If You're NearbyBansko
About 27 miles away
A ski town of old stone houses, below the lakes and peaks of the Pirin mountains.
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Seven Rila Lakes
A chain of glacial lakes high in the Rila Mountains, reached by chairlift and a few hours' walk.
- Open
- Best from July to September, when the trails are clear of snow
- Price
- Free; paid for the chairlift
- Time Needed
- A day
- Address
- Rila Lakes hut, Rila National ParkDirections
- Getting There
- About 2 hours by car from Sofia to Panichishte, or on a day tour.
Why Go
The seven lakes lie one above another in a glacial cirque between about 2,100 and 2,500 meters, each named for its shape: the Eye, the Kidney, the Tear and the rest. A chairlift from Panichishte lifts walkers to the Rila Lakes hut, and a path climbs past all seven to viewpoints over the cirque.
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