We all laughed at the airport plan

In this week’s Buzz:

• Bulgarian Independence Day on Tuesday (22nd)

• How do street dogs end up with collars on them?

• Vote in the Mayor of the Year awards

• Is an airport in Bansko a real possibility?

• Love beer? Pivoteka having another Beer Buddies event

• Final BSD pub quiz of the summer on Monday 28th

• Government announces steps to limit impact of higher fuel prices

• Record number of participants in this year’s Pirin Ultra

A small airport just outside town with a projected opening date in late 2028. Will it happen?

If you hadn’t heard, in March last year Bansko announced its plans to develop & build an airport on the outskirts of town (between Bansko and Banya). Not the usual one that would attract the likes of Ryanair and Wizz, but a small, class A airport for those who want to fly to Bansko in a private plane of 2 to 14 people.

When it was originally announced back in March 2025, a lot of people (me included) thought it was a bit of a daydream project that wouldn’t get off the ground.

Is it a real possibility? It seems so. It looks like things are slowly moving forward, with the municipality submitting a proposal for the airport and a projected opening date of late 2028.

Does Bansko really need one, though? I’m not so sure, but it might help attract a different type of tourist/visitor to the town in both winter and summer seasons, and with a helipad said to be included in the plans I’m getting excited about helicopter tours above the Pirin Mountains! 😂 

Keep in mind, though, this could be one of those projects that we don’t hear about for years, and then suddenly construction begins, and everyone finds out it’s all going ahead.

If you want to read a recent article about the project, see here. [Translation required]

Great Food That Tastes Like Happiness

Wondering where to go for a great-tasting meal in late summer?

Try Five M. We offer some of the most delicious moments you’ll have during your time in Bansko, alongside a warm, enjoyable evening that tastes like happiness.

👉️ BOOK YOUR TABLE

Inside the Bansko Notice Board Group

✍️ 68 New Posts, 💬 249 Comments, 👍️ 537 Reactions

Anyone know the train times to Banya?
Kevin wants to take the local narrow-gauge train and is looking for accurate times. There were a few suggestions.

I’m looking for a swimming coach for adults
Alina wants to know if anyone knows of a local swimming instructor who offers swimming instruction (or a class) in a local indoor pool. See what people said.

Anyone know someone who can make a birthday cake?
Dusan wants to buy a birthday cake and wondered what options were available locally. There were quite a few suggestions.

How do street dogs end up with collars on them?
Jevon stays in Bansko with his wife for part of the year, has heard stories about aggressive dogs in Bansko, and wanted to know why street dogs have collars and who puts them on.

Bansko & Beyond

A census of all owned dogs in the municipality
The local municipality has announced it’s running a local census of all owned dogs in October and November this year: where pet owners must register their dog in the system, chip them, and have a pet passport. No details of the process & procedure as yet. (Bansko is later than Razlog’s, who are currently running theirs this month.) Read more.

Amazing new record of Pirin Ultra participants
A record number of 1,350 individuals took part in the ultra marathons as part of the Pirin Ultra last weekend. Prizes were given to the top three finishers in their categories, and many happy, familiar faces finished the 15km race and the 25km marathon. I hope you all had a good rest this week! Read more.

Ninth annual chess tournament attracts participants from five countries
Participants from five different countries took part in this year’s international chess tournament held in Dobrinishte for its ninth annual event. Lots of concentration and enjoyment were had by all. Read more.

Other news stories
Here are a handful of other news stories you may find interesting:

• Vote for Bansko’s mayor in the Mayor of the Year competition

• Bansko Municipality administration restructures and introduces a new department [Translation required]

• A company in Bansko allegedly deceived hundreds of Bulgarians & foreigners [Translation required] Note: the company refutes the allegations and dismisses them as misunderstandings (in a series of Facebook posts) 🤷 

• Bulgarian Government announces steps to limit impact of higher fuel prices

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Events Next Week

Charity festival “We Can Do It Too”
This event will continue on Monday (21st) from 1pm to 7pm and on Tuesday (22nd), with music, dancing, and culinary entertainment on Monday and exhibitions on Tuesday. This festival supports disadvantaged individuals who need extra help or live in sheltered housing. More info. [Translation required.]

Exhibition at The Tourist Information Center
The final painting exhibition in the municipality’s summer events calendar takes place on Monday (21st) and Tuesday (22nd) 9am to 12noon and 1pm to 6pm at the Tourist Information Center (near the old tree). It’s a painting exhibition by Violeta Laleva called Seasons.

Sound healing workshop: frequencies of the heart
Friday (25th) to Sunday (27th), Aksinia from Lotus Life, Kristina from Divine Greens and ETHER, and Dimitar from Man of No Ego host a space in which to meet yourself through sound, movement, and nature. Price €144 per person. More info. [Scroll down for English.]

Beer Buddies
On Saturday (26th) at Pivoteka on Tsar Simeon Street from 6pm, join other beer lovers for a taste of the taps. Try different beers at Pivoteka without ordering a full glass and then finding out you don’t like it (no one likes to waste good beer!). Pivoteka encourage you to "Go wild, get on it, try that smoothie sour, try that tomato beer or that 12% stout." A set price for any five beers. More info.

Bansko Street Dogs Pub Quiz
On Monday 28th of September is BSD’s final pub quiz of the summer, where teams come together to compete against each other to win the trophy. This will be at Hot Grill on Strazhite Street, which is putting on a special food & drink deal just for quiz night. The quiz entry fee is €5 per person and it starts at 7.30pm. More info.

Organising an event in or around Bansko? Submit it for consideration here.

Photo of the Week

The mountains are closer than you think.

Follow @banskobuzz on Instagram.

Before You Go…