Bansko is Bulgaria's most famous winter resort. It is situated in the Pirin Mountains, at the foot of the Wichrenia. Skiing reigns supreme among winter activities, and mountain hiking.
The town was founded in Roman times and was later an important commercial center of the area. A picturesque old town with tiled stone houses has been preserved here. Among them there are originally furnished houses of major residents, such as the House of Velianov, the House of Radonov, the Nikola Vaptsarov Museum and the Neophyte Rilski Museum.
In addition to nice old houses, many of which have now been converted into guesthouses and restaurants, there are several historic churches from the period of Turkish domination. The most important of them is the Holy Trinity Church.
Most tourists come to the city in winter. The Bansko ski center with over 70 km of ski slopes operates here then. It offers good accommodation and dining facilities and numerous après ski entertainment in the winter season.
In summer, Bansko turns into a great base for hiking in the Pirin National Park, which includes the surrounding Pirin Mountains. Their highest peak, Wichren, is 2,915 m above sea level and is accessible to tourists by a quite demanding hiking trail. Piryn also has beautiful mountain ponds and lakes, such as Lake Okoto, Lake Muratowo and Lake Tewano, which can be admired from numerous routes in the area.
