In my opinion, Bansko in Summer is just as great a place to be as it is in Winter! While you might not be able to ski, you’re still in the mountains and surrounded by some fantastic things to do.
Although Bansko is famous for its skiing, there are so many fun things to do in Bansko. It’s a great option for an affordable summer holiday. If you love hiking or rock climbing, you’ll be in your element in the Pirin National Park.
So let’s take a look at my favourite things to do in Bansko in Summer.
1. Hiking
One of the most popular things to do in Bansko in Summer is hike! There are some beautiful hikes in Bansko, which is unsurprising given its location at the foot of the Pirin National Park.
While the gondola lift closes at the end of the ski season in mid-April, it re-opens again at the start of June. It’ll then operate throughout the Summer until the end of September.
Roughly, the lift operates as follows:
- June & September: 1 Lift Up at 8am, one lift down at 4:30PM, Mon – Fri
- July & August: Operating all day, every day, between 8:30am – 4:30pm
Be sure to check with the ticketing station for the exact dates that the lift starts and stops operating. These can change year to year, but roughly it’s about this.
This means that you can get up to the main ski area, Banderitsa Meadow, where many hikes begin. From here, you can hike up to Vihren or Banderitsa Hut. Banderitsa hut is around a 45-minute hike from Banderitsa Meadow and Vihren a little further.
The huts are actually little cafes where you can grab a post-hike beverage or something to eat. From Vihren Hut you can hike to the beautiful Banderitsa Lakes, or the Todorka Lakes.
For an extreme hike, you can hike to Vihren Peak. This is the highest point of the mountain range, sitting at 2,914 m.
To save energy in your legs, I’d advise driving to and parking at Vihren Hut. From here you can head on to Vihren Peak or the lakes. An all round hike from Vihren Hut, to see the Banderitsa Lakes and Todorka, is around 5-hours.
If you’d prefer to hike with a guide, then I’d recommend this tour. A guide will show you the most beautiful spots in the Pirin Mountains and National Park, and give a guided walk around Bansko Old Town. Here, you’ll stop for lunch in a traditional mehana (tavern).
This tour will collect and drop you off at your hotel, so you don’t need to worry about getting to and from the huts. You can check it out here.
2. Visit the Bansko Thermal Baths
Okay, so you might be thinking, “What, thermal baths in Summer?”. And fair enough, it does get hot in Bansko in July and August. There are also cool pools with loungers in some of the thermal baths, so they’re a great place to relax in Bansko in Summer too!
We went a few times in Summer as while it is hot in the day, it does cool off in the evening. It’s a lovely experience and place to enjoy the summer evenings.
The neighbouring town of Banya is famous for its hot springs. Mineral springs fill pools at a number of great Bansko thermal baths that are all a short car journey away from Bansko itself.
One of my favourite options is Villa Victoria. This lovely spa resort has an outdoor heated pool. It has a seating area and restaurant which overlooks the cosy pool area. At night, the whole area is softly lit and there is seating around the inside edge, so you can really relax.
There is a separate children’s pool at one end and a jacuzzi style pool with even warmer water. There is a full spa area inside with sauna, steam room, salt room and massage treatments are available for an additional charge.
The restaurant is very good, and the food is reasonably priced, so it’s a good option for dinner.
Villa Victoria is around 20BGN (£8.80, €10) per person, so it’s very well priced. In the Summer in Bansko, I recommend going in the evening as it’s a great place to relax and grab some food with friends.
The Regnum in Banya is also a great shout for the Summer. It has a large cold pool, a bar and lots of loungers for you to relax in.
Full day use of the mineral water pools outside is 35BGN (£15, €18) for adults and 10BGN (£4.50, €5) for children. If you go between 4pm and 8pm, it’s 20BGN per adult (€10) and 5BGN (€2.50) per child.
Check the Regnum website here to check the latest prices.
I have written a full blog on my top 5 favourite Bansko hot springs, so take a look to read more about the various options in the area.
3. Dine in the Best Bansko Restaurants
One of the things I love about Bansko is the range of food and dining options available.
In the Summer in Bansko, the town does a bit of a reverse. The ski area becomes quite quiet and many of the bars and restaurants close. In the Old Town, which is usually quiet during the Winter (as it is quite far from the ski resort) comes alive!
