Most folks will arrive in Bansko via Bulgaria’s capital city, Sofia, some 160 kilometers (99 miles) to the north. It’s an easy trip and there are several options – here are the details on how to get from Sofia to Bansko. We’ll explain how to go from the city of Sofia to Bansko the fastest way to go from Sofia to Bansko, the cheapest way to go to Bansko from Sofia, and also the most convenient way to get there. Here’s our guide on how to get to Bansko from the city of Sofia.
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BEST WAY TO TRAVEL
There’s a great bus service that runs from Sofia Central Bus Station to Bansko. It’s convenient and cheap. But you’ll want to pre-book your tickets, as there are only 3 buses a day.
There are two easy bus journeys that will bring you from the city of Sofia to Bansko. However, there are also other options- transfers, car rental, and also a convoluted train and bus journey. If you’re looking for how to go from Sofia Airport to Bansko, then our guide is here.
These buses run year-round. They’re not dependent upon it being ski time in the all-season resort of Bansko.
Where is Bansko
Bansko is well-known as Bulgaria’s biggest ski resort. The town is around a 2 – 2.5-hour drive from Bulgaria’s capital city, Sofia. The Sofia to Bansko distance is 150 km. It can also be reached in around 2.5 hours from Plovdiv. Bansko is an hour from Blagoevgrad, which is the provincial capital.
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Arriving in Bansko from Sofia
If you take the public transport links to Bansko from Sofia (or anywhere else), then you’ll arrive at the bottom of town. I’ve included details on our map later in this article. There are two distinct areas of town, the old town area, centered around the old square, where Bansko’s festivals – including the internationally renowned Bansko Jazz Festival take place, further up the hill, towards the mountain where the new part of town is and where you’ll find the ski mountain.
There is no town bus in Bansko. If you arrive on a bus or a train, you’ll have to either get a taxi (use the Taxistars app for the best rates) or walk. And yes. It’s all uphill.
How to Go from Sofia to Bansko – Transport Options
In this guide on how to go from the city of Sofia to Bansko, we’ll cover the best ways to go to Bansko from Sofia.
For transport from Bansko to Sofia you have several options. The cheapest way to travel is to take the bus. And there are two bus stations in Sofia that have buses going to Bansko. There’s also a train station in both Sofia and Bansko, although there is NO direct train between the two. As we’ve done this route I’ll cover it later, but it’s a convoluted way to get to Bansko from Sofia.
Private and Shared Transport from Sofia to Bansko
This section includes the details of how to book private transfers, how to rent cars, and where you can book shared shuttles.
Private Transfers from Sofia to Bansko
The easiest way to go to Bansko from Sofia is to take a private transfer. At certain times there are shared transfers available. These are run by a Bansko-based company and can be booked here. Outside of ski season, they only run on days when there are flights from the UK to Sofia Airport, but they will pick you up from your hotel in Sofia.
You can prebook and prepay a private transfer from Sofia to Bansko here.
Book a transfer here with Viator between Bansko and Sofia.
Most transfer companies that provide private transfers from Sofia to Bansko are based in Bansko. All are competitive and provide a variety of sizes of vehicles. It’s possible to book and pay online with some, although most prefer cash on arrival at your destination in either leva or euros.
Here’s a selection of companies that provide Bansko airport transfers.
- https://banskoblog.com/
- Steve Transfers Company
- Bansko Express
- Bansko Transport
- Bulgarian Transport
- Balkanity Travel
- Around Bulgaria
Renting a Car to go from Sofia to Bansko
You can also rent a car from Sofia City and drive to Bansko. Depending on where you are staying in Sofia, it can be interesting getting out of the city (my advice is to get onto the Outer Ring Road ASAP and not bother with the bumpy and slow inner ring road).
If you do rent a car for your time in Bulgaria, then there are some fabulous places to visit. You’ll want to check out Veliko Tarnovo (the old capital), Plovdiv (the glorious second city of Bulgaria), the evil villain’s mountain lair of Buzludzha, and the absolutely stunning Rila Monastery.
Use maps.me or Google Maps to navigate through the city and beware of trams. The motorway is easy, follow Google instructions and Bansko is signposted from the motorway. Beware potholes and pedestrian “sleeping policeman” style bumps in the road.
Signposting throughout Sofia and en route to Bansko is in both Bulgarian Cyrillic and English. Most signage on the major roads is now in the Latin Alphabet.
Place Names in Bulgarian
- Sofia in Bulgarian is София
- Bansko in Bulgarian is Банско
- Blagoevgrad in Bulgarian is Благоевград
Ride Shares between Sofia and Bansko
If you’re looking for a shared Sofia Bansko transfer, especially in the lower seasons (i.e. not ski season and not August), then try the Bansko Notice Board on Facebook where folks generally post if they’re looking to share a ride. You can also try the Co-Working Bansko group also on Facebook.
You can also find Sofia to Bansko ride shares in this Facebook Group too.
