Living in Bansko today is a strong community of expatriates for whom life in this beautiful town with year round appeal and attraction is perfect.  We take a look at what a would-be-expat can expect from relocation to Bansko in Bulgaria.

Located deep in the heart of the picturesque Pirin Mountain range Bansko nestles beneath Mount Vihren, the town was always a favourite retreat for Bulgarians looking for an accessible and good ski resort and recently the resort has undergone an incredible makeover and infrastructure upgrade and as a result its profile has been raised and international interest in the town has increased.

It’s essential to mention at this point that the rate at which the resort is developing means that aside from the untouched heart of Bansko everything else has been touched by the building boom and when you initially arrive in the town you get the impression that it’ll be great when finished!

Once you’ve lived in Bansko for a period of time you get used to the building sites and can see past the construction to the true spirit of Bansko.

Initially people were attracted to the resort by two things: one, the incredibly cheap price of property for sale in Bansko and two, the fact that the resort has so much going for it that buying property in Bansko as an investment made great financial sense! 

Now that the town has been upgraded, there is a new ski lift, an 18-hole golf course is in the planning stages and there is actually year round appeal from tourists looking for skiing, hiking, biking and exploring opportunities, buying in Bansko makes even more sound financial sense.  Naturally enough as the appeal of the resort has increased so prices have gone up and the town has witnessed prices rising by about three times in recent years.

Not all those who have bought have bought as an investment – in fact an increasingly strong band of expatriates are moving to live in Bansko and enjoy a healthy climate, year round appeal, friendly and welcoming locals and a highly affordable, great quality of life.  Furthermore the expansion of the resort in terms of visitor numbers and the number of months it is frequented by tourists means that there are an increasing number of small business opportunities opening up so that those who wish to live and work in Bulgaria can do so.

Part of the enduring appeal of Bansko is that despite its modernisation and the extensive apartment and hotel construction taking place in and around the town, it retains its ancient charm and its peaceful nature which makes it a thoroughly relaxing place to live.

Today British expatriates living in Bansko benefit from the likes of ‘The Lion’ which has traditional English breakfasts and all Sky sports, or the new ‘Happy-End’ pub for a bit of après ski – but they can also enjoy the local taverns, fantastic cuisine and affordable cost of living.

The one real down side of Bansko is its accessibility – the nearest airport is in Sofia and the road between the two locations isn’t brilliant.  However there is much talk locally of improvements being made to the road and if Bulgaria is to be a serious contender for the 2014 Winter Olympics one can assume that the road upgrade will become a priority.