Spring weekend in the sunniest city of Sandanski
- nadezhda3010
- Apr 16
- 8 min read
One of my favorite places in Bulgaria in spring is the town of Sandanski.
For me, Sandanski is a beautiful, cozy and green town, but honestly it is not my place in the summer, as it is too hot. Last year I was there in early August and I could barely stand the three days of insane heat, even at the pool under an umbrella it was unbearably hot. But May-June and September-October are another matter, as they say! It is warmer than Sofia, but it is not hot and the weather is wonderful to enjoy the city without sweating.
Sandanski is a tiny but very interesting town located at the foot of the beautiful Pirin Mountains. The town is famous for its numerous mineral springs and its healing climate, which are the reason why many tourists prefer it for rest and relaxation all year round.
In Sandanski you can see traces of the Roman and Thracian civilizations. In the city center there are interesting archaeological finds. Visiting this sunny city, you have the opportunity to see the remains of Roman baths, an amphitheater and fortresses.
The Monastery of the Holy Virgin is a place that is extremely worth seeing and I recommend it to you. Unfortunately, I cannot find the photos that I took. In this divine corner on the outskirts of the city you can enjoy incredible peace and quiet.
An interesting place for both children and adults is the Museum of the History of Sandanski, which is located in the city center.
I personally recommend visiting the Roman Bridge and the "Springs of Pirin". This is a unique place where you can see Roman ruins up close, where you will learn more about the water supply systems of the Romans. The area itself is extremely picturesque and offers a great opportunity for a pleasant walk in nature.
In the Sandanski region you can enjoy high-quality traditional Bulgarian cuisine. Popular dishes include pepper Burek, pork or veal kavarma, as well as the "Sandanski" salad, which includes tomatoes, cucumbers, onions, roasted peppers, cheese, olive oil and fresh spices, which complement the taste in an incredible way. Moussaka is also served in an interesting way. In the region, it is traditionally prepared not only with pork, but also with lamb. I also recommend that you try traditional Bulgarian yogurt with honey and walnuts, to which a pinch of cinnamon is added here, which gives it a distinctive taste.
Due to the warm climate in the Sandanski region, very sweet grapes are grown, from which various wines are made. Around Sandanski and Melnik you can visit one of the local wineries, where lovers of the drink of the Gods can enjoy a rich tasting of different varieties and combinations of wines.
But let's get back to my favorite places in Sandanski!
I can't help but start with the wonderful shopping street, dotted with all kinds of shops you can think of, as well as numerous cafes, bars and restaurants. The street is shady, as it is "lined" with old trees and, at least for me, it is extremely pleasant for a leisurely walk and a little shopping.
My other favorite place in Sandanski is the unique Sveti Vrach Park. Considering the size of the city, the park is truly huge. In it you have the opportunity to walk among beautiful and well-maintained greenery and literally feel like you are in the forest. Sveti Vrach Park has many walking paths, flower gardens, beautiful fountains, bridges, a stream, an amphitheater and more beautiful and open spaces. There is even a municipal swimming pool, which looks quite good and its price, at least in 2024, was extremely affordable.
The Saint Vrach Park even has a small amusement park with a Ferris wheel.
One side of Sveti Vrach Park is at the end of the shopping street, but to get to the other end you may have to climb a bit.
The photo above is one of the most beautiful I've ever taken. This little house looks like it's straight out of a fairy tale. It's incredible.
The pond in the park is extremely picturesque and with the surrounding landscape creates an incredible atmosphere.
There are water wheels and numerous ducks, white and black swans, which create a very beautiful picture.
At one end of the pond there is a pleasant 2-story restaurant where you can relax with a wonderful view with your favorite hot or cold drink and a light, delicious meal.
I am also particularly impressed by the well-maintained mini zoo in the park. It is great and an incredible attraction for both young and old.
I can't talk about Sandanski without mentioning the hotels I've visited, so that I can be even more useful when choosing options for a few days off in beautiful Sandanski.
Medite Spa Resort and Villas
For me, Medite Spa Resort and Villas is the best complex in Sandanski.
The rating on booking.com for Medite Spa Resort and Villas is 9.0, which is quite indicative of the high level it offers. It is not a budget accommodation at all, but it is definitely worth the money if you stay for a long weekend, not for a whole week. At least that's what I do when I decide to treat myself to a slightly more expensive place. In principle, I am not at all a fan of luxury and expensive places, but a beautiful view is enough reason to convince me to sometimes close my eyes to the price. When choosing a hotel, especially in cases where I will be walking around outside all day, I always go for budget accommodation and look for good deals.
The rooms of Medite Spa Resort and Villas are extremely modern and beautifully furnished, equipped with everything you need to achieve complete comfort. In addition, most of them offer an incredible view not only of the beautiful pools and villas in the complex, but also of the magnificent panoramic view of the center of Sandanski.
