more peaceful vacations without a program. We spent our days casually strolling around, enjoying the spa facilities and ordering room service – that sausage with Bulgarian lyutenica sauce was incredible – and we never felt bored. In fact, it was a much needed, refreshing break.