Bansko is a good place for skiing in winter and hiking in summer. The resort is mainly suited to beginners and those more advanced will get bored quite quickly. Also don’t expect the runs to be groomed to often. It is also a good idea to avoid any English school holidays as there will be insane amounts of people everywhere (and a 3 hour wait to get up the mountain via gondala) as well as the skiing world cup as half of the runs will be closed for the weeks leading up to it.

You can rent ski gear at the first station and get a discount at the lift ticket, though if you want to leave your skis there overnight there is an extra charge. A lot of ski rental shops can be found around the first station. You can probably arrange to leave the gear at the shop overnight for free. The weather in Bansko is obviously colder than some Greek ski resorts, so warmer clothes and a full face hood is nice to have.

You can get a multiday ticket for the lifts, although the discount is negligible. There is also a half day ticket after 12:30 or 13:00 each day, but you can also buy tickets at a better price from people leaving the ski centre before the end of the day, around the ticket offices.

Most hotels offer a bus service to the ski lift station in the morning and afternoon. Try to get to the lift station not later than 9:00 to avoid long queues. It is also advisable to buy the tickets from the previous afternoon for the same reason. There are also minibuses to ferry people up the mountain in the morning which is included in the lift pass.

Getting around in Bansko is relatively easy. The town is not large, and walking around is nice. Taxis are relatively cheap, though you should arrange the price beforehand. Outside the winter season Bansko is a popular starting point for a number of hiking trips – in Pirin Mountains as well to the nearby Rila Mountains and Western Rhodope Mountains. There is also a number of mountain bike routes. In winter, except the resort skiing, the mountains around Bansko offer good conditions for ski touring, snowshoeing and cross-country skiing.

Bansko has a several tennis courts open to the public for free. There is a number of swimming pools that operate all the year round.