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- Destinations
- Europe
- Bulgaria
- Mountains
- Sandanski
Sandanski
A popular holiday retreat, Sandanski is an
internationally-renowned health destination situated in the
foothills of the Pirin Mountains and is one of Bulgaria's best spa
resorts. Sandanski records the highest number of sunny days in
Bulgaria, and a combination of clean air, mild climate, beautiful
surroundings and natural mineral springs makes it an ideal town for
rehabilitation, recreation and spa treatments. The town is famous
for its treatment of respiratory problems, particularly bronchial
asthma, but the comprehensive balneo-climatic treatments also have
beneficial effects on numerous other conditions.
Sandanski is a small town in the Bistritsa River valley, with a
population of around 30,000. The city centre is a beautiful place
to walk around, with a number of restaurants, shops, hotels, art
galleries and internet cafes. The town hosts several festivals
throughout the year and is a point of departure to various
attractions in the Pirin Mountains, including the sandstone
pyramids in Melnik, the thermal hot springs at the Rupite volcanic
crater, and the Rila Monastery.
Information & Facts
Activities
One of the main attractions of Sandanski is its proximity to the
beautiful Pirin Mountains, which offer a variety of activities
including hiking, visiting the numerous local wineries, and bathing
in thermal hot springs. Other sights worth visiting are the
sandstone pyramids in Melnik, the thermal hot springs at the Rupite
volcanic crater, and the Rila Monastery.
In town, you'll find an Archaeological Museum and a tranquil
park featuring a lake with paddleboats and outdoor theatre.
Language
Bulgarian is the official language, which uses the
Cyrillic alphabet, but English, German and French is spoken in
resorts, hotels and restaurants.
Money
The official currency is the Lev (BGN), which is divided into
100 stotinki. The Lev is tied to the Euro at a fixed rate of EUR1 =
1.955 lev. Bulgaria has strict currency regulations. If you enter
Bulgaria with cash of any currency amounting to the equivalent of
8, 000 leva or more, you must declare it to customs officials.
Foreign currency may be exchanged in banks, hotels or at one of the
numerous bureaux de change, however due to a common practice of
misleading rates of exchange it is better to go to banks or hotels
to change money. A receipt called a
bordereauxis issued when exchanging currency, indicating
the amount that will be given, and it must be kept until departure.
Not all banks accept travellers cheques and those that do usually
charge a 5% commission. Major international credit cards are
increasingly becoming accepted by tourist hotels, upmarket shops
and restaurants, travel agents and car rental agents, but Bulgaria
is still largely a cash economy. There are ATMs in the main cities
and at Black Sea resorts.
Restaurants
Eating out in Sandanski is includes a range of sidewalk cafes
and outdoor restaurants. Many of the hotels in the city have good
places to eat, and most of Sandanski's restaurants are clustered
around the city centre, within easy walking distance.
Shopping
Shopping in Sandanski is concentrated in the city centre, with a
number of shops, art galleries, and market stalls dotted around
Macedonia Avenue. Popular Sandanski souvenirs include wooden toys
and puzzles, local art, and clothes. There are also several
ateliers who makes custom suits at prices far below those in other
parts of Europe.
Time
Local time is GMT +2 (GMT +3 from last Sunday in March to
last Sunday in October).