The nearest airport to Bansko is Sofia, 150km northwest.
There is also Plovdiv, 160km to the east and Thessaloniki, 220km southwest in Greece.
Individual Transfers
Most visitors from abroad use local Bansko companies that offer airport transfers. Transfer time from Sofia is about three hours in normal conditions and from Plovdiv 4 hours – longer at weekends, or in snowy weather.
By Bus
Travelling from Sofia to Bansko by bus takes between three and three-and-a-half hours. Buses depart from either Sofia’s Central Bus Station (Tsentralna avtogara), near to the train station on bul. Knyaginya Maria Luiza (timetable at http://213.240.239.190/guide/welcome.jsp) , or from Ovcha Kupel bus station, 5km southwest of the city centre (on the route of trams no. 5 and no. 19, Tel. +359 2 9555362).
Bansko’s bus station (ňel: +359 749 88420) is at the northern end of town, ten minutes’ walk from the main square. Bus timetables from Bansko can be other obtained at the bus station or at the Bansko Tourist Info Centre in the town hall.
There is a taxi rank in the bus station forecourt, and a taxi booking office, belonging to
local firm Trans Taxi, inside the ticket hall. There is a public toilet, and a small shop, selling coffee, snacks and soft drinks, but no other facilities.
By Car
Bansko lies two-and-a-half hours’ drive from Sofia, although journey time can lengthen to three or four hours on busy weekends. The fastest route is to take the main E79 south to Greece until Simitli,
from where a well-marked east-bound turn leads over to Bansko. The whole road from about 10 kilometers outside Sofia on has been re-done and the trip to Bansko is smooth.