Given the size of Bansko, there are also plenty of different dining options, so you can eat somewhere different every night. The food is very reasonably priced as well, despite being a ski resort!
Take a look at my blog about my favourite restaurants in Bansko if you’re heading to Bansko this Summer. There are options for a celebration meal, places for kids, some great local mehanas and some options with great entertainment.
International Restaurants
Whilst it’s hard to narrow it down, one of my favourite restaurants is Five M, located on the popular Pirin Street. It’s a beautiful, modern restaurant with a delicious menu and very reasonably priced. There’s also some lovely outdoor seating in the restaurant for some al fresco dining in summer.
It’s a very popular place, so if you’re a larger group, then drop them a message on Facebook. Or give them a call on +359 89 561 5160 to book your table.
For a special occasion, I’d recommend that you visit Skabrin. It’s quite fancy, and the closest you’ll get to fine dining in Bansko, but the food is absolutely amazing! It’s quite a small place, so I’d always recommend booking in advance here.
Traditional Restaurants
If you fancy a more traditional Bulgarian experience, then head to one of the many mehanas (taverns) in the Old Town.
I love Bansko Aiduti (we’ve been there a few times for the Bansko Street Dogs Quiz) and Bai Kotse which is in the heart of Old Town and has the best atmosphere and fantastic Bulgarian food.
Fast-food Restaurants
Finally, if you’re after a quick bite, then head to my favourite takeaway and bar at the Station. It’s a fantastic Greek fast food joint which does the best souvlaki.
In the summer, they serve wraps and an ice-cold beer, and have some outdoor seating too to soak up the sun. It’s a really popular place and everyone that works there is so nice.
It’s run by Tsakkiris, which owns one of the best ski rental shops in Bansko.
4. Take an ATV Tour
During my ski season in Bansko we took an ATV tour with the excellent Bansko ATV guys.
I bought this for Aaron for his birthday and he absolutely loved it. We met John Hog from Bansko ATV on Pirin Street for a safety briefing. After that, we then headed into the foothills of the Pirin Mountains through the snow and fields.
We crashed through rivers, ploughed through deep snow, dodged in and out of trees and had an incredible time exploring. You’re out in the middle of nowhere, but thanks to John’s knowledge of the area, you find some unique and incredible spots.
In the summer, you can get even higher up the mountains and explore further, as the terrain is much easier than in winter.
You can customise your tour to suit you. Every tour is private, so whether you’re on your own, a couple or a large group, it will just be you and your guide. There are plenty of ATVs available, so large groups can be accommodated.
Drop John and his team a message on Facebook if you fancy booking in an excellent tour. It’s a great way to get another perspective of the area and explore the Pirin Mountains.
5. Explore Bansko Old Town
If you’re visiting Bansko in Summer, you’ll definitely find yourself in the Old Town a lot more than in the winter.
Many businesses in the resort are only open in winter, so the resort side of town can feel a little quiet. The Old Town is the complete opposite and is full of life.
Not only is it full of historical buildings and fascinating architecture, but there are also some amazing mehanas to try.
Probably the most famous spot in the old town is the beautiful Holy Trinity Church. It’s described as one of the finest examples of the middle and late Bulgarian National Revival church architecture. It’s an impressive building and hard to miss as you head down Pirin Street.
Just after the Church, you will reach the main square. From here, you’ll find lots of small streets that you can wander down and explore traditional buildings and some excellent mehanas and bars, all with seating sprawling out into the streets and main square.
If you prefer, why not take this excellent 2-hour walking tour around Bansko old town. It takes in the Church and various other highlights in the old town whilst teaching you more about the history of Bulgaria.
It takes place all year round, so it’s perfect whether you’re here in summer or winter. Or check out the equally popular free walking tour here.
The old town is a must for anyone visiting Bansko. If you have the time, I highly recommend the walking tour.
Want to know more about Bansko? Check out my other blogs:
- My Guide to Bansko Nightlife
- The Best Bansko Hotels
- My top 5 Bansko Hot Springs
- The Best things to do in Bansko in winter
6. Take Tennis Lessons
Tennis is a very popular sport to try in Bansko and there is lots of opportunity to either take a lesson or rent a court with your family and friends and play for fun!
