Bansko Nomad Fest Guide: How to Plan Your Trip to Bulgaria

When I first heard of Bulgaria, I never expected it to be the country that I ended up spending the most time… but once I visited, I knew I needed to come back.

A friend I met suggested I visit for the Bansko Nomad Fest. I never expected it to be an event that not only changed where I wanted to live, but changed my perspective on whether I could be a nomad.

Now it’s been more than 4 years since then, and I’ve come to visit for this festival and town eevry year.

If you are wondering where the best place to find community as a nomad in the world is, then you can look no further than Bulgaria. This country is consistently filled with nomads and expats all looking for connection.

This guide will cover everything that you need to know before you go. From getting in, insurance, money, language, food, and an overview of activities to expect, so you can show up ready to enjoy it. Once you’re settled in town, I have a few guides linked with other helpful information for your visit once you’re in town.

What is Bansko Nomad Fest?

Bansko Nomad Fest is the biggest digital nomad festival in the world. It’s been going on every summer since 2020 in the mountain town of Bansko, Bulgaria.

It’s a week of talks, workshops, events, parties, and general learning about the nomad live surrounded by fellow nomads. It’s also the reason this little ski town has become a year-round nomad hub. You can read about my first experience at the festival here.

This festival takes place every year for the last week of June. You can register and buy your tickets at the Bansko Nomad Fest official website. Just make sure you use code LGP for €25 off!

Getting there: fly into Sofia first

I personally knew nothing about Bulgaria, and my voice to visit was entirely a leap of faith. Landing in Sofia, I got the chance to see a different life than the one I had been accustomed to.

The Sofia Airport has a very convenient train station that will take you right into the heart of the city. Whether you’re planning to catch the bus to Bansko or stay in the city a few days, this is an easy and cheap mode of transportation.

Once you’re ready to make your way to the festival, getting from Sofia to Bansko is a trip of it’s own. If you want to see a bit more of the country, then you’re going to need a car. I have found great rates for car rentals from the Sofia Airport on DiscoverCars.

Just heading to Bansko and don’t want to do other exploring? If so, you can either try to organize a transfer, or you can use the easy bus from Sofia to Bansko which takes about 3 hours.

Spend a few days in Sofia

Whether you’re visiting Bulgaria for a week or month or longer, you should make sure to add Sofia to your plans. There are tons of great things to do there, and endless history to learn.

When I stepped off the plane in Sofia, I hadn’t planned to explore the city. Luckily, I factored in some extra exploration time at the end of my trip. There are lots of tours and activities that you shouldn’t miss if you’re passing through.

The easiest way to get your bearings is by doing a walking tour. It’s how I learned the city’s history fast, and got to see the coolest parts of the city.

If you’re like me, you might prefer eating your way through the city instead. A great way to learn about Bulgarian delicacies is by taking a food tour in the capital.

Locals are surprisingly friendly, even if they don’t seem like it at first. Plus, it’s really easy to visit the rest of the country from downtown Sofia without paying a premium for private transport.

Where to stay in Bansko

Accommodation in Bansko can book out pretty far in advance. There are tons of apartments available in the city, but the best area to stay for the fest is downtown or in the park, and those sell out fast.

You can check out my guide on where to stay in Bansko here to learn more about which areas of town are best, and where and how to book.

Travel insurance for Bulgaria

If you’re new to nomadding or just want to make sure you’ve covered all your bases, I always recommend that you have a good travel medical insurance. In Bulgaria, the mountains are quite high and most options won’t cover hiking at elevations like that.

I would recommend using SafetyWing travel insurance to make sure you’re covered for any emergencies or unforeseen circumstances that come up.

Money: always carry cash

Make sure you always carry cash. While most places accept card now, I found that the best spots are cash only, so always have some on hand just in case.

Learn a few Bulgarian phrases

When you visit Bulgaria, make sure you learn some important phrases since many people only speak Bulgarian. Some things are easy, like everyone would understand “merci” and “ciao,” but numbers can be a bit trickier.

Learning some Bulgarian words and phrases was one of my favorite parts of my visit since it helps me get in touch with the culture and locals love it.

Bulgarian food you have to try

While you’re in Bulgaria, there are a few staple foods that you need to enjoy during your visit. The first and most popular is Banitsa, which is a savory cheese pastry that you can buy at most places. You can use your nose to find it, I saw it everywhere I went.

If you want to try some more traditional Bulgarian dishes, I would recommend trying a Kavarma. Of course, you can’t skip the classic Shopska salad, which is quite similar to Greek salads, but they use a shredded white cheese on top.

Baked cheese is also very popular, I love trying the ones with blueberries or other fruit on top.

Most modern Bulgarian towns and cities have plenty of cross-cultural options available as well. You’ll find everything else you would expect, like burritos, pizza, etc. so you don’t need to worry about not having you’re favorite food.

When your journey takes you to Bansko, make sure you check out my top restaurant choices there since there are a ton to choose from.

Things to do beyond the festival

Bulgaria is full of a ton of interesting activities, but if you’re visiting Bankso, then you need to plan to go hiking at least once. If you want a full guide to Bansko, I share all my best tips in a full guide here.

Just want a quick overview? Here’s what you can expect there. There are hot springs you can explore (mostly paid, more conventional ones). There are plenty of bars and restaurants to sample. You absolutely need to do a cold plunge during your visit too, ask anyone and you’ll know exactly where to go.

You can even ride the gondola, and sometimes the waterslide is going on too a bit later in the summer. Bansko also has festivals every other week in the summer, totally unrelated to the nomad fest.

If you want a really cool local tradition activity, then you should participate in the July 1st tradition. Organize a group, and plan to hike up Vihren Peak in the middle of the night to catch the sunrise.

You’ll see tons of Bulgarians around you, in front and behind doing the same thing, and you’ll see jaw-dropping views.

Final thoughts

Visiting Bulgaria can be a bit intimidating at first, but it’s so worth it and I’m sure you’ll fall in love with it too. If you come prepared, it’s much easier to ease into the town.

The people are friendly, locals and nomads alike, and everything feels very easy once you arrive.

After more than 4 years of going to this town for this specific festival, I can tell you that it’s always worth it.

Make sure you sort out your insurance, carry some cash, learn some words, and don’t forget to plan a few days in Sofia too. That recipe will give you a great, well-rounded visit, especially if you’re coming for the Bansko Nomad Fest.

If you have any questions, feel free to comment below or DM me on @LizsGreatPerhaps on Instagram.