national park
Rila National Park
Bulgaria's largest national park encompassing the highest peak in the Balkans (Musala, 2,925m) with alpine lakes, glacial valleys, and dense pine forests.
17 km · about 20 min drive
EuropeBulgariaSofia
Samokov
Sofia, Bulgaria · Europe
About Samokov
Samokov is worth a stop: 20 minutes from Dolna Banya, 17km from Rila National Park.
Samokov is in Sofia, Bulgaria, with about 27,000 people. You drive on the right here. The nearest town is Dolna Banya, about 17 km away.
Samokov (Bulgarian: Самоков [ˈsamokof]) is a town in Sofia Province in the southwest of Bulgaria. It is in the Samokov Valley between the mountain ranges of Rila, Vitosha, and Sredna Gora, 55 kilometres from the capital Sofia. Due to the suitable winter sports conditions, Samokov, together with the nearby resortRead more
Borovets, is a major tourist centre.
In the past, Samokov was a centre of handicrafts and art, with notable Bulgarian National Revival figures like Zahari Zograf, Hristo Dimitrov and Nikola Obrazopisov. The town's name is a compound word of "samo" and "kov", respectively meaning "self" and the root of the verb "forge, hammer", and comes from the samokov, a mechanical forge powered by water, since the town of Samokov was a major iron-producing centre during the Middle Ages.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is there to see near Samokov?
Within an hour or so of Samokov: Rila National Park (17 km), Seven Rila Lakes (25 km), Rila Monastery (29 km), Alexander Nevsky Cathedral (44 km).
Are there any good drives near Samokov?
The nearest famous roads are Iskar Gorge, Petrohan Pass and Troyan Pass (Beklemeto).
Where is Samokov?
Samokov is in Sofia, Bulgaria, about 17 km from Dolna Banya.
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Quick Information
- Population
- 26,765
- Continent
- Europe
- Country
- Bulgaria
- Region
- Sofia
- Timezone
- Europe/Sofia
- Coordinates
- 42.3385, 23.5581
Emergency & Services
Essential numbers in Bulgaria
Vignette required for all roads outside towns.
Full driving guide for BulgariaTags
Worth the detour from Samokov
4 notable places within an hour's drive.
natural wonder
Seven Rila Lakes
A chain of seven stunning glacial lakes stacked at different elevations in the Rila Mountains, each named for its distinctive shape.
25 km · about 30 min drive
landmark
Rila Monastery
Bulgaria's most important UNESCO-listed monastery, a stunning 10th-century complex adorned with vivid frescoes nestled in the Rila Mountains.
29 km · about 35 min drive
cathedral
Alexander Nevsky Cathedral
A neo-Byzantine cathedral in Sofia and one of the largest Eastern Orthodox cathedrals in the world.
44 km · about 50 min drive
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