Bulgaria’s Prime Winter Holiday Spot

As days get shorter and the smell of winter fills the chilly air of December mornings, vacation, partying and hitting the mountain slopes becomes our top priority. While you are sharpening the edges of your skis and snowboards, the people of Bansko are preparing for the winter season with all their strength. The piles of firewood are ready for the long, cold nights, wines, rakias and the good old Banski Starets are seasoning in the basements and vigorous maintenance gives a new life to the lonely lifts and ski runs. They are all waiting for the colorful throngs who come each winter to enjoy the snow and the mountains. 
Going uphill on Bansko’s main Pirin street, we can see that things are changing for good. You can still step into an occasional muddy hole, or get splashed by a heavy cargo truck, passing by, but there are few construction sites left to litter the picturesque vicinity. It is an end of an era of uncurbed, megalomaniac building, which almost ruined the magic of this cosy, rural community. Apart from some finishing touches, building has stopped and entrepreneurs are mostly investing in quality and comfort at reasonable prices. 
Talking of luxury and glamour, we have visited some new and pretty posh places for you to stay in and some recently opened food, drinking and party-time joints for you to check out while not skiing or snowboarding. See the newest accommodations in town on page 13 and find out where to fill up those empty stomachs on page 20. Learn about the cool places for partying on page 24, but drink reasonably, because Bulgarian alcohol is pretty strong.
We should not forget all these old and traditional features of the place as the mehanas with their “kapama”, ”chomlek” and revolutionary Macedonian music, the beauty of the Old town and of course, the Pirin mountain and winter sports, which made this trade and agricultural centre into the biggest winter resort in Bulgaria.
As most of us will go to Bansko for skiing and snowboarding, on page 30 there is some useful information about the slopes, mountain rescue service, the lifts and gondolas and even about a helicopter service which will take you to the best ever free ride spots. Do not forget that this year Bansko will host a World Cup Skiing event for women, as well as some local race events. Go check them out for some inspiration, but know that these people are professionals and if you are new to winter sports, you would better “ride” with the little kids next to the gondola.
Be safe, relaxed, take your time with fun and may this winter in Bansko be your best ever…