Pirin National Park — Attraction in Sandanski

The good. Ski road is amazing for kids and me who is a beginner skier. Takes 30-45 minutes to get from the beginning (where gondola drops you off) to the bottom. Nice town that offers shopping, restaurants and ice skating (which is kind of expensive).

The BAD. Wait time for gondola can be an hour to two hours! Taking the car to the top is hard. It is eather standstill traffic, or parking is full and the police won't let you through. Options in that case are van ride or taxi. Still it takes long time to get to your destination. Food on the mountain is extremelly expensive. Starting at 2:30 pm it gets very busy and dangerous for the begginer skiers on the Ski Road. Too many skiers returning to the bottom, so be careful.

They need the following done as soon as possible: Add 2 more lanes to the road A lot more parking space Another gondola or another way to get to the top.

There are too many visitors for the way everything...

This was an optional thing to do on our route and we were so happy that we did it. For my friend, it was the first ridge walk (koncheto) and she loved it. We went on vihren first and then went down to make it up again to the start of the koncheto rigde walk. It's not a walk in the park but you will be rewarded with a stunning landscape and lots of fun walking along it. Some tips: follow the red line. There will be a point not far from the start giving you two red line directions. Follow the left. People told us this is the 'easier' way and the right one is for going back. Pack a warm jacket. We had a stormy day, even if it was very sunny. Feels chilling. Don't worry too much about the internet advices of being a 'hard' route. Yes, it is challenging, but you don't need technical experience. And my friend is not super fit but managed to...

The National Park of Pirin near the famous Bulgarian ski resort - Bansko - is a staggeringly beautiful national reserve which probably provides the most drop-dead gorgeous vistas in Bulgaria.

There are hiking routes for everybody. If you feel you are more experienced, going to Koncheto Ridge and Pirin's highest peak - Vihren - is a must. And it so much worth it.

Pirin is dotted with many crystal-clear lakes which freeze completely in winter so one can even walk on the ice.

Either for skiing in winter or hiking in summer, Pirin is one of your best choices...