Kyustendil · Bulgaria

Tucked into the far south-west of Bulgaria, Kyustendil — the Roman Pautalia — has welcomed bathers for nearly two thousand years. More than forty mineral springs rise here, some close to boiling, feeding the spa pools, pump rooms and healing centres that have made the town one of the country’s oldest cures.

Getting there

Kyustendil sits roughly 90 km west of the Bulgarian capital, close to the Macedonian and Serbian borders. Sofia Airport (SOF) is the nearest international gateway, about a 90-minute drive away. Regular buses run from Sofia’s central station via Dupnitsa, and a slower but scenic railway also links the two cities. The easiest option for spa guests is a hire car or a hotel transfer — ask about transfers when you book your stay.

Best time to visit

The thermal waters make Kyustendil a year-round destination, but late spring through early autumn — roughly May to September — is the most pleasant, with warm days and mild evenings. Time your trip for late June and you can catch the famous Cherry Festival, when the orchard town celebrates its harvest with music, markets and parades. Winter brings quieter, restorative spa breaks and easy access to the nearby Osogovo mountains.

What to see

Start with the Asclepion of Pautalia, the Roman thermal sanctuary dedicated to Asclepius, god of healing, alongside the excavated Roman baths in the town centre. Climb to the Hisarlaka Fortress, a restored medieval stronghold just above the town with sweeping valley views, and wander the mineral-water pump rooms and spa gardens. Art lovers should not miss the Vladimir Dimitrov-Maistora Art Gallery, while a cable car carries you up Hisarlaka hill into the pine forest where the springs are born.