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The first time I heard about Bansko Nomad Fest was on Facebook as we were beginning to come out of lockdown in June 2021. A week long series of talks, activities and networking for digital nomads, remote workers and travel brands in a small ski town in Bulgaria.

However, Bansko has in fact been a hub for digital nomads for years. For those interested in a slightly more low key - and remoter - destination with year round outdoor activities, this is a must try. Along with skiing for some of the year, there is access to hiking, horse riding and cycling to name just a couple of things that were on offer during this years’ event.

I spent most of my trip here on the check in desk for Bansko Nomad Fest, so not as much time exploring and checking out new places. But there were definitely a couple of places I would check out, if you make the trip:

COWORKING BANSKO

The obvious place to start for nomads - as they’re also the organisers of the Bansko Nomad Fest. Full disclosure, we were given membership free as volunteers - I would mostly spend time in the Lounge to work, record podcasts and chat to other members of the community.

Fast wifi, decent coffee and sound proof pods, it’s definitely one of the comfier and more convenient spaces I’ve worked from. The Lounge was also nearly directly opposite the Theatre (main) Stage for the event, so I could pop in between breaks - and grab a coffee. Working on the check in desk also meant you got to know people and there was always someone to chat to here.

There are actually three different locations to choose from - Quiet Space, Lounge and Gondola - and Gondola seemed to be the most popular destination. But I still maintain that the Lounge was mine - although I enjoyed the Indo Board and garden in the Quiet Space…

If you’re considering travelling here, I would recommend being picking accommodation close to the Lounge and Quiet Space (no longer than 10-15 minute walk), otherwise near the Gondola Space. But if you pick the latter, then be prepared to walk a little further to the event activities and talks.

EMAR

Before I discovered the coffee machine in the CoWorking Lounge, I sent pretty much everyone here during the course of the festival. However talking to people, it seemed like it was fairly popular for coffee and a laptop sesh anyway.

Just off of the Town Square, it’s a good place to take a break between talks and send off some emails. Using either the restaurant wifi or the public wifi from the square.

You can pay by cash or card here.

DAMYANITZA

A couple of us would end up here by default for lunch anyway, but it also has some decent wifi and is close to the Town Square.

It didn’t seem to be everyone’s taste, but I thought it was good for wifi and a decently priced lunch menu. If you’re veggie, don’t expect many options, but in a ski town like Bansko that’s a pretty common ‘problem’.

You can also pay by cash or card here, although that varies by server so have cash to hand to be safe.

LE PETIT NICOLAS

A name that floated around the event all week, but I didn’t visit until I was invited to a creator breakfast with SafetyWing. This tiny little bakery makes some of the better coffee in town and their pastries are delicious!

Personally I hotspotted from here, but if you can get one of the two tables then it has great creative vibes to make content and maybe answer an email or two with a friend. But only one other friend, it really is that small…

We could only pay in cash here.

Αναψυκτήριο

Situated on the town park corner - closest to the town centre - we mostly stopped here for a Bulgarian salad and beverage between event activities.

However there is (slow) park wifi, if you want to sit and check emails or social media and it’s a nice place to sit anyway. But remember cash because they refused to take card each time I went - maybe it was a me thing…

The park as a whole was a pretty chill place anyway, so definitely carve time out to go take a walk, do some meditation or catch up with friends.

SAPID CAFE

I only visited once, but the vibe was great for breakfast and to set up the laptop for a couple of hours. Either between meetings or during the event - as it’s right around the corner from Pirin Street (kind of the Main Street).

Decent wifi, coffee and lunch - and you can pay with cash or card.

FIVE M RESTAURANT

Another location I only visited once for lunch with friends, but it seemed to be pretty popular for digital nomads with laptops also.

I used my data easily here, so if you’re hotspotting, I imagine this should be pretty easy to do here. The food was delicious and a very pleasant place to hang out on Pirin Street.

We could pay with card here.

SUMMARY

To be completely honest, the best places I could use wifi were in the CoWorking Bansko locations. While there is some public wifi in the Town Square and other restaurants, if I could get on to wifi it would be pretty slow. So my data was just easier. Even my accommodation wifi was super slow - and video calls were just embarassing…

But in fairness, it meant I was more connected between events and generally walking through town. And if I’m being really honest with myself, it was something I had in mind when booking my accommodation. That it was really for sleeping and taking five between activities rather than a full functioning office.

The town has a real wood cabin, cosy vibe to it and as I mentioned in the introduction, is perfect for people looking to be on their laptops in the week and fully disconnected in nature on the weekend. Personally I’m tempted to try a ski month or season - how awesome would that be!? Work in the morning, slopes in the afternoon!

Just make sure you are also insured while you are there! It’s important regardless, just for peace of mind, but especially in a location with so many exciting activities on offer. Healthcare systems vary widely across countries and without insurance, medical expenses can be exorbitant. Unexpected illnesses or accidents can lead to significant financial strain if not properly covered. Insurance provides a safety net, ensuring that you can access necessary medical care without the worry of high costs. Also in case of emergencies such as natural disasters or political unrest, having insurance that includes evacuation coverage can be life-saving. So investing in a reliable insurance plan, like with SafetyWing, is not only a practical choice but a necessary one for the well-being and security of long stay travellers.

SafetyWing offers specialised insurance tailored for remote workers, providing essential coverage for those living and working abroad. In addition to medical coverage, SafetyWing includes protection for travel-related incidents like lost luggage, trip interruptions and emergency evacuations. This comprehensive approach makes it an ideal choice for digital nomads who often travel to multiple countries and need a reliable and flexible insurance plan. SafetyWing ensures you are covered across different countries (with the exception of the USA which has slightly different requirements), but can also be useful if needed for those looking at longer term visas.

And as I mentioned before, having nomad insurance means peace of mind in general for you and your ‘remote office’ as well, so you can continue to take your work around the world with you!

BANSKO NOMAD FEST

And what about the festival itself? Again, this is really a you and your vibe question, but right now there are not many events with a similar structure to Bansko.

A week of events, activities and networking, you definitely need to pace yourself. As a newly nomadic person, this is a great place for learning new skills and connecting with new people. And with 500+ attendees this year, you were never short of someone to talk to.

Similarly, if you are (relatively) new to speaking, this is a great place to give it a go! Pitch an ‘Unconference’ session and give it a go! There were some super interesting topics this year, from skill workshops to panels about communities and talks about maintaining relationships. (Almost) anything goes!

And if you’re looking to pick up some new skills in general, then I do recommend giving volunteering on the team a go!

Whatever you choose though: pace yourself! Look after your wellbeing and don’t push yourself to do everything. I took several breaks throughout the week, including not going out out on three nights, and still needed a week of extra sleep afterwards.

Plan well, listen to your body and make some priorities for the week. I also take vitamins on the road, a journal and a refillable water bottle. A comfy pair of trainers also helps - especially in Bansko though.

Either way, I feel like Bansko is a must at least once in your nomadic journey, even just for the nomad festival. So see what you think.

Would you be up for a digital nomad ski month?

Han x