Melnik: The Wine Destination
🗺️ First Things First: Getting There
Driving to Melnik from Sofia take about 2 hrs. Most of the drive is down the highway from Sofia to Thessaloniki. The road offers a great panoramic view of Rila and Pirin mountains, especially if you set out early in the morning or at sunset.
Just before you reach Melnik, look out for freshly fathered figs sold by a local merchant (August-September). You’ll notice his small shop on the left hand side before one of the last turns towards Melnik. The figs are delicious and no chemicals are used for spraying them. A small box of figs costs approx. 3 EUR.
💡Worth Keeping In Mind
ATMs & Cash
The one and only ATM in Melnik was removed once the Covid pandemic broke out. So bear in mind that you’ll need to have enough cash on you for any expenses. And with that said, sometimes card payments tend not to go through due to poor network coverage. In case you will end up needing an ATM, you’ll have to drive back towards the highway and head towards the closes gas station. Worst case scenario: you’ll find a Lukoil gas station just before the border with Greece (approximately a 15-20 min drive).
