Dobrinishte is a small town and minor ski resort six kilometres east of Bansko, with two reasons to make the short trip: its mineral baths and its narrow-gauge railway. The thermal water comes out of the ground at around 43°C, and a handful of public and hotel pools use it.
The Septemvri-Dobrinishte narrow-gauge line, one of the few remaining in the Balkans, terminates here and is a slow but scenic journey through the Rhodope foothills if you have half a day to spare. Dobrinishte's ski area is a fraction of Bansko's but has shorter lift queues, lower prices, and direct gondola access from town.