How did Bansko become a digital nomad paradise during the summer months?
Bansko, Bulgaria used to be a ski town that would turn into a ghost town during summer. But in recent years, digital nomads have started flocking here during the summer months, bringing life to the sleepy village.
I found myself living the digital nomad life in Bansko in the summer of 2024 for a month after attending the Digital Nomad Fest.
Digital Nomad Fest
The Digital Nomad Fest is one of the key events held in Bansko every summer.
It’s a super fun event filled with amazing talks, parties, and plenty of opportunities for networking with people from all over the world who have chosen a nomadic or remote work lifestyle.
I bought a ticket just for the last weekend of the festival, and it was absolutely worth it!
Getting to Bansko from Sofia
If you’re planning a trip to Bansko, you’ll likely start your journey in Sofia, the capital of Bulgaria. The trip takes around two hours, and you have several options for getting there.
- Rent a car: If you’re staying for a few days, I highly recommend renting a car and driving to Bansko. Pro tip: renting a car in Bansko is much more expensive, so it’s better to rent one directly in Sofia.
- Bus: The most affordable and straightforward option is the bus, which costs about €9 and takes around three hours.
- Taxi: I personally chose to share a taxi with other people attending the festival. The price ranges from €75 to €85. Joining digital nomad WhatsApp groups is a great way to find travel buddies for shared rides.
Getting Around Bansko
Once you’re in Bansko, here’s how you can get around (I’ve been using them all!):
- Walking: Most places in Bansko are within a 30-minute walking distance. As long as the weather’s nice, walking is a great option.
- Biking: Bansko is a hilly town, so expect plenty of slopes and, make sure you’re in good shape! Regular bikes cost around 15 BGN a week, while e-bikes go for 40 BGN a day. I rented a bike for a day, and that was enough for me!
- Biking: Bansko is a hilly town, so there are a lot of slopes. If you’re planning on biking, make sure you’re in good shape!
Regular bikes cost around 15 BGN a week, while e-bikes go for 40 BGN a day. I rented a bike for a day, and that was enough for me! - Taxis: Taxis in Bansko are quite affordable. A ride within the city will cost you 12-15 BGN. Just remember, you’ll need to pay in cash, so come prepared. To book a taxi, download the Taxistar app.
Where to Stay in Bansko: Your Co-Living Guide
Bansko doesn’t really have one central area.
You could say the main street is Pirin, and Pirin 75 bar is a nice hangout spot that sits between two key areas to know about:
- Gondola area: Higher up, you’ll find the gondola station.
- Main Square Area: Another Central Hub of Bansko
This area hosts the annual digital nomad conference and various festivals.
My advice? Book accommodation between these two areas for the most convenience.
Co-Living: A New Way of Life
Co-living is a housing concept designed for digital nomads. When you live in a co-living space, you share a common area (such as a living room or kitchen) with other residents who have a similar lifestyle.
Prices in Bansko are so affordable that you can live in a small apartment with a compact living room, kitchen, and bathroom or share a larger workspace or kitchen with neighbors. The price ranges from €200 to €600 per month.
אלו כמה מהאופציות הפופולריות לקו-ליבינג בבנסקו והמחירים:
Valentina Heights:
This was my pick, and I absolutely loved it!
It’s a small building with about 20 apartments, a communal kitchen, and an in-house coworking space.
A studio apartment costs about €500 per month, and a one-bedroom is around €600 per month, including access to the coworking space.
There’s also a lovely garden for outdoor events, a cold plunge pool, a jacuzzi, and a sauna in the basement.
Valentina also has nice community managers who organize activities like games nights, brushes and more.
I spent a month in the ground-floor studio apt and loved it. It’s important to know that each room is different and you might prefer a higher floor, but I enjoyed the fact I had access to the garden from my apt.
Four Leaf Clover:
A bigger co-living space with lower prices—around €300 per month. It’s less intimate due to the number of people, but still has a pool (although not the most exciting one).
Coliving Bansko:
This one is a newer co-living space, housed in a former hotel bought by a Hungarian-Israeli owner.
The downside is that the rooms don’t have personal kitchens. However, it hosts many weekly parties and meetups for nomads.
There’s a big coworking space on the ground floor, but it may not be the best fit for people who need absolute quiet to work.
There’s also a basement music room for jam sessions!
Pro tip: Co-living spaces usually have monthly rates, so booking for two weeks might cost almost the same as a full month.
If you’re looking for something cheaper, you can rent an apartment for €200-300 a month and pay separately for coworking access at Alt Space or The Nest.
Coworking: Your New Office
Coworking spaces and co-living often go hand in hand. As more people started working remotely, coworking spaces began popping up all over the world.
Here are some great coworking spots in Bansko:
- Alt Space: With several locations, Alt Space costs around €100 and offers everything a remote worker could need—monitors, meeting rooms (with great lighting for video calls), cables, and a coffee machine.
- The Nest: Known as the best coworking space in Bansko, The Nest is designed like a high-tech company with colorful decor. It’s a bit more expensive, but totally worth it.
Tip: Most coworking spaces offer a day pass, so I took advantage of that to try out Alt Space.
Meeting new people in Bansko
For the full experience, I recommend staying in a co-living space and working at one of the coworking spaces. The connections you make there are incredible. Bansko also has a packed schedule of events, professional meetups, and parties where you can meet new people.
