BEAR SANCTUARY Belitsa: Tickets and Visiting from Bansko
BEAR SANCTUARY Belitsa is an option for a day out during a stay in Bansko or Pirin Golf when you want to explore beyond the ski slopes. This guide brings together the address, admission prices and visiting arrangements so you can plan before setting off.
What is the sanctuary?
It is a home for rescued brown bears, established in 2000 by FOUR PAWS and Fondation Brigitte Bardot. Its former name, Dancing Bears Park, reflects its original rescue mission. Today, the focus is caring for the animals, rather than performances involving them. Read about the sanctuary's history.
Location and getting there
The address is Andrianov Chark, near Belitsa, 2780, Bulgaria. When leaving Pirin Golf, set your destination to the sanctuary itself rather than Belitsa town centre. The operator lists a further 12.4 km drive from the town to the entrance. Open the map through the official directions page and check the current route from your accommodation. Allow for changing road and weather conditions rather than relying on a fixed journey time.
Opening times and visit length
The published September–November hours are 12:00–18:00, with the final tour at 17:30. Guided tours normally start every half hour and last 30–40 minutes. Allow about 90 minutes on site, in addition to travelling. The sanctuary closes for winter; for other seasons and exceptional changes, check the current announcement and opening calendar before travelling.
How much does admission cost?
Published standard admission prices, checked on 19 October 2026:
Adult: EUR 8.
Child or young person in the applicable ticket category: EUR 2.50.
Child aged 6 or under: free.
Visitor with a disability: free with valid documentation.
For groups of 10 or more, the listed rates are EUR 5 per adult and EUR 2 per child or young person. Confirm the applicable age category with the sanctuary. Tickets are paid for at the entrance, in cash. Check the official price list.
Example admission budget: two adults and two children who each qualify for a EUR 2.50 ticket pay EUR 21 in total. Travel and personal spending are separate.
How to book
Groups of 10 or more must reserve ahead by telephone. For individual visits, the website lists payment at the entrance without a published advance-reservation requirement. Confirm your date or ask a question directly: +359 888 00 23 58 or info@bearsanctuary-belitsa.org. Official contact details.
Accessibility and preparation
The route has steep sections and stairs and is unsuitable for pushchairs or visitors with limited mobility. Wear sturdy footwear. Dogs must stay on a lead. Do not feed the bears. Seeing bears is not guaranteed: the animals choose where to spend their time.
Staying at Pirin Golf
Plan the outing around your group's pace and leave time for the return journey. Browse Top Kvartiri accommodation at Pirin Golf and more ideas for activities. Accommodation, transport and sanctuary admission are separate services; this guide is not an organized tour package.
Practical information checked on 19 October 2026 against the sanctuary's official website. Prices and arrangements can change; confirm them before visiting.
Photo Credits and Reuse
Images are resized for display; the cover may be cropped. Attribution does not imply endorsement of Top Kvartiri.
Bear Jeta walking across a grassy meadow at BEAR SANCTUARY Belitsa. Velichka Trichkova / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY 4.0.
Bear Riku beside a pond in the forested habitat at BEAR SANCTUARY Belitsa. Velichka Trichkova / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY 4.0.
Bear Iva with grapes and a cardboard enrichment box at BEAR SANCTUARY Belitsa. Velichka Trichkova / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY 4.0.
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