What to Visit North of Blagoevgrad

Park “Rila” in Dupnitsa

Established in 2010, park “Rila” is a beautiful two-kilometers-long area situated near Dupnitsa’s downtown. If you want to spend a few hours surrounded by greenery, you may opt for this destination which is a short car drive away from Blagoevgrad. 

The Bistritsa River passes through the territory of the park, which has the impressive number of 38 bridges. In the park you'll find a lake with pedal boats, volleyball, basketball and tennis courts, a football field, an Olympic-sized pool, a zoo, a few theater stages, a children's playground, and a gym training area.

Eco Trail to the Samokovishte area

Spanning nine kilometers in each direction, the eco trail to Samokovihste area starts from the upper end of the Dupnitsa village of Bistritsa. The trail passes through the Samokovishteto waterfall, also known as the Bistrishki waterfall, and reaches the Samokovishte area.

The eco-trail is well marked and there are information boards for routes and areas throughout it. Walking eighteen kilometers is not an easy job, but be assured that you will find many places for rest and picnic with gazebos, benches, outdoor tables and fireplaces on your way.

Polska Skakavitsa Waterfall

The waterfall in Polska Skakavitsa is located in Zemenska Mountain near Kyustendil, a town situated close to Blagoevgrad. With its height of 50 meters, the waterfall forms several karst steps, after which the water falls freely downwards. Even though the Polska skakavitsa waterfall is not among the most easily accessible ones in Bulgaria, it is worth the effort.

Ski Slopes in Osogovo

If you love skiing and are looking for affordable options to practice the sport, you should visit the ski slopes in Osogovo. These slopes, which pass through a picturesque pine forest, are more than 900 meters long and 45 meters wide and only for advanced skiers. If you are still a beginner, check out the so-called “Sheinarska Pista (Slope)” nearby, or enroll in the Osogovo ski school for beginners.

Bistrishki Waterfall

Situated in the Rila Mountains near the village of Bistritsa, the Bistrishki waterfall is about 35 meters high. The river gorge and the waterfall are uniquely beautiful in any season, but especially in autumn. A perfect place for a picnic, the area around the waterfall is visited by many nature lovers every year.

Ruen Peak

The highest peak of the Osogovo range, Ruen is located on the border of Bulgaria and the North Macedonia. With its height of 2251 meters, Ruen Peak is one of the 100 National Tourist Sites of the Bulgarian Tourist Union (BTU). There are three alternatives to start climbing the peak. You can do this from the Osogovo hut, the Three Beeches (Tri Buki) area or the village of Gueshevo. 

The Mineral Springs in Sapareva Banya

Situated in West Bulgaria, the town of Sapareva Banya is 55 km east from Kyustendil, which makes it an interesting and easy-to-reach destination for all AUBGers. The town is located оn the north slope of Rila Mountains, at 750 m altitude, so make sure to take warm clothes with you.

Popular for its mineral waters – the hottest mineral water in Europe with a temperature of 103 °C, Sapareva Banya is also known as the home of the only geyser on the Balkan Peninsula. The fountain-geyser has become the symbol of the town.

The healing qualities of the water in Sapareva Banya make the region well-known since ancient times. Sapareva Banya’s oldest known name used to be Germaneya. Given by the Thracians, the name’s meaning was closely related to the existence of the healing hot mineral springs.

The Ruen Monastery “Saint John of Rila”

Located close to the village of Skrino, the Ruen Monastery is one of the newest monasteries in Bulgaria. Part of the municipality of Boboshevo and Kyustendil Province, the Ruen Monastery was named after the Bulgarian saint John of Rila, who founded the Rila Monastery.

The Kadin (Nevestin) bridge (“The Bridge of Qadi”)

A stone bridge over the Struma River, the “Bridge of Quadi” is also known as Nevestin Bridge. Located in the center of the village of Nevestino, the bridge is about 100 meters long and about 5 meters wide. It consists of five arches, the middle one being the highest and giving the pointed shape of the bridge, built of large carved granite blocks. 

A mixture of ancient medieval and renaissance forms, the architecture of the bridge makes it one of the most popular tourist destinations in this region. Kadin Bridge was declared an architectural monument of culture of national importance in 1968. The tourists who visit this bridge will see the beauty of the Rila Mountains from there.

Stob Earth Pyramids

One of the most popular rock formations in Bulgaria, these pyramids are located just above the village of Stob, in the western part of the Rila Mountains. With an average height of between seven and 10 meters, some pyramids reach a height of 12 meters. Although the Stob Pyramids are of various shapes, the majority of them are conical and ending with a stone cap, resembling mushrooms. Declared a natural landmark in 1964, the Stob Earth Pyramids have interesting shapes and colors varying from yellow to brown.

The Rila Monastery

The largest and most famous Eastern Orthodox monastery in Bulgaria, the Rila Monastery is also known as the Monastery of Saint John of Rila. Founded in the X century, the whole complex holds an area of 8,800 m² and is in a rectangular form. The architecture of the monastery consists of the main church, a residential part as well as a monastery museum. Regarded as one of Bulgaria's most important cultural, architectural and historical monuments, the Rila Monastery is a key tourist attraction for both Bulgarians and foreign tourists.

Panichishte

Panichishte, which is situated in the Rila Mountains and about 10 km southeast of the town of Sapareva Banya, is reachable by a steep road with climbs and sharp turns.

There are many resorts, chalets and spa hotels, a ski lift and a ski slope in and around the resort village of Panichishte. 

A starting point for walking routes for the huts Pionerska, Lovna, Skakavitsa, the Seven Lakes and many others, the village is located amid the beautiful forests of the Rila Mountains. In the area around Panichishte you will find the lowest glacial lake in Rila – the so-called Dry Lake.

Borovets

The first resort in Bulgaria, which used to be called Chamkoria, Borovets is located in the Samokov municipality. Borovets is not only the closest winter resort to Sofia, but it is also relatively near to Blagoevgrad.

With altitude of 1300 meters, Borovets has a diversity of biathlon facilities. The marked ski slopes in the resort are with length of 58 kilometers while the longest ski track is 12 kilometers. Borovets’ highest ski point is at 2560 meters above the sea level.

There are plenty of ski-lift stations (such as Yastrebets, Martinovi baraki, Sitnyakovski lift, lift Yastrebets Express, lift Markudzik 2, etc.) and ski lifts (i.e. Sitnyakovo, Iglika).

The resort hosted the competitions for the Alpine Ski World Cup twice, respectively in 1981 and 1984. In 1993, the World Biathlon Championships were held in Borovets. The last race in the town took place in February 2016. Offering the opportunity for mountain biking, Borovets Bike Park was created in 2010 with over 20 kilometers of marked trails, suitable both for beginners and advanced ski drivers.

In Borovets, there are also mountain bike tours along the routes. The resort is also ideal for rock climbing and mountaineering, with a number of climbing sites with varying difficulty levels.

Musala

The highest mountain peak in Bulgaria and the Balkan Peninsula, Musala stands at 2925 meters. Located in the eastern part of the Rila Mountains, not far from the resort of Borovets, Musala is visited by many tourists from around the world in the summer, as well as mountaineers from Bulgaria and neighboring countries.

Parks, eco-trails, waterfalls, ski slopes, peaks, monasteries, bridges, earth pyramids, resorts – you will find all that just outside of Blagoevgrad. These destinations are a perfect weekend getaway, and some of them are close enough even for a single day trip.