For me, the only downside to the Medite Spa Resort and Villas is that if you are a walker, you have to go through quite an unpleasant elevation gain until you reach the central part, but not everything is a plus. On busier weekends, parking around the central street and Sveti Vrach Park can be a real challenge.
In the next few photos you can enjoy the incredible view from our room at the Medite Spa Resort and Villas hotel.
Since last year, the media has been reporting that the owner of this incredible hotel will open a new complex on the Aegean coast in Halkidiki, Greece, this coming summer, but unfortunately I still can't find any information about the opening date or even reservations. Indeed, every detail in the hotel in Sandanski has been meticulously thought out and I assume that it will be up to par in Greece as well.
Interhotel Sandanski
The other hotel in Sandanski that I have visited is Interhotel Sandanski.
Its rating on booking.com is 8.6. Personally, I think it's a bit high, but everyone is entitled to their own opinion and mine may be subjective.
For me, the hotel is not as high-end as Medite Spa Resort and Villas, even though they are in a similar price category.
The biggest advantage of Interhotel Sandnaski is that it is located in the most central place in the city. It separates the central main street from the Saint Vrach Park. What could be more beautiful and convenient than this?
Interhotel Sandanski offers spa services as well as outdoor pools.
We were accommodated in a large apartment on the top floor with a huge terrace with sun loungers, which offered a great view of Sandanski and the surrounding area.
Park Hotel Pirin
Park Hotel Pirin is located at the other end of the Saint Vrach Park in a beautiful grove.
The rating of Park Hotel Pirin on booking.com is 9 and in my opinion it is fully deserved. In principle, for me, the most pleasant and truly relaxing accommodations are those that are located in a park and are made up of numerous low buildings, rather than one tall and huge building where you can wait endlessly for the elevator. Park Hotel Pirin is exactly that "spread out".
The greenery in the complex is wonderfully maintained. Even though I visited Park Hotel Pirin at the end of September, in the photos you can see how nothing has turned yellow, dried out or been sunburned after the hot summer, which is felt much more strongly in Sandanski than in Sofia.
Park Hotel Pirin has outdoor and indoor pools, a spa area and an incredible restaurant. The prices in the restaurant are certainly not "folk" at all, but this great place definitely offers "classy" food. I was impressed by the interesting and sophisticated menu.
Day Trips around Sandanski
The town of Sandanski is located in one of the most southwestern points of the country and is only about 20 kilometers from the Greek border.
From the town of Sandanski you can set off on an interesting and adventurous tourist route in the beautiful Pirin Mountains.
If you feel like taking a day trip to Thessaloniki or a nearby Greek resort while you are in Sandanski, you can take advantage of the close distance of about an hour and a half by car. However, entering the Schengen area makes such a trip possible even in the summer.
If you have half a day, I highly recommend visiting Rupite. There is certainly no Bulgarian who has not heard of the place where Baba Vanga lived. I am attaching a few photos that will give you at least a little touch of this place, which carries a very strong energy.
The temple "Svetka Petka Bulgarska" in the complex was built by the will of the Prophetess in 1994. There are several thermal springs with temperatures up to 75 degrees, which are famous for their healing properties, especially for skin and rheumatic diseases. The Rupite complex is located on the crater of an extinct volcano, which also explains the specific geothermal energy
Another place you can visit is the town of Melnik, the so-called smallest town in Bulgaria, which is a real little pearl, distinguished by its rich history, well-preserved architecture, characteristic wine and incredible nature.
Among the most popular places to visit in Melnik are the largest Bulgarian Renaissance house on the Balkan Peninsula - the Kordopulova House, the ruins of the Melnik Fortress, the Church of Saint Anthony, and the Melnik museums.
If you visit this small but very charming town, be sure to sit in one of the numerous taverns to enjoy the delicious local cuisine and try their wonderful wine. In the town of Melnik are some of the most famous wineries, such as Zlaten Rozhen, Shestaka, Karpatovo.
In the area of the town of Melnik you can also visit the incredible Melnik Pyramids, which are extremely photogenic. If you love nature walks, I recommend leaving the car in the area of the Melnik Pyramids and taking the beautiful eco-trail leading to the Rozhen Monastery, which is also worth it.
On your way back from Sandanski, I recommend you visit one of the most famous landmarks in Bulgaria, which attracts many foreigners every year - the Rila Monastery. I won't talk about the largest monastery in Bulgaria, there is hardly a Bulgarian who doesn't know about this sacred spiritual place.
I'm not one of those people who can sit by the pool and relax for a whole week. My trips, both in Bulgaria and abroad, are much more dynamic and I always try to see as much of the place as possible and the truth is that in the end I come home even more tired, not rested, as I would like!
Sandanski is one of the most pleasant towns in Bulgaria, where you can spend a leisurely weekend and relax, immersing yourself in the charm of the city and its wonderful atmosphere. However, I still recommend Sandanski mostly in spring and autumn, because Sandanski is located in the warmest region of Bulgaria and is quite close to the White Sea.
My next trip will be to another favorite place in Bulgaria and I will try to tell you about it very soon!
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