Using Public Transport to Go from the City of Sofia to Bansko
This is the cheapest way to go from Sofia to Bansko and we’ve done this route many times over the years. We’ve taken the train from Sofia to Blagoevgrad and then the bus on to Bansko, and we’ve taken buses from both the Central bus station and also from Ovcha Kupel in Sofia all the way to Bansko. So if you decide to go from Sofia to Bansko by public transport we have you covered. It takes longer than a private transfer or driving, but it is considerably cheaper.
Bus from Sofia Central Bus Station to Bansko
There are two bus stations in Sofia that have buses that go to Bansko.
The most convenient location for most people is the Central Bus Station and these are the most convenient bus to take from Sofia to Bansko and these are the only ones that you can book online. But they only depart in the morning, so you’ll need to prebook your ticket and also the last bus from Sofia Central Bus Station to Bansko is at 11:25. There are three buses each day (all in the morning) from Sofia Central Bus Station to Bansko. They leave Sofia at 08:30, 09:45, and 11:25.
You can check the times and availability of bus tickets from Sofia Central to Bansko here.
Bus from Sofia Ovcha Kupel Bus Station to Bansko
The Ovcha Kupel Bus station in Sofia has buses that run until 15:49 each day, so if you want to travel to Bansko from Sofia in the afternoon this is your only choice. The nearest metro station to Ovcha Kupel bus station is Krasno Selo.
You can’t pre-book tickets for these buses, but we’ve used this bus station several times in recent months and always managed to not just get a ticket, but a good seat!
Tickets cost 18 leva per person. There’s space for big bags in the hold and it’s cash only. Pay the driver as you get on the bus. The bus stops in Blagoevgrad for a 10-minute break at 2 hours into the journey. This bus from Sofia to Bansko takes about 3 hours in total.
Note that the old bus station in Bansko is being redeveloped. The plan is for the train station to be the new combined transport station and all buses will pick up and drop off at the train station.
Train from Sofia to Bansko
There are railway stations in both Sofia and Bansko. Taking the train from Sofia to Bansko is not an easy option. (It is plain difficult and we seriously don’t recommend this route at all). There is no direct Sofia Bansko train. It is a convoluted route.
If you really want to take the train for part of the way, then take a train from Sofia to Blagoevgrad and then take the bus from Blagoevgrad to Bansko.
While Bansko does have a train station, the route from Sofia is a minimum of one change and 6.5 hours. If you do want to take a train from Sofia to Bansko, it’s best to take a train to Blagoevgrad (2.5 hours) and then a bus from Blagoevgrad to Bansko (1 hour). Bulgarian Trains Fares and Timetables can be found on the official site in both Bulgarian and English
The last train from Sofia to take that will get you to Bansko (on a bus from Blagoevgrad) on the same day is at 1400 You will need to be in Blagoevgrad by 1830 to catch the last Blagoevgrad to Bansko bus on the same day. This train-bus combination will take a minimum of 3 hours and 30 minutes if you make direct connections, which is unlikely.
If you’re looking to go in the opposite direction, our guide from Bansko to Sofia is here.
Map of Bus Stops and Train Stations for going from Sofia City to Bansko
You can also see the train station and bus stops from Sofia to Bansko here
Popular Routes Around Bulgaria
Traveling around Bulgaria? Here’s how to get between some of the most popular places.
- How to go from Sofia to Bansko
- How to go from Plovdiv to Bansko
- How to go from Bansko to Istanbul
- Taking the Bansko to Septembri Narrow Gauge Train
- How to go from Sofia Airport to Bansko
- How to go from Bansko to Sofia
The quickest way to get from Sofia to Bansko
The quickest way way to get to Bansko from Sofia city is to take a private transfer and you can book a transfer from Sofia to Bansko here. Or book a transfer with Viator here.
The easiest way to go to Bansko from Sofia City
The easiest way to get from Sofia to Bansko is to take a private transfer (check the rates here), alternatively, if you plan on exploring more of Bulgaria before leaving the country, then rent a car and drive. It’s an easy drive.
The cheapest way to go from Sofia Airport to Bansko
The cheapest way to get to Bansko from Sofia is to take the bus and you should prebook your bus tickets here.
Bulgaria Trip Planning Essentials
- Get Travel Insurance: Civitatis includes medical expenses, repatriation, theft, luggage delays. No deductibles or upfront payments. Get a quote here.
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- Make sure you can charge your electronics – here’s our guide to plug adapters in Bulgaria
- Top Attractions in Bulgaria to PREBOOK
- Visit Rila Monastery + Boyana Church
- Explore Veliko Tarnovo – Bulgaria’s Original Capital City
- Go wine tasting in Melnik – Bulgaria’s wine capital
- Take a FREE Walking Tour in Sofia
- Explore Buzludzha aka the UFO Monument
- Spend a day in GORGEOUS Plovdiv
- Book Buses + Transfers in Bulgaria with Bookaway
- Rent a Car in Bulgaria with Discover Cars
- Find the right accommodation for you via Booking.com
Final Words on How to Go from Sofia City to Bansko
There are up to 8 buses a day that go from the city of Sofia to Bansko. They depart from two different bus stations, you can also take a train part of the way, or drive or get a transfer (shared or private). There are good roads now between Sofia and Bansko and it’s not difficult to arrange a trip.
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