The Rhodope narrow-gauge railway Septemvri - Velingrad - Yakoruda - Razlog - Bansko - Dobrinishte offers an incredibly exciting tourist journey on the highest railway line in the Balkans all year round! The unique nature that you can observe along the route reveals diverse and breathtaking views in every season and is an excellent idea for a weekend getaway.
In a previous article, we told you the story of the unique section Septemvri - Dobrinishte, and today we will give you a few options for stops along the route where you can rest and even swim in pools with warm mineral water. There is probably no other railway line in the world that connects so many hot mineral springs. There are 7 in total, and you can reach both Bulgaria's most popular SPA destination or opt for quieter, less-visited locations.
At the 10th kilometer of the route are the Varvara mineral springs, which are the second hottest ones in the country. There, you can find an active mineral bath with tubs and a SPA hotel. The nearest stop is Marko Nikolov, which is a few hundred meters away from the springs. In the village of Varvara itself, there are several other mineral resorts with pools for both children and adults.
One often overlooked place is the Kostandovo railway station, which is a starting point for two towns - Kostandovo and Rakitovo, located about 3-4 km away from the station. On the way to Kostandovo is the mineral complex, whose pools are filled with the mineral water springing there. The shade and the water provide excellent conditions for relaxation in nature.
Velingrad is the second and most famous location with mineral waters, and it is no coincidence that it carries the title of SPA Capital of the Balkans! The town has hotels, public baths, and pools that operate all year round. Over time, we have prepared numerous lists of recommended restaurants and hiking routes in the area.
Another lesser-known location on the train route is Yakoruda - there, near the Yakoruda mineral bath railway stop, are the local springs, whose water enters the municipal relaxation complex, the mineral bath, and the adjacent SPA hotel. The water is slightly mineralized and pleasantly warm. All trains stop at that station, and the three facilities are 300 meters away from it.
Another location, which is little known to be accessible by the narrow-gauge railway, is the village of Eleshnitsa in the Razlog region. Its lands also have mineral springs directed towards a wonderful relaxation resort. The narrow-gauge railway stops 6 km away from the village - at General Kovachev station, from where there is a road leading to the village. And on the way there, despite the poorer conditions, there is another mineral spot, nestled in the forest, overlooking the Mesta River, which is preferred by many people for seclusion and relaxation.
The next famous SPA destination is the village of Banya in Razlog Municipality. Visitors to this resort village often get off at Bansko to visit Banya, not knowing that the narrow-gauge railway services the village and it has its own station, called Guliyna Banya, and all trains on the line stop there as well. It is located at the northern end of the village and is used by many tourists in the summer who visit the mineral resorts and SPA hotels there. Besides the large facilities, there are many guest houses in Banya, while the public resort with mineral water pools is at affordable prices.
The last mineral spot is the final station, Dobrinishte. Numerous guest houses, family hotels, and large complexes offer the traveler a huge variety of accommodation and relaxation options at different prices. Throughout the whole year, the private mineral beach resort with three outdoor pools and a SPA area operates, and it is regularly visited by foreigners.
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