Meet the Small Bulgarian Town Known as “Narnia of the Balkans”

Meet Bansko, a small town in the mountains of Bulgaria you might want to put on your travel radar. Small Bulgarian towns may not be the first place you think of when you plan a family vacation, but this one has something special that has earned it a nickname that honors a beloved series of books that inspired many of our fantasies growing up.

Whether you visit during winter, summer, spring or fall, Bansko has something fun for the family. It’s a ski town during the winter months and, from spring to fall, you’ve got plenty of fun festivals, great hiking trails and beautiful scenery that looks as if it is straight out of a storybook.

The easiest way to get to Bansko is by car, either from the Bulgarian capital of Sofia or from the Greek city of Thessaloniki. If you are planning on renting a car, you’ll want to make sure you can take a rental across the border if you’re opting for this second route, but both countries are Shengen and members of the EU, so travel between the two is fairly simple.

Once there, you can do the obvious, skiing, but if your family isn’t big on the sport, you can still enjoy the sites in this cozy mountain town. There is a historic Old Town perfect for strolling and shopping, and Holy Trinity Church is a beautiful site to see (and great for photos). The nearby Pirin National Park has plenty of hiking trails, or you can take a daytrip to visit Rila Monastery.

However you spend your time, you’ll be able to introduce the kids to some of the local culture, history and natural beauty — and go home with plenty of great memories.