Velingrad is 120 km south-east of Sofia, 26 km north-west of Batak, or about 86 km southwest of Plovdiv in the Rhodope mountains' Chepin valley, a particularly beautiful area. Velingrad is Bulgaria's largest spa resort. Due the abundance of mineral waters, the modern spa, resort facilities, a mild climate and wonderful natural beauty, the town has developed into a modern resort of national and international significance.

There are two buses a day running between Velingrad and Plovdiv and regular services between Yundola and Batak. Moving on, however, many travellers opt for the three or four daily trains to Bansko in the Pirin range. The narrow-gauge line switchbacks through glorious pine forests and sub-alpine meadows, calling at Avramovi Kolibi, the highest station on the Balkan peninsula, before descending to the logging town of Yakoruda and skirting the southern flanks of the Rila Mountains en route to Razlog and Bansko.

Velingrad is located in the central part of Chepino valley – the best part of West Rhodopi Mountain. According to the legends, Orpheus had lived there. Orpheus was the son of Calliope and either Oeagrus or Apollo. He was the greatest musician and poet of Greek mythology, whose songs could charm wild beasts and coax even rocks and trees into movement. According to the greatest annalists, the west Rhodopi Mountain was the place where the legendary Spartacus –leader of Roman slaves, had obtained power and energy.