How to get from Sofia to Bansko
A few years ago, Bansko was named the best ski resort in Eastern Europe by the "Financial Times" newspaper. The distance from the capital Sofia to Bansko is about 155 km. The popular resort hosted the Skiing World Cup earlier this year, and next year, in 2025, the pretty town will host the Snowboarding World Cup.
What are the possibilities to travel from Sofia to Bansko?
By bus
There are daily buses from the capital of Bulgaria to its most famous winter resort. It is recommended to catch one of them at the Central Bus Station, but you can also get on from the bus station in Ovcha Kupel. The approximate price of a one-way ticket is about BGN 16. The trip takes about 3 hours.
By Train (Hurry Slow)
The popular ski resort has a railway station, but there is no direct railway line from Sofia to Bansko. You can reach the picturesque winter village by transferring in the town of Septemvri. The journey usually lasts between 5 and 7 hours, and the price of the train ticket is almost equal to that of the bus ticket - about 16 BGN.
By car
You can also travel by car on the Struma highway. This is your fastest way to get around. The distance in a straight line is equal to 96 km, but on the road network you will need to travel 155 km. It is assumed that the journey should not last more than 2.5 hours. If you have a car, you can go with it. If you don't own one, you can rent a car through a company, for example from Sofia Airport. It is possible to travel by car relatively cheaply. It is enough to search on Facebook for a shared trip from Sofia to Bansko. In such a case, however, you should be a bit of an adventurer and be prepared to interact with complete strangers along the way.
By taxi - more expensive, but most comfortable
In case money isn't an issue for you, or you just decided to spend more during your vacation. In that case, you could take a taxi. Or hire a private transfer from Sofia Airport to Bansko in advance. This is a more expensive option, but provides door-to-door service. Your trip will be really enjoyable.