Dolna Banya

Dolna Banya, also Dolna Banja or Dolna Bania (Bulgarian: Долна баня) is a town located in Sofia Province in southwestern Bulgaria. 75 km from Sofia and Plovdiv, Dolna Banya is located by the north-eastern slopes of the Rila Mountains, 18 and 30 km respectively from the ski resorts of Borovets and Samokov. Dolna Banya is known as a resort town, famous for its hot mineral waters, with temperatures of 56.3 C. The area surrounding the town is largely agricultural, although hiking trails and skiing in the nearby mountains are easily accessible.

Dolna Banya is a small, but lively town. The square has a vegetable market, bakery, 2 bars. From the inside of the town's Bulgarian Orthodox church is covered in beautiful murals, the churchyard located next to a stream. The local stadium is named Vasil Levski, a tribute to the leader of Bulgaria's liberation from the Ottoman Empire and the national stadium of the same name in Sofia.

Dolna Banya is easily accessible by car. There is a daily bus that runs from the Sofia bus depot through other villages in the area. However, buses run more frequently from Sofia to Kostenets (8 km from Dolna Banya. From Kostenets transportation is available every 30 minutes to Dolna Banya. Trains also run about every hour between Sofia and Kostenets.