Public Bath in Bankya (near Sofia) | History, Getting There & More

Sofia is famous for its abundance of hot and cold mineral water springs. Having said that, you will find it surprising that currently there aren’t any operating public baths in the actual city. The good news is that a couple of weeks ago, in the town of Bankya (only 17km away from Sofia), the newly refurbished bathhouse finally reopened to visitors. Needless to say, we couldn’t be happier.

The historic bath in Bankya

The construction of the building began in 1907. It first opened to visitors back in 1911. This bath is a prime example of the architectural traditions of public baths created at the beginning of the 20th century in Bulgaria. Designed by German architect Professor Carl Hocheder, this elegant building was widely known as The Royal Bath, as it dates back to the reign of Tsar Ferdinand. After a looong time of being abandoned, the bath reopened to the public on September 30th, 2022. You can finally see it in its full glory after a complete renovation, done in a way that preserved the original architecture, exterior, and interior of the building.

About Bankya

Bankya (or Bankja/Банкя) is a small town located on the outskirts of Sofia. It’s famous for its baths and mineral water springs used for recreational and medicinal purposes for hundreds of years. 17km west of Sofia this small gem is also boasting wonderful architecture. In Bankya you will find prime examples of Bulgarian modernist architecture from the 1910s, 1920s, and 1930s.

How to get from Sofia to Bankya?

Chances are, you are staying in Sofia and you are looking for options to get to Bankya. We’ve got you covered!

By Public Transport (Metro and Bus)

Take M1 or M4 in the direction of Lyulin from the Serdika metro station in the heart of Sofia.  Once you get to Lyulin metro station, get out and catch bus 42. It will take you straight to the center of Bankya. The bath is only a couple of minutes away (walking distance).

By Train

There are 5 direct trains from Sofia to Bankya per day. You can catch the train from the Central Railway Station. Schedules may vary but typically the earliest train would leave at around 6:20 AM. The last one to get back from Bankya to Sofia usually leaves at around 7:15 PM.

Always make sure to check the website of Bulgarian Railway Services prior to your journey.

By Car

If you’re staying longer in Bulgaria and you’ve decided to do things at your own pace by having a car at your disposal – that’s surely the fastest way. The journey will take you around 30 minutes from the center of Sofia.

Working Hours and Ticket Prices

The public bath in Bankya is open EVERY DAY from 9 AM to 8 PM.

Prices

Thermal zone – 15 BGN
Thermal zone – card for 6 visits – 75 BGN
Thermal & Wellness zone – 35 BGN
Thermal & Wellness zone – card for 6 visits – 175 BGN
Wellness zone – 25 BGN
Wellness zone – card for 6 visits – 125 BGN
Salt room – adult /45 mins/ – 20 BGN
Salt room – adult /45mins/ – card for 6 visits – 100 BGN
Salt room – kids /25mins/ – 10 BGN
Salt room – kids /25mins/ – card for 6 visits – 50 BGN

Children and students will get a 30% discount on the abovementioned prices for the thermal and wellness zones.
Pensioners will get a 50% discount on individual visits prices on weekdays up until 4 pm.

The thermal zone includes: a pool with mineral water at 37C, mineral showers and massage nozzles, rinse with mineral water, tepidarium.

The wellness zone includes 2 steam rooms, a Finnish sauna, laconium, tepidarium, a hydromassage pool with mineral waters at 32C, 2 children’s pools with mineral water at 30C.

All subscription cards are valid 30 days after the date of purchase. 

The Water

Due to its mineral content, the water in Bankya is a real treasure. It’s limpid, colorless, without any smell, soft, and pleasant. It has an energizing effect, soothing anti-inflammatory, anti-allergic, trophical, and osmotic effects. It is believed to be especially beneficial if you have health issues related to substance exchange, the gastrointestinal tract and digestive system, the musculoskeletal system, endocrinological diseases, and overall physical and mental fatigue.

Chemical content of the water

Fluorine /F/ – 0,42 mg/l
Sulfates /SO4/ – 37,0 mg/l
Hydrocarbons – 115,7 mg/l
Metasilicic acid /H2SiO3/ – 34,1 mg/l
Sodium and potassium /NA + K/ – 65,2 mg/l
Calcium /CA/ – 8,6 mg/l
Magnesium /Mg/ – 1,5 mg/l

Also might also want to check out: 

Sofia’s Central Baths – Past, Present, Future

Photos by: Free Sofia Tour Guide – Niki Borisov