Hiking To Musala? – Helpful Information You Need To Know

At 2925 meters above sea level, Musala is the highest peak not only in Bulgaria but also on the Balkan Peninsula. Surprisingly, it’s a relatively easy peak to climb, as it’s not too technical. Anyone with moderate fitness and good shoes can summit. Having climbed it seven times myself, I have all the tips and information you need to get up there too. Let’s dive into it!

How long does it take to climb Musala?

It usually takes around 3–4 hours to reach the top of Musala, starting from the top of the Yastrebets Gondola Lift Station, depending on your pace and breaks. I believe my personal record was 3 hours 10 minutes, but with longer breaks at the huts along the way, it could easily extend to 4 hours or more.

How to get to Musala from Sofia?

Borovets is your starting point. There are a few ways to get there from Sofia:

1. Rent a car:

You can rent a car and drive to Borovets. It is a scenic, 1-hour drive from Sofia to Borovets. You can rent a car directly at the airport or, alternatively, most companies also have offices in the city.

2. By bus:

• Regular buses run from Sofia to Samokov (the closest town to Borovets).

• Buses leave every 30 minutes from Avtogara Yug (Bus Terminal South) between 7 am and 8 pm. You can find the detailed timetables, along with ticket price for the different carries here.(unfortunately only in Bulgarian, but look for Самоков (Samokov), Цена Билет (Ticket Price), Час на Тръгване (Departure Time), Превозвач (Company operating the service))

• Ticket prices vary from 6 to 8 BGN (3-4 EUR).

• From Samokov, you can take a shuttle to Borovets (about 20 minutes, 15 km). Although not connected to the bus companies, have coordinated their departure times. Taxis are also available, but are more expensive.

Interested in other hikes around Borovets? Then make sure to check out this post!
👉 7 Spectacular Hikes From Borovets

What is the route to Musala?

What is the starting point to Musala?

The starting point for your hike is the Yastrebets Gondola Lift Down Station in Borovets. The gondola operates Wednesday–Sunday from 8:30 am to 6 pm during the summer. Round-trip tickets cost 35 BGN for adults and 20 BGN for kids (Summer 2025 prices). The ride takes about 25 minutes.

Once at the top, follow the exit signs to get out and then the signs to the peak to get on the right trail. The path is color-coded RED to keep you on track.

Also, in clear weather you should be able to see the peak from there.

First Stage – Gondola Station to Musala hut

The first part of your hike is to Musala hut. It is almost completely on a dirt road, just until before the actual hut. It’s flat and even, and it feels more like a walk than a hike. You will need about 45 minutes to 1 hour to reach Musala Hut, and this is your first checkpoint. You can take a short break here or have lunch, depending on your timing.

Second Stage – Musala hut to Ledenoto Ezero Shelter

The next part is where the fun starts. Right after Musala hut, you’ll encounter your first ascend. It is a bit steep, but it’s not too long. Afterwards, you’ll walk for about 1 hour and 45 mins to 2 hours 15 mins on a mountain trek going slightly down and then up again until you reach Ledenoto Ezero (The Ice-cold Lake) shelter. This is your second checkpoint. It is a ‘shelter’ that has a landlady all year round, so again you can get a tea or something else to drink or a snack to eat. If you’ve started early, here is also a great place to have lunch.

Final Ascend – Ledenoto Ezero shelter to the summit

From here, the peak awaits you. The final push to the top takes about 45 minutes. The trail is loose and gravelly, so be cautious but, provided you have good shoes, it shouldn’t be too difficult to get there. Once at the summit, you’ll be rewarded with magnificent views and a small building where meteorologists work. They used to serve home-made herbal tea, but due to the peak’s increasing popularity, they’ve stopped during the main season.

Musala for the more adventurous

For a more challenging experience, skip the gondola and hike all the way from Borovets. This could take about 3–4 hours to the gondola’s top station. Alternatively, you can take the gondola to the middle station and hike from there for about 1.5–2 hours. However, if you decide to do it that way, you’ll have to spend the night either at Musala Hut or at the Ledenoto Ezero shelter, as you won’t be able to make it back down in the same day.

Can you hike to Musala in bad weather?

Yes, it is possible to hike to Musala even in bad weather, but you probably shouldn’t. Firstly, your view from the top will be restricted, at best. Secondly, if it’s foggy, it makes it easier for you to get lost, and if it’s raining, the path after Musala Hut will be slippery, so you’ll be risking injury. Lastly, in case of a thunderstorm, I wouldn’t really recommend hiking there at all, as there is no cover whatsoever, and you’re risking getting hit by lightning. So, while it is theoretically possible to climb Musala in bad weather, I’m not sure that it’s worth the trouble.

Can you go to Musala and back in one day?

Yes! Going to and back in one day is certainly doable, and exactly what I did on my last 4 hikes. The round-trip from the gondola top station usually takes around 7 hours. The gondola opens at 8:30 am, and the last gondola leaves at 6 pm (information accurate as of Summer 2024), so you should easily have enough time to make it to the top and back.

Here’s what you’ll need to bring with you:

Finally, I want to try and help you pack for your trek. I said at the beginning that Musala is not too challenging a peak. That is true, but it also should not be underestimated. Proper hiking shoes are an absolute must. If you’re in the area and spontaneously decided to go to Musala, you’d probably be ok with a pair of trainers, too, but you’ll need to watch your step more closely.

Essential items:

• Good shoes (no flip-flops, proper hiking shoes are a must)
• Sunscreen (The sun is stronger at higher altitudes, and there’s no shade along the route)

Now that we covered the essentials, here are a few more things you might want to take with you:

• plenty of water – there are two huts along the way to the peak where you’ll be able to buy something to drink, but it’s always a good idea to have enough water with you when you’re hiking
• a snack – as just mentioned, there are opportunities to get something to eat along the way, but a bite to eat or a sugar bomb is always helpful when you need an extra kick of energy to get you to the top.
• a long sleeved shirt – you have to bear in mind that you’ll be going up to almost 3000 meters and it will be colder than in Borovets. You can check Musala’s daily temperature here.
• sunglasses – not obligatory, but definitely nice to have, especially on a bright summer day.
• hat – gives you an extra layer of protection against the sun. Even better if you find one with UV protection.

Conclusion

I hope you were able to find all the necessary information for your trip. Hiking to Musala is a fantastic experience, spending a whole day in the mountains and, moreover, you’ll enjoy some breathtaking views. So have fun and safe travels!