Many of the hotels in Bansko have tennis courts, including the Tennis Club at the Kempinski Hotel and the Sports Centre at the Strazhite Hotel.
Details on the prices at the Sports Centre can be found here, and it’s great value for equipment and a court for an hour.
If you’re looking for a tennis partner, are interested in taking a lesson or are wondering about the best place to play tennis and rent equipment, check out Bansko Tennis Facebook Group.
One of the people that owns the Facebook group, Kevin takes lessons and is highly recommended as a coach!
7. Go Horse Riding
Another fabulous way to explore the beautiful landscapes and scenery is on horseback.
This little tour is great for beginners who want to get confident on horseback. It includes transport to and from a little town just 15 minutes outside Bansko, called Dobrinshte.
There’s a little horse ranch here where you’ll enjoy an hour of horse riding through the forest and fields. It’s a great opportunity to do something a little different outside Bansko.
Alternatively, the equestrian centre just by the ski road comes highly recommended and is also great for beginners. It’s more of an experience than a lesson, and the price (around 30BGN/€15) includes around 30 minutes of horseback riding through the woods. Each horse is accompanied by an adult, and they control the horse.
If you’d prefer to do lessons, The Dvorene Ranch in Razlog (around a 10-minute drive from Bansko) offers some brilliant lessons as well as experiences for both adults and children.
The trainers are lovely and the base is built on the idea that to become a good rider you have to learn to communicate and build a relationship with the horse – which I think is pretty cute. You can check out the prices and services offered here.
8. Go Rock Climbing
Rock climbing is one of the most popular sports to try in Bansko in Summer. It’s the best time to give it a go as a beginner, as the weather makes it the safest time to master the technique.
If you’re a beginner to rock climbing, I’d recommend that you join a tour and don’t go alone. There are several climbing groups, tour operators and sport clubs in Bansko which will arrange trips to the mountains to climb. It’s a very popular activity to do in Bansko.
Simply ask the reception desk at your hotel in Bansko, and they’ll either be able to arrange something for you, or point you in the right direction.
To get an idea of prices and what this includes, check you can check out Bansko Life and take a look at their Rock Climbing excursions.
9. Ride Europe’s Longest Water Slide
This one isn’t for the faint-hearted! In the summer, a giant 400 m inflatable waterslide is erected at the foot of the Tomba (black run) which then shoots down the nursery slope. The slide is actually pretty steep, as you’ll find out when you’re walking all the way up to ride it!
It’s absolutely terrifying, mostly because you pick up so much speed that the water just slaps you in the face, but it’s a massive adrenaline rush and great fun.
In terms of location, you can’t miss the Bansko water slide, it’s at the top of the gondola on Banderitsa Meadow. There’s lots of other games and rides up there too for the kids, including tube slides and adventure golf.
You can buy tickets for the slide (and the other rides) as part of your Gondola ticket, which gets them at a slight discount. An adult ticket which includes a round trip on the gondola, one run on the water slide and 5 runs on the tube or bag jump is 50BGN or 35BGN for kids.
For one go on the slide, it’s 15BGN for adults and 10BGN for kids. You can read more about the prices here.
10. Visit the Rila Monastery
If you want to explore more of Bulgaria, then take a day trip to the stunning Rila Monastery.
It’s a beautiful 10th century, UNESCO World Heritage Site nestled in the Rila Mountains. Rila is Bulgaria’s largest monastery and is famous for its detailed frescoes and the amazing setting.
It’s around 100 kilometres from Bansko and so you’ll either need to hire a car or take this great day trip to Rila from Bansko.
There is also a museum on site as well as two restaurants, so you can come for lunch or dinner before heading back to Bansko in the evening.
It’s one of my favourite day trips for either the summer or winter, and a great option if you’re in Bansko for the season.
11. Visit the Belitsa Bear Sanctuary
Have you ever heard of Dancing Bears? I hadn’t before visiting the Belitsa Bear Park. Dancing Bears were a common sight and attraction in Bulgaria until it was banned in 1998. It’s a cruel practice where bear cubs are taken from the wild and forced to dance on the streets as a form of begging.
As a result, the bears are ‘tame’ and therefore cannot go back into the wild, as they have no natural or wild instincts.
