The Best Ski Resorts In Bulgaria – Your Complete Guide

Bulgaria is famous about its Black Sea coast and pristine sand beaches, but what about winter? Can you go skiing in Bulgaria? Are there good ski resorts?

Yes, you can absolutely go skiing in Bulgaria. With its two alpine style mountain ranges Rila and Pirin, there are plenty of European-like ski resorts on the Balkan peninsula. What is more, Bulgaria also has some smaller ski areas, if you are looking for something less expensive, but still fun for the whole family.

So let’s get into it! Let me introduce you to the best ski resorts in Bulgaria.

Bansko

Bansko is a small town in the footsteps of Pirin Mountain. It has an old town where you can enjoy some 19th century architecture and have dinner in a typical mehana (traditional restaurant). It has been distinguished as one of the world-leading ski resorts with up to 80 km of slopes, along with many Austrian and Swiss ski resorts, according to the ranking of one of the largest test portals skiresort.info.

Bansko has 75 km of ski trails, of which 35% are for beginners, 40% for advanced skiers and 25% for experienced skiers and snowboarders. The ski resort is very versatile with trails for everybody. In the upper part, above the treeline, you can also enjoy breathtaking views over the Pirin Mountain. Many slopes lead down to the valley through the forest.

There is a gondola, that takes you from the town up to around 1,600 metres at Bunderishka Polyana. From there, many chairlifts transport you to the slopes. Moreover, there are lots of button lifts, tow-ropes and moving carpets, ideal for beginners and families with kids.

You can find many webcams and up-to-date info about the lifts and condition of the slopes on their website.

How to get to Bansko from Sofia?

Bansko is about 150 km away from Sofia. For the most part, you drive on the highway Struma A3 southbound, before you take the exit towards Route 19 to Bansko for the last 40 km. It takes just under 2 hours by car. Your second option will be to take one of the regular bus lines that operate on this route.

When to go skiing in Bansko?

The alpine nature of the Pirin Mountain provides excellent conditions for professional and amateur skiing alike from December till March. The highest point of the ski centre is 2560 m and the lowest – 1000 m. This high altitude allows for a longer season. Most of the slopes are also equipped with snow machines. I think, the best time to go skiing in Bansko is January and February, but March is also a good option, especially in a cold winter.

How much does it cost?

The prices for ski passes have been adjusted annually in the last few years. In this season (2023/24) a day ski pass for an adult is 48 EUR. There are discounts for afternoon tickets, as well as for children, students and seniors.

Check out our detailed article on Bansko with 5 things to do there

Why Bansko Is the Ultimate Winter Destination – Complete Guide

Borovets

Borovets is the second-largest ski resort in Bulgaria, and it is situated at the footstep of the highest peak on the Balkan peninsula – Musala in Rila Mountain (2925m). The winter sports area is situated between the elevations of 1,315 and 2,550 m. From very easy to difficult, there is something for everyone. There are also beginners’ areas, a children’s area and night skiing.

The slopes in the ski resort are quite varied, and it consists of three major areas. In the lowest area (Sitnyakovo), the slopes are situated above the village of Borovets and many of them run through the forest and down to the valley. The area of Yastrebets impresses with long intermediate slopes for carving. Markudjik is located above the treeline and is the highest area. There are beautiful views of the Rila Mountain and Musala.

Borovets ski resort has a very well maintained website with lots of up-to-date info about the weather conditions, overview of all the lifts and slopes, maps, webcams, and you can even recharge your ski pass on there. I highly recommend checking it out.

How to get to Borovets from Sofia?

Borovets is just 70 km south from Sofia. There isn’t a highway, so it takes just over an hour to get there by car. There are also regular buses that can take you there. Most of them are direct, but some lines might require you to change in Samokov and get on a shuttle bus to Borovets.

When to go skiing in Borovets?

Generally, the season starts in mid-December and extends to mid-April. The snowfall on the higher slopes is usually abundant in winter, and there are good facilities for artificial snow in the lower areas. The best months for skiing in Borovets, similar to Bansko, are January and February.

