Sandanski is the sunniest town in Bulgaria. There you can spend a wonderful spa-weekend, a holiday or you can organize a company trip, combined with a walk, enjoying the crystal air and nature around the town. Or you can visit the historical sites of Sandanski. The resort is situated at the foot of Pirin Mountain, 224 metres altitude, by the Sandanska Bistritsa river. It is famous for its unique climate and healing mineral waters – the winter is mild and short, the autumn is warm and long, and the mineral springs are appropriate for medical treatment of pulmonary, chronic rhinitis, sinusitis, neurological problems, skin allergies, some renal and urological diseases. 

HISTORY:
The town of Sandanski is proud of its ancient and rich history. The settlement around the mineral springs was established in 2000 B.C. Its first residents were the Thracian tribe Medius. The Roman presence in the region contributed to its development as a major cultural centre, which led to its flourishing. Later Sandanski becomes one of the first Christian centres. Since that time its name was Sveti Vrach in the memory of the two brothers Kozma and Damyan who were healers. Since 1949 the town bears the name of the Macedonian revolutionary Yane Sandanski.

CLIMATE:
The climate in the region of Sandanski is continental with transition to the Mediterranean zone. The average annual temperature is  14,1ºС, and the average relative humidity is the lowest in the country - 66%. The sun shining during the day is the longest in Bulgaria. Thus the snow coverage in the area in winter time does not restrain for long. The climate is varied due to the heavily truncated terrain. The Belasitsa and Slavyanka Mountain's altitude is over 2000 metres, the Pirin Mountain's - almost 3000 metres, and at the same time on the valleys of the Mesta, Struma and Strumeshnitsa rivers there are places with 200 m and 730 m altitude. In winter time the precipitations in the region are mainly rainfalls. The spring comes first in this region of the country. In summer time the sun shining during the day is the longest in Bulgaria. The average July temperature in Sandanski is about 25ºС, and the days with average temperature of over 20º С in July are about 16. The autumn is relatively mild, and there are sunny days till the end of November. 

TOURISM FACILITIES:
Sandanski offers many opportunities for a relaxing holiday, a trip or balneology. The town is famous as the best natural health station for bronchial asthma in Europe, as well as for chronic joint and renal diseases. 
Sandanski offers wonderful options for a holiday and a treatment with variety of spa hotels, as well as another specialized base. The former government's residency in St Vrach is only 4 km away from the town and today it is transformed into a luxurious hotel complex, bearing the same name. Built around a splendid park with exotic flora and artificial lake, the complex also has a medical centre and a swimming pool. 

LOCATION:
Sandanski is situated in the south-west part of Bulgaria. The resort town is 160 km from the capital of Sofia, the city of Plovdiv is 300 km away, and the distance between the towns of Sandanski and Blagoevgrad is 65 km. The “Promahon” check-point with Greece is 20 km away, and the Macedonian border is 30 km away. The biggest architectural monument in Bulgaria – the town of Melnik - is about 20 km th the south of Sandanski. Other settlements in the region include the towns of Melnik and Petrich, the settlements of Strumyani, Lilyanovo, Gorno Spanchevo, Marikostinovo and others. 

TRANSPORT:
How can you reach Sandanski?
You can travel to Sandanski with your car or you can catch a bus. As it is a major cross road, Sandanski has well-developed transport roads to the rest of the settlements in the area, as well as to the capital of the country.
Sandanski is part of the railway Sofia – Kulata – Athens. There are trains from the towns of Pernik, Blagoevgrad and Dupnitsa.

ATTRACTIONS:
Sandanski is proud of its unique town park, named in 1981 “St Vrach”. Within its territory of 344 decares there are over 200 Mediterranean plant species, some of which are natural landmarks of over 550 years old. The recreation opportunities of the park are excellent.
In Sandanski you can enjoy the water cascade and the water mirrors, the quay with boats, the island, the rock nook with a waterfall, water mirrors in front of the “Sveta Nedelya” Day Centre building.
The Archaeological Museum in the town of Sandanski owns precious exhibits dating from IV-VI century and telling stories of the town.
The “Sveti Sveti Kozma and Damyan” Church is a cultural monument. It was built in 1861.