Definitely join the WhatsApp groups (including good Morning Bansko)
What to Do in Bansko: The Full Experience
While Bansko is less crowded in the summer than during ski season, there’s still plenty to do:
Spa Day:
One of the best experiences in Bansko was visiting the Pulse Therme spa. With over 10 pools, the highlight is the wet sauna with an ice water pool in the center.
We arrived
Price: 40 BGN (€20) for 4 hours, or 50 BGN for the whole day.
There’s also a buffet for 30 BGN.
I recommend going on a weekday, as weekends can get busy.
Note that if you’re with children, Kids under 14 aren’t allowed in some of the pools.
Gondola Ride:
Take the gondola up the mountain for 40 BGN one way or 44 BGN round trip. Or, take a taxi one way for 40 BGN and hike down.
Bear Sanctuary
About 45 45-minute drive from Bansko is the Dancing Bear Sanctuary in Belitsa. Established with the help of Brigitte Bardot, the sanctuary rescues bears that were abused and forced to “dance” for entertainment from a young age.
Many of the bears still suffer from trauma and repetitive behaviors. During your visit, you can observe the bears from a distance and learn about their stories.
It costs 10 BGN for entry, and the tour lasts about 30 minutes.
I recommend wearing closed shoes for comfort. Also, make sure you check the opening hours before your visit.
Yoga Classes
You can find yoga classes through the various WhatsApp groups.
Fitness
If you want to get your workout in, you can hit up Fitbox for a more upscale vibe or check out Fitness, which offers a daily pass for 7 BGN or a monthly membership for 55 BGN. There are also tennis courts and other options to explore.
Ice Cold Pools:
No need to plunge into ice-cold water here in Bansko—the river is chilly enough! If you’re into it, join the WhatsApp group for Cold Plunge.
Sunset Spot:
Search for the sunset viewpoint online and take a stroll there to catch some beautiful sights and maybe spot some horses grazing in the fields.
Farmers’ Market on Sundays:
Don’t miss the Sunday farmers’ market near the main square for fresh veggies and fruits! It runs from 7:00 AM to 2:00 PM, but the vendors usually start packing up about an hour before closing.
Salsa/Bachata Lessons & Parties:
Join the salsa and bachata lessons offered in the nomads’ groups (thanks to Leroy) for 10 BGN per group lesson or 40/50 BGN for a private session.
Chill by the Pool:
Just because there’s no beach in Bansko doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy a refreshing dip during the hot July and August days. Here are some recommended pools:
Belvedere:
This pool is located at the hotel and offers entry for 15 BGN per day (towels not included). There’s also a restaurant on-site with a variety of dishes, including a tasty vegan pasta.
Leonardo Pool:
A cute little pool next to the co-living space in Bansko. Entrance is 25 BGN, and you get a huge towel. There’s a fancy Italian restaurant nearby with vegan options like pizza, pasta, gazpacho, and even panna cotta.
Jazz Festival:
In August, there’s a famous jazz festival that brings the town to life!
Recommended Restaurants and Cafés in Bansko:
During the summer, many restaurants in Bansko are closed, but there’s still a nice variety of places to eat and grab a coffee.
Tip: Always call ahead to confirm hours of operation.
Important to Note: Service in Bulgaria is “Bulgarian” aka pretty straightforward—they appreciate it when you keep things simple at the checkout, so be patient!
5M Restaurant:
A bit on the pricier side, but it’s almost always open, so you can count on it. They offer vegan pasta, antipasti, and a variety of salads.
Tasty/Pirin 75:
A popular hangout and bar among digital nomads, serving up pizzas and burritos.
The Station Restaurant:
A spot with a ton of tasty wraps and quick bites. Great service!
The House Restaurant:
Near the gondola, this place offers vegan dishes like spiced rice and tomato soup. Just a heads up, the service is pretty “Bulgarian.”
Yanitsa:
A cute spot by the main square with slow service but homestyle food. They have vegan soup and delicious broccoli patties.
Bakeries and Cafés:
- Le Petit Nicola: A café with a slightly crazy but hilarious owner. They serve vegan banitsa and tofu sandwiches.
- The French Guy: A well-known café and bakery run by a French guy. They offer vegan sandwiches and tasty bread.
- Lubanitsa: In addition to their amazing pastries, they have vegan banitsa, vegan cakes, and drinks with plant milk.
- Cherry Berry Coffee and Smoothie: A nice café with tasty smoothie bowls, though the prices are a bit high.
Vegan Life in Bansko:
When I first arrived in Bansko, I worried about finding vegan options, but I was pleasantly surprised! Most restaurants have basic vegan dishes, and there’s an active vegan community.
Every Friday, there’s a three-course vegan meal at Le Retro. Just be sure to register in advance!
Where to Grocery Shop?
Bansko has two main supermarkets—Billa and Grosh—where you can find all your essentials.
The highlight of my stay was using ebag.com to order groceries straight to my apartment. If you’re vegan or looking for gluten-free products, they’ve got everything you need!
Manicure Pedicure in Bansko
If you’re in the market for a gel manicure or pedicure, I recommend Elena from Beauty Heaven. She’s fantastic and speaks fluent English!
What to Do in Sofia?
Sofia, Bulgaria’s capital, is a great stop before or after your Bansko visit, but I wouldn’t recommend staying longer than a day.
The city offers a variety of excellent restaurants with modern cuisine alongside traditional Bulgarian dishes.
Tip: If you need to get to the airport, the metro is the budget-friendly option. A taxi will cost around 20-30 BGN (about 10 euros) and is especially convenient if you have a lot of luggage.