How much does it cost?

A daily ski pass for an adult is around 45 EUR this winter (2023/24). Discounts are available for seniors above 65 years old, as well as children, students and families. The app My Borovets, the official real-time resort guide, provides very useful info, and you can purchase tickets on it as well. By now, it is only available for Android devices.

Pamporovo and Mechi Chal (Chepelare)

The ski resort of Pamporovo is located around the Snezhanka peak (1,926 metres) in the Rhodope Mountain and the winter sports area with its 37 km of slopes is situated between the elevations of 1,473 and 1,926 m.

It is considered the sunniest winter resort in Bulgaria. The soft mountain profile with rounded slopes makes the place extremely suitable for beginners. There are also many ski schools in the resort. Nevertheless, the resort offers difficult terrain for more advanced sports enthusiasts, snowboarders, and it even has facilities for snow mobiles. Pamporovo has the right conditions for a good time, even in a company with diverse interests and skill levels.

The ski resort Mechi Chal (Chepelare) is situated just 10km away from Pamporovo and offers 14 km of slopes and 4 km of ski routes. The ski passes available are always valid for both resorts, which are connected by shuttle buses.

You can have a look at the slopes map on their official website, where you can also check webcams and real time snow coverage.

How to get to Pamporovo from Sofia?

Pamporovo is situated in the Rhodope Mountain, and it is further away from the capital than Bansko or Borovets. By car, it is 230 km or just above 3 hours from Sofia. You take the highway Trakia A1 eastbound and exit at Plovdiv. From there, it is around 70 km drive to Pamporovo.

Bulgaria’s second-largest city, Plovdiv, however, is very near. There is a small international airport, with regular flights from London.

When to go skiing in Pamporovo?

Pamporovo ski resort and the Rhodope Mountain itself are not as high as the previous two resorts. However, the snowfall is very regular and in combination with the snow-making machines, the snow coverage is very reliable. Officially, the ski season is from mid-December to the end of March.

How much does it cost?

The daily ski pass in 2022/23 for adults was around 38 EUR, and it gives you access to all the lifts in Pamporovo, as well as in Mechi Chal. Apart from the discounts for children, there are cheaper rates for afternoon and Sunday morning skiers.

Smaller ski resorts

Apart from the big ski resorts, there are many smaller ones. Here are the best of them:

Vitosha Mountain is directly on the doorstep of the Bulgarian capital. A gondola lift runs from the district of Simeonovo in Sofia to the ski area Aleko (1800 m). The ski resort has 37 km slopes of all difficulty levels for skiing and snowboarding. There is also a 9 km cross-country ski track. Skiing above Sofia is a special experience as there are impressive views of the city. Night-skiing is also very popular here. The daily ski pass was 25 EUR in winter 2022/23.

Malyovitsa is a small area in Rila, 120 km away from Sofia. The nature there is great and picturesque. The slopes are situated between the elevations of 1,730 and 1,970 m. There are just 4 km of slopes, predominantly for advanced and expert skiers. The daily ski pass was 20 EUR in winter 2022/23.

Panichishte is a small resort in Rila with 9 km of slopes, predominantly for beginners. It is one of the most inexpensive ski resorts in Bulgaria. The daily ski pass was 20 EUR in winter 2022/23.

Semkovo is another very small resort located in the Rila mountain, 180 km away from Sofia. It offers 7 ski runs with a total length of 4 km.

Conclusion

So, if you’ve been wondering whether Bulgaria has something to offer for your winter holiday – by now you should know that it is a destination worth exploring. The major ski resorts have a variety of accommodation options – from luxury SPA hotels to smaller ones or chalets. Most of them are very foreigner friendly with English-speaking staff.

You surely will have great time on the slopes, but also in the evening with local warming specialities. Check out our Guide on Bulgarian cuisine to be prepared, and I bet, you will already be looking forward to your journey after that!