SPORTS ACTIVITIES:
The town offers excellent sports opportunities thanks to its favorable climate. It is a preferred place for Bulgarian and foreign football teams for  training base. The sports opportunities in the town include: stadium, swimming pools, diving pools, tennis courts, cycling.

RESTAURANTS AND NIGHT ENTERTAINMENT PLACES:
Here are some nice restaurants in Sandanski:
''Caprice'' Restaurant, tel.: + 359 878/16 00 68;
''Riba and barbekju'' /''Fish & Barbecue''/ Fish Restaurant, tel.: + 359 888-71-03-80;
''Sandanski'' Tavern, tel.: + 359 885-82-82-09;
''Trimata musketari'' Club-restaurant, tel.: + 359 74631674;
Mediterranean Restaurant, tel.: + 359 746 35656;
''Ofir'' Restaurant, tel.: + 359 746 31135; + 359 893 326200.
Night places:
''Downtown'' Discotheque, tel.: + 359 889 383 838;
Grand Piano Bar, tel.: + 359 885 05 25 96;
Piano Bar in ''Pirin'' Park-hotel, tel.: + 359 2 950 5895; + 359 2 952 0532.

HEALTH & BALNEOLOGY:
Sandanski is one of the best balneological resorts in Bulgaria. With an excellent hotels' infrastructure, the resort has gained its fame as a national and international balneological resort for treatment of unspecific and chronic pulmonary diseases, and it is visited by tourists from Western Europe and the Scandinavian countries.
More than twenty-five centuries ago the healing mineral springs attracted the Thracian tribe Medius, and they established their settlement here. Later, the town was colonized by the Romans who made it a modern town, building Roman Baths and public buildings.
The town is famous for its mineral water. There are eighty thermal springs in Sandanski and its surroundings, but they are not clearly located. The temperature of the water varies, reaching up to 83ºС. The cold springs are only six. The water is low mineralized and it is proven that it can heal several illnesses such as of locomotory system, the respiratory and peripheral nervous system. The springs are especial healthy for the every-day-problems – over fatigue, stress and insomnia.  
Here are some hotels in Sandanski, offering spa procedures:
''Sveti Nikola'' Spa Hotel, 3*
''Medite'' Spa Hotel, 4*
''Sandanski'' Spa Hotel, 4*
''Pirin'' Spa Complex, 4* and 5*
''Alex'' Spa Hotel, 3*

EXCURSIONS AND SIGHTSEEING AROUND SANDANSKI RESORT:
The town of Melnik is only 20 km away from Sandanski, in the western part of Pirin Mountain. During 17th and 18th centuries the tobacco manufacturing and the strong Melnik wine made the town a flourishing trade centre. The Kordopulova, Pashova and Tsintsarova Houses are true examples of the local architecture.
The ''Sveti Nikola chudodeets'' Church (1756) is the most significant among the five Revival-period churches in the town. The town is famous for its earth pyramids, which comprise fabulous natural sculptures with many different shapes and outlines, resembling hayricks, Egyptian pyramids, Gothic hills, minarets, ancient towers and loop-holes, giant obelisks and pyramids, raised awls, stunning the world with their resemblance colossal mushrooms.
About 6 km north-east from the town of Melnik is the Rojen Monastery. It is the only monastery, restored in the early centuries under Ottoman rule, which had survived until today. Built in 12th or 13th century by the ruler despot of Melnik – Slav. The Rojen Monastery owes its fame to the incredible wood-carving of the iconostasis and the lecterns.
To the north-east of Sandanski 18 km away is situated the “Popina laka” Resort and the eleven-metres “Popinoloshki” waterfall.