The Belitsa Bear Sanctuary provides a home for these bears, as well as those who have been rescued from various other forms of poor captivity.
It’s a fascinating place to visit and see the bears, if not a little sad. However, the work that the sanctuary does is incredible, and it’s a great place to learn about the brown bear.
I loved visiting the Bear Sanctuary. It’s about 50 minutes by car from Bansko, so you’ll need to rent a car or arrange a taxi. However, it’s one of my favourite things to do from Bansko in Summer. You can’t go in winter because the bears are in hibernation, so don’t miss it!
12. Go Wine Tasting
You can’t visit Bansko in Summer without going on a wine tasting tour. Take an excursion from Bansko to Villa Melnik, one of the most famous vineyards in Bulgaria.
It’s a little bit of a trek, at around 2.5 hours to get there, but it’s such a beautiful place and the wine is fantastic. They have a fantastic garden too where you can enjoy a few glasses of wine with a spectacular view over the mountains.
It was one of the best things I did in Bansko in Summer. I joined a tour which was kindly organised by the coworking space AltSpace, but you could contact take a look at Bansko Life tours as they organise trips to Melnik too.
The trip I went on included a visit to the town of Melnik and the ‘Pyramids’ which are sandy cliffs in the town, then we stopped in at a local Mehana for lunch.
While I enjoyed both, a full-day trip ended up with just 2 hours at the winery, and I would have preferred a little more time to enjoy a couple of glasses in the garden. This totally comes down to preference, so just make sure you ask what your excursion includes.
13. Do a Beer Tasting
Bansko has a new bar in town, the Pivoteko Mountain Base Craft Beer Pub! It’s one of the best places to go in Bansko in Summer if you love beer!
It sources craft beers (and also a few ciders) from breweries across Europe. The ones they get from The Garden Brewery in Croatia are so good!
They have a mix of beers on tap as well as in cans and bottles (so don’t worry, you can take some home too!). The guys that own it love their beer, so it’s a great place to go and try some new flavours.
It’s open all year round, but it’s a great place to go and sit outside in Summer in Bansko and enjoy a cold, crisp craft ale.
14. Play Golf
If you’re a golf lover, you’ll not want to miss a visit to the Pirin Golf & Country Club.
It’s situation in a gated resort, and is surrounded by the Pirin, Rila and Rodopi mountains, about 20 minutes from Bansko by car.
If you’re visiting Bansko in Summer, you could even consider staying in this hotel, as it’s not as essential that you be close to the ski lift.
There’s a 5-star boutique hotel, a comfortable Apartment complex as well as a few private chalets. On site, there are 20 restaurants, supermarkets, bars, shops, a sports centre, a swimming pool, a beautiful wellness centre and spa, and of course, the golf course!
It’s a fantastic place, with everything you could possibly need right on your doorstep. You can read more about the hotel and facilities here.
But, of course, you can just visit to play golf too! A weekday round of 18 holes will set you back 135BGN (£60, €69) and at the weekends a round is 170BGN (£75, €87). Clubs, buggies and trolleys are all available to rent as well. For the full price list, take a look at Pirin Golf.
15. Go to a Festival
Finally, one of the main things that brings people to Bansko in Summer is the festivals.
The most popular is Nomad Fest, a week-long event that takes place at the end of June/beginning of July.
It’s a place to share tips on succeeding as a digital nomad, and to meet new nomad friends. Nomad Fest hosts lots of fun and informative presentations, workshops, sports and mindfulness activities, and it gets bigger every year.
Another popular festival in Bansko in Summer is the Jazz festival which takes place in August usually. The streets in Bansko in the Old Town area are full of musicians performing. It’s loads of fun, and if you love jazz, you’re in for a complete treat.
FAQs about Things to Do in Bansko
Enjoy the Best Things to Do in Bansko
I hope this blog shows that there is so much more to Bansko than it just being a ski resort.
There’s a huge range of things to do in Bansko in Summer too, with plenty of outdoor Bansko summer activities, adventures and sports to get involved with.
There is also plenty of relaxation to be had, in the spas, pools and excellent bars and restaurants in Bansko.
I hope you enjoy your Bansko summer and if you have any questions then get in touch either in the comments below or on social media, and I’ll be happy